Mason City, IA to Oskaloosa, IA is 176.5 miles and takes about 3h 25m via I 35 and Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway, with a fuel budget near $28 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays within Iowa, making it a straightforward trip through the Midwest. Given its short duration and mostly highway profile, it's an ideal option for a single-day excursion. You'll find it's a practical drive with minimal fuss, perfect for getting from point A to point B efficiently.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
88.2 miles from Mason City, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 40m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 35
102.9 mi
1h 51m
East University Avenue
49.1 mi
57m
Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway
3.8 mi
4m
Avenue of the Saints
3.5 mi
3m
I 80
2.6 mi
2m
19th Street Southwest
2.5 mi
4m
Northeast University Avenue
1.8 mi
2m
Mallard Avenue
1.4 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 35
— 102.9 mi, about 1h 51m
Traffic on I-35
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 15 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~796 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,190
Quietest
2 AM
~82 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
9.7×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Mason City, IA and Oskaloosa, IA.
1
Start on 2nd Street Northeast
24 ft·6 sec·2nd Street Northeast
2
Turn left onto North Federal Avenue
328 ft·16 sec·North Federal Avenue
3
Turn right onto 1st Street Northwest
0.4 mi·47 sec·1st Street Northwest
4
Turn left onto North Monroe Avenue
1.3 mi·2 min·North Monroe Avenue
Use the left / straight lanes.
5
Turn right onto 19th Street Southwest
2.5 mi·4 min·19th Street Southwest
6
Turn left onto South Eisenhower Avenue
0.5 mi·40 sec·South Eisenhower Avenue
7
Continue on Mallard Avenue
1.4 mi·1 min·Mallard Avenue
8
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·54 sec
9
Merge onto US 18; IA 27
3.5 mi·3 min·Avenue of the Saints
10
Take the exit
0.9 mi·1 min
Toward I 35 South: Des Moines
11
Continue on this road
0.5 mi·32 sec·this road
Toward I 35 South: Des Moines
12
Merge onto I 35
103 mi·1 hr 50 min·I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35
0.2 mi·12 sec·I 35
Toward I 35 South, I 80: Kansas City, Council Bluffs, Davenport
14
Take the exit
0.8 mi·2 min
Exit 137AToward I 80 East: Davenport
15
Merge onto I 80
2.6 mi·2 min·I 80
16
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 141Toward US 65 South: Altoona, Des MoinesUse the slight right lane.
17
Merge onto US 65
3.8 mi·4 min·Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Take the exit
0.4 mi·55 sec
Exit 79Toward IA 163: East University Avenue, Pleasant Hill
19
Turn left onto IA 163
3.3 mi·4 min·East University Avenue
20
Continue on IA 163
1.8 mi·2 min·Northeast University Avenue
21
Continue on IA 163
46 mi·52 min·East University Avenue
22
Turn left onto Jewell Avenue
249 ft·6 sec·Jewell Avenue
23
Continue on Old Highway 163
1.3 mi·1 min·Old Highway 163
24
Enter roundabout onto Highway 432
28 ft·1 sec·Highway 432
25
Continue on Highway 432
0.5 mi·57 sec·Highway 432
26
At end of road, turn left onto IA 92
1.1 mi·2 min·A Avenue West
27
Turn left
56 ft·4 sec
28
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
For this 176.5-mile drive, leaving in the morning allows ample time to reach Oskaloosa before evening. Since the total travel time is just over 3 hours, you likely won't need more than one brief stop for fuel or a quick break. The estimated fuel cost is around $28, so plan accordingly. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 102.9-mile stretch on I 35, as services may be less frequent in that section.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 88.2 miles from Mason City, IA, or about 1h 40m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 102.9 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 39 miles or 47m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 88.2 miles or 1h 40m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 46m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Oskaloosa, IA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Mason City, IA so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Mason City, IA
This is one driving day of about 176.5 miles and 3h 25m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 39 miles from Mason City, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 35 for about 102.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 19
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 122.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|North Federal Avenue
Turn left onto North Federal Avenue
Navigation decision point
6
0.4 mi into trip|~1m in|North Monroe Avenue
Turn left onto North Monroe Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
6
114.1 mi into trip|~2h 8m in|I 35
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35 toward I 35 South, I 80: Kansas City, Council Bluffs, Davenport
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 35 South, I 80: Kansas City, Council B...
8
117.7 mi into trip|~2h 13m in
Take the exit toward US 65 South: Altoona, Des Moines
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 141
Toward US 65 South: Altoona, Des Moines
6
122.2 mi into trip|~2h 19m in
Take the exit toward IA 163: East University Avenue, Pleasant Hill
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 79
Toward IA 163: East University Avenue, Pleasant...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$29.34 one way
$58.69 round trip
$4.22/gal25.4 MPG avg62 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.60
$31.96
$63.93
premium
$5.18
$36.02
$72.03
diesel
$5.35
$37.18
$74.35
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$29
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$54–$79
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 61.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
53
0
$18.53
$8.47
Efficient EV
44.1
0
$15.44
$7.06
EV Truck/SUV
70.6
0
$24.71
$11.30
Gas CO2
62 kg
EV CO2
21 kg (66% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Jun 3, 2026
Origin
Mason City, IA
Afternoon
in Mason City on Wednesday
Local time
3:09 PM
CDT
Current temp
82°F
Sunny
S 9 to 15 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Oskaloosa, IA
Afternoon
in Oskaloosa on Wednesday
Local time
3:09 PM
CDT
Current temp
84°F
Sunny
SSE 10 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
2 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 25m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is mostly highway, with 61% of the 176.5 miles on interstates like I 35. You'll experience a continuous stretch of 102.9 miles on I 35 before transitioning to other main roads. Expect to encounter more frequent exits as you approach your destination, indicating a shift from rural interstate cruising to more developed areas.
61% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
28 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 102.9 mi on I 35.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35 and East University Avenue. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near North Federal Avenue.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 176.5 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (North Federal Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (North Monroe Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 114.1 miles (I 35): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,244 ft840 ft
Total Climb
136 ft
Total Descent
427 ft
Highest Point
1,244 ft
~37.8 mi in
Elevation Range
403 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Mason City, IA and Oskaloosa, IA, road signs point toward Council Bluffs, Davenport, Des Moines and Pleasant Hill.
Mason City is a city in Iowa, renowned for its collection of architecture by Frank Lloyd Wright and other Prairie School architects, considered the most significant concentration of such architecture outside of Oak Park, Illinois.
Top landmarks
•Dr. G.C. Stockman House — house designed by Frank Lloyd Wright
•Park Inn Hotel — hotel in Mason City, United States of America
Oskaloosa is a small city in Mahaska County, Iowa. Oskaloosa is home to William Penn University, a private university, and Lake Keomah State Park which is four miles east of the city.
Top landmarks
•Oskaloosa City Square Commercial Historic District — historic district in Iowa, United States
•Phillip Hoffman House — in Oskaloosa, Iowa
•Paradise Block Historic District — nationally recognized historic district located in Oskaloosa, Iowa, United State...
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 25m. Total distance: 176.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 25m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 102.9 miles on I 35. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 11 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Oskaloosa, IA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 11 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (North Federal Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (North Monroe Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 114.1 miles (I 35): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 3.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.8 hours — manageable with a long break at Oskaloosa, IA, but most travelers stay overnight.
