Drive or Fly: Storm Lake, IA to Mason City, IA?
Side-by-side comparison of driving versus flying for this route. Costs, time, and trade-offs at a glance.
Driving wins
MediumNo scheduled commercial flights found for FOD–MCW. At 155 miles, driving is the only practical option.
Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)
· · Fuel cost: $
Drive
Door to Door
2h 30m
Distance
155.3 mi
Total Cost
$69
CO2
63 kg
Cost Breakdown
Fly
Door to Door
3h 41m
13m in the air
Air Distance
108 mi
Total Cost
$124
CO2
27 kg
Door-to-Door Timeline
Cost Breakdown
Airports
No scheduled flights found
No commercial flights between FOD and MCW. Flight estimates above are theoretical.
At a Glance
| Drive | Fly | |
|---|---|---|
| Door-to-door time | 2h 30m | 3h 41m |
| Total cost (1 person) | $69 | $124 |
| Carbon footprint | 63 kg CO2 | 27 kg CO2 |
| Flexibility | High | Low |
| Luggage | Unlimited | Restricted |
| Reliability | Weather dependent | Data unavailable |
Costs are estimates. Actual flight prices vary by airline, date, and booking time. Drive costs based on OSRM routing, EIA fuel prices. Computed Apr 16, 2026.
Route Options
2 different routes between these cities.
via US 20; US 71, I 35, US 71
via IA 3, I 35, US 71
Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Storm Lake, IA to Mason City, IA with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.