Origin
Boone, IA
Evening in Boone on Friday
Local time
8:25 PM
CDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Boone, IA to Mason City, IA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 5m
Distance
108.2 mi
174 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$17
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 57m
★
6 AM
2h 6m
8 AM
2h 24m
10 AM
2h 12m
12 PM
2h 10m
3 PM
2h 13m
5 PM
2h 23m
8 PM
2h 0m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Boone, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Mason City, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Boone, IA to Mason City, IA covers 108.2 miles and takes about 2h 5m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 35, 230th Street, 220th Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 78.3 miles on I 35. At current regular gas prices, budget about $16.92 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
54.1 miles from Boone, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 2m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 5m. Total distance: 108.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 5m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (76%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 2h 5m highway drive covering 108.2 miles, with most of the trip on I 35 and 230th Street. The longest continuous stretch is about 78.3 miles on I 35.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 17 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 35 is the longest continuous segment at about 78.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35 and 230th Street. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Story Street.
Driving Effort
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 108.2 miles you will encounter 12 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Story Street): Navigation decision point; at 18.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 96.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Story Street
Turn right onto Story Street
Navigation decision point
4
18.3 mi into trip
|
~23m in
Take the exit toward I 35 North: Minneapolis
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 35 North: Minneapolis
5
96.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 48m in
Take the exit toward US 18 East, IA 27 South: Mason City, Charles City
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 18 East, IA 27 South: Mason City, Cha...
4
101.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 54m in
Take the exit toward Airport
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward Airport
5
108.2 mi into trip
|
~2h 5m in
|
2nd Street Northeast
Turn right onto 2nd Street Northeast
Navigation decision point
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Boone, IA and Mason City, IA, road signs point toward Charles City and Airport.
Charles City
96.8 mi in
|
~1h 48m
Airport
101.5 mi in
|
~1h 54m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 35 | 78.3 mi | 1h 24m |
| 230th Street | 11.4 mi | 13m |
| 220th Street | 5.2 mi | 6m |
| US 18 | 3.6 mi | 4m |
| 19th Street Southwest | 2.5 mi | 4m |
| Story Street | 1.7 mi | 3m |
| Mallard Avenue | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| South Monroe Avenue | 1.3 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
I 35
— 78.3 mi, about 1h 24m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Boone, IA and Mason City, IA.
1
Start on Mamie Eisenhower Avenue
67 ft
·
5 sec
·
Mamie Eisenhower Avenue
2
Turn right onto Story Street
1.7 mi
·
3 min
·
Story Street
3
Turn left onto US 30
5.2 mi
·
6 min
·
220th Street
4
Continue on US 30
11 mi
·
13 min
·
230th Street
5
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
48 sec
Toward I 35 North: Minneapolis
6
Merge onto I 35
78 mi
·
1 hr 24 min
·
I 35
7
Take the exit
1.0 mi
·
1 min
Toward US 18 East, IA 27 South: Mason City, Charles City
8
Merge onto US 18; IA 27
3.6 mi
·
4 min
·
US 18; IA 27
9
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
Toward Airport
10
Turn left onto Mallard Avenue
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Mallard Avenue
11
Continue on South Eisenhower Avenue
0.5 mi
·
44 sec
·
South Eisenhower Avenue
12
Turn right onto 19th Street Southwest
2.5 mi
·
4 min
·
19th Street Southwest
13
Turn left onto South Monroe Avenue
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
South Monroe Avenue
14
Turn right onto 1st Street Northwest
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
·
1st Street Northwest
15
Turn left onto North Federal Avenue
328 ft
·
16 sec
·
North Federal Avenue
16
Turn right onto 2nd Street Northeast
24 ft
·
1 sec
·
2nd Street Northeast
17
Arrive at destination
2nd Street Northeast
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 54.1 miles from Boone, IA, or about 1h 2m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 78.3 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 24 miles or 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 54.1 miles or 1h 2m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 39m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Mason City, IA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Boone, 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 Boone, IA
This is one driving day of about 108.2 miles and 2h 5m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 24 miles from Boone, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 35 for about 78.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 54.1 mi from Boone, IA · 1h 2m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
54 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 24 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 54.1 miles from Boone, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 35 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 78.3 miles.
Arriving in Mason City, IA
The final approach into Mason City, IA usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Mason City, IA.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$16.92 one way
$33.83 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
38 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $18.57 | $37.15 |
| premium | $4.89 | $20.82 | $41.64 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $23.89 | $47.78 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 37.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 32.5 | 0 | $11.36 | $5.19 |
| Efficient EV | 27.1 | 0 | $9.47 | $4.33 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 43.3 | 0 | $15.15 | $6.92 |
Gas CO2
38 kg
EV CO2
13 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.
Destination
Mason City, IA
Evening in Mason City on Friday
Local time
8:25 PM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
49°F
Gilbert, IA
54 mi in
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
21 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
2h 5m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Boone, IA to Mason City, IA covers 108.2 miles and takes about 2h 5m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 35, 230th Street, 220th Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 54.1 miles from Boone, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $16.92 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 108.2 miles you will encounter 12 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Story Street): Navigation decision point; at 18.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 96.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Boone, IA and Mason City, IA, road signs point toward Charles City and Airport.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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