Skip to main content
Trip.ovh Logo
Trip.ovh

Trip from Clinton, 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

4h 32m

Distance

220.9 mi

356 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$35

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min
4 AM
4h 19m ★
6 AM
4h 33m
8 AM
4h 59m
10 AM
4h 42m
12 PM
4h 39m
3 PM
4h 43m
5 PM
4h 58m
8 PM
4h 25m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
Google Maps Waze Apple Maps
Download GPX
city in, and the county seat of, Clinton County, Iowa, United States

Clinton, IA

Wikimedia Commons

city and the county seat of Cerro Gordo County, Iowa, United States

Mason City, IA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Clinton, IA to Mason City, IA covers 220.9 miles and takes about 4h 32m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Avenue of the Saints, US 30, Lincoln Way for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 123.1 miles on Avenue of the Saints. At current regular gas prices, budget about $34.54 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

110.5 miles from Clinton, IA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 19m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 32m. Total distance: 220.9 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

4h 32m drive, comfortable solo distance.

Scenic Drive

Mixed drive route profile.

Drive Character

The drive from Clinton, IA to Mason City, IA covers 220.9 miles and takes about 4h 32m, using a mix of highways and local roads.

Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 25 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Avenue of the Saints is the longest continuous segment at about 123.1 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 15 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 3.9 miles in near US 30 / Lincoln Way.

Driving Effort 6/10

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 220.9 miles you will encounter 15 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: at 3.9 miles (US 30 / Lincoln Way): Navigation decision point; at 80.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 135.3 miles (I 380): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 15 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

4
3.9 mi into trip | ~7m in | US 30 / Lincoln Way

Turn right onto US 30 / Lincoln Way

Navigation decision point

5
80.1 mi into trip | ~1h 45m in

Take the exit toward I 380 North, IA 27 North: Cedar Rapids

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward I 380 North, IA 27 North: Cedar Rapids
6
135.3 mi into trip | ~2h 47m in | I 380

Keep slight right at fork onto I 380 toward I-380 north, US 218 north: Waterloo

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward I-380 north, US 218 north: Waterloo
6
144.8 mi into trip | ~3h in | US 218

Keep slight right at fork onto US 218 toward US 218 North, IA 27 North: Waverly

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward US 218 North, IA 27 North: Waverly
5
220.9 mi into trip | ~4h 32m in | 2nd Street Northeast

Turn right onto 2nd Street Northeast

Navigation decision point

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Avenue of the Saints 123.1 mi 2h 20m
US 30 60 mi 1h 18m
Lincoln Way 16.3 mi 19m
I 380 5.6 mi 7m
4th Street Southeast 2.7 mi 4m
Thrush Avenue 2.4 mi 3m
Leo P Rooff Expressway 2.1 mi 2m
Manufacturing Drive 1.6 mi 2m
Longest stretch: Avenue of the Saints — 123.1 mi, about 2h 20m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Clinton, IA and Mason City, IA.

1

Start on 2nd Avenue South

0.9 mi · 2 min · 2nd Avenue South
2

Turn left onto South Bluff Boulevard

1.4 mi · 2 min · South Bluff Boulevard
3

Turn straight onto Manufacturing Drive

1.6 mi · 2 min · Manufacturing Drive
4

Turn right onto US 30

16 mi · 19 min · Lincoln Way
5

Take the exit onto US 30

1.4 mi · 1 min · US 30
6

Take the exit onto US 30

59 mi · 1 hr 16 min · US 30
7

Take the exit

0.7 mi · 1 min
Toward I 380 North, IA 27 North: Cedar Rapids
8

Merge onto I 380; IA 27

54 mi · 1 hr · Avenue of the Saints
9

Keep slight right at fork onto I 380

5.6 mi · 7 min · I 380
Toward I-380 north, US 218 north: Waterloo
10

Continue on US 218

0.2 mi · 18 sec · West Washington Expressway
11

Continue on US 218

0.7 mi · 51 sec · Leo P Rooff Expressway
12

Continue on US 218

1.3 mi · 1 min · West Washington Street
13

Continue on US 218

1.4 mi · 1 min · Leo P Rooff Expressway
14

Take the exit onto US 218

0.2 mi · 31 sec · US 218
15

Keep slight right at fork onto US 218

0.5 mi · 58 sec · US 218
Toward US 218 North, IA 27 North: Waverly
16

Merge onto US 218; IA 27

69 mi · 1 hr 19 min · Avenue of the Saints
17

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 1 min
Toward CR S56: California Avenue
18

Turn right onto CR S56

2.4 mi · 3 min · Thrush Avenue
19

Turn left onto IA 122

2.7 mi · 4 min · 4th Street Southeast
20

Turn slight right onto Maple Drive

0.4 mi · 55 sec · Maple Drive
21

Turn left onto East State Street

0.6 mi · 1 min · East State Street
22

Turn right onto 1st Street Northeast

0.5 mi · 55 sec · 1st Street Northeast
23

Turn right onto North Federal Avenue

328 ft · 16 sec · North Federal Avenue
24

Turn right onto 2nd Street Northeast

24 ft · 1 sec · 2nd Street Northeast
25

Arrive at destination

2nd Street Northeast

Trip Plan

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 110.5 miles from Clinton, IA, or about 2h 19m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 123.1 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 49 miles or 1h 4m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 110.5 miles or 2h 19m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 3h 42m

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 Clinton, 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 Clinton, IA

This is one driving day of about 220.9 miles and 4h 32m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 49 miles from Clinton, 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 Avenue of the Saints for about 123.1 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 110.5 mi from Clinton, IA · 2h 19m into the drive

Downtown Elk Run Heights, IA, IA

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Elk Run Heights, IA

110 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

Tipton, IA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 49 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Vinton, IA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 110.5 miles from Clinton, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Avenue of the Saints if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 123.1 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.

After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Restaurant

Candlelight Inn Restaurant - Clinton Iowa

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Clinton, Iowa

Near the start, right off the route

0.4 mi from route ~1 min detour $20 to $30

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+15632433200

Visit website

El Tapatio Mexican Restaurant

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Clinton, Iowa

1.9 mi

Czech Town Station

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

2.9 mi

Candlelight Inn Restaurant - Clinton Iowa

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, right off the route

0.4 mi from route ~1 min detour $20 to $30

Clinton, Iowa

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+15632433200

Visit website

El Tapatio Mexican Restaurant

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

1.9 mi from route ~5 min detour $10 to $20

Clinton, Iowa

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+15632423885

Visit website

Czech Town Station

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

2.9 mi from route ~7 min detour $10 to $20 mile 78.9

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Hours: 7 am–9 pm

+13192005776

Visit website

Mikhael's

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

3.2 mi from route ~8 min detour $10 to $20 mile 78.9

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Hours: 6 am–2 pm

+13193663644

Visit website

Subway

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

3 mi from route ~8 min detour Inexpensiv mile 78.9

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Hours: 8 am–10 pm

+13198412151

Visit website

Cobble Hill

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, ~10 min detour

3.8 mi from route ~10 min detour Expensive mile 78.9

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Hours: 4:30–9 pm

+13193663177

Visit website

Olive Tree Restaurant

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, ~11 min detour

4.4 mi from route ~11 min detour $10 to $20 mile 78.9

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Hours: 6 am–2 pm

+13193640781

Visit website

IHOP

3.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, ~11 min detour

4.4 mi from route ~11 min detour Inexpensiv mile 78.9

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Hours: 7 am–10 pm

+13193900077

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

2.3 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 78.9

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18777983752

Visit website

EV Connect Charging Station

2.7 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Near the end, right off the route

0.7 mi from route ~2 min detour mile 220.9

Mason City, Iowa

+18668167584

Visit website

Shell Recharge Charging Station

3.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

2.3 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 189.4

Charles City, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18006360986

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

3.0 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Near the end, ~9 min detour

3.6 mi from route ~9 min detour mile 220.9

Mason City, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

Shell Recharge Charging Station

2.8 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Around the midpoint, ~9 min detour

3.8 mi from route ~9 min detour mile 78.9

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

+18006360986

Visit website

Blink Charging Station

Near the end, short detour

2.2 mi from route ~5 min detour mile 189.4

Charles City, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18889982546

Visit website

Blink Charging Station

1.0 ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

Later in the drive, ~9 min detour

3.4 mi from route ~9 min detour mile 157.8

Shell Rock, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18889982546

Visit website

Electric Vehicle Charging Station

1.1 ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

Around the midpoint, ~11 min detour

4.4 mi from route ~11 min detour mile 78.9

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$34.54 one way

$69.07 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 77 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $37.92 $75.84
premium $4.89 $42.51 $85.02
diesel $5.61 $48.77 $97.54

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$35

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$60–$85

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 77.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $23 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 66.3 0 $23.19 $10.60
Efficient EV 55.2 0 $19.33 $8.84
EV Truck/SUV 88.4 1 $30.93 $14.14

Gas CO2

77 kg

EV CO2

26 kg (66% less)

Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.

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 Apr 16, 2026

Origin

Clinton, IA

Late night in Clinton on Saturday

Local time

12:38 AM

CDT

Current temp

71°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Mason City, IA

Late night in Mason City on Saturday

Local time

12:38 AM

CDT

Current temp

76°F

Sunny

S 9 to 14 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Red Flag Warning

Red Flag Warning issued April 16 at 12:02PM CDT until April 16 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Sioux Falls SD

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 16 at 11:30AM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL

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

5 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

4h 32m on the road

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Clinton, IA to Mason City, IA covers 220.9 miles and takes about 4h 32m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Avenue of the Saints, US 30, Lincoln Way. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 110.5 miles from Clinton, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $34.54 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 220.9 miles you will encounter 15 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: at 3.9 miles (US 30 / Lincoln Way): Navigation decision point; at 80.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 135.3 miles (I 380): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

The route from Clinton, IA to Mason City, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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.

Was this helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

Continue From Mason City, IA

Clarinda, IA 247.7 mi · 4h 51m Burlington, IA 239.5 mi · 4h 41m Iowa City, IA 164.9 mi · 3h 18m Marion, IA 137.9 mi · 2h 45m

More from Clinton, IA

Council Bluffs, IA 326 mi · 6h 4m Waukee, IA 211.4 mi · 4h 1m Iowa City, IA 87.1 mi · 1h 46m Cedar Rapids, IA 84.5 mi · 1h 54m Dubuque, IA 71.6 mi · 1h 28m Bettendorf, IA 43.2 mi · 56m

More trips to Mason City, IA

Sioux City, IA 206 mi Denison, IA 181.7 mi Osceola County, IA 180.6 mi Iowa City, IA 163.9 mi Grinnell, IA 151.7 mi Anamosa, IA 151.1 mi
Overnight trips from Clinton, IA Scenic drives in IA

Explore more options from Clinton, IA or browse trips ending in Mason City, IA.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse IA road trips.