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Trip from Council Bluffs, IA to Mason City, IA

Drive Time

4h 39m

Distance

248.6 mi

400 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$38

one way

EV Charging

None

0 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min
4 AM
4h 26m ★
6 AM
4h 39m
8 AM
5h 6m
10 AM
4h 49m
12 PM
4h 46m
3 PM
4h 50m
5 PM
5h 5m
8 PM
4h 31m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Downtown Council Bluffs, IA, IA

Council Bluffs, IA

Tom Fisk

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

Mason City, IA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Council Bluffs, IA to Mason City, IA covers 248.6 miles and takes about 4h 39m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 80, I 35, West Kanesville Boulevard for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 128.2 miles on I 80. At current regular gas prices, budget about $37.76 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

124.3 miles from Council Bluffs, IA

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

Drive Character

This is a 4h 39m highway drive covering 248.6 miles, with most of the trip on I 80 and I 35. The longest continuous stretch is about 128.2 miles on I 80.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 18 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 80 is the longest continuous segment at about 128.2 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and I 35. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 5.2 miles in.

Route Complexity 6/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 248.6 miles you will encounter 13 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 5.2 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 119.2 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 133.6 miles (I 35): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 13 key points

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

4
5.2 mi into trip | ~10m in

Take the ramp

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
9
119.2 mi into trip | ~2h 13m in | I 80

Keep slight right at fork onto I 80 toward I 35, I 80 East: Chicago, Minneapolis, Kansas City

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 123B Toward I 35, I 80 East: Chicago, Minneapolis, K...
8
133.6 mi into trip | ~2h 29m in | I 35

Keep slight right at fork onto I 35 toward I 35 North, I 235 South: Minneapolis, Des Moines

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 35 North, I 235 South: Minneapolis, De...
5
237.3 mi into trip | ~4h 21m 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...
5
248.6 mi into trip | ~4h 39m in | 2nd Street Northeast

Turn right onto 2nd Street Northeast

Navigation decision point

Towns Along This Route

Between Council Bluffs, IA and Mason City, IA, road signs point toward Minneapolis, Kansas City and Des Moines.

Minneapolis

119.2 mi in | ~2h 13m | via I 80

Kansas City

119.2 mi in | ~2h 13m | via I 80

Des Moines

133.6 mi in | ~2h 29m | via I 35

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 80 128.2 mi 2h 18m
I 35 103.6 mi 1h 51m
West Kanesville Boulevard 4.2 mi 7m
US 18 3.6 mi 4m
19th Street Southwest 2.5 mi 4m
Mallard Avenue 1.5 mi 2m
South Monroe Avenue 1.3 mi 2m
West Broadway 1 mi 2m
Longest stretch: I 80 — 128.2 mi, about 2h 18m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on West Broadway

0.4 mi · 1 min · West Broadway
2

Continue on West Broadway

0.6 mi · 1 min · West Broadway
3

Continue on West Kanesville Boulevard

4.2 mi · 7 min · West Kanesville Boulevard
Use the left lane.
4

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 34 sec
Use the left lane.
5

Merge onto I 80

114 mi · 2 hr 2 min · I 80
6

Keep slight right at fork onto I 80

14 mi · 16 min · I 80
Exit 123B Toward I 35, I 80 East: Chicago, Minneapolis, Kansas City Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7

Keep slight right at fork onto I 35

104 mi · 1 hr 51 min · I 35
Toward I 35 North, I 235 South: Minneapolis, Des Moines Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Take the exit

1.0 mi · 1 min
Toward US 18 East, IA 27 South: Mason City, Charles City
9

Merge onto US 18; IA 27

3.6 mi · 4 min · US 18; IA 27
10

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 52 sec
Toward Airport
11

Turn left onto Mallard Avenue

1.5 mi · 2 min · Mallard Avenue
12

Continue on South Eisenhower Avenue

0.5 mi · 44 sec · South Eisenhower Avenue
13

Turn right onto 19th Street Southwest

2.5 mi · 4 min · 19th Street Southwest
14

Turn left onto South Monroe Avenue

1.3 mi · 2 min · South Monroe Avenue
15

Turn right onto 1st Street Northwest

0.4 mi · 47 sec · 1st Street Northwest
16

Turn left onto North Federal Avenue

328 ft · 16 sec · North Federal Avenue
17

Turn right onto 2nd Street Northeast

24 ft · 1 sec · 2nd Street Northeast
18

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 124.3 miles from Council Bluffs, IA, or about 2h 19m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 128.2 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 80 miles or 1h 31m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 124.3 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 45m

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 Council Bluffs, 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 Council Bluffs, IA

This is one driving day of about 248.6 miles and 4h 39m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Council Bluffs, 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 80 for about 128.2 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 124.3 mi from Council Bluffs, IA · 2h 19m into the drive

human settlement in Dallas County, Iowa, United States of America

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Waukee, IA

124 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

Denison, IA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

West Des Moines, IA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 124.3 miles from Council Bluffs, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 80 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 128.2 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.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$37.76 one way

$75.52 round trip

$3.86/gal 25.4 MPG avg 87 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.25 $41.63 $83.25
premium $4.80 $46.93 $93.86
diesel $5.64 $55.23 $110.46

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$38

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$63–$88

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 87 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $26 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 74.6 0 $26.10 $11.93
Efficient EV 62.2 0 $21.75 $9.94
EV Truck/SUV 99.4 1 $34.80 $15.91

Gas CO2

87 kg

EV CO2

29 kg (67% 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 data refreshed 1 hour ago

Origin

Council Bluffs, IA

Afternoon in Council Bluffs on Monday

Local time

3:36 PM

CDT

Current temp

89°F

Mostly Sunny

SSW 18 mph 1% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 13 at 11:22AM CDT until April 18 at 1:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 13 at 11:22AM CDT until April 18 at 1:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL

Destination

Mason City, IA

Afternoon in Mason City on Monday

Local time

3:36 PM

CDT

Current temp

46°F

Unavailable

Live 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

43 degrees cooler at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

4h 39m 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 Council Bluffs, IA to Mason City, IA covers 248.6 miles and takes about 4h 39m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 80, I 35, West Kanesville Boulevard. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 124.3 miles from Council Bluffs, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $37.76 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 248.6 miles you will encounter 13 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 5.2 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 119.2 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 133.6 miles (I 35): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Council Bluffs, IA and Mason City, IA, road signs point toward Minneapolis, Kansas City and Des Moines.

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