Skip to main content
Trip.ovh Logo
Trip.ovh

Trip from Fort Madison, 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 52m

Distance

246.9 mi

397 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$39

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 41 min
4 AM
4h 39m ★
6 AM
4h 53m
8 AM
5h 20m
10 AM
5h 2m
12 PM
4h 59m
3 PM
5h 3m
5 PM
5h 18m
8 PM
4h 45m

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 and county seat in Lee County, Iowa, United States

Fort Madison, 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 Fort Madison, IA to Mason City, IA covers 246.9 miles and takes about 4h 52m 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, IA 2, I 380 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 216.2 miles on Avenue of the Saints. At current regular gas prices, budget about $38.60 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

123.4 miles from Fort Madison, IA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 24m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 52m. Total distance: 246.9 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

4h 52m drive, comfortable solo distance.

Scenic Drive

Turn-heavy local drive route profile.

Drive Character

Expect a 4h 52m drive with frequent turns across 246.9 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 28 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 216.2 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 17 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Avenue I.

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 246.9 miles you will encounter 17 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 (Avenue I): Navigation decision point; at 1 miles (US 61 Business / 20th Street): Navigation decision point; at 161.2 miles (I 380): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 17 key points

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

5
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | Avenue I

Turn right onto Avenue I

Navigation decision point

4
1 mi into trip | ~1m in | US 61 Business / 20th Street

Turn left onto US 61 Business / 20th Street

Navigation decision point

6
161.2 mi into trip | ~3h 7m 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
170.8 mi into trip | ~3h 20m 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
246.9 mi into trip | ~4h 52m in | 2nd Street Northeast

Turn right onto 2nd Street Northeast

Navigation decision point

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Avenue of the Saints 216.2 mi 4h 6m
IA 2 8.3 mi 11m
I 380 5.6 mi 7m
4th Street Southeast 2.7 mi 4m
Thrush Avenue 2.4 mi 3m
Avenue O 2.1 mi 3m
Leo P Rooff Expressway 2.1 mi 2m
Avenue L 1.3 mi 2m
Longest stretch: Avenue of the Saints — 216.2 mi, about 4h 6m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on this road

61 ft · 7 sec · this road
2

Turn right onto Avenue I

139 ft · 11 sec · Avenue I
3

Turn left onto US 61 Business

1.0 mi · 1 min · Avenue H
4

Turn left onto US 61 Business

0.2 mi · 21 sec · 20th Street
5

At end of road, turn right onto US 61 Business

1.3 mi · 2 min · Avenue L
6

Continue on US 61 Business

0.3 mi · 27 sec · Old Highway 61
7

Continue on US 61 Business

2.1 mi · 3 min · Avenue O
8

Turn straight onto IA 2

8.3 mi · 11 min · IA 2
9

Take the ramp

0.4 mi · 53 sec
10

Merge onto US 218; IA 27

25 mi · 28 min · Avenue of the Saints
11

Keep slight left at fork onto US 218; IA 27

123 mi · 2 hr 18 min · Avenue of the Saints
12

Keep slight right at fork onto I 380

5.6 mi · 7 min · I 380
Toward I-380 north, US 218 north: Waterloo
13

Continue on US 218

0.2 mi · 18 sec · West Washington Expressway
14

Continue on US 218

0.7 mi · 51 sec · Leo P Rooff Expressway
15

Continue on US 218

1.3 mi · 1 min · West Washington Street
16

Continue on US 218

1.4 mi · 1 min · Leo P Rooff Expressway
17

Take the exit onto US 218

0.2 mi · 31 sec · US 218
18

Keep slight right at fork onto US 218

0.5 mi · 58 sec · US 218
Toward US 218 North, IA 27 North: Waverly
19

Merge onto US 218; IA 27

69 mi · 1 hr 19 min · Avenue of the Saints
20

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 1 min
Toward CR S56: California Avenue
21

Turn right onto CR S56

2.4 mi · 3 min · Thrush Avenue
22

Turn left onto IA 122

2.7 mi · 4 min · 4th Street Southeast
23

Turn slight right onto Maple Drive

0.4 mi · 55 sec · Maple Drive
24

Turn left onto East State Street

0.6 mi · 1 min · East State Street
25

Turn right onto 1st Street Northeast

0.5 mi · 55 sec · 1st Street Northeast
26

Turn right onto North Federal Avenue

328 ft · 16 sec · North Federal Avenue
27

Turn right onto 2nd Street Northeast

24 ft · 1 sec · 2nd Street Northeast
28

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 123.4 miles from Fort Madison, IA, or about 2h 24m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 216.2 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 54 miles or 1h 6m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 123.4 miles or 2h 24m 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 57m

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 Fort Madison, 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 Fort Madison, IA

This is one driving day of about 246.9 miles and 4h 52m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 54 miles from Fort Madison, 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 216.2 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 123.4 mi from Fort Madison, IA · 2h 24m into the drive

Downtown Vinton, IA, IA

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Vinton, IA

123 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.

Popular next leg

Vinton, IA to Mason City, IA

119.3 mi · 2h 26m

Pacing Suggestions

Iowa City, IA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 54 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Cedar Rapids, IA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 123.4 miles from Fort Madison, 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 216.2 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.

Nearby Places

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

Top Restaurant

Olive Garden Italian Restaurant

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Coralville, Iowa

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.3 mi from route ~3 min detour Moderately mile 88.2

Hours: 11 am–10 pm

+13193399100

Visit website

Red Lobster

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Coralville, Iowa

1.3 mi

HuHot Mongolian Grill

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Coralville, Iowa

1.3 mi

Olive Garden Italian Restaurant

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.3 mi from route ~3 min detour Moderately mile 88.2

Coralville, Iowa

Hours: 11 am–10 pm

+13193399100

Visit website

Red Lobster

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.3 mi from route ~3 min detour Moderately mile 88.2

Coralville, Iowa

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+13193386400

Visit website

HuHot Mongolian Grill

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.3 mi from route ~3 min detour $10 to $20 mile 88.2

Coralville, Iowa

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+13193589100

Visit website

Blue Elephant Thai Restaurant

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.3 mi from route ~3 min detour $10 to $20 mile 88.2

Coralville, Iowa

Hours: 11 am–2:30 pm

+13193514543

Visit website

Taco John's

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.1 mi from route ~3 min detour $10 to $20 mile 88.2

Coralville, Iowa

Hours: 7 am–11 pm

+13195195041

Visit website

El Gustito Pupuseria y Restaurant

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.5 mi from route ~4 min detour $10 to $20 mile 88.2

Coralville, Iowa

Hours: 9:30 am–9 pm

+13194991602

Visit website

Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.6 mi from route ~4 min detour $10 to $20 mile 88.2

Coralville, Iowa

Hours: 11 am–10 pm

+13195453131

Visit website

La Mexicana

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.7 mi from route ~4 min detour $10 to $20 mile 88.2

Coralville, Iowa

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+13192597178

Visit website

Café Saint Pio

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

3.2 mi from route ~8 min detour $10 to $20 mile 105.8

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Hours: 7 am–4 pm

+13192001000

Sidekick Coffee & Books

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

3.1 mi from route ~8 min detour $1 to $10 mile 88.2

Iowa City, Iowa

Hours: 7:30 am–5 pm

+13195691010

Visit website

Kismet Coffee & Bloom

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, ~9 min detour

3.8 mi from route ~9 min detour $1 to $10 mile 105.8

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Hours: 7 am–3 pm

+13192003218

Visit website

Roasters Coffeehouse NewBo

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, ~9 min detour

3.7 mi from route ~9 min detour $1 to $10 mile 105.8

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Hours: 7 am–6 pm

Visit website

Groundswell Cafe

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, ~10 min detour

3.9 mi from route ~10 min detour $10 to $20 mile 105.8

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Hours: 7 am–2 pm

+13192002791

Visit website

Hyper Energy Bar

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, ~9 min detour

3.8 mi from route ~9 min detour $1 to $10 mile 88.2

North Liberty, Iowa

Hours: 6 am–7 pm

+13192598505

Visit website

Veritas Cafe

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, ~10 min detour

4 mi from route ~10 min detour $1 to $10 mile 105.8

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Hours: Closed

+13192083192

Visit website

Midnight Coffee

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, ~9 min detour

3.7 mi from route ~9 min detour $1 to $10 mile 88.2

Tiffin, Iowa

Hours: 6:30 am–2 pm

+13196262272

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.5 mi from route ~4 min detour mile 88.2

Coralville, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18777983752

Visit website

Shell Recharge Charging Station

3.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

1 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 211.6

Charles City, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18006360986

Visit website

EV Connect Charging Station

2.7 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Near the end, right off the route

0.7 mi from route ~2 min detour mile 246.9

Mason City, Iowa

+18668167584

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

2.7 mi from route ~7 min detour mile 105.8

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18777983752

Visit website

Shell Recharge Charging Station

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

2.9 mi from route ~7 min detour mile 88.2

Coralville, Iowa

Hours: 11:30 am–9 pm

+31880109500

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, ~9 min detour

3.6 mi from route ~9 min detour mile 158.7

Waterloo, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18777983752

Visit website

Blink Charging Station

3.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

2.8 mi from route ~7 min detour mile 123.4

Center Point, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18889982546

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

3.1 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

2.7 mi from route ~7 min detour mile 88.2

Coralville, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

Caramelcorn Shoppe/Smoothie Stop

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.5 mi from route ~4 min detour $1 to $10 mile 88.2

Coralville, Iowa

Hours: 10 am–9 pm

+13196255568

Barrel House

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

3.2 mi from route ~8 min detour mile 88.2

Coralville, Iowa

Hours: 11 am–10 pm

+13196262550

Visit website

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$38.60 one way

$77.20 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 86 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $42.38 $84.76
premium $4.89 $47.51 $95.03
diesel $5.61 $54.51 $109.02

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$39

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$64–$89

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 86.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $26 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 74.1 0 $25.92 $11.85
Efficient EV 61.7 0 $21.60 $9.88
EV Truck/SUV 98.8 1 $34.57 $15.80

Gas CO2

86 kg

EV CO2

29 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 15, 2026

Origin

Fort Madison, IA

Late night in Fort Madison on Saturday

Local time

2:30 AM

CDT

Current temp

73°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Mason City, IA

Late night in Mason City on Saturday

Local time

2:30 AM

CDT

Current temp

71°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

49°F

Vinton, IA

123 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

2 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 52m 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 Fort Madison, IA to Mason City, IA covers 246.9 miles and takes about 4h 52m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Avenue of the Saints, IA 2, I 380. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 123.4 miles from Fort Madison, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $38.60 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 246.9 miles you will encounter 17 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 (Avenue I): Navigation decision point; at 1 miles (US 61 Business / 20th Street): Navigation decision point; at 161.2 miles (I 380): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

The route from Fort Madison, 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 Fort Madison, IA

Sioux City, IA 375.5 mi · 7h 7m Council Bluffs, IA 309.3 mi · 4h 51m Ames, IA 205.1 mi · 4h 4m Urbandale, IA 185.2 mi · 3h 41m Ankeny, IA 183.2 mi · 3h 40m West Des Moines, IA 181.4 mi · 3h 37m

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 Anamosa, IA 151.1 mi Adel, IA 139.5 mi
Scenic drives in IA

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

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse IA road trips.