Origin
Independence, IA
Night in Independence on Thursday
Local time
9:56 PM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Independence, IA to Mason City, IA
Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026
Drive Time
1h 50m
Distance
106.4 mi
171 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$17
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 42m
★
6 AM
1h 51m
8 AM
2h 7m
10 AM
1h 56m
12 PM
1h 55m
3 PM
1h 57m
5 PM
2h 6m
8 PM
1h 46m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Independence, IA
Roger Ce
Mason City, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Independence, IA to Mason City, IA covers 106.4 miles and takes about 1h 50m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on 1st Street East, 3rd Avenue Southeast, I-380 north for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $16.63 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
53.2 miles from Independence, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 55m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 50m. Total distance: 106.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 50m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 50m drive with frequent turns across 106.4 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 22 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
1st Street East is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Independence, IA to Mason City, IA is easy. At 1h 50m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Independence, IA to Mason City, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 1st Street East | — | — |
| 3rd Avenue Southeast | — | — |
| I-380 north | — | — |
| West Washington Expressway | — | — |
| Leo P Rooff Expressway | — | — |
| West Washington Street | — | — |
| US 218 North | — | — |
| Avenue of the Saints | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
1st Street East
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Independence, IA and Mason City, IA.
1
Start on 5th Avenue Southeast
43 ft
·
9 sec
·
5th Avenue Southeast
2
Turn left onto 1st Street East
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
1st Street East
3
Turn left onto 3rd Avenue Southeast
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
3rd Avenue Southeast
4
Take the ramp right
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
5
Merge slight left
21 mi
·
24 min
6
Keep slight right to continue on I-380 north, US 218 north: Waterloo
5.6 mi
·
7 min
·
I-380 north, US 218 north: Waterloo
7
Continue on West Washington Expressway
0.2 mi
·
18 sec
·
West Washington Expressway
8
Continue on Leo P Rooff Expressway
0.7 mi
·
52 sec
·
Leo P Rooff Expressway
9
Continue on West Washington Street
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
West Washington Street
10
Continue on Leo P Rooff Expressway
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Leo P Rooff Expressway
11
Take the exit slight right
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
12
Keep slight right to continue on US 218 North, IA 27 North: Waverly
0.5 mi
·
58 sec
·
US 218 North, IA 27 North: Waverly
13
Merge slight left onto Avenue of the Saints
69 mi
·
1 hr 19 min
·
Avenue of the Saints
14
Take the exit slight right toward CR S56: California Avenue
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
CR S56: California Avenue
15
Turn right onto Thrush Avenue
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Thrush Avenue
16
Turn left onto 4th Street Southeast
2.7 mi
·
4 min
·
4th Street Southeast
17
Turn slight right onto Maple Drive
0.4 mi
·
56 sec
·
Maple Drive
18
Turn left onto East State Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
East State Street
19
Turn right onto 1st Street Northeast
0.5 mi
·
55 sec
·
1st Street Northeast
20
Turn right onto North Federal Avenue
328 ft
·
16 sec
·
North Federal Avenue
21
Turn right onto 2nd Street Northeast
23 ft
·
1 sec
·
2nd Street Northeast
22
Arrive at your destination
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 53.2 miles from Independence, IA, or about 55m into the drive.
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 23 miles or 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 53.2 miles or 55m 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 30m
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 Independence, IA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Independence, IA
This is one driving day of about 106.4 miles and 1h 50m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 23 miles from Independence, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 53.2 mi from Independence, IA · 55m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
53 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 23 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 53.2 miles from Independence, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$16.63 one way
$33.27 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
37 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $18.26 | $36.53 |
| premium | $4.89 | $20.48 | $40.95 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $23.49 | $46.98 |
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: 37.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 31.9 | 0 | $11.17 | $5.11 |
| Efficient EV | 26.6 | 0 | $9.31 | $4.26 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 42.6 | 0 | $14.90 | $6.81 |
Gas CO2
37 kg
EV CO2
12 kg (68% 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
Night in Mason City on Thursday
Local time
9:56 PM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
48°F
Waverly, IA
53 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
1 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
1h 50m 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 Independence, IA to Mason City, IA covers 106.4 miles and takes about 1h 50m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are 1st Street East, 3rd Avenue Southeast, I-380 north. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 53.2 miles from Independence, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $16.63 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.
The drive from Independence, IA to Mason City, IA is easy. At 1h 50m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Independence, IA to Mason City, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Independence, IA to Mason City, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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