Trip from Independence, 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 12m

Distance

108.7 mi

175 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$17

one way

EV Charging

Good

7 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 28 min

4 AM

2h 4m ★

6 AM

2h 13m

8 AM

2h 32m

10 AM

2h 19m

12 PM

2h 18m

3 PM

2h 20m

5 PM

2h 31m

8 PM

2h 7m

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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Independence, IA

Roger Ce

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

Mason City, IA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Independence, IA to Mason City, IA covers 108.7 miles and takes about 2h 12m 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 20, I 380 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 68.6 miles on Avenue of the Saints. At current regular gas prices, budget about $16.99 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

54.3 miles from Independence, IA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 6m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 12m. Total distance: 108.7 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 12m drive, comfortable solo distance.

Scenic Drive

Turn-heavy local drive route profile.

Drive Character

Expect a 2h 12m drive with frequent turns across 108.7 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.

Avenue of the Saints is the longest continuous segment at about 68.6 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 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near IA 150; CR D22 / 1st Street East.

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 108.7 miles you will encounter 14 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 (IA 150; CR D22 / 1st Street East): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (IA 150 / 3rd Avenue Southeast): Navigation decision point; at 23 miles (I 380): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 14 key points

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

0 mi into trip | ~0m in | IA 150; CR D22 / 1st Street East

Turn left onto IA 150; CR D22 / 1st Street East

Navigation decision point

0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | IA 150 / 3rd Avenue Southeast

Turn left onto IA 150 / 3rd Avenue Southeast

Navigation decision point

23 mi into trip | ~27m 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

32.6 mi into trip | ~40m 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

108.7 mi into trip | ~2h 12m in | 2nd Street Northeast

Turn right onto 2nd Street Northeast

Navigation decision point

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Avenue of the Saints	68.6 mi	1h 19m
US 20	21.2 mi	24m
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
3rd Avenue Southeast	1.3 mi	2m
West Washington Street	1.3 mi	1m

Longest stretch: Avenue of the Saints — 68.6 mi, about 1h 19m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

Start on 5th Avenue Southeast

42 ft · 9 sec · 5th Avenue Southeast

Turn left onto IA 150; CR D22

0.1 mi · 18 sec · 1st Street East

Turn left onto IA 150

1.3 mi · 2 min · 3rd Avenue Southeast

Take the ramp

0.4 mi · 48 sec

Merge onto US 20

21 mi · 24 min · US 20

Keep slight right at fork onto I 380

5.6 mi · 7 min · I 380

Toward I-380 north, US 218 north: Waterloo

Continue on US 218

0.2 mi · 18 sec · West Washington Expressway

Continue on US 218

0.7 mi · 51 sec · Leo P Rooff Expressway

Continue on US 218

1.3 mi · 1 min · West Washington Street

Continue on US 218

1.4 mi · 1 min · Leo P Rooff Expressway

Take the exit onto US 218

0.2 mi · 31 sec · US 218

Keep slight right at fork onto US 218

0.5 mi · 58 sec · US 218

Toward US 218 North, IA 27 North: Waverly

Merge onto US 218; IA 27

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

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 1 min

Toward CR S56: California Avenue

Turn right onto CR S56

2.4 mi · 3 min · Thrush Avenue

Turn left onto IA 122

2.7 mi · 4 min · 4th Street Southeast

Turn slight right onto Maple Drive

0.4 mi · 55 sec · Maple Drive

Turn left onto East State Street

0.6 mi · 1 min · East State Street

Turn right onto 1st Street Northeast

0.5 mi · 55 sec · 1st Street Northeast

Turn right onto North Federal Avenue

328 ft · 16 sec · North Federal Avenue

Turn right onto 2nd Street Northeast

24 ft · 1 sec · 2nd Street Northeast

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 54.3 miles from Independence, IA, or about 1h 6m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 68.6 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 54.3 miles or 1h 6m 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 46m

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.

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 Independence, IA

This is one driving day of about 108.7 miles and 2h 12m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 24 miles from Independence, IA.

This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.

The longest stretch is on Avenue of the Saints for about 68.6 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 54.3 mi from Independence, IA · 1h 6m into the drive

city in Bremer County, Iowa, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Waverly, IA

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

Waterloo, IA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 24 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Waverly, IA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 54.3 miles from Independence, 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 68.6 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.

Nearby Places

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

Tesla Supercharger

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Early in the drive, right off the route

0.9 mi from route ~2 min detour mile 23.3

Waterloo, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18777983752

Visit website

Regular Gas

$16.99 one way

$33.99 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 38 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.36	$18.66	$37.32
premium	$4.89	$20.92	$41.84
diesel	$5.61	$24.00	$48.00

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: 38 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	32.6	$11.41	$5.22
Efficient EV	27.2	$9.51	$4.35
EV Truck/SUV	43.5	$15.22	$6.96

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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Independence, IA

Evening in Independence on Friday

Local time

8:32 PM

CDT

Current temp

70°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Mason City, IA

Evening in Mason City on Friday

Local time

8:32 PM

CDT

Current temp

71°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

48°F

Waverly, 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

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

2h 12m 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 108.7 miles and takes about 2h 12m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Avenue of the Saints, US 20, I 380. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 54.3 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 $16.99 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 route from Independence, 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.

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

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Trip from Independence, IA to Mason City, IA

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Who Is This Route For?

Drive Character

How Hard Is This Drive?

Critical Maneuvers

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Arriving in Mason City, IA

Nearby Places

Tesla Supercharger

EV Connect Charging Station

Shell Recharge Charging Station

Shell Recharge Charging Station

ChargePoint Charging Station

Blink Charging Station

Blink Charging Station

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Independence, IA

Mason City, IA

Same local time

1 degrees warmer at arrival

2h 12m on the road

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is the trip from Independence, IA to Mason City, IA?

What are the main roads on this route?

Is this a good same-day trip?

Where should I stop halfway?

How much does gas cost for this trip?

What is the best time to leave?

How hard is the drive from Independence, IA to Mason City, IA?

Where does this route get tricky?

What towns show up on signs driving from Independence, IA to Mason City, IA?

How this page is built

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