Origin
Iowa Falls, IA
Afternoon in Iowa Falls on Friday
Local time
12:53 PM
CDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Iowa Falls, IA to Mason City, IA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 9m
Distance
47.5 mi
76 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 4m
★
6 AM
1h 10m
8 AM
1h 21m
10 AM
1h 14m
12 PM
1h 13m
3 PM
1h 14m
5 PM
1h 20m
8 PM
1h 6m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Iowa Falls, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Mason City, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are looking for a quick, straightforward trip through the Iowa heartland, the drive from Iowa Falls to Mason City is an ideal candidate. Covering 47.5 miles, this journey typically takes about 1 hour and 9 minutes to complete. It is a classic one-day excursion that requires very little logistical planning, making it perfect for a spontaneous weekend outing. With a fuel budget of approximately $7, you can easily manage the trip without significant expense. Since both cities are located within the Midwest, you will experience a consistent regional landscape throughout your travel. Because of the short duration, you won't need to worry about overnight accommodations, allowing you to focus entirely on the destination.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 9m. Total distance: 47.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 9m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (92%). Straightforward navigation.
Drive Character
This trip is a highway-focused drive, with 92% of the route spent on main thoroughfares like US 65. You will spend the vast majority of your time on a long, uninterrupted 43.6-mile stretch of US 65, which defines the personality of the journey. As you transition from the highway onto Oak Street and South Pennsylvania Avenue to reach your destination, the pace shifts from open road cruising to local navigation. The route offers a steady, predictable experience that is well-suited for drivers who prefer consistency over complex technical maneuvers. You can expect a reliable, no-nonsense drive that gets you from point A to point B efficiently.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 11 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 65 is the longest continuous segment at about 43.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 65 and Oak Street. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near East Rocksylvania Avenue.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 9m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (East Rocksylvania Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles (US 65 / Oak Street): Navigation decision point; at 6 miles (US 65): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 9 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
East Rocksylvania Avenue
Turn right onto East Rocksylvania Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
0.6 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
US 65 / Oak Street
Turn right onto US 65 / Oak Street
Navigation decision point
6
6 mi into trip
|
~9m in
|
US 65
Turn left onto US 65
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
47.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 9m in
|
North Federal Avenue
Turn right onto North Federal Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
47.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 9m in
|
2nd Street Northeast
Turn right onto 2nd Street Northeast
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 65 | 43.6 mi | 1h 2m |
| Oak Street | 2.3 mi | 3m |
| South Pennsylvania Avenue | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| East Rocksylvania Avenue | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| 1st Street Northeast | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| 8th Street Southeast | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Commercial Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| North Federal Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 65
— 43.6 mi, about 1h 2m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Iowa Falls, IA and Mason City, IA.
1
Start on Commercial Street
331 ft
·
11 sec
·
Commercial Street
2
Turn right onto East Rocksylvania Avenue
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
East Rocksylvania Avenue
3
Turn right onto US 65
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
Oak Street
4
Keep slight right at fork onto US 65
3.1 mi
·
4 min
·
US 65
5
Turn left onto US 65
41 mi
·
57 min
·
US 65
Use the left lane.
6
Turn right onto 8th Street Southeast
0.1 mi
·
24 sec
·
8th Street Southeast
7
Turn left onto South Pennsylvania Avenue
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
South Pennsylvania Avenue
8
Turn left onto 1st Street Northeast
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
·
1st Street Northeast
9
Turn right onto North Federal Avenue
328 ft
·
16 sec
·
North Federal Avenue
10
Turn right onto 2nd Street Northeast
24 ft
·
1 sec
·
2nd Street Northeast
11
Arrive at destination
2nd Street Northeast
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 23.8 mi from Iowa Falls, IA · 34m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
24 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 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 23.8 miles from Iowa Falls, 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
$7.43 one way
$14.85 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
17 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $8.15 | $16.31 |
| premium | $4.89 | $9.14 | $18.28 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.49 | $20.97 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 16.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14.3 | 0 | $4.99 | $2.28 |
| Efficient EV | 11.9 | 0 | $4.16 | $1.90 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 19 | 0 | $6.65 | $3.04 |
Gas CO2
17 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (65% 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
Afternoon in Mason City on Friday
Local time
12:53 PM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
47°F
Hampton, IA
24 mi in
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
21 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 9m 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 Iowa Falls, IA to Mason City, IA covers 47.5 miles and takes about 1h 9m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 65, Oak Street, South Pennsylvania Avenue. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 23.8 miles from Iowa Falls, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $7.43 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.
This is a straightforward 1h 9m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (East Rocksylvania Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles (US 65 / Oak Street): Navigation decision point; at 6 miles (US 65): Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Iowa Falls, 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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