Origin
Mason City, IA
Evening in Mason City on Thursday
Local time
8:36 PM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Mason City, IA to Algona, IA
Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026
Drive Time
1h 18m
Distance
54.5 mi
88 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 12m
★
6 AM
1h 18m
8 AM
1h 31m
10 AM
1h 23m
12 PM
1h 21m
3 PM
1h 23m
5 PM
1h 30m
8 PM
1h 15m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Mason City, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Algona, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Mason City, IA to Algona, IA covers 54.5 miles and takes about 1h 18m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on 4th Street Southwest, 210th Street, East McGregor Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 46.2 miles on 4th Street Southwest. At current regular gas prices, budget about $8.52 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 18m. Total distance: 54.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 18m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 18m drive with frequent turns across 54.5 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 10 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
4th Street Southwest is the longest continuous segment at about 46.2 miles.
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. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near North Federal Avenue.
Driving Effort
2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Mason City, IA to Algona, IA is easy. At 1h 18m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (North Federal Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (1st Street Northwest): Navigation decision point; at 1.7 miles (US 18 Business; IA 122 / 4th Street Southwest): Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 6 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
North Federal Avenue
Turn left onto North Federal Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
1st Street Northwest
Turn right onto 1st Street Northwest
Navigation decision point
4
1.7 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
US 18 Business; IA 122 / 4th Street Southwest
Turn right onto US 18 Business; IA 122 / 4th Street Southwest
Navigation decision point
4
47.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 8m in
|
210th Avenue
Turn left onto 210th Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
49 mi into trip
|
~1h 10m in
|
210th Street
Turn right onto 210th Street
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 4th Street Southwest | 46.2 mi | 1h 4m |
| 210th Street | 4 mi | 5m |
| East McGregor Street | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| 1st Street Northwest | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| 210th Avenue | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| Winnebago Way | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| South Jones Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| North Federal Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
4th Street Southwest
— 46.2 mi, about 1h 4m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Mason City, IA and Algona, IA.
1
Start on 2nd Street Northeast
24 ft
·
6 sec
·
2nd Street Northeast
2
Turn left onto North Federal Avenue
328 ft
·
16 sec
·
North Federal Avenue
3
Turn right onto 1st Street Northwest
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
1st Street Northwest
4
Continue on Winnebago Way
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Winnebago Way
5
Turn right onto US 18 Business; IA 122
46 mi
·
1 hr 4 min
·
4th Street Southwest
6
Turn left onto 210th Avenue
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
210th Avenue
7
Turn right onto 210th Street
4.0 mi
·
5 min
·
210th Street
8
Continue on East McGregor Street
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
East McGregor Street
9
Turn right onto South Jones Street
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
·
South Jones Street
10
Arrive at destination
US 169
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 27.2 mi from Mason City, IA · 39m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
27 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 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 27.2 miles from Mason City, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Algona, IA
The final approach into Algona, 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
$8.52 one way
$17.04 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
19 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $9.36 | $18.71 |
| premium | $4.89 | $10.49 | $20.98 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.03 | $24.07 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 19.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16.3 | 0 | $5.72 | $2.62 |
| Efficient EV | 13.6 | 0 | $4.77 | $2.18 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 21.8 | 0 | $7.63 | $3.49 |
Gas CO2
19 kg
EV CO2
6 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
Algona, IA
Evening in Algona on Thursday
Local time
8:36 PM
CDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
23 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
1h 18m 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 Mason City, IA to Algona, IA covers 54.5 miles and takes about 1h 18m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are 4th Street Southwest, 210th Street, East McGregor Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 27.2 miles from Mason City, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $8.52 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 Mason City, IA to Algona, IA is easy. At 1h 18m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (North Federal Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (1st Street Northwest): Navigation decision point; at 1.7 miles (US 18 Business; IA 122 / 4th Street Southwest): Navigation decision point.
The route from Mason City, IA to Algona, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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