Origin
Mason City, IA
Evening in Mason City on Wednesday
Local time
6:18 PM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Mason City, IA to Anamosa, IA
Last recalculated Apr 15, 2026
Drive Time
3h 6m
Distance
151.9 mi
245 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$24
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 55m
★
6 AM
3h 7m
8 AM
3h 30m
10 AM
3h 15m
12 PM
3h 13m
3 PM
3h 16m
5 PM
3h 29m
8 PM
3h 0m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Mason City, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Anamosa, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Mason City, IA to Anamosa, IA covers 151.9 miles and takes about 3h 6m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on North Federal Avenue, 1st Street Northeast, East State Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $23.75 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.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
76 miles from Mason City, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 33m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 3h 6m drive with frequent turns across 151.9 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.
North Federal Avenue 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.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Mason City, IA to Anamosa, IA is easy. At 3h 6m 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 Mason City, IA to Anamosa, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| North Federal Avenue | — | — |
| 1st Street Northeast | — | — |
| East State Street | — | — |
| Maple Drive | — | — |
| 4th Street Southeast | — | — |
| Thrush Avenue | — | — |
| Avenue of the Saints | — | — |
| US 218 south | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
North Federal Avenue
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Mason City, IA and Anamosa, IA.
1
Start on 2nd Street Northeast
23 ft
·
6 sec
·
2nd Street Northeast
2
Turn left onto North Federal Avenue
328 ft
·
20 sec
·
North Federal Avenue
3
Turn left onto 1st Street Northeast
0.5 mi
·
57 sec
·
1st Street Northeast
4
At the end of the road, turn left onto East State Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
East State Street
5
Turn slight right onto Maple Drive
0.4 mi
·
57 sec
·
Maple Drive
6
Turn left onto 4th Street Southeast
2.7 mi
·
4 min
·
4th Street Southeast
7
Turn right onto Thrush Avenue
2.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Thrush Avenue
8
Take the ramp left
0.4 mi
·
55 sec
9
Merge slight left onto Avenue of the Saints
69 mi
·
1 hr 19 min
·
Avenue of the Saints
10
Take the exit slight right toward US 218 south: Waterloo
318 ft
·
8 sec
·
US 218 south: Waterloo
11
Continue on US 218 south: Waterloo
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
·
US 218 south: Waterloo
12
Merge slight left onto Leo P Rooff Expressway
6.7 mi
·
8 min
·
Leo P Rooff Expressway
13
Continue on Washington Street
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Washington Street
14
Keep slight right to continue on I-380 south, US 20, IA 27: Cedar Rapids, Dubuque, Cedar Falls
6.5 mi
·
7 min
·
I-380 south, US 20, IA 27: Cedar Rapids, Dubuque, Cedar Falls
15
Keep slight right to continue on Avenue of the Saints
36 mi
·
38 min
·
Avenue of the Saints
16
Take the exit slight right toward CR E34: Toddville, Robins
0.3 mi
·
47 sec
·
CR E34: Toddville, Robins
17
Turn sharp left onto County Home Road
2.8 mi
·
3 min
·
County Home Road
18
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward County Home Road;C Avenue Extension
157 ft
·
3 sec
·
County Home Road;C Avenue Extension
19
Exit the rotary onto County Home Road
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
County Home Road
20
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward County Home Road
131 ft
·
3 sec
·
County Home Road
21
Exit the roundabout onto County Home Road
12 mi
·
16 min
·
County Home Road
22
Continue on Fairview Road
3.0 mi
·
5 min
·
Fairview Road
23
At the end of the road, turn left onto County Road E34
2.7 mi
·
4 min
·
County Road E34
24
Continue on Elm Street
0.3 mi
·
30 sec
·
Elm Street
25
Turn left onto Cemetery Road
39 ft
·
3 sec
·
Cemetery Road
26
Turn right onto South Elm Street
0.3 mi
·
30 sec
·
South Elm Street
27
At the end of the road, turn right onto West Main Street
0.4 mi
·
42 sec
·
West Main Street
28
Arrive at your destination
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 76 miles from Mason City, IA, or about 1h 33m 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 33 miles or 40m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 76 miles or 1h 33m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 33m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Anamosa, IA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Mason City, 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 Mason City, IA
This is one driving day of about 151.9 miles and 3h 6m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 33 miles from Mason City, 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 76 mi from Mason City, IA · 1h 33m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
76 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 33 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 76 miles from Mason City, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Anamosa, IA
The final approach into Anamosa, 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 Anamosa, IA.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$23.75 one way
$47.50 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
53 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $26.07 | $52.15 |
| premium | $4.89 | $29.23 | $58.46 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $33.54 | $67.08 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$24
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$49–$74
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 53.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 45.6 | 0 | $15.95 | $7.29 |
| Efficient EV | 38 | 0 | $13.29 | $6.08 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 60.8 | 0 | $21.27 | $9.72 |
Gas CO2
53 kg
EV CO2
18 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.
Destination
Anamosa, IA
Evening in Anamosa on Wednesday
Local time
6:18 PM
CDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
68°F
Waterloo, IA
76 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
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
3h 6m 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 Anamosa, IA covers 151.9 miles and takes about 3h 6m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are North Federal Avenue, 1st Street Northeast, East State Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 76 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 $23.75 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. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
The drive from Mason City, IA to Anamosa, IA is easy. At 3h 6m 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 Mason City, IA to Anamosa, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Mason City, IA to Anamosa, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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