Trip from Mason City, IA to Boone, IA

Drive Time

2h 4m

Distance

107.7 mi

173 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$16

one way

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Mason City, IA

Chris Flaten

Boone, IA

Mark Stebnicki

Trip Overview

The drive from Mason City, IA to Boone, IA covers 107.7 miles and takes about 2h 4m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 35, I 35 Business, Avenue of the Saints for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 78.2 miles on I 35. At current regular gas prices, budget about $16.36 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

0 planned breaks

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

53.8 miles from Mason City, IA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 2m into the drive .

Drive Character

This is a 2h 4m highway drive covering 107.7 miles, with most of the trip on I 35 and I 35 Business. The longest continuous stretch is about 78.2 miles on I 35.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.

There are about 18 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

I 35 is the longest continuous segment at about 78.2 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35 and I 35 Business. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near North Federal Avenue.

Route Complexity 4/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

This is a straightforward 2h 4m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

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 0.4 miles (North Monroe Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 11 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 | North Federal Avenue

Turn left onto North Federal Avenue

Navigation decision point

0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | 1st Street Northwest

Turn right onto 1st Street Northwest

Navigation decision point

0.4 mi into trip | ~1m in | North Monroe Avenue

Turn left onto North Monroe Avenue

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left / straight lanes.

10 mi into trip | ~15m in

Take the exit toward I 35 South: Des Moines

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

Toward I 35 South: Des Moines

89.6 mi into trip | ~1h 41m in

Take the exit toward US 30 West: Ames

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

Toward US 30 West: Ames

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
I 35	78.2 mi	1h 24m
I 35 Business	11 mi	12m
Avenue of the Saints	3.5 mi	3m
19th Street Southwest	2.5 mi	4m
Mamie Eisenhower Avenue	2.4 mi	3m
210th Street	2.1 mi	2m
Mallard Avenue	1.4 mi	1m
North Monroe Avenue	1.3 mi	2m

Longest stretch: I 35 — 78.2 mi, about 1h 24m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

Start on 2nd Street Northeast

24 ft · 6 sec · 2nd Street Northeast

Turn left onto North Federal Avenue

328 ft · 16 sec · North Federal Avenue

Turn right onto 1st Street Northwest

0.4 mi · 47 sec · 1st Street Northwest

Turn left onto North Monroe Avenue

1.3 mi · 2 min · North Monroe Avenue

Use the left / straight lanes.

Turn right onto 19th Street Southwest

2.5 mi · 4 min · 19th Street Southwest

Turn left onto South Eisenhower Avenue

0.5 mi · 40 sec · South Eisenhower Avenue

Continue on Mallard Avenue

1.4 mi · 1 min · Mallard Avenue

Take the ramp

0.4 mi · 54 sec

Merge onto US 18; IA 27

3.5 mi · 3 min · Avenue of the Saints

Take the exit

0.9 mi · 1 min

Toward I 35 South: Des Moines

Continue on this road

0.5 mi · 32 sec · this road

Toward I 35 South: Des Moines

Merge onto I 35

78 mi · 1 hr 24 min · I 35

Take the exit

1.4 mi · 2 min

Toward US 30 West: Ames

Continue on I 35 Business; US 30

11 mi · 12 min · I 35 Business; US 30

Turn slight right onto T Avenue

1.2 mi · 1 min · T Avenue

Turn left onto CR E41

2.1 mi · 2 min · 210th Street

Continue on Mamie Eisenhower Avenue

2.4 mi · 3 min · Mamie Eisenhower Avenue

Arrive at destination

Mamie Eisenhower Avenue

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 53.8 miles from Mason City, IA, or about 1h 2m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 78.2 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 80 miles or 1h 31m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 53.8 miles or 1h 2m 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 39m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Boone, 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 107.7 miles and 2h 4m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Mason City, IA.

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

You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.

The longest stretch is on I 35 for about 78.2 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 53.8 mi from Mason City, IA · 1h 2m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Ames, 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.

Popular next leg

Ames, IA to Boone, IA

17.1 mi · 25m

Pacing Suggestions

Ames, IA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Ames, IA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 53.8 miles from Mason City, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 35 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 78.2 miles.

Arriving in Boone, IA

The final approach into Boone, 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 Boone, 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

$16.36 one way

$32.72 round trip

$3.86/gal 25.4 MPG avg 38 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.25	$18.03	$36.07
premium	$4.80	$20.33	$40.66
diesel	$5.64	$23.93	$47.85

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$16

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$41–$66

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 37.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

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

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	32.3	$11.31	$5.17
Efficient EV	26.9	$9.42	$4.31
EV Truck/SUV	43.1	$15.08	$6.89

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 data refreshed 2 days ago

Origin

Mason City, IA

Afternoon in Mason City on Sunday

Local time

2:07 PM

CDT

Current temp

46°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Boone, IA

Afternoon in Boone on Sunday

Local time

2:07 PM

CDT

Current temp

42°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

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

4 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

2h 4m 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 Boone, IA covers 107.7 miles and takes about 2h 4m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are I 35, I 35 Business, Avenue of the Saints. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 53.8 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 $16.36 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 2h 4m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

The route from Mason City, IA to Boone, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.