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 Centerville, IA
Last recalculated Apr 15, 2026
Drive Time
4h 12m
Distance
205.9 mi
331 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$32
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 0m
★
6 AM
4h 13m
8 AM
4h 39m
10 AM
4h 22m
12 PM
4h 19m
3 PM
4h 23m
5 PM
4h 38m
8 PM
4h 5m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Mason City, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Centerville, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Mason City, IA to Centerville, IA covers 205.9 miles and takes about 4h 12m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 35, IA 5, South Clinton Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 102.9 miles on I 35. At current regular gas prices, budget about $32.19 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
102.9 miles from Mason City, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 56m into the drive .
Drive Character
This is a 4h 12m highway drive covering 205.9 miles, with most of the trip on I 35 and IA 5. The longest continuous stretch is about 102.9 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 27 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 102.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35 and IA 5. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near North Federal Avenue.
Route Complexity
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 205.9 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (North Federal Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (North Monroe Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 11.4 miles (I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 19 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
6
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.
5
11.4 mi into trip
|
~17m in
|
I 35
Merge onto I 35
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
114.1 mi into trip
|
~2h 8m in
|
I 35
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35 toward I 35 South, I 80: Kansas City, Council Bluffs, Davenport
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 35 South, I 80: Kansas City, Council B...
8
117.7 mi into trip
|
~2h 13m in
Take the exit toward US 65 South: Altoona, Des Moines
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 141
Toward US 65 South: Altoona, Des Moines
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Mason City, IA and Centerville, IA, road signs point toward Council Bluffs, Davenport and Des Moines.
Council Bluffs
114.1 mi in
|
~2h 8m
|
via I 35
Davenport
114.1 mi in
|
~2h 8m
|
via I 35
Des Moines
117.7 mi in
|
~2h 13m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 35 | 102.9 mi | 1h 51m |
| IA 5 | 55.2 mi | 1h 11m |
| South Clinton Street | 20.6 mi | 30m |
| Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway | 10.7 mi | 12m |
| Avenue of the Saints | 3.5 mi | 3m |
| I 80 | 2.6 mi | 2m |
| 19th Street Southwest | 2.5 mi | 4m |
| Mallard Avenue | 1.4 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 35
— 102.9 mi, about 1h 51m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Mason City, IA and Centerville, 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
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
·
1st Street Northwest
4
Turn left onto North Monroe Avenue
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
North Monroe Avenue
Use the left / straight lanes.
5
Turn right onto 19th Street Southwest
2.5 mi
·
4 min
·
19th Street Southwest
6
Turn left onto South Eisenhower Avenue
0.5 mi
·
40 sec
·
South Eisenhower Avenue
7
Continue on Mallard Avenue
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Mallard Avenue
8
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
54 sec
9
Merge onto US 18; IA 27
3.5 mi
·
3 min
·
Avenue of the Saints
10
Take the exit
0.9 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 35 South: Des Moines
11
Continue on this road
0.5 mi
·
32 sec
·
this road
Toward I 35 South: Des Moines
12
Merge onto I 35
103 mi
·
1 hr 50 min
·
I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35
0.2 mi
·
12 sec
·
I 35
Toward I 35 South, I 80: Kansas City, Council Bluffs, Davenport
14
Take the exit
0.8 mi
·
2 min
Exit 137A
Toward I 80 East: Davenport
15
Merge onto I 80
2.6 mi
·
2 min
·
I 80
16
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 141
Toward US 65 South: Altoona, Des Moines
Use the slight right lane.
17
Merge onto US 65
11 mi
·
12 min
·
Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward IA 5 South: Carlisle
19
Continue on IA 5
19 mi
·
21 min
·
IA 5
20
Turn left onto IA 5; IA 92
11 mi
·
11 min
·
IA 5; IA 92
21
Take the exit onto IA 5
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
IA 5
22
Turn right onto IA 5
26 mi
·
37 min
·
IA 5
23
Turn straight onto IA 5
21 mi
·
30 min
·
South Clinton Street
24
Turn right onto East Washington Street
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
East Washington Street
25
Turn left onto North 13th Street
359 ft
·
15 sec
·
North 13th Street
26
Continue on North 13th Street
302 ft
·
13 sec
·
North 13th Street
27
Arrive at destination
North 13th Street
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 102.9 miles from Mason City, IA, or about 1h 56m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 102.9 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 45 miles or 53m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 102.9 miles or 1h 56m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 16m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Centerville, 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 205.9 miles and 4h 12m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 45 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.
The longest stretch is on I 35 for about 102.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 102.9 mi from Mason City, IA · 1h 56m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
103 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 45 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 102.9 miles from Mason City, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 35 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 102.9 miles.
Arriving in Centerville, IA
The final approach into Centerville, 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 Centerville, IA.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$32.19 one way
$64.38 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
72 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $35.34 | $70.69 |
| premium | $4.89 | $39.62 | $79.25 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $45.46 | $90.92 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$32
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$57–$82
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 72 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 61.8 | 0 | $21.62 | $9.88 |
| Efficient EV | 51.5 | 0 | $18.02 | $8.24 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 82.4 | 1 | $28.83 | $13.18 |
Gas CO2
72 kg
EV CO2
24 kg (67% 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
Centerville, IA
Evening in Centerville on Wednesday
Local time
6:18 PM
CDT
Current temp
74°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
3 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
4h 12m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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 Centerville, IA covers 205.9 miles and takes about 4h 12m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 35, IA 5, South Clinton Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 102.9 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 $32.19 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. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 205.9 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (North Federal Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (North Monroe Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 11.4 miles (I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Mason City, IA and Centerville, IA, road signs point toward Council Bluffs, Davenport and Des Moines.
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