Origin
Mason City, IA
Morning in Mason City on Monday
Local time
10:34 AM
CDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Mason City, IA to Decorah, IA
Drive Time
2h 9m
Distance
88.5 mi
142 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$13
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 0m
★
6 AM
2h 9m
8 AM
2h 28m
10 AM
2h 16m
12 PM
2h 14m
3 PM
2h 17m
5 PM
2h 27m
8 PM
2h 4m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Mason City, IA
Chris Flaten
Decorah, IA
Quang Nguyen Vinh
Trip Overview
The drive from Mason City, IA to Decorah, IA covers 88.5 miles and takes about 2h 9m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on State Highway 24, Avenue of the Saints, 200th Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 23.6 miles on State Highway 24. At current regular gas prices, budget about $13.44 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
44.2 miles from Mason City, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 1m into the drive .
Drive Character
The drive from Mason City, IA to Decorah, IA covers 88.5 miles and takes about 2h 9m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 38 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
State Highway 24 is the longest continuous segment at about 23.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. 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 9m drive. You will face about 20 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 28.7 miles (US 218 Business): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 29 miles (US 218 Business / 185th Street): Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 20 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
5
28.7 mi into trip
|
~37m in
|
US 218 Business
Take the exit onto US 218 Business toward US 218 Business, CR B35: Charles City
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 218 Business, CR B35: Charles City
5
29 mi into trip
|
~38m in
|
US 218 Business / 185th Street
Turn left onto US 218 Business / 185th Street
Navigation decision point
5
32.3 mi into trip
|
~44m in
|
US 18 / Brantingham Street
Turn left onto US 18 / Brantingham Street
Navigation decision point
5
50.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 10m in
|
210th Street
At end of road, turn left onto 210th Street
Navigation decision point
Towns Along This Route
On the drive from Mason City, IA to Decorah, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Cr B35: Charles City along the way.
Cr B35: Charles City
28.7 mi in
|
~37m
|
via US 218 Business
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| State Highway 24 | 23.6 mi | 33m |
| Avenue of the Saints | 21.6 mi | 24m |
| 200th Street | 11 mi | 15m |
| US 52 | 7.8 mi | 10m |
| 200th Avenue | 5 mi | 6m |
| 4th Street Southeast | 2.7 mi | 4m |
| Thrush Avenue | 2.6 mi | 3m |
| Gilbert Street | 2.5 mi | 4m |
Longest stretch:
State Highway 24
— 23.6 mi, about 33m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Mason City, IA and Decorah, IA.
1
Start on 2nd Street Northeast
24 ft
·
6 sec
·
2nd Street Northeast
2
Turn left onto North Federal Avenue
328 ft
·
19 sec
·
North Federal Avenue
3
Turn left onto 1st Street Northeast
0.5 mi
·
56 sec
·
1st Street Northeast
4
At end of road, turn left onto East State Street
0.6 mi
·
59 sec
·
East State Street
5
Turn slight right onto Maple Drive
0.4 mi
·
57 sec
·
Maple Drive
6
Turn left onto IA 122
2.7 mi
·
4 min
·
4th Street Southeast
7
Turn right onto CR S56
2.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Thrush Avenue
8
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
54 sec
9
Merge onto US 18; IA 27
22 mi
·
24 min
·
Avenue of the Saints
10
Take the exit onto US 218 Business
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
·
US 218 Business
Toward US 218 Business, CR B35: Charles City
11
Turn left onto US 218 Business
0.3 mi
·
24 sec
·
185th Street
12
Turn straight onto US 218 Business
2.5 mi
·
4 min
·
Gilbert Street
13
Turn left onto Main Street
0.2 mi
·
38 sec
·
Main Street
14
Turn right onto Clark Street
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
·
Clark Street
15
Turn left onto US 18
0.1 mi
·
23 sec
·
Brantingham Street
16
Continue on US 18
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
4th Avenue
17
Continue on US 18
0.3 mi
·
49 sec
·
5th Avenue
18
Continue on US 18
5.0 mi
·
6 min
·
200th Avenue
19
Continue on US 18
11 mi
·
15 min
·
200th Street
20
Turn right onto Kenwood Avenue
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Kenwood Avenue
21
At end of road, turn left onto 210th Street
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
·
210th Street
22
Continue on West Main Street
1.7 mi
·
4 min
·
West Main Street
23
Continue on IA 24
20 mi
·
28 min
·
State Highway 24
24
Continue on IA 24
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
·
1st Street Southeast
25
Continue on IA 24
2.7 mi
·
3 min
·
State Highway 24
26
Continue on IA 24
0.6 mi
·
50 sec
·
Highway 24
27
Continue on IA 24
0.6 mi
·
51 sec
·
State Highway 24
28
Continue on IA 24
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
·
Charles Street
29
Turn right onto South Street
0.2 mi
·
51 sec
·
South Street
30
Turn left onto IA 150
1.8 mi
·
3 min
·
Maryville Street
31
Continue on US 52
7.8 mi
·
10 min
·
US 52
32
Turn right onto IA 9
0.4 mi
·
39 sec
·
State Highway 9
33
Turn left onto Short Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Short Street
34
Continue on South Mechanic Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
South Mechanic Street
35
Turn right onto West Broadway Street
0.3 mi
·
31 sec
·
West Broadway Street
36
Turn left onto Washington Street
340 ft
·
17 sec
·
Washington Street
37
Turn right onto East Main Street
60 ft
·
2 sec
·
East Main Street
38
Arrive at destination
East Main Street
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 44.2 miles from Mason City, IA, or about 1h 1m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 23.6 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 55m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 44.2 miles or 1h 1m 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 47m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Decorah, 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 88.5 miles and 2h 9m.
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 State Highway 24 for about 23.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 44.2 mi from Mason City, IA · 1h 1m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
44 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 44.2 miles from Mason City, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Decorah, IA
The final approach into Decorah, 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 Decorah, 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
$13.44 one way
$26.88 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
31 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $14.82 | $29.64 |
| premium | $4.80 | $16.71 | $33.41 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $19.66 | $39.32 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 31 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 26.6 | 0 | $9.29 | $4.25 |
| Efficient EV | 22.1 | 0 | $7.74 | $3.54 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 35.4 | 0 | $12.39 | $5.66 |
Gas CO2
31 kg
EV CO2
10 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
Decorah, IA
Morning in Decorah on Monday
Local time
10:34 AM
CDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
42°F
Waterloo, IA
44 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
2h 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 Mason City, IA to Decorah, IA covers 88.5 miles and takes about 2h 9m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are State Highway 24, Avenue of the Saints, 200th Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 44.2 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 $13.44 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 9m drive. You will face about 20 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (North Federal Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 28.7 miles (US 218 Business): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 29 miles (US 218 Business / 185th Street): Navigation decision point.
On the drive from Mason City, IA to Decorah, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Cr B35: Charles City along the way.
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