Origin
Mason City, IA
Afternoon in Mason City on Monday
Local time
12:25 PM
CDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Mason City, IA to Le Mars, IA
Drive Time
4h 6m
Distance
176.3 mi
284 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$27
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 53m
★
6 AM
4h 6m
8 AM
4h 33m
10 AM
4h 16m
12 PM
4h 13m
3 PM
4h 17m
5 PM
4h 31m
8 PM
3h 59m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Mason City, IA
Chris Flaten
Le Mars, IA
Zelch Csaba
Trip Overview
The drive from Mason City, IA to Le Mars, IA covers 176.3 miles and takes about 4h 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 Northwest, Winnebago Way for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $26.78 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
88.2 miles from Mason City, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 3m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 4h 6m drive with frequent turns across 176.3 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
Navigation is easy, but the length (4h 6m) means fatigue is the real challenge. The route is 0% highway with very few tricky spots.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Mason City, IA to Le Mars, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| North Federal Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 1st Street Northwest | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Winnebago Way | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 4th Street Southwest | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Main Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 525th Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 370th Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 450th Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
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 Le Mars, IA.
1
Start on 2nd Street Northeast
23 ft
·
6 sec
·
2nd Street Northeast
2
Turn left onto North Federal Avenue
328 ft
·
17 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 4th Street Southwest
68 mi
·
1 hr 35 min
·
4th Street Southwest
6
Turn slight right onto Main Street
56 ft
·
1 sec
·
Main Street
7
Turn slight right onto 525th Avenue
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
525th Avenue
8
Keep slight left to continue on 525th Avenue
0.1 mi
·
10 sec
·
525th Avenue
9
Continue on 370th Street
5.9 mi
·
8 min
·
370th Street
10
Continue on Main Street
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Main Street
11
Continue on 450th Avenue
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
450th Avenue
12
Continue on 360th Street
21 mi
·
30 min
·
360th Street
13
Continue on 11th Street Southeast
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
11th Street Southeast
14
Continue on 360th Street
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
360th Street
15
Turn right onto 200th Avenue
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
200th Avenue
16
Continue on 32nd Avenue West
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
·
32nd Avenue West
17
Turn left onto West 4th Street
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
West 4th Street
18
Continue on County Road B24
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
County Road B24
19
Turn right onto 180th Avenue
2.8 mi
·
4 min
·
180th Avenue
20
Turn left onto 320th Street
21 mi
·
29 min
·
320th Street
21
Continue on US-18
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
US-18
22
Continue on 320th Street
7.6 mi
·
10 min
·
320th Street
23
Take the ramp left toward IA 60
0.3 mi
·
24 sec
·
IA 60
24
Merge slight left
34 mi
·
38 min
25
Take the exit slight right toward US 75 North, US 75 Business: 5th Avenue Northwest, Sioux Center
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
·
US 75 North, US 75 Business: 5th Avenue Northwest, Sioux Center
26
Turn left
1.8 mi
·
2 min
27
Turn left onto 1st Street Northwest
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
1st Street Northwest
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 88.2 miles from Mason City, IA, or about 2h 3m 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 80 miles or 1h 51m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 88.2 miles or 2h 3m 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 22m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Le Mars, 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 176.3 miles and 4h 6m.
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.
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 88.2 mi from Mason City, IA · 2h 3m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
88 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 88.2 miles from Mason City, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Le Mars, IA
The final approach into Le Mars, 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 Le Mars, 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
$26.78 one way
$53.56 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
62 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $29.52 | $59.04 |
| premium | $4.80 | $33.28 | $66.56 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $39.17 | $78.34 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$27
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$52–$77
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 61.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 52.9 | 0 | $18.51 | $8.46 |
| Efficient EV | 44.1 | 0 | $15.43 | $7.05 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 70.5 | 0 | $24.68 | $11.28 |
Gas CO2
62 kg
EV CO2
21 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
Le Mars, IA
Afternoon in Le Mars on Monday
Local time
12:25 PM
CDT
Current temp
41°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
47°F
Osceola County, IA
88 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
5 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
4h 6m 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 Le Mars, IA covers 176.3 miles and takes about 4h 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 Northwest, Winnebago Way. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 88.2 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 $26.78 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.
Navigation is easy, but the length (4h 6m) means fatigue is the real challenge. The route is 0% highway with very few tricky spots.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Mason City, IA to Le Mars, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Mason City, IA to Le Mars, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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