Origin
Mason City, IA
Late night in Mason City on Wednesday
Local time
5:08 AM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Mason City, IA to Waterloo, IA
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
1h 41m
Distance
83 mi
134 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$13
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 34m
★
6 AM
1h 41m
8 AM
1h 56m
10 AM
1h 46m
12 PM
1h 45m
3 PM
1h 47m
5 PM
1h 56m
8 PM
1h 37m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Mason City, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Waterloo, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Mason City, IA to Waterloo, IA covers 83 miles and takes about 1h 41m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Avenue of the Saints, Leo P Rooff Expressway, 4th Street Southeast for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 69.1 miles on Avenue of the Saints. At current regular gas prices, budget about $12.98 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
41.5 miles from Mason City, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 52m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 41m drive with frequent turns across 83 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 16 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Avenue of the Saints is the longest continuous segment at about 69.1 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. 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 1h 41m 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 Northeast): Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles (East State Street): Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 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
4
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
1st Street Northeast
Turn left onto 1st Street Northeast
Navigation decision point
4
0.6 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
East State Street
At end of road, turn left onto East State Street
Navigation decision point
5
82.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 39m in
Take the exit toward Downtown Riverfront, Sullivan Brothers Convention Center
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Downtown Riverfront, Sullivan Brothers C...
5
83 mi into trip
|
~1h 41m in
|
West 4th Street
Turn right onto West 4th Street
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Avenue of the Saints | 69.1 mi | 1h 19m |
| Leo P Rooff Expressway | 5.8 mi | 6m |
| 4th Street Southeast | 2.7 mi | 4m |
| Thrush Avenue | 2.6 mi | 3m |
| East State Street | 0.6 mi | <1m |
| 1st Street Northeast | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Maple Drive | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| US 218 | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Avenue of the Saints
— 69.1 mi, about 1h 19m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Mason City, IA and Waterloo, 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
69 mi
·
1 hr 19 min
·
Avenue of the Saints
10
Take the exit
317 ft
·
7 sec
Toward US 218 south: Waterloo
11
Continue on US 218
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
·
US 218
Toward US 218 south: Waterloo
12
Merge onto US 218
5.8 mi
·
6 min
·
Leo P Rooff Expressway
13
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
51 sec
Toward Downtown Riverfront, Sullivan Brothers Convention Center
14
Turn straight onto Washington Street
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
·
Washington Street
15
Turn right onto West 4th Street
76 ft
·
2 sec
·
West 4th Street
16
Arrive at destination
West 4th 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 41.5 miles from Mason City, IA, or about 52m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 69.1 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 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 41.5 miles or 52m 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 25m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Waterloo, 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 83 miles and 1h 41m.
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 Avenue of the Saints for about 69.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 41.5 mi from Mason City, IA · 52m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
42 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 41.5 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 Avenue of the Saints if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 69.1 miles.
Arriving in Waterloo, IA
The final approach into Waterloo, 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 Waterloo, 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
$12.98 one way
$25.95 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
29 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $14.25 | $28.49 |
| premium | $4.89 | $15.97 | $31.95 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $18.33 | $36.65 |
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: 29 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 24.9 | 0 | $8.71 | $3.98 |
| Efficient EV | 20.8 | 0 | $7.26 | $3.32 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 33.2 | 0 | $11.62 | $5.31 |
Gas CO2
29 kg
EV CO2
10 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
Waterloo, IA
Late night in Waterloo on Wednesday
Local time
5:08 AM
CDT
Current temp
68°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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 41m 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 Waterloo, IA covers 83 miles and takes about 1h 41m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Avenue of the Saints, Leo P Rooff Expressway, 4th Street Southeast. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 41.5 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 $12.98 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 1h 41m drive. You will face about 11 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 0.1 miles (1st Street Northeast): Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles (East State Street): Navigation decision point.
The route from Mason City, IA to Waterloo, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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