Origin
Mason City, IA
Evening in Mason City on Wednesday
Local time
6:07 PM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Mason City, IA to Altoona, IA
Last recalculated Apr 15, 2026
Drive Time
2h 20m
Distance
122.5 mi
197 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$19
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 11m
★
6 AM
2h 21m
8 AM
2h 40m
10 AM
2h 27m
12 PM
2h 25m
3 PM
2h 28m
5 PM
2h 39m
8 PM
2h 15m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Mason City, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Altoona, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Mason City, IA to Altoona, IA covers 122.5 miles and takes about 2h 20m 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, North Monroe Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $19.15 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
61.3 miles from Mason City, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 10m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 2h 20m drive with frequent turns across 122.5 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 20 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
The drive from Mason City, IA to Altoona, IA is easy. At 2h 20m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Mason City, IA to Altoona, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| North Federal Avenue | — | — |
| 1st Street Northwest | — | — |
| North Monroe Avenue | — | — |
| 19th Street Southwest | — | — |
| South Eisenhower Avenue | — | — |
| Mallard Avenue | — | — |
| Avenue of the Saints | — | — |
| I 35 South | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
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 Altoona, 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
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
·
1st Street Northwest
4
Turn left onto North Monroe Avenue
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
North Monroe Avenue
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
·
41 sec
·
South Eisenhower Avenue
7
Continue on Mallard Avenue
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Mallard Avenue
8
Take the ramp right
0.4 mi
·
54 sec
9
Merge slight left onto Avenue of the Saints
3.5 mi
·
3 min
·
Avenue of the Saints
10
Take the exit slight left toward I 35 South: Des Moines
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
I 35 South: Des Moines
11
Continue on I 35 South: Des Moines
0.5 mi
·
32 sec
·
I 35 South: Des Moines
12
Merge slight left
103 mi
·
1 hr 50 min
13
Keep slight right to continue on I 35 South, I 80: Kansas City, Council Bluffs, Davenport
0.2 mi
·
13 sec
·
I 35 South, I 80: Kansas City, Council Bluffs, Davenport
14
Take the exit slight left toward I 80 East: Davenport
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
I 80 East: Davenport
15
Merge slight right
5.5 mi
·
6 min
16
Take the exit slight right toward Bondurant, Altoona
0.4 mi
·
58 sec
·
Bondurant, Altoona
17
Turn right onto 1st Avenue North
0.5 mi
·
53 sec
·
1st Avenue North
18
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward 1st Avenue North
95 ft
·
2 sec
·
1st Avenue North
19
Exit the roundabout onto 1st Avenue North
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
1st Avenue North
20
Arrive at your destination
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 61.3 miles from Mason City, IA, or about 1h 10m 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 27 miles or 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 61.3 miles or 1h 10m 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 55m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Altoona, 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 122.5 miles and 2h 20m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 27 miles from Mason City, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 61.3 mi from Mason City, IA · 1h 10m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
61 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 27 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 61.3 miles from Mason City, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Altoona, IA
The final approach into Altoona, 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 Altoona, 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
$19.15 one way
$38.30 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
43 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $21.03 | $42.06 |
| premium | $4.89 | $23.57 | $47.15 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $27.05 | $54.09 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$19
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 42.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 36.8 | 0 | $12.86 | $5.88 |
| Efficient EV | 30.6 | 0 | $10.72 | $4.90 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 49 | 0 | $17.15 | $7.84 |
Gas CO2
43 kg
EV CO2
14 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
Altoona, IA
Evening in Altoona on Wednesday
Local time
6:07 PM
CDT
Current temp
69°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
2 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 20m 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 Altoona, IA covers 122.5 miles and takes about 2h 20m 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, North Monroe Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 61.3 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 $19.15 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.
The drive from Mason City, IA to Altoona, IA is easy. At 2h 20m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Mason City, IA to Altoona, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Mason City, IA to Altoona, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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