Drive Time
2h 4m
Distance
107.7 mi
173 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$16
one way
Photo: Mark Stebnicki
The drive from Mason City, IA to Boone, IA covers 107.7 miles and takes about 2h 4m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 35, I 35 Business, Avenue of the Saints for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 78.2 miles on I 35. At current regular gas prices, budget about $16.36 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
53.8 miles from Mason City, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 2m into the drive .
This is a 2h 4m highway drive covering 107.7 miles, with most of the trip on I 35 and I 35 Business. The longest continuous stretch is about 78.2 miles on I 35.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35 and I 35 Business. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near North Federal Avenue.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 2h 4m 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 Northwest): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (North Monroe Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Turn left onto North Federal Avenue
Navigation decision point
Turn right onto 1st Street Northwest
Navigation decision point
Turn left onto North Monroe Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward I 35 South: Des Moines
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Take the exit toward US 30 West: Ames
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 35 | 78.2 mi | 1h 24m |
| I 35 Business | 11 mi | 12m |
| Avenue of the Saints | 3.5 mi | 3m |
| 19th Street Southwest | 2.5 mi | 4m |
| Mamie Eisenhower Avenue | 2.4 mi | 3m |
| 210th Street | 2.1 mi | 2m |
| Mallard Avenue | 1.4 mi | 1m |
| North Monroe Avenue | 1.3 mi | 2m |
Step-by-step road directions between Mason City, IA and Boone, IA.
Start on 2nd Street Northeast
Turn left onto North Federal Avenue
Turn right onto 1st Street Northwest
Turn left onto North Monroe Avenue
Turn right onto 19th Street Southwest
Turn left onto South Eisenhower Avenue
Continue on Mallard Avenue
Take the ramp
Merge onto US 18; IA 27
Take the exit
Continue on this road
Merge onto I 35
Take the exit
Continue on I 35 Business; US 30
Turn slight right onto T Avenue
Turn left onto CR E41
Continue on Mamie Eisenhower Avenue
Arrive at destination
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.
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 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 53.8 miles or 1h 2m 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 39m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Boone, IA than in the middle of the route.
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 107.7 miles and 2h 4m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 53.8 mi from Mason City, IA · 1h 2m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
54 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.
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 53.8 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 78.2 miles.
The final approach into Boone, 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 Boone, IA.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$16.36 one way
$32.72 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $18.03 | $36.07 |
| premium | $4.80 | $20.33 | $40.66 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $23.93 | $47.85 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 37.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 32.3 | 0 | $11.31 | $5.17 |
| Efficient EV | 26.9 | 0 | $9.42 | $4.31 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 43.1 | 0 | $15.08 | $6.89 |
Gas CO2
38 kg
EV CO2
13 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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Morning in Mason City on Sunday
Local time
10:07 AM
CDT
Current temp
46°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Morning in Boone on Sunday
Local time
10:07 AM
CDT
Current temp
42°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
42°F
Ames, IA
54 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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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