Trip from Mason City, IA to Marshalltown, IA

Drive Time

1h 53m

Distance

91.6 mi

Route Type

Turn-heavy local drive

Quick day trip

Trip Overview

The drive from Mason City, IA to Marshalltown, IA covers 91.6 miles and takes about 1h 53m 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 Northeast, North Pennsylvania Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $13.60 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

45.8 miles from Mason City, IA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day.

Drive Character

Expect a 1h 53m drive with frequent turns across 91.6 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.

There are about 19 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.

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
North Federal Avenue	0 mi	0m
1st Street Northeast	0 mi	0m
North Pennsylvania Avenue	0 mi	0m
8th Street Southeast	0 mi	0m
South Federal Avenue	0 mi	0m
Partridge Avenue	0 mi	0m
County Highway C13	0 mi	0m
4th Street Southeast	0 mi	0m

Longest stretch: North Federal Avenue — 0 mi, about 0m

Step-by-Step Directions

1

Start on 2nd Street Northeast

2

Turn left onto North Federal Avenue

3

Turn left onto 1st Street Northeast

4

Turn right onto North Pennsylvania Avenue

5

Turn right onto 8th Street Southeast

6

Turn left onto South Federal Avenue

7

Continue on Partridge Avenue

8

Continue on County Highway C13

9

Continue on 4th Street Southeast

10

Turn left onto Hardin Street

11

Turn sharp right onto Butler Street

12

Continue on County Highway S56

13

Continue on North 1st Street

14

Continue on County Road S56

15

Turn left onto State Highway 175

16

Continue on 240th Street

17

Turn right onto Sanford Avenue

18

Continue on North 3rd Avenue

19

Arrive at your destination

When to Leave

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 45.8 miles from Mason City, IA.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

Drive Plan

Departure

Before you leave

Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.

First stop

Around 80 miles

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 45.8 miles

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Last hour of driving

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Marshalltown, 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.

Trip Strategy

Day 1

Settle into the route from Mason City, IA

This is one driving day of about 91.6 miles and 1h 53m.

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.

Best Stop Towns on This Route

These towns line up with the pace of this drive and give you clearer places to stop with a purpose.

Late stop town

Meal stop

Waterloo, IA

46 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.

Travel Advice

Arrival Notes

The final approach into Marshalltown, 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 Marshalltown, IA.

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.

Stops Along the Way

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 45.8 mi from Mason City, IA

Ames, IA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Waterloo, IA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 45.8 miles from Mason City, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions for the drive, so the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
regular	$3.77	$13.60	$27.20
midgrade	$4.25	$15.34	$30.68
premium	$4.65	$16.78	$33.57
diesel	$5.30	$19.13	$38.26

Based on 25.4 MPG average. Estimated CO2 emission: 32 kg one way.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Mason City, IA to Marshalltown, IA covers 91.6 miles and takes about 1h 53m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are North Federal Avenue, 1st Street Northeast, North Pennsylvania Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 45.8 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 $13.60 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.

More trips from Mason City, IA

Mason City, IA to Iowa City, IA

166.1 mi 2h 42m

More trips to Marshalltown, IA

Muscatine, IA to Marshalltown, IA

129.3 mi 2h 16m

Iowa City, IA to Marshalltown, IA

92.2 mi 1h 37m

Ames, IA to Marshalltown, IA

41.4 mi 45m

Next Route Ideas

Continue From Marshalltown, IA

Marshalltown, IA to Ames, IA 39.9 mi · 42m