Origin
Nevada, IA
Afternoon in Nevada on Thursday
Local time
4:06 PM
CDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Nevada, IA to Mason City, IA
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
1h 32m
Distance
97.1 mi
156 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$15
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 25m
★
6 AM
1h 32m
8 AM
1h 46m
10 AM
1h 37m
12 PM
1h 36m
3 PM
1h 38m
5 PM
1h 45m
8 PM
1h 28m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Nevada, IA
Stephan Müller
Mason City, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Nevada, IA to Mason City, IA covers 97.1 miles and takes about 1h 32m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on 6th Street, South 6th Street, Lincoln Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $15.18 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.
Midpoint
48.5 miles from Nevada, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 46m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 32m. Total distance: 97.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 32m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 32m drive with frequent turns across 97.1 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 17 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
6th Street 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.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Nevada, IA to Mason City, IA is easy. At 1h 32m 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 Nevada, IA to Mason City, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 6th Street | — | — |
| South 6th Street | — | — |
| Lincoln Highway | — | — |
| I 35 North | — | — |
| US 18 East | — | — |
| Airport | — | — |
| Mallard Avenue | — | — |
| South Eisenhower Avenue | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
6th Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Nevada, IA and Mason City, IA.
1
Start on Lincoln Highway
30 ft
·
5 sec
·
Lincoln Highway
2
Turn right onto 6th Street
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
6th Street
3
Continue on South 6th Street
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
·
South 6th Street
4
Turn right onto Lincoln Highway
5.7 mi
·
6 min
·
Lincoln Highway
5
Take the exit slight right toward I 35 North: Minneapolis
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
I 35 North: Minneapolis
6
Merge slight left
78 mi
·
1 hr 23 min
7
Take the exit slight right toward US 18 East, IA 27 South: Mason City, Charles City
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
US 18 East, IA 27 South: Mason City, Charles City
8
Merge slight left
3.6 mi
·
4 min
9
Take the exit slight right toward Airport
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
·
Airport
10
Turn left onto Mallard Avenue
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Mallard Avenue
11
Continue on South Eisenhower Avenue
0.5 mi
·
45 sec
·
South Eisenhower Avenue
12
Turn right onto 19th Street Southwest
2.5 mi
·
4 min
·
19th Street Southwest
13
Turn left onto South Monroe Avenue
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
South Monroe Avenue
14
Turn right onto 1st Street Northwest
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
·
1st Street Northwest
15
Turn left onto North Federal Avenue
328 ft
·
16 sec
·
North Federal Avenue
16
Turn right onto 2nd Street Northeast
23 ft
·
1 sec
·
2nd Street Northeast
17
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 48.5 miles from Nevada, IA, or about 46m 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 21 miles or 19m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 48.5 miles or 46m 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 15m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Mason City, IA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Nevada, IA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Nevada, IA
This is one driving day of about 97.1 miles and 1h 32m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Nevada, 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 48.5 mi from Nevada, IA · 46m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
49 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 21 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 48.5 miles from Nevada, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Mason City, IA
The final approach into Mason City, IA usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$15.18 one way
$30.36 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
34 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $16.67 | $33.34 |
| premium | $4.89 | $18.69 | $37.37 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $21.44 | $42.88 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$15
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 34 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 29.1 | 0 | $10.20 | $4.66 |
| Efficient EV | 24.3 | 0 | $8.50 | $3.88 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 38.8 | 0 | $13.59 | $6.21 |
Gas CO2
34 kg
EV CO2
11 kg (68% 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
Mason City, IA
Afternoon in Mason City on Thursday
Local time
4:06 PM
CDT
Current temp
71°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
21 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 32m 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 Nevada, IA to Mason City, IA covers 97.1 miles and takes about 1h 32m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are 6th Street, South 6th Street, Lincoln Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 48.5 miles from Nevada, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $15.18 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 Nevada, IA to Mason City, IA is easy. At 1h 32m 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 Nevada, IA to Mason City, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Nevada, IA to Mason City, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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