Origin
Nevada, IA
Late night in Nevada on Saturday
Local time
12:31 AM
CDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Nevada, IA to Mason City, IA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 51m
Distance
96.7 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 44m
★
6 AM
1h 52m
8 AM
2h 8m
10 AM
1h 58m
12 PM
1h 56m
3 PM
1h 58m
5 PM
2h 7m
8 PM
1h 47m
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 96.7 miles and takes about 1h 51m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 35, Lincoln Highway, US 18 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 77.9 miles on I 35. At current regular gas prices, budget about $15.12 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
48.3 miles from Nevada, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 54m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 51m. Total distance: 96.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 51m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (84%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 1h 51m highway drive covering 96.7 miles, with most of the trip on I 35 and Lincoln Highway. The longest continuous stretch is about 77.9 miles on I 35.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 17 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 35 is the longest continuous segment at about 77.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35 and Lincoln Highway. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near 6th Street.
Driving Effort
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 96.7 miles you will encounter 12 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (6th Street): Navigation decision point; at 6.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 85.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
6th Street
Turn right onto 6th Street
Navigation decision point
4
6.9 mi into trip
|
~9m in
Take the exit toward I 35 North: Minneapolis
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 35 North: Minneapolis
5
85.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 34m in
Take the exit toward US 18 East, IA 27 South: Mason City, Charles City
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 18 East, IA 27 South: Mason City, Cha...
4
90 mi into trip
|
~1h 40m in
Take the exit toward Airport
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward Airport
5
96.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 51m in
|
2nd Street Northeast
Turn right onto 2nd Street Northeast
Navigation decision point
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Nevada, IA and Mason City, IA, road signs point toward Charles City and Airport.
Charles City
85.3 mi in
|
~1h 34m
Airport
90 mi in
|
~1h 40m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 35 | 77.9 mi | 1h 23m |
| Lincoln Highway | 5.7 mi | 6m |
| US 18 | 3.6 mi | 4m |
| 19th Street Southwest | 2.5 mi | 4m |
| Mallard Avenue | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| South Monroe Avenue | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| 6th Street | 1 mi | 2m |
| South Eisenhower Avenue | 0.5 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 35
— 77.9 mi, about 1h 23m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Nevada, IA and Mason City, IA.
1
Start on E41
30 ft
·
4 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
·
15 sec
·
South 6th Street
4
Turn right onto US 30
5.7 mi
·
6 min
·
Lincoln Highway
5
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 35 North: Minneapolis
6
Merge onto I 35
78 mi
·
1 hr 23 min
·
I 35
7
Take the exit
1.0 mi
·
1 min
Toward US 18 East, IA 27 South: Mason City, Charles City
8
Merge onto US 18; IA 27
3.6 mi
·
4 min
·
US 18; IA 27
9
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
Toward Airport
10
Turn left onto Mallard Avenue
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Mallard Avenue
11
Continue on South Eisenhower Avenue
0.5 mi
·
44 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
·
47 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
24 ft
·
1 sec
·
2nd Street Northeast
17
Arrive at destination
2nd Street Northeast
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 48.3 miles from Nevada, IA, or about 54m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 77.9 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 21 miles or 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 48.3 miles or 54m 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 27m
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 96.7 miles and 1h 51m.
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.
The longest stretch is on I 35 for about 77.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 48.3 mi from Nevada, IA · 54m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
48 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 48.3 miles from Nevada, 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 77.9 miles.
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
$15.12 one way
$30.24 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
34 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $16.60 | $33.20 |
| premium | $4.89 | $18.61 | $37.22 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $21.35 | $42.70 |
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: 33.8 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 | 0 | $10.15 | $4.64 |
| Efficient EV | 24.2 | 0 | $8.46 | $3.87 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 38.7 | 0 | $13.54 | $6.19 |
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
Late night in Mason City on Saturday
Local time
12:31 AM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Sunny
S 9 to 14 mph
0% chance
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
26 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 51m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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 96.7 miles and takes about 1h 51m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 35, Lincoln Highway, US 18. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 48.3 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 $15.12 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 96.7 miles you will encounter 12 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (6th Street): Navigation decision point; at 6.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 85.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Nevada, IA and Mason City, IA, road signs point toward Charles City and Airport.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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