Origin
Red Oak, IA
Morning in Red Oak on Saturday
Local time
9:06 AM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Red Oak, 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
3h 51m
Distance
240.6 mi
387 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$38
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 39m
★
6 AM
3h 52m
8 AM
4h 18m
10 AM
4h 1m
12 PM
3h 58m
3 PM
4h 2m
5 PM
4h 16m
8 PM
3h 44m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Red Oak, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Mason City, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Red Oak, IA to Mason City, IA covers 240.6 miles and takes about 3h 51m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on North Broadway Street, M Avenue, 550th Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $37.62 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
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
120.3 miles from Red Oak, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 55m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 51m. Total distance: 240.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 51m 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 3h 51m drive with frequent turns across 240.6 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 26 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
North Broadway 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. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 51m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Red Oak, IA to Mason City, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| North Broadway Street | — | — |
| M Avenue | — | — |
| 550th Street | — | — |
| Adair Street | — | — |
| White Pole Road | — | — |
| Southwest 7th Street | — | — |
| West 7th Street | — | — |
| East 7th Street | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
North Broadway Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Red Oak, IA and Mason City, IA.
1
Start on East Reed Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
East Reed Street
2
Turn right onto North Broadway Street
14 mi
·
20 min
·
North Broadway Street
3
Continue on M Avenue
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
M Avenue
4
Continue on 550th Street
4.8 mi
·
7 min
·
550th Street
5
Continue on Adair Street
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Adair Street
6
Continue on 550th Street
5.3 mi
·
7 min
·
550th Street
7
Turn right onto White Pole Road
8.9 mi
·
13 min
·
White Pole Road
8
Continue on Southwest 7th Street
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Southwest 7th Street
9
Continue on West 7th Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
West 7th Street
10
Continue on White Pole Road
0.1 mi
·
22 sec
·
White Pole Road
11
Continue on East 7th Street
3.5 mi
·
6 min
·
East 7th Street
12
Turn left onto 650th Street
6.4 mi
·
8 min
·
650th Street
13
Take the exit right
62 mi
·
1 hr 7 min
14
Keep slight right to continue on I 35, I 80 East: Chicago, Minneapolis, Kansas City
14 mi
·
16 min
·
I 35, I 80 East: Chicago, Minneapolis, Kansas City
15
Keep slight right to continue on I 35 North, I 235 South: Minneapolis, Des Moines
104 mi
·
1 hr 51 min
·
I 35 North, I 235 South: Minneapolis, Des Moines
16
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
17
Merge slight left
3.6 mi
·
4 min
18
Take the exit slight right toward Airport
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
·
Airport
19
Turn left onto Mallard Avenue
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Mallard Avenue
20
Continue on South Eisenhower Avenue
0.5 mi
·
45 sec
·
South Eisenhower Avenue
21
Turn right onto 19th Street Southwest
2.5 mi
·
4 min
·
19th Street Southwest
22
Turn left onto South Monroe Avenue
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
South Monroe Avenue
23
Turn right onto 1st Street Northwest
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
·
1st Street Northwest
24
Turn left onto North Federal Avenue
328 ft
·
16 sec
·
North Federal Avenue
25
Turn right onto 2nd Street Northeast
23 ft
·
1 sec
·
2nd Street Northeast
26
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 120.3 miles from Red Oak, IA, or about 1h 55m 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 53 miles or 51m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 120.3 miles or 1h 55m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 10m
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 Red Oak, 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 Red Oak, IA
This is one driving day of about 240.6 miles and 3h 51m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 53 miles from Red Oak, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 120.3 mi from Red Oak, IA · 1h 55m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
120 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 53 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 120.3 miles from Red Oak, 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.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Mason City, 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
$37.62 one way
$75.23 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
84 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $41.30 | $82.60 |
| premium | $4.89 | $46.30 | $92.60 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $53.12 | $106.24 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$38
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$63–$88
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 84.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 72.2 | 0 | $25.26 | $11.55 |
| Efficient EV | 60.2 | 0 | $21.05 | $9.62 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 96.2 | 1 | $33.68 | $15.40 |
Gas CO2
84 kg
EV CO2
28 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Morning in Mason City on Saturday
Local time
9:06 AM
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
5 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
3h 51m 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 Red Oak, IA to Mason City, IA covers 240.6 miles and takes about 3h 51m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are North Broadway Street, M Avenue, 550th Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 120.3 miles from Red Oak, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $37.62 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a straightforward 3h 51m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Red Oak, IA to Mason City, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Red Oak, IA to Mason City, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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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