Origin
Sioux Center, IA
Evening in Sioux Center on Monday
Local time
5:01 PM
CDT
Current temp
42°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Sioux Center, IA to Mason City, IA
Drive Time
3h 59m
Distance
164.6 mi
265 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$25
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 46m
★
6 AM
3h 59m
8 AM
4h 25m
10 AM
4h 8m
12 PM
4h 6m
3 PM
4h 10m
5 PM
4h 24m
8 PM
3h 51m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Sioux Center, IA
Tom Fisk
Mason City, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Sioux Center, IA to Mason City, IA covers 164.6 miles and takes about 3h 59m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US Highway 18, 320th Street, 360th Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 65.6 miles on US Highway 18. At current regular gas prices, budget about $25.00 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
82.3 miles from Sioux Center, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 59m into the drive .
Drive Character
The drive from Sioux Center, IA to Mason City, IA covers 164.6 miles and takes about 3h 59m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 28 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US Highway 18 is the longest continuous segment at about 65.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.7 miles in near B40 / 9th Street Southeast.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 3h 59m drive. You will face about 13 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.7 miles (B40 / 9th Street Southeast): Navigation decision point; at 15.7 miles (IA 60): Navigation decision point; at 24.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 13 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0.7 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
B40 / 9th Street Southeast
Turn left onto B40 / 9th Street Southeast
Navigation decision point
5
15.7 mi into trip
|
~26m in
|
IA 60
At end of road, turn left onto IA 60
Navigation decision point
4
24.6 mi into trip
|
~36m in
Take the exit toward US 18: Spencer
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward US 18: Spencer
5
57.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 22m in
|
B24 / County Road B24
At end of road, turn left onto B24 / County Road B24
Navigation decision point
5
164.6 mi into trip
|
~3h 59m in
|
2nd Street Northeast
Turn right onto 2nd Street Northeast
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US Highway 18 | 65.6 mi | 1h 31m |
| 320th Street | 28.8 mi | 40m |
| 360th Street | 22.4 mi | 32m |
| 400th Street | 11.9 mi | 18m |
| IA 60 | 8.9 mi | 10m |
| 370th Street | 5.9 mi | 8m |
| 180th Avenue | 2.8 mi | 4m |
| 11th Street Southwest | 2.5 mi | 3m |
Longest stretch:
US Highway 18
— 65.6 mi, about 1h 31m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Sioux Center, IA and Mason City, IA.
1
Start on US 75
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
North Main Avenue
2
Turn left onto B40
1.5 mi
·
3 min
·
9th Street Southeast
3
Continue on B40
12 mi
·
18 min
·
400th Street
4
Turn left onto Hospers Drive South
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Hospers Drive South
5
At end of road, turn left onto IA 60
8.9 mi
·
10 min
·
IA 60
6
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
Toward US 18: Spencer
7
Turn right onto US 18
7.5 mi
·
10 min
·
320th Street
8
Continue on US 18
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
US-18
9
Continue on US 18
21 mi
·
29 min
·
320th Street
10
Turn right onto 180th Avenue
2.8 mi
·
4 min
·
180th Avenue
11
At end of road, turn left onto B24
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
County Road B24
12
Continue on West 4th Street
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
West 4th Street
13
Turn right onto 32nd Avenue West
0.3 mi
·
25 sec
·
32nd Avenue West
14
Continue on 200th Avenue
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
200th Avenue
15
Turn left onto 360th Street
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
360th Street
16
Continue on US 71
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
11th Street Southwest
17
Continue on US 18
21 mi
·
30 min
·
360th Street
18
Continue on US 18; IA 4
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
450th Avenue
19
Continue on US 18; IA 4
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Main Street
20
Continue on US 18
5.9 mi
·
8 min
·
370th Street
21
Keep slight right at fork onto US 18
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
525th Avenue
22
Turn left onto US 18
66 mi
·
1 hr 31 min
·
US Highway 18
23
Continue on US 18 Business; IA 122
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
4th Street Southwest
24
Turn left onto Winnebago Way
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Winnebago Way
25
Continue on 1st Street Northwest
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
1st Street Northwest
26
Turn left onto North Federal Avenue
328 ft
·
16 sec
·
North Federal Avenue
27
Turn right onto 2nd Street Northeast
24 ft
·
1 sec
·
2nd Street Northeast
28
Arrive at destination
2nd Street Northeast
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 82.3 miles from Sioux Center, IA, or about 1h 59m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 65.6 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 80 miles or 1h 56m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 82.3 miles or 1h 59m 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 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 Sioux Center, 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 Sioux Center, IA
This is one driving day of about 164.6 miles and 3h 59m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Sioux Center, 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.
The longest stretch is on US Highway 18 for about 65.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 82.3 mi from Sioux Center, IA · 1h 59m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
82 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 82.3 miles from Sioux Center, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before US Highway 18 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 65.6 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.
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
$25.00 one way
$50.00 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
58 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $27.56 | $55.12 |
| premium | $4.80 | $31.07 | $62.15 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $36.57 | $73.14 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$25
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$50–$75
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 57.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 49.4 | 0 | $17.28 | $7.90 |
| Efficient EV | 41.2 | 0 | $14.40 | $6.58 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 65.8 | 0 | $23.04 | $10.53 |
Gas CO2
58 kg
EV CO2
19 kg (67% 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
Evening in Mason City on Monday
Local time
5:01 PM
CDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
47°F
Osceola County, IA
82 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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
4 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
3h 59m 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 Sioux Center, IA to Mason City, IA covers 164.6 miles and takes about 3h 59m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US Highway 18, 320th Street, 360th Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 82.3 miles from Sioux Center, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $25.00 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 59m drive. You will face about 13 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.7 miles (B40 / 9th Street Southeast): Navigation decision point; at 15.7 miles (IA 60): Navigation decision point; at 24.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
The route from Sioux Center, IA to Mason City, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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