How far is Mason City, IA from Charles City, IA?

The driving distance from Mason City, IA to Charles City, IA is about 32.4 miles (52.2 km), with a travel time of about 00h 44m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 27.3 miles (44 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 29m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This is an easy same-day return drive. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
32.47 mi
00h 44m
Flight
27.33 mi
43.99 km direct

This is an easy same-day return drive.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Mason City.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
27.33 mi
Kilometers
43.99 km
Flight Time
00h 03m

Driving Distance

Road route
32.47 mi
Kilometers
52.25 km
Drive Time
00h 44m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 00h 44m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Charles City
Sat, Apr 18, 12:16 AM CDT
Return by in Mason City
Sat, Apr 18, 1:00 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Mason City
2026-04-17T23:31
Arrive Charles City
Sat, Apr 18, 12:16 AM CDT
Route Timing
00h 44m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
7:00 AM to 7:00 PM CDT
Leave when it suits your day
Arrive between
7:45 AM to 7:45 PM CDT

This is a short drive, so your comfort window is wide. Traffic and current weather matter more than the clock.

Leave by
7:00 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 01h 30m at the destination.
Back in Mason City
10:00 PM CDT
Flexible departure

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Rudd
IA

Human settlement in Floyd County, Iowa, United States of America

From Mason City
16.2 mi
00h 22m
To Charles City
16.3 mi
00h 22m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
76°F
Friday

Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Fri, Apr 17 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
13 to 22 mph S
Destination
76°F
Friday

Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Fri, Apr 17 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
14 to 24 mph S

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Mason City and Charles City.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Mason City and Charles City.

  1. 1

    Start on 2nd Street Northeast

    7 m · 6 sec · 2nd Street Northeast

  2. 2

    Turn left onto North Federal Avenue

    100 m · 20 sec · North Federal Avenue

  3. 3

    Turn left onto 1st Street Northeast

    2567 ft · 57 sec · 1st Street Northeast

  4. 4

    At the end of the road, turn left onto East State Street

    2988 ft · 60 sec · East State Street

  5. 5

    Turn slight right onto Maple Drive

    2017 ft · 57 sec · Maple Drive

  6. 6

    Turn left onto 4th Street Southeast

    2.7 mi · 4 min · 4th Street Southeast

  7. 7

    Turn right onto Thrush Avenue

    2.6 mi · 4 min · Thrush Avenue

  8. 8

    Take the ramp left

    2241 ft · 55 sec

  9. 9

    Merge slight left onto Avenue of the Saints

    21.6 mi · 25 min · Avenue of the Saints

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right toward US 218 Business, CR B35: Charles City

    1513 ft · 43 sec

  11. 11

    Turn left onto 185th Street

    1559 ft · 24 sec · 185th Street

  12. 12

    Turn straight onto Gilbert Street

    2.5 mi · 5 min · Gilbert Street

  13. 13

    Turn left onto Main Street

    1198 ft · 39 sec · Main Street

  14. 14

    Turn right onto Clark Street

    1319 ft · 34 sec · Clark Street

  15. 15

    Turn left onto Brantingham Street

    789 ft · 24 sec · Brantingham Street

  16. 16

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · 4th Avenue

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Mason City and Charles City.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Turn-heavy local drive

The route has frequent decision points for its length, so lane choice and turn timing will matter more than cruising speed.

Directions
16 steps
11 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
49.2 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Avenue of the Saints
21.6 mi · 66%
Thrush Avenue
3.01 mi · 9%
4th Street Southeast
2.68 mi · 8%
Gilbert Street
2.52 mi · 8%
East State Street
0.57 mi · 2%
1st Street Northeast
0.49 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Avenue of the Saints

Merge slight left onto Avenue of the Saints

21.6 mi · 00h 25m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A short regional drive

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

Drive Time
00h 44m
Quick drive
Same-Day Return
01h 30m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+5.1 mi
27.3 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Rudd
00h 22m from Mason City
Leave By
7:00 PM CDT
Flexible departure
Weather Watch

Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Mason City and Showers And Thunderstorms near Charles City.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Mason City to Charles City?

The road trip is about 32.4 miles (52.2 km) and usually takes 00h 44m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Rudd is a useful midpoint, sitting about 16.2 miles from Mason City and 16.3 miles from Charles City.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 27.3 miles (44 km), while the road route adds roughly 5.1 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:00 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $4.34 one way or $8.67 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 10.2 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around Mason City and Showers And Thunderstorms near Charles City.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Mason City and Charles City. Straight-line distance: 27.33 mi (43.99 km).

Mason City

#1 Mason City

City in Cerro Gordo County, Iowa

Population26,931
Coordinates43.1535700, -93.2010400
Altitude344
CountryUnited States
Charles City

#2 Charles City

City in Iowa

Population7,307
Coordinates43.0663600, -92.6724100
Altitude307
CountryUnited States
Start: Mason City (-93.20104, 43.15357)
End: Charles City (-92.67241, 43.06636)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 52 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 04m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 48m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 38m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 32m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 27m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 24m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.15 gal
4.34 L · about $4.34
Round trip
$8.67
2.3 gal · 8.68 L
Estimated CO2
10.2 kg one way
Round trip: 20.4 kg / 45 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $4.34 $8.67
Mid-grade $4.25 $4.89 $9.78
Premium $4.65 $5.35 $10.70
Diesel $5.30 $6.10 $12.20

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Iowa · Apr 18, 2026

There is no time difference between Mason City and Charles City. The current time is 23:31:18.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.