How far is Mason City, IA from Clear Lake, IA?

The driving distance from Mason City, IA to Clear Lake, IA is about 9.6 miles (15.5 km), with a travel time of about 00h 16m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 9.1 miles (14.6 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 00h 32m 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
9.66 mi
00h 16m
Flight
9.05 mi
14.57 km direct

This is an easy same-day return drive.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Mason City.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
9.05 mi
Kilometers
14.57 km
Flight Time
00h 01m

Driving Distance

Road route
9.66 mi
Kilometers
15.55 km
Drive Time
00h 16m

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 16m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Clear Lake
Wed, Apr 15, 3:44 PM CDT
Return by in Mason City
Wed, Apr 15, 4:00 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Mason City
2026-04-15T15:28
Arrive Clear Lake
Wed, Apr 15, 3:44 PM CDT
Route Timing
00h 16m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
7:00 AM to 7:00 PM CDT
Leave when it suits your day
Arrive between
7:16 AM to 7:16 PM CDT

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

Leave by
7:58 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

This departure sits inside the recommended comfort window for the route.

Halfway Point

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

Mid-route stop
Ventura
IA

Human settlement in Cerro Gordo County, Iowa, United States of America

From Mason City
4.8 mi
00h 08m
To Clear Lake
4.8 mi
00h 08m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
49°F
Overnight

Slight Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Wed, Apr 15 1:00 AM CDT
Wind
6 mph N
Destination
49°F
Overnight

Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Wed, Apr 15 12:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 8 mph N

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Mason City and Clear Lake.

  1. 1

    Start on 2nd Street Northeast

    7 m · 6 sec · 2nd Street Northeast

  2. 2

    Turn left onto North Federal Avenue

    100 m · 17 sec · North Federal Avenue

  3. 3

    Turn right onto 1st Street Northwest

    1.2 mi · 2 min · 1st Street Northwest

  4. 4

    Continue on Winnebago Way

    2360 ft · 1 min · Winnebago Way

  5. 5

    Turn right onto 4th Street Southwest

    7.5 mi · 11 min · 4th Street Southwest

  6. 6

    Turn left onto North 8th Street

    1961 ft · 35 sec · North 8th Street

  7. 7

    Turn right onto 1st Avenue North

    57 m · 14 sec · 1st Avenue North

  8. 8

    Turn left onto North 6th Street

    24 m · 4 sec · North 6th Street

  9. 9

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · North 6th Street

Car Route Details

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

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
9 steps
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
0
0 merges, 0 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
92.8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
4th Street Southwest
7.54 mi · 78%
1st Street Northwest
1.18 mi · 12%
Winnebago Way
0.45 mi · 5%
North 8th Street
0.37 mi · 4%
North Federal Avenue
0.06 mi · 1%
1st Avenue North
0.04 mi
Longest Stretch

4th Street Southwest

Turn right onto 4th Street Southwest

7.54 mi · 00h 11m

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 16m
Quick drive
Same-Day Return
00h 32m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+0.5 mi
9.1 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Ventura
00h 08m from Mason City
Leave By
7:58 PM CDT
Flexible departure
Weather Watch

Slight Chance Rain Showers leaving Mason City and Chance Rain Showers near Clear Lake.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Mason City to Clear Lake?

The road trip is about 9.6 miles (15.5 km) and usually takes 00h 16m 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?

Ventura is a useful midpoint, sitting about 4.8 miles from Mason City and 4.8 miles from Clear Lake.

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

The direct path is about 9.1 miles (14.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 0.5 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 7:58 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $1.28 one way or $2.56 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 3 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Slight Chance Rain Showers around Mason City and Chance Rain Showers near Clear Lake.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Mason City and Clear Lake. Straight-line distance: 9.05 mi (14.57 km).

Mason City

#1 Mason City

City in Cerro Gordo County, Iowa

Population26,931
Coordinates43.1535700, -93.2010400
Altitude344
CountryUnited States
Clear Lake

#2 Clear Lake

City in Iowa, United States

Population7,517
Coordinates43.1380200, -93.3793700
Altitude377
CountryUnited States
Start: Mason City (-93.20104, 43.15357)
End: Clear Lake (-93.37937, 43.13802)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 16 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)00h 19m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 14m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 11m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 09m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 08m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 07m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
0.34 gal
1.29 L · about $1.28
Round trip
$2.56
0.68 gal · 2.58 L
Estimated CO2
3 kg one way
Round trip: 6 kg / 13 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $1.28 $2.56
Mid-grade $4.25 $1.45 $2.89
Premium $4.65 $1.58 $3.16
Diesel $5.30 $1.80 $3.61

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 15, 2026

There is no time difference between Mason City and Clear Lake. The current time is 15:28:18.

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.