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

The driving distance from Mason City, IA to Osceola, IA is about 168.3 miles (270.9 km), with a travel time of about 03h 10m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 149.3 miles (240.3 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 20m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
168.32 mi
03h 10m
Flight
149.28 mi
240.25 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Mason City.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
149.28 mi
Kilometers
240.25 km
Flight Time
00h 18m

Driving Distance

Road route
168.32 mi
Kilometers
270.88 km
Drive Time
03h 10m

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 03h 10m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Osceola
Wed, Apr 15, 5:08 PM CDT
Return by in Mason City
Wed, Apr 15, 8:18 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Mason City
2026-04-15T13:58
Arrive Osceola
Wed, Apr 15, 5:08 PM CDT
Route Timing
03h 10m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:10 AM to 11:10 AM CDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
10:40 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Mason City
9:00 PM CDT
Early departure recommended

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
Gilbert
IA

City in Story County, Iowa, United States

From Mason City
84.2 mi
01h 35m
To Osceola
84.1 mi
01h 35m

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
60°F
Overnight

Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Wed, Apr 15 3:00 AM CDT
Wind
9 mph SSW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    2017 ft · 48 sec · 1st Street Northwest

  4. 4

    Turn left onto North Monroe Avenue

    1.3 mi · 3 min · North Monroe Avenue

  5. 5

    Turn right onto 19th Street Southwest

    2.5 mi · 4 min · 19th Street Southwest

  6. 6

    Turn left onto South Eisenhower Avenue

    2624 ft · 41 sec · South Eisenhower Avenue

  7. 7

    Continue on Mallard Avenue

    1.4 mi · 2 min · Mallard Avenue

  8. 8

    Take the ramp right

    2217 ft · 54 sec

  9. 9

    Merge slight left onto Avenue of the Saints

    3.5 mi · 4 min · Avenue of the Saints

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight left toward I 35 South: Des Moines

    1.4 km · 1 min

  11. 11

    Continue on I 35 South: Des Moines

    2643 ft · 32 sec

  12. 12

    Merge slight left

    102.7 mi · 1 hr 51 min

  13. 13

    Keep slight right to continue on I 35 South, I 80: Kansas City, Council Bluffs, Davenport

    14.3 mi · 16 min

  14. 14

    Keep slight left

    36.5 mi · 40 min

  15. 15

    Take the exit slight right toward CR R35

    1223 ft · 35 sec

  16. 16

    Turn left onto County Road R35

    1.4 mi · 2 min · County Road R35

  17. 17

    Turn right onto North Main Street

    1.8 mi · 3 min · North Main Street

  18. 18

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · South Main Street

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
18 steps
7 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
2 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
10.7 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 35 South
155 mi · 92%
Avenue of the Saints
3.46 mi · 2%
19th Street Southwest
2.51 mi · 1%
Mallard Avenue
1.8 mi · 1%
North Main Street
1.78 mi · 1%
County Road R35
1.4 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

I 35 South

Merge slight left

103 mi · 01h 51m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
03h 10m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
06h 20m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+19 mi
149.3 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Gilbert
01h 35m from Mason City
Leave By
10:40 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Slight Chance Rain Showers leaving Mason City and Showers And Thunderstorms near Osceola.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 168.3 miles (270.9 km) and usually takes 03h 10m in normal driving conditions.

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

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Gilbert is a useful midpoint, sitting about 84.2 miles from Mason City and 84.1 miles from Osceola.

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

The direct path is about 149.3 miles (240.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 19 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 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 10:40 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $22.40 one way or $44.80 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 52.8 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near Gilbert

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Gilbert, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Gilbert.

RAIL

Osceola

119 mi away
Main & East Clay Streets

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Mason City and Osceola. Straight-line distance: 149.28 mi (240.25 km).

Mason City

#1 Mason City

City in Cerro Gordo County, Iowa

Population26,931
Coordinates43.1535700, -93.2010400
Altitude344
CountryUnited States
Osceola

#2 Osceola

City in Clarke County, Iowa, United States

Population5,285
Coordinates41.0338900, -93.7655000
Altitude348
CountryUnited States
Start: Mason City (-93.20104, 43.15357)
End: Osceola (-93.7655, 41.03389)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 271 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)05h 36m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 12m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 21m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 48m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 24m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 05m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
5.94 gal
22.48 L · about $22.40
Round trip
$44.80
11.88 gal · 44.96 L
Estimated CO2
52.8 kg one way
Round trip: 105.6 kg / 233 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $22.40 $44.80
Mid-grade $4.25 $25.26 $50.53
Premium $4.65 $27.64 $55.29
Diesel $5.30 $31.51 $63.01

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 Osceola. The current time is 13:58:09.

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.