Driving time from Mason City, IA to Des Moines, IA. How long is the drive from Mason City, IA to Des Moines, IA? The total driving time is 1 hour, 56 minutes. Your trip begins in Mason City, Iowa. It ends in Des Moines, Iowa. If you're planning a road trip, you might be interested in seeing the total driving distance from Mason City, IA to Des Moines, IA. You can also calculate the cost to drive from Mason City, IA to Des Moines, IA based on current local gas prices and an estimate of your car's best gas mileage. If you're meeting a friend, you might be interested in finding the city that is halfway between Mason City, IA and Des Moines, IA. Planning to fly a plane instead?