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Ames
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Ames, Iowa blends Iowa State University, gardens, galleries, prairie landscapes and welcoming Main Street culture with easy small-city sightseeing in central Iowa.

University and Small-City Character

Ames lies in central Iowa, roughly midway between Des Moines and the northern reaches of the state, with the broad agricultural landscape of the Midwest extending beyond its streets. Its identity is closely tied to Iowa State University, whose campus brings research, architecture, gardens, museums, performances and an international population to a city that otherwise retains a relaxed, approachable scale. Campustown, immediately south of the university, is shaped by independent food businesses, student life and walkable streets, while downtown Ames has a more established civic and commercial character.
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Campus, Culture and Landscape

The university grounds provide some of Ames’s most distinctive places to explore, including the landmark Campanile, the Christian Petersen Art Museum and Reiman Gardens, where designed plantings and seasonal displays offer a cultivated counterpoint to the surrounding prairie. Downtown, the Octagon Center for the Arts supports exhibitions, classes and studio activity, and Main Street combines older commercial buildings with cafés, shops and community events. The city’s parks and trails extend the experience outdoors: Ada Hayden Heritage Park preserves wetlands and open views on the northern edge, while the South Skunk River corridor adds woodland and water to the local landscape. Ames is best understood not as a conventional tourist centre but as a cultured university community where public life, science, local arts and Iowa’s agricultural setting meet.

When is the best time to visit Ames?

Best: June, August–September · 23–28°C
Average daytime high and rainfall by month
MonthHigh (°C)Rainfall (mm)
January-125
February223
March951
April1676
May22102
June (best)27107
July29102
August (best)28102
September (best)2376
October1658
November741
December131

Getting to and around Ames

How to get there

Ames is primarily reached by road, with Interstate 35 passing just east of the city and connecting it with Des Moines to the south and communities in northern Iowa. U.S. Highway 30 provides an east–west approach, while Iowa Highway 30 serves local connections. The nearest major passenger airport is Des Moines International Airport, south of Ames, which has domestic flights and car-hire facilities. Ames also has an intercity bus connection through Jefferson Lines, although services and stopping arrangements should be checked before travel. Rail lines remain part of the city’s history and infrastructure, but Ames is not served by regular Amtrak passenger trains.

Transportation

Ames is manageable on foot within individual districts, particularly around central Iowa State University, Campustown and downtown, although the full distance between these areas and northern attractions is considerable. CyRide, the city’s public bus system operated in cooperation with Iowa State University, serves the university, residential neighbourhoods and commercial areas; many routes are designed around student and community travel. Taxis and app-based car services may be available, while a car is useful for reaching outlying parks and regional destinations. Cycling is practical on many local streets and trails, but weather, winter conditions and road crossings should be taken into account.

Best attractions in Ames

Ames’s principal attractions reflect its university setting and central-Iowa landscape. Iowa State University provides an extensive area to explore, from the central campus and its public art to the Campanile and museums devoted to art, design and scientific discovery. Reiman Gardens presents formal plantings, themed collections and educational displays near the university, while Ada Hayden Heritage Park offers ponds, wetlands and open prairie scenery on the city’s northern side. In the centre, the Octagon Center for the Arts combines exhibitions, studios and classes in a community-focused setting, and downtown Ames provides independent shops, cafés and historic commercial streets. The Brunnier Art Museum, on campus, is particularly notable for its decorative arts collection, while nearby parks and shared-use trails provide a quieter way to encounter the Skunk River environment. These places give sightseeing in Ames a deliberate, cultured pace rather than the scale of a major urban attraction circuit.

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Best landmarks in Ames

The Campanile at Iowa State University is Ames’s most recognisable landmark, its tower and carillon serving as a visual and musical symbol of the campus. Nearby Beardshear Hall represents the university’s institutional core, while the central campus ensemble conveys the importance of land-grant education to the city’s growth. The former Ames railroad depot, associated with the town’s nineteenth-century origins, recalls the transport network that established the settlement and connected local agriculture with wider markets. Downtown Main Street preserves the commercial scale of an Iowa railway community, with older shopfronts and civic buildings forming a contrast to the university grounds. Within the campus, the Christian Petersen Art Museum and Brunnier Art Museum add cultural significance to the university landscape, linking Ames’s landmarks with design, decorative arts, teaching and public scholarship rather than with monumental civic architecture alone.

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Best restaurants in Ames

Ames’s dining scene is shaped by Iowa State University, a substantial student population and the agricultural traditions of central Iowa. Campustown is the most concentrated area for casual meals, cafés, international cooking and late-evening food, while downtown Main Street offers independent restaurants, bakeries, coffee shops and bars in a more civic setting. Menus commonly draw on Midwestern staples such as locally raised meat, sweet corn, pork, seasonal vegetables and hearty sandwiches, alongside pizza, burgers and a broad range of cuisines brought by the university’s international community. The Ames Downtown Farmers’ Market provides a seasonal outlet for Iowa produce, baked goods, preserves and prepared foods. Dining tends to range from informal counter service to contemporary restaurants, with local ingredients and collegiate diversity appearing alongside familiar American comfort food rather than a single defining regional cuisine.

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Best bars in Ames

Ames’s evening life is modest in scale but varied enough for a university city. Campustown is the main student-oriented nightlife area, with pubs, casual bars and venues connected to Iowa State’s social calendar, while downtown Main Street provides a more mixed-age setting for drinks, conversation and occasional live entertainment. The university contributes concerts, theatre, lectures and performances at venues including Stephens Auditorium and the Memorial Union, giving the city cultural options beyond drinking and clubbing. Sporting events and campus programming can make particular evenings busier, especially during the academic year. Nightlife is generally informal and concentrated rather than spread across a large entertainment district, and visitors should expect American age-verification and last-service rules in licensed venues. Seasonal festivals, live music and community events also influence the character of evenings in downtown Ames.

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Best nightclubs in Ames

Ames’s evening life is modest in scale but varied enough for a university city. Campustown is the main student-oriented nightlife area, with pubs, casual bars and venues connected to Iowa State’s social calendar, while downtown Main Street provides a more mixed-age setting for drinks, conversation and occasional live entertainment. The university contributes concerts, theatre, lectures and performances at venues including Stephens Auditorium and the Memorial Union, giving the city cultural options beyond drinking and clubbing. Sporting events and campus programming can make particular evenings busier, especially during the academic year. Nightlife is generally informal and concentrated rather than spread across a large entertainment district, and visitors should expect American age-verification and last-service rules in licensed venues. Seasonal festivals, live music and community events also influence the character of evenings in downtown Ames.

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Best shops in Ames

Shopping in Ames is divided between the independent character of downtown Main Street, the student-oriented businesses of Campustown and larger retail areas along the city’s commercial corridors. Downtown shops include boutiques, book and gift retailers, specialist businesses and places offering locally made or Iowa-themed goods, while Campustown has a younger mix shaped by university life. North Grand Mall and surrounding retailers provide familiar national chains and practical shopping. The seasonal Ames Downtown Farmers’ Market is more directly connected to local producers, with Iowa-grown food, baked goods, crafts and prepared products appearing alongside community stalls. Visitors looking for souvenirs may find university merchandise, regional foods, handmade pottery, jewellery and art more representative of Ames than generic tourism goods. Retail patterns are influenced by the academic calendar, so some independent businesses have distinctly student-season rhythms.

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Ames essentials

Currency and Payment
The currency is the United States dollar (USD). Credit and debit cards are widely used in Ames, and contactless payment is increasingly accepted at larger retailers, restaurants, museums and transport-related businesses, though smaller independents may have different policies. Cash machines are available in commercial districts, on or near the university campus and at financial institutions. International visitors should notify their card provider before travelling and check foreign-transaction charges. American restaurants and bars commonly add a gratuity to the bill rather than including service in the menu price; customary tipping is separate from the listed charge.
Safety
Ames is a university city with ordinary urban and campus-related considerations rather than a destination requiring exceptional precautions. Keep valuables secure in busy areas, on buses and during large sporting or cultural events, and use well-lit routes when walking after dark. Alcohol-related incidents can occur around student nightlife, particularly at busy times, so visitors should remain aware of their surroundings and arrange dependable transport. Iowa weather can change quickly, with severe thunderstorms, extreme summer heat, winter snow and icy conditions possible; monitor local forecasts and take official warnings seriously. Outdoor visitors should also use care around water, trails and changing ground conditions.
Emergency Situations
In the United States, call 911 for police, fire or urgent medical assistance; the operator can coordinate the appropriate emergency service. Give the exact address or a clear description of the location, particularly when calling from a large university campus, park or trail. For non-urgent police matters, use the local police department’s published contact arrangements rather than tying up emergency services. Emergency departments and urgent-care services are available in the Ames area, while Iowa State University provides campus health resources for eligible students. Travellers should carry travel insurance details, prescription information and identification when seeking medical care.
Do's and Don'ts
Respect university buildings, laboratories, memorials and private homes as working or residential spaces rather than assuming every campus area is open for unrestricted exploration. In restaurants and bars, wait to be seated where directed and remember that tipping is customary for table service in the United States. Follow posted rules in parks, gardens and on trails, especially around wetlands and waterways. During university events, allow for crowds and avoid obstructing entrances or pedestrian routes. Sensible casual clothing is generally appropriate, but visitors attending performances, ceremonies or formal campus occasions should check any stated dress expectations.
Local Tips
Ames is easiest to understand by treating downtown, Campustown and Iowa State University as three connected but distinct areas. Main Street is well suited to independent retail, cafés and civic events, while Campustown offers a more student-focused selection of food and evening venues. Reiman Gardens and Ada Hayden Heritage Park show different sides of the local landscape, so they make useful additions to an urban itinerary. Check Iowa State’s public calendar for lectures, exhibitions, concerts and sporting events, many of which bring the city’s research and cultural life into view. Farmers’ market dates and outdoor programming are seasonal.
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From Eve

Local phrases worth knowing

You don't need to get them perfect. A few words go a long way, and locals appreciate the effort.

6 phrase groups · English, local and pronunciation

Basics
EnglishLocalSay it
HelloHey[Hey]
GoodbyeSee ya[See ya]
YesYep[Yep]
NoNah[Nah]
Please/You're welcomePlease / No problem[Please / No problem]
Thank youThanks[Thanks]
Excuse me/SorryExcuse me / My bad[Excuse me / My bad]
How are you?How's it going?[How's it going?]
Fine. And you?Good. How about you?[Good. How about you?]
Do you speak English?You speak English?[You speak English?]
I don't understandI don't get it[I don't get it]
Eating & Drinking
EnglishLocalSay it
I'd like to see the menu, pleaseCan I see the menu?[Can I see the menu?]
I don't eat meatI'm vegetarian[I'm vegetarian]
Cheers!Cheers![Cheers!]
I would like to pay, pleaseCheck, please[Check, please]
Emergencies
EnglishLocalSay it
Help!Help![Help!]
Go away!Get lost![Get lost!]
Call the Police!Call the cops![Call the cops!]
Call a doctor!Call a doc![Call a doc!]
I'm lostI'm lost[I'm lost]
I'm illI'm sick[I'm sick]
Shopping
EnglishLocalSay it
I'd like to buy...I wanna buy...[I wanna buy...]
I'm just lookingJust looking[Just looking]
How much is it?How much?[How much?]
That's too expensiveToo pricey[Too pricey]
Can you lower the price?Can you do better?[Can you do better?]
Time & Numbers
EnglishLocalSay it
What time is it?What time is it?[What time is it?]
It's one o'clockIt's one[It's one]
Half past (10)Ten thirty[Ten thirty]
MorningMorning[Morning]
AfternoonAfternoon[Afternoon]
EveningEvening[Evening]
YesterdayYesterday[Yesterday]
TodayToday[Today]
TomorrowTomorrow[Tomorrow]
1One[One]
2Two[Two]
3Three[Three]
4Four[Four]
5Five[Five]
6Six[Six]
7Seven[Seven]
8Eight[Eight]
9Nine[Nine]
10Ten[Ten]
Transport & Directions
EnglishLocalSay it
Where's a/the...?Where's the...?[Where's the...?]
What's the address?What's the address?[What's the address?]
Can you show me (on the map)?Can you show me (on the map)?[Can you show me (on the map)?]
When's the next (bus)?When's the next (bus)?[When's the next (bus)?]
A ticket (to ....)A ticket (to ....)[A ticket (to ....)]

History of Ames

Indigenous Landscape and Settlement

The Ames area lies within the historic homeland of Indigenous peoples including the Meskwaki and Sauk, whose presence predates American settlement by centuries. The Skunk River and its tributaries shaped movement, hunting and agriculture across central Iowa, while later Euro-American settlement altered the landscape through land surveys, farming and transport. Ames emerged in Story County during the nineteenth-century expansion of the United States across Iowa, a period marked by displacement of Indigenous communities and the rapid conversion of prairie into agricultural land. The city’s modern identity is therefore rooted in both the natural systems of central Iowa and the complex history of settlement that followed.

Railroad Foundations in 1860s Iowa

Ames was established during the development of the Cedar Rapids and Missouri River Railroad, which reached the area in the 1860s. The new settlement was named for Oakes Ames, a Massachusetts congressman and prominent figure associated with the Union Pacific Railroad. The railway gave the town a practical economic purpose, connecting local agriculture with wider markets and encouraging businesses, services and further settlement. Ames was incorporated in 1864, and its early growth followed the familiar pattern of an Iowa railroad town: a commercial centre formed around transport, while surrounding farmland supplied the community’s principal economic base.

Iowa Agricultural College Takes Root

Ames’s development changed significantly when Iowa Agricultural College, now Iowa State University, was established in 1858. The institution admitted its first students in 1869 and became an important centre for agricultural education, scientific research and practical training. Its presence supported population growth, introduced new cultural and intellectual activity, and gave the city an identity beyond railway commerce. The campus also connected Ames to the wider transformation of American agriculture, as land-grant education promoted experimentation, engineering and applied science. Many of the city’s institutions, neighbourhoods and public events continue to reflect the long relationship between Ames and the university.

Science, Industry and Urban Growth

During the twentieth century, Ames expanded as Iowa State grew and as research became increasingly important to the local economy. Scientific work conducted at the university during the Second World War contributed to the development of uranium-processing methods through the Ames Project. After the war, this research tradition continued through the Ames Laboratory, a United States Department of Energy national laboratory operated with Iowa State University. The city also benefited from improved roads, public services and the steady expansion of education, retail and professional employment. These changes transformed Ames from a small railway settlement into a regional university and research community.

A Contemporary University Community

Post-war growth brought new residential areas, commercial corridors and cultural institutions, while Iowa State University became one of the dominant features of the city’s economy and public life. Downtown Ames and Campustown developed different but complementary identities: the former as a civic and independent commercial district, the latter as a student-oriented area close to the university. Environmental projects, trails and parks have also shaped the modern city, preserving portions of the Skunk River watershed and prairie landscape. Today, Ames combines agricultural surroundings, scientific research, university traditions and a diverse population within a compact central-Iowa setting.

Ames in Photos

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Evendo - Your Ultimate Travel Guide to Ames, Iowa

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Welcome to Ames, Iowa, the heart of the Midwest, where vibrant culture meets rich history. With Evendo, the ultimate app-based travel guide, your exploration of Ames is set to be seamless and unforgettable. Imagine strolling through Reiman Gardens, admiring the beauty of the Butterfly Wing, or visiting the iconic Iowa State University campus with its stunning Campanile. Evendo provides detailed information on all the best attractions, landmarks, shops, bars, nightclubs, restaurants, hotels, tours, and experiences Ames has to offer.

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