Ames, Iowa

People like to pick on Iowa. It can be seen as flat, and light on big city energy, but Ames like a lot of great college towns, surprises people with all that goes on here, particularly for the price tag.
Iowa State University’s presence, coupled with the people and amenities that come along with it, inject an atmosphere that is as compelling as the other college towns you know better than Ames. The University employs more than 15,000 people, creating a community that is committed to Cyclone culture and gives Ames a social and cultural energy outsized for its population.

The city also has an amazing variety of great outdoor spaces, with 37 parks, the most iconic being the university-run 17-acre Reiman Gardens, a handful of golf venues, a skatepark, an in-city lake, and more than 50 miles of bike/hiking/walk routes winding throughout town.
Probably most important to recent graduates are the social opportunities in the city. Live downtown and you can walk to countless bars, restaurants, cafes, and the year-round events and cultural experiences the city and university provide.

If you’re not a student or part of the university community, Ames can be kind of alienating, particularly if you’re older than the average student and single. There’s also not a lot to do if the college bar scene and the local parks don’t appeal to you. Ame's proximity to Des Moines can mitigate some of this, but if you’re the type of person attracted to big city life, Ames will be a tough spot. It’s also very much Iowa in terms of diversity, or more accurately, lack of diversity.

Ames is a safe, family-friendly town with a lot of welcoming small businesses located along the main commercial district. The neighborhood of Campustown, as you might guess, is right by ISU, with several different housing options and shopping and dining choices as well. Most of the other hotspots in town are made up of relatively affordable single-family homes that are always close to a park or golf course.

If you want to see what locals do for fun and culture in Ames check out the calendar of events.

We highly recommend visiting Ames and staying in the community in a VRBO rather than a hotel to get a feel for what it's like to live among the locals. You can receive discounted fares on travel via our partnership with Expedia as well.

“Can I ask you something… Is this heaven?. It’s Iowa.” This line from Field of Dreams captures what your experience in Ames might be like. It’s a beautiful place with great people and a wonderful college town atmosphere that changes most outsiders perspective on Iowa.