Introduction
When to visit
How to get there
Where to stay
Renting a car

Ames travel guide

Ames Tourism | Ames Guide

You're Going to Love Ames

With a population of 58,965, Ames is a must-see destination in Iowa, United States. It is among the most popular tourist destinations in the country. Ames deserves at least 2 full days for you to see its main sights.

When to visit Ames

Ames in January
Estimated hotel price
$93
1 night at 3-star hotel
Ames in January
Estimated hotel price
$93
1 night at 3-star hotel

Looking for warm weather? Then head to Ames in July, when the average temperature is 73.4 °F, and the highest can go up to 84.2 °F. The coldest month, on the other hand, is January, when it can get as cold as 10.4 °F, with an average temperature of 19.4 °F. You’re likely to see more rain in June, when precipitation is around 5″. In contrast, January is usually the driest month of the year in Ames, with an average rainfall of 0.7″.

Data provided by weatherbase
Temperatures
Temperatures
Data provided by weatherbase

How to Get to Ames

Plane

Although Ames doesn’t have its own airport, you can fly to Des Moines Airport (DSM), which is located 34 miles from Ames. Waterloo is the most popular, with regular flights from American Airlines, United Airlines, Air Canada and other airlines departing from the United States. The shortest domestic flight to Ames departs from Nashville and takes around 1h 41m.

Car

Another option to get to Ames is to pick up a car rental from Omaha, which is about 131 miles from Ames. You’ll find branches of Payless and Hertz, among others, in Omaha.

Bus

Ames’s bus station is located 1.9 miles from the city center.

Plane

Although Ames doesn’t have its own airport, you can fly to Des Moines Airport (DSM), which is located 34 miles from Ames. Waterloo is the most popular, with regular flights from American Airlines, United Airlines, Air Canada and other airlines departing from the United States. The shortest domestic flight to Ames departs from Nashville and takes around 1h 41m.

Car

Another option to get to Ames is to pick up a car rental from Omaha, which is about 131 miles from Ames. You’ll find branches of Payless and Hertz, among others, in Omaha.

Bus

Ames’s bus station is located 1.9 miles from the city center.

Airports near Ames

ALOWaterloo
DSMDes Moines
CIDCedar Rapids

Airlines serving Ames

KLM
Good (1,430 reviews)
Lufthansa
Good (7,628 reviews)
Delta
Good (8,007 reviews)
British Airways
Good (7,575 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (9,092 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,681 reviews)
Iberia
Good (3,051 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (3,442 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,506 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (10,525 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,606 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,336 reviews)
Alaska Airlines
Excellent (11,450 reviews)
Avianca
Good (2,485 reviews)
Frontier
Okay (3,080 reviews)
LATAM Airlines
Good (1,892 reviews)
ANA
Excellent (1,023 reviews)
Japan Airlines
Excellent (1,655 reviews)
Korean Air
Excellent (1,186 reviews)
Aeromexico
Good (1,636 reviews)
Show more
Find flights to Ames

Where to stay in Ames

If you’re on a budget, well-reviewed accommodations include Country Inn & Suites by Radisson, Ames, IA and Sleep Inn and Suites Ames near ISU Campus.

Where to stay in popular areas of Ames

Most booked hotels in Ames

See all
Gateway Hotel and Conference Center
3 stars
Excellent (8.8, 486 reviews)
$79+
View
Sleep Inn and Suites Ames near ISU Campus
2 stars
Excellent (8.6, 440 reviews)
$59+
View
AmericInn by Wyndham Ames
2 stars
Good (7.4, 602 reviews)
$64+
View
Microtel Inn & Suites by Wyndham Ames
2 stars
Good (7.3, 574 reviews)
$56+
View
Spark by Hilton Ames
3 stars
Good (6.9, 562 reviews)
$80+
View
Baymont by Wyndham Ames
2 stars
Good (6.7, 374 reviews)
$58+
View

Renting a car in Ames

Expect to pay $3.33 per gallon in Ames (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your rental car, filling up the tank will cost between $39.97 and $53.30.

Expect to pay $3.33 per gallon in Ames (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your rental car, filling up the tank will cost between $39.97 and $53.30.

Find car rentals in Ames