Air Travel (Links are underlined)

The closest airport to Iowa State University is Des Moines International Airport. There is a shuttle service available between the airport and ISU (see below). Other major airports include Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport, Kansas City International Airport, and Omaha Airport. are within driving distance but require renting a car.

Shuttle Service to and from Des Moines International Airport

ISU Airport Shuttles (UTS) offers "individual airport" shuttles between DSM and ISU. Requests need to be made 1 week prior to your trip. The fee is $125 one way for a single traveler. A maximum of 3 travelers can book the same time slot, resulting in a discounted price for all. If this occurs, UTS will refund travelers, considering the actual number of travelers. 

When completing the reservation form and when asked for a "Student ID Number," please fill in the following: PSLLT24Conference.

Share-a-ride option: If you wish to share your UTS trip with other conference attendees, please complete the following form: https://forms.gle/FVwndJbSM5VjLBYv8

We will coordinate and share the best booking time with travelers according to their arrival and departure information from the airport. UTS deadline to reserve is 72 hrs.

Lyft & Uber

Both Lyft and Uber operate in Iowa and the Ames area. Note that rides may not be as abundant as they might be in a major city. Both services are available upon downloading the company's app on your mobile device.

Car Rental

Car rental agencies are located in the baggage claim area in Des Moines International Airport.

Driving directions:
From Des Moines (≈ 35 minutes)
>35 North (34 miles)
>Exit 111B to US 30W (3 miles)
>Exit 146 to ISU
Des Moines to Iowa State University

Ames’ Bus System

Ames CyRide bus system offers safe, reliable, and friendly service for navigating around Ames. Please find a nice CyRide and Ames map here. The Iowa State “MyState” app offers a nice CyRide GPS interface that shows in real time where buses are with respect to your current location.

Getting to the Conference Venue 

Conference sessions will be held on campus in the Memorial Union, 2229 Lincoln Way, Ames Iowa 50014. Pay parking is available in the Memorial Union Parking Ramp, adjacent to the conference venue. For more information, visit http://www.mu.iastate.edu/parking–maps/parking/. More information about parking can be found at http://www.parking.iastate.edu/visitor.

Hotel Information (Links are underlined)

Ames has a lot of hotel and accommodation options for the nights of September 9th through the 13th. Conference attendees will need to contact hotels directly to book rooms. In addition to hotels, there are numerous economical options via Air BnB in the Ames’ area.

Preferred Hotel option

Gateway Hotel and Conference Center
2100 Green Hills Dr.
515-292-8600
https://reservations.travelclick.com/2958?groupID=4385607 Preferred PSLLT rate: $134.00 available through August 22nd, 2024. Reservations are to be made using the URL provided above.
CyRide Brown line serves this area, but only on weekdays.

Other Hotel options

Holiday Inn Ames Conference Center
2609 University Blvd
515-268-8808
www.holidayinn.com
Starting rate: $114
CyRide Brown line serves this area, but only on weekdays.

Sleep Inn & Suites
1310 Dickinson Ave
515-337-1171
www.sleepinnandsuites.com
Starting rate: $193
CyRide Red line serves this area.

AmericInn
2507 SE 16th St.
515-233-1005
www.americinn.com
Starting rate: $109

Iowa House
405 Hayward Avenue
515-292-2474
www.iowahouseames.com
Starting rate: $95-$135
3 blocks from the conference site (Memorial Union)
*Iowa House is a unique option. Formerly a fraternity house, it was converted to a hotel and is located in ISU’s “campus town” just a few blocks from the Memorial Union (conference site on campus). It has received stellar reviews on trip advisor.

Hilton Garden Inn
1325 Dickinson Ave
515-233-8000
www.hiltongardeninn.com
Starting rate: $328
CyRide Red line serves this area.
*Near Sleep Inn (above) and served by the Red line which is the most frequently running line in town. Cafes, restaurants and conveniences stores within walking distance of this hotel.

Days Inn Ames
229 S Duff Ave
515-232-0280
www.daysinn.com
Starting rate: $99
CyRide Blue line serves this area.
*Days Inn is about a 10-minute walk to Ames downtown Main Street which features shops, restaurants, bars, cafes, and a farmers market on Saturday mornings. CyRide Red and Green lines go between Main Street and campus.

Dining Options (Links are underlined)

On Campus

For a complete list of on-campus restaurants and cafés: https://www.dining.iastate.edu/hours-menus/

• Memorial Union Food Court ($). 2229 Lincoln Way.  Breakfast, ­­­lunch, and dinner menus. Halal, vegan, and vegetarian options. Restaurants  include: Chester’s Chicken – Cucina Italiana – Cys and Fries – Fresh Burrito Works – Godfather’s Pizza – Panda Express – The Dish – Subway      

• Carlos’ Quesadillas ($). Food truck outside Kildee Hall.  Mexican food: Quesadillas, fajitas, tacos, burritos.

• MU Market & Café ($). 2229 Lincoln Way.  Convenience store, grab-and-go sandwiches, salads, bakery, and coffee. Vegan and vegetarian options.

• Caribou Coffee & Hub Grill & Café ($). Across from Parks Library. Deli and bakery, sandwiches, salads, wraps, and coffee. Vegan and vegetarian options.

• Bookends Café ($). 0184 Parks Library. Grab-and-go sandwiches, salads, bakery, and coffee. Vegan and vegetarian options.

Campus Town

Restaurants and cafés are within walking distance from the Memorial Union.

• Potbelly Sandwich Shop ($). 2310 Lincoln Way. 9am-10pm.  Made to order toasted sandwiches, salads, and ice cream shakes. Vegetarian options.

• Blaze Pizza ($).  2320 Lincoln Way. 10:30am-10:30pm.   Wood-fired pizza; make your own pizza. Vegetarian options.

• Jeff’s Pizza Shop ($). 2402 Lincoln Way. 10:30am-1am.  Pizza, sandwiches, lasagna, salads, chips, and brownies.

• Smokin’ Oak wood-fired pizza ($).: 2420 Lincoln Way. 10:30am-10:30pm.

• Cafe Baudelaire ($$). 2504 Lincoln Way. 10am-1:30am   Brazilian fusion cuisine, hamburgers, omelets, salads, desserts.

• Mr. Burrito ($). 2508 Lincoln Way. 11am-9pm Mexican food: Burritos, tacos, quesadillas, enchiladas, tostadas, Mexican drinks including horchata.

• Taste Place ($). 2512 Lincoln Way. Chinese food

• Arcadia Café ($). 116 Welch Ave. 7am-8pm. Sandwiches, small plates, soup, salad, desserts; vegetarian & gluten-free options.

• Jimmy John’s ($). 135 Welch Ave. 10:30am-3am. Plain slims,  sub sandwiches, club sandwiches.

• Thai Kitchen ($$). 2410 Chamberlain St. 11am-8pm. Thai food: Yums, soups, noodles, fried rice, pad, and curry dishes.

• Pizza Pit ($). 207 Welch Ave. 11am-12 midnight.  Pizza, chicken wings, hot sandwiches.

• Stomping Grounds ($$). 303 Welch Ave.7am-12am.  Regular and toasted sandwiches, salads, pasta, soups, crepes, desserts, coffee. Outside patio area.

Downtown Ames

How to get there: Take Cyride #1 Red East or #2 Green East  from campus. For a full list of downtown Ames restaurants, cafés, and events, access  http://www.amesdowntown.org/

• Wheatsfield Cooperative Grocery & Deli ($).413 Northwestern Ave. 7am-9pm Breakfast burritos, salad bar, hot bar, soups, bakery, desserts; vegetarian options.

• Depot Deli & Cookies ($). 526 Main Street. Sandwiches, soups, salads, desserts; vegetarian options; lunch & dinner combos.

• Aunt Maude’s ($$$). 547 Main St. 11am-2pm, 5pm-10pm.  Salads, soups, omelets, sandwiches, bistro, salmon, chicken, beef.

• The Spice ($$). 402 Main St. 11am-2:15pm, 5pm-8:45pm.  Thai cuisine: Spring rolls, dumplings, soup, curry, noodles, fried rice, chicken, pork, seafood, desserts; vegetarian options; tea, fruit juices.

• Chocolaterie Stam ($). 230 Main Street. 8:30am-8pm.  Bonbons, chocolate treats, cookies, wafers, gelato, licorice.

• Café Diem ($). 229 Main Street. 7am-10pm  Coffee, pastries, salads; wi-fi.

• Little Woods Herbal tea shop and tea house ($). 136 Main St. Herbs, spices, loose leaf teas, medicinal herbs, artisan wellness blends.

• Great Plains Sauce and Dough Company($). 129 Main St. 11am-2pm, 4:30pm-12am Pizza, sandwiches, salads, desserts.

• The Grove Café ($). 124 Main. 6am-2pm. Breakfast & lunch menu: Omelets, pancakes, French toast, hamburgers, hot sandwiches, desserts.

• The Mandarin ($$). 415 Lincoln Way. 11am-2pm, 5-9pm.  Beef, chicken, pork, shrimp, & vegetable lunch entrées; seafood; dinner specials for 2-10 persons; soups

• Cornbred Barbecue ($$). 526 Main St Suite. 11am-…. Beef, pork, turkey, sausage.

West Ames

How to get there: Take Cyride #1 Red West from campus.

• Pammel Grocery & Deli ($). 113 Colorado Ave. 11am-8pm. Indian, Pakistani, and Middle Eastern food. Halal & vegetarian options: Gyros, kabobs, falafel, samosas, kofta.

• Szechuan House ($). 3605 Lincoln Way. 11am-10pm.  Chinese food: Chicken, duck, lamb, pork, seafood; soups, lunch specials; vegetarian options.

• Shogun Japanese Steakhouse ($$). 3704 Lincoln Way. 11am-9:30pm. Soups, salads, teriyaki, yakisoba, tempura, hibachi, sushi, sashimi, udon, shabu shabu, hibachi.

• Provisions Lot F ($$$). 2400 N Loop Dr. 7am-8pm. Salads, soups, omelets, sandwiches, bistro, salmon, chicken, beef.

• Lockwood Café ($). 625 Reliable St. 8am-3pm. Breakfast & Brunch Restaurant.

North Ames

How to get there: Take Cyride #6 Brown North from campus.

• The Café ($$). 2616 Northridge Pkwy. 7am-9pm. Omelets, pancakes, soups, salads, hamburgers, sandwiches, steak, fish, pizza, pasta.

• +39 Italian Restaurant & Cantina ($$). 2640 Stange Rd. 11am-2pm, 5pm-9:30pm. Pasta, pizza, soups, salads, sandwiches; chicken, beef, fish; gluten-free options.

• Brick City Grill ($$). 2704 Stange Rd. 11am-12am.  Hamburgers, sandwiches, entrées (chicken, pork, salmon), nachos, salads; gluten-free options.

• El Azteca ($$). 2727 Stange Rd. 11am-9pm. Mexican food: Quesadillas, burritos, enchiladas, special dinners, soups, salads, desserts.

• Wallaby’s Bar & Grille ($$). 2733 Stange Rd. 11am-11pm.   Salads, soups, hamburgers, sandwiches, wraps, nachos,entrées.

• Los Altos Mexican Restaurant ($$): 823 Wheeler St. #5. 11am-9:30pm. Quesadillas, enchiladas, tacos, burritos; vegetarian options; desserts.

• Ge Angelo’s Italian Restaurant & Lounge ($$). 4-9pm. 823 Wheeler St. #9.  Salads, pizza, calzone, pasta, chicken, cod; vegetarian options; build your own pizza; desserts.

• Prairie Moon Winery ($$). 3801 W 190th St, Ames, IA, United States, Iowa. 1-8PM. 

South Ames

How to get there: Take Cyride #3 Blue South from campus.

• Hickory Park Restaurant Co. ($$). 1404 S. Duff Ave. 10am-9pm. Barbecue, meat dinners, hamburgers, deli and smoked sandwiches, ice cream menu; teas.

• Fuji Japanese Steakhouse ($$$). 1614 S Kellogg Ave. #101. 11am-2pm, 4-9:30pm Hibachi, teriyaki, tempura, udon, soba, rolls, sushi bar entrées, katsu, don buri, desserts.     

Cultural Attractions & Entertainment

On Campus

How do I get there? Everything on campus is within a walking distance.

• ISU’s Museums. Around campus.

• Grant Wood Murals. Largest works of art designed by renowned American regionalism artist Grant Wood (1892-1942).

• Christian Peterson Art Museum. The nation’s first permanent campus artist-in-residence, Christian Petersen, who sculpted and taught at Iowa State University from 1934 through 1955.

• Peterson's Panthers. After 20 years of diligent searching, Iowa State University Museums successfully acquire the Petersen’s Panthers.

• The Maintenance Shop. Memorial Union. Stand-up comedy, open mic nights, theater performances.

• Farm House Museum. Near Ross Hall. M-F 12-4pm. Lake Laverne: Just outside the Memorial Union (MU). Created in 1916. Home to the swans Lancelot and Elaine.

• Reiman Gardens: 1407 University Blvd. 9am-4:30pm.

All Ames Parks: http://www.cityofames.org/government/departments-divisions-i-z/parks-recreation/park-system

• Brookside Park. 1325 6th Street (near campus).

• Ada Hayden Heritage Park. 5205 Grand Ave.

• Inis Grove Park.  2500 Duff Ave.

• Main Street Cultural District

• Octagon Center for the Arts. 427 Douglas Ave. 10am-5pm.

• Ames Public Library. M-Th 9am-9pm, Fri-Sat 9am-6pm, Sun 1-5pm.

• Cinemark Movies 12. 1317 Buckeye Ave.