Getting to Ames
Arriving by air
The Des Moines International Airport (DSM), located about a 45 minute drive from Ames, averages 194 domestic flights per day. Six major airlines operate daily flights and provide direct connections to cities throughout the United States, including: Allegiant Air, American Airlines, Delta Airlines, Frontier Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and United Airlines There are cities from all areas of the country that offer direct flights into Des Moines: Atlanta, Austin, Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Fort Walton Beach, Detroit, Fort Lauderdale, Houston, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Memphis, Miami, Minneapolis, Nashville, New York City, Newark, Orlando, Orlando Sanford, Philadelphia, Phoenix/ Mesa, Portland, Punta Gorda, Salt Lake City, Santa Ana, San Diego, Sarasota, St. Louis, Tampa Bay/ St. Petersburg, Washington D.C..
The following companies rent cars out of Des Moines: AVIS, Budget, National Car Rental, Enterprise, Thrifty, Alamo, Hertz and Dollar. Check-in counters are located in the baggage claim area and the cars are only a short walk away.
There is also taxi and rideshare service between the airport and Ames. A low-cost option is to take a taxi, rideshare, or city bus to the Des Moines bus station and then travel to Ames by bus.
Arriving by ground
Ames is located on US Highway 30 and easily accessed by Interstate 35 (running north and south) and by Interstate 80 (running east and west). A 600-mile radius includes Minneapolis, St. Louis, Chicago, and Madison. The Ames Intermodal bus station is served by Jefferson Lines which connects to Greyhound routes in Des Moines.
Getting around Ames
Iowa State University and the City of Ames provide an award-winning transit bus system called CyRide. CyRide began as a city department in 1976 and in 1981, through the co- operation of the City of Ames, Iowa State University and the University’s Government of the Student Body, became the Ames Transit Agency. CyRide offers a clean and safe mode of transportation across campus and around the Ames community. CyRide provides service from the Gateway Hotel to campus every half-hour; it is about a 15 - 20 minute trip. For those who chose to rent cars, there is ample parking on campus and at the Memorial Union parking ramp which is a short walk from Carver Hall.
CyRide bus from the Gateway Hotel to Carver Hall
Take the Brown #6 bus north "Mall via Somerset”. This bus boards across University Avenue from the hotel. If traffic is busy on University Avenue, you may wish to board the Brown #6 south "ISU Research Park” on the same side of University Avenue as the hotel, ride it a short distance down to ISU Research Park, and then back to campus. Exit at Upper Friley. Cross Union Drive at the pedestrian crossing just uphill from the bus stop. Continue straight, then take a right at the Lab of Mechanics. Carver Hall is a short distance ahead. Fare for the bus is $1 (0.50 if you’re over 65).
Lodging
The Gateway Hotel, located a short bus ride from campus, will serve as the main hotel for the meeting. Offering excellence with elegance in its modern design and award winning service, this hotel is situated on 17 acres of beautifully landscaped property. The Gateway Hotel and Conference Center features 187 guest rooms, 144 of which have 2 queen beds. All guest rooms include pillow-top mattresses, down comforters, feather pillows, flat-screen TVs, mini fridges, desks, data ports, and high-speed wireless internet. The hotel features an onsite restaurant, The IowaStater. The hotel’s recreation facilities include an indoor pool, whirlpool, sauna, and fitness facility.
Gateway is giving a discounted room rate. To get the discount, participants should use this link or contact the gateway by phone at 800-FOR-AMES by April 21, 2024 and ask for the rate for the ASL 2024 North American Meeting.
There are two other hotels near the Gateway: the Best Western Inn and the Radisson Inn. In addition, Ames has several other hotels; a complete list, compiled by the Ames Convention and Visitors Bureau, is below.
