Discover Ames as your next travel destination.
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We are so excited to have you in Ames! After a long day of cycling and enjoying the beautiful Iowa scenery, let us give you a true Cyclone welcome at the best overnight town in RAGBRAI L. On this page, you will find maps, how to spend your day as a support driver, road closures, downtown food and drink vendors, entertainment, and FAQs.
Don’t miss the fun waiting for your RAGBRAI rider(s) on Tuesday (July 25), or after they take off on Wednesday – discover all there is to do in Ames! With food and fun from dusk to dawn, you’re sure to be satisfied with your day.
Check out all there is to DO, EAT, SHOP, and STAY with our Visitors Guide to Ames and Iowa State University.
Enjoy over 30 of our favorite food and drink vendors in Downtown Ames! With such a wide variety of options, including burgers, Mexican, Greek, BBQ, sweet treats, and even coffee! You’re sure to find something you love.
Beverage tents and food vendors will be stationed throughout Main Street and open from 2:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.
Our main office, at 1601 Golden Aspen Dr. Suite 110 Ames, Iowa, will be staffed from 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 25.
Contact via phone at (515) 232-4030.
If you are not staying with a resident of Ames, we have campground locations available for register RAGBRAI riders. View a map of campground locations here.
We recommend Wednesday day riders get dropped off in the Ames Sam’s Club parking lot at 305 Airport Rd. From here there is easy access to the bike trail on the north side of Airport Rd. Riders can follow the bike trail West until reaching University Boulevard where they then will go north to Mortensen Rd. The route on Wednesday morning will begin at University and Mortensen Rd.
Showers are located at Brookside Park (main campground) – $8 for shower; $2 for towel, Towers North (Pork Belly) – $8 for shower; $1 for towel, Lied Rec Center – $10 (includes towel), State Gym – $10 (includes towel), Brancel Charters (Haunted Forest Campground) – $8 for shower; $2 for towel, and Furman Aquatic Center (1635 13th St) – $7 for shower
Food and drink vendors will be located at campgrounds, the welcome rally, and Downtown Ames during our festival. Many Ames businesses will also be available during this time.
We have designated parking for those who will be biking into Ames. Lots B1 and C1 located just north of Hilton Coliseum and the Iowa State Center. These are the yellow parking lots on this map.
The beer tent will open at 2:30 p.m. on July, 25 and close at 10:30 p.m. Tickets are available for purchase at information booths.
Parking for registered RAGBRAI support vehicles are located in lots G2, G4, and G8 south of Jack Trice Stadium. Short-term and mid-term parking for riders starting or ending their ride in Ames will be located at North Grand Mall. For Wednesday day riders, park in lot B1 and C1 north of Hilton and Scheman.
Three shuttle routes will be provided with a drop off/pickup downtown on the south side of the Community Center (515 Clark Avenue). These will run from 3:00 p.m. – 12:00 a.m. and circulate about every 20 – 30 minutes. For the full shuttle route and other maps visit the Ames RAGBRAI maps page.
Riders and members of the community are invited to downtown Ames to enjoy a wide variety of food and drink vendors, games, as well as live music.
RAGBRAI 2023 riding out of Ames. #ragbrai2023 #ragbrai #amesragbrai #amesiowa #dronevideo #cycling #iowa #djiair2s #exploreiowa #thingstodoiniowa #droneview
Aug 6
RAGBRAI 2023 riding out of Ames. #ragbrai2023 #ragbrai #amesragbrai #amesiowa #dronevideo #cycling #iowa #djiair2s #exploreiowa #thingstodoiniowa #droneview
From Ames to Coralville, RAGBRAI L humbled me. #ragbrai #ragbrai2023 #amesragbrai #desmoines #tamatoledoragbrai #coralvilleragbrai
Jul 29
From Ames to Coralville, RAGBRAI L humbled me. #ragbrai #ragbrai2023 #amesragbrai #desmoines #tamatoledoragbrai #coralvilleragbrai
Wednesday RAGBRAI sunrise out of Ames. #ragbrai2023 #chamberames #ames #amesragbrai2023 #cityofames #ragbrai #amesragbrai #dronelife #droneshots #dronevideo #djiphotography #air2s #
Jul 28
Wednesday RAGBRAI sunrise out of Ames. #ragbrai2023 #chamberames #ames #amesragbrai2023 #cityofames #ragbrai #amesragbrai #dronelife #droneshots #dronevideo #djiphotography #air2s #
We loved having RAGBRAI in Ames!💛❤️ #amesragbrai #jacktrice #ragbrai #ames
Made the trek back to Ames for a few days to participate in the 50th annual Ragbrai. Did one leg of the week long ride across Iowa from Ames to Des Moines, taking just under 7.5 hours and around 54 miles covered
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It was also word record day, so they anticipated close to 50,000 people riding this leg. It was a once in a lifetime experience (one I am choosing to never repeat 😂)
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#ragbrai #ragbrai2023 #amesragbrai #desmoinesragbrai #bikeiowa #livinginiowa #midwestisbest
Jul 27
Made the trek back to Ames for a few days to participate in the 50th annual Ragbrai. Did one leg of the week long ride across Iowa from Ames to Des Moines, taking just under 7.5 hours and around 54 miles covered
.
It was also word record day, so they anticipated close to 50,000 people riding this leg. It was a once in a lifetime experience (one I am choosing to never repeat 😂)
.
#ragbrai #ragbrai2023 #amesragbrai #desmoinesragbrai #bikeiowa #livinginiowa #midwestisbest
Thank you to everyone that stopped in yesterday during #RAGBRAI - it was a joyous, sweaty day and we met folks from Denver, Austin, Maryland, Fairbanks(!!), San Antonio, Michigan, and Santiago(!!). Also thanks to the local folks that stopped in that hadn’t been to our new location yet - we hope to see you again soon! And, of course, thank you to the Ames RAGBRAI committee and all of the volunteers and vendors and other Main Street shop owners for making downtownames so festive and fun yesterday.
.
🪴 We still have succulent bike baskets if you’re in town and just want a planty friend for local 🚲 bicycle adventures! We are open 1-5 today, 12-6 Thursday and Friday, and 9-6 Saturday.
If you’re continuing on down the road today, stay safe and stay hydrated and thanks for visiting Ames 💕🪴!
#houseplants #tropicalplants #houseplantsofinstagram #plantsplantsplants #plantlover #plantlove #plantsmakepeoplehappy #downtownames #iowastateuniversity #ragbrai #amesragbrai #bicycling #iowa
Jul 26
Thank you to everyone that stopped in yesterday during #RAGBRAI - it was a joyous, sweaty day and we met folks from Denver, Austin, Maryland, Fairbanks(!!), San Antonio, Michigan, and Santiago(!!). Also thanks to the local folks that stopped in that hadn’t been to our new location yet - we hope to see you again soon! And, of course, thank you to the Ames RAGBRAI committee and all of the volunteers and vendors and other Main Street shop owners for making downtownames so festive and fun yesterday.
.
🪴 We still have succulent bike baskets if you’re in town and just want a planty friend for local 🚲 bicycle adventures! We are open 1-5 today, 12-6 Thursday and Friday, and 9-6 Saturday.
If you’re continuing on down the road today, stay safe and stay hydrated and thanks for visiting Ames 💕🪴!
#houseplants #tropicalplants #houseplantsofinstagram #plantsplantsplants #plantlover #plantlove #plantsmakepeoplehappy #downtownames #iowastateuniversity #ragbrai #amesragbrai #bicycling #iowa
Thanks to everyone who made #amesragbrai and #RAGBRAI50 an unforgettable day! RAGBRAI
Welcome to Ames RAGBRAI #ragbrai2023 #amesiowa #discover_ames #chamberames #smartchoice #amesragbrai #amespolice #downtownames
Jul 25
Welcome to Ames RAGBRAI #ragbrai2023 #amesiowa #discover_ames #chamberames #smartchoice #amesragbrai #amespolice #downtownames
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