Cities Near Ames
Cities near Ames, Iowa: 10 notable destinations within day-trip and weekend range, including Ankeny, Des Moines, Waterloo. Compare distance, drive time and flight time, with day-trip and getaway ideas.
The closest notable city to Ames, Iowa is Ankeny, about 21 mi (34 km) away — roughly 41 min by road. Below, 10 nearby cities are ranked by distance, with real drive and flight estimates and whether each works best as a day trip or an overnight getaway.
| City | Distance | Drive | Flight | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ankeny | 21 mi / 34 km | 41 min | Drive/rail | Day trip |
| Des Moines | 30 mi / 48 km | 58 min | Drive/rail | Day trip |
| Waterloo | 73 mi / 117 km | 1 hr 41 min | Drive/rail | Day trip / overnight |
| Cedar Rapids | 101 mi / 163 km | 2 hr 21 min | Drive/rail | Day trip / overnight |
| Iowa City | 111 mi / 178 km | 2 hr 34 min | Drive/rail | Day trip / overnight |
| Council Bluffs | 127 mi / 205 km | 2 hr 58 min | Drive/rail | Weekend getaway |
| Bellevue | 133 mi / 214 km | 3 hr 5 min | Drive/rail | Weekend getaway |
| Sioux City | 146 mi / 235 km | 3 hr 23 min | Drive/rail | Weekend getaway |
| Rochester | 149 mi / 240 km | 3 hr 28 min | Drive/rail | Weekend getaway |
| Dubuque | 154 mi / 249 km | 3 hr 35 min | Drive/rail | Weekend getaway |
Day trips from Ames
Within about 100 miles and easy to visit in a day: Ankeny, Des Moines, Waterloo. These are close enough to go and return without an overnight stay.
Weekend getaways from Ames
Far enough for a change of scene but still an easy hop: Cedar Rapids, Iowa City, Council Bluffs, Bellevue, Sioux City. Worth an overnight or a full weekend.
Getting around
Nearby cities are usually quickest by car or train; for the longer hops a regional flight can save time. Tap any city above for its full distance, driving-time and flight-time breakdown, or plan a specific route with the tools below.
Frequently asked questions
Notable cities near Ames include Ankeny, Des Moines, Waterloo, Cedar Rapids, Iowa City. The closest is Ankeny, about 21 miles (34 km) away. The table above lists each with its distance, drive time and best use.
More about Ames
Nearby city travel guides
- → Best time to visit Ankeny
- → Best time to visit Des Moines
- → Best time to visit Waterloo
- → Best time to visit Cedar Rapids
- → Best time to visit Iowa City
- → Best time to visit Council Bluffs
- → Best time to visit Bellevue
- → Best time to visit Sioux City
- → Best time to visit Rochester
- → Best time to visit Dubuque