Free & Cheap Things to Do in Ames

Gardens

Iowa State's 17-acre showcase garden south of Jack Trice Stadium — themed outdoor gardens, an indoor tropical conservatory, and the Christina Reiman Butterfly Wing, where hundreds of butterflies fly free year-round. Seasonal exhibits and the famous concrete gnome Elwood keep it playful.

Address: 1407 University Blvd, Ames, IA 50011

Tip: Open daily 9–5 but closed on ISU home-football Saturdays — check the list before visiting. ISU students free; military families $2 off. The butterfly wing closes 30 minutes before the gardens.

Parks & Nature

A 430-acre park around two clear quarry lakes on Ames' north edge, named for the first woman to earn a doctorate at Iowa State. Five miles of paved and turf trails loop the water past restored prairie and wetlands — the busiest free recreation spot in Story County.

Address: 5205 Grand Ave, Ames, IA 50010

Tip: The full two-lake loop runs about 4 miles, flat and stroller-friendly. Kayak and paddleboard launches are free; fishing is popular (Iowa license required). Sunrise brings herons and pelicans in migration.

Arts & Culture

One of the largest campus public-art programs in the country — thousands of artworks across 2,000 acres, from Christian Petersen's beloved 1930s sculptures to contemporary installations in nearly every building. University Museums runs free guided Art Walks, and wandering is free anytime.

Address: Iowa State University campus, Ames, IA 50011

Tip: Start at the Christian Petersen Art Museum in Morrill Hall and grab a free walking map, or download the Art on Campus map online. The Fountain of the Four Seasons by the Memorial Union is the icon.

Historic Sites

Iowa State's first building (1860) — a National Historic Landmark restored to its Victorian farm-life appearance and free to tour, telling the story of the nation's first land-grant college through period rooms and original furnishings in the middle of central campus.

Address: 601 Farm House Ln, Ames, IA 50011

Tip: Open weekday afternoons noon–4 (closed weekends and university holidays). Park at the Memorial Union ramp and walk five minutes into campus. Combine with an Art on Campus stroll.

Shopping & Strolling

Downtown Ames' designated Iowa Cultural & Entertainment District — 50+ locally owned shops, galleries, and cafes along a walkable historic Main Street, with free festivals, art walks, and a summer farmers' market. Window shopping and people-watching cost nothing.

Address: Main St between Duff & Northwestern Aves, Ames, IA 50010

Tip: Free two-hour street parking. The Octagon Center's free galleries and monthly free Third Thursday events anchor the district; summer Saturday mornings add the farmers' market.

Arts & Culture

Downtown's nonprofit community art center — free galleries showing regional artists across rotating exhibitions, a shop stocked by 185+ Iowa makers, and the free September Octagon Art Festival that takes over Main Street. Free Third Thursday programs run every month in 2026.

Address: 427 Douglas Ave, Ames, IA 50010

Tip: Galleries free year-round; classes and workshops charge fees. The artist shop is a good stop for affordable Iowa-made gifts. Closed Sundays and Mondays.

Parks & Nature

Two hundred free acres of prairie, woodland, and lake just north of Ames, home to Story County's conservation center, four miles of trails, and a public observatory where the Ames Area Amateur Astronomers host free monthly star parties. A touch-and-see exhibit room makes it kid-friendly.

Address: 56461 180th St, Ames, IA 50010

Tip: Check the AAAA club calendar for free public observatory nights — some of central Iowa's darkest accessible skies. The lake loop trail is an easy family walk; ice fishing in winter.

History & Culture

Downtown's local history museum, fresh off a major expansion — hands-on exhibits trace Ames from railroad town to research hub, with the new 'We the People of Ames' feature exhibit connecting local stories to national history. Kids under 12 are always free.

Address: 416 Douglas Ave #101, Ames, IA 50010

Tip: SNAP/EBT, WIC, and Medicaid cardholders enter free, as do active military families. Two blocks off Main Street — pair with the Octagon and downtown browsing.