The average price of a 7-day trip to Ames is $1,344 for a solo traveler, $2,414 for a couple, and $4,525 for a family of 4. Ames hotels range from $55 to $253 per night with an average of $88, while most vacation rentals will cost $200 to $380 per night for the entire home. Average worldwide flight costs to Des Moines International Airport (DSM) are between $588 and $892 per person for economy flights and $1,845 to $2,799 for first class. Depending on activities, we recommend budgeting $41 to $69 per person per day for transportation and enjoying local restaurants.
See below for average, budget, and luxury trip costs. You can also look up flight costs from your airport for more tailored flight pricing.
The Cheapest Times to Visit Ames, IA, US
On average, these will be the cheapest dates to fly to DSM and stay in a Ames hotel:
- January 8th to March 4th
- April 23rd to May 6th
- August 13th to December 9th (except the week of November 26th)
The absolute cheapest time to take a vacation in Ames is usually early to mid September.
Average Ames Trip Costs
Average Solo Traveler
The average cost for one person to visit Ames for a week is $1,189-$1,884($170-$269 per day)
Food, Travel, and Sightseeing: $41 to $69 per day for one person’s daily expenses
Flights: $386 to $723 for economy
Lodging: $86 to $90 per night for one 2 or 3-star hotel room
or $93 to $113 per night for a 1-bed vacation rental
Average Couple’s Trip
The average cost for a couple to visit Ames for a week is $2,266-$3,428($324-$490 per day)
Food, Travel, and Sightseeing: $82 to $138 per day for two people’s daily expenses
Flights: $772 to $1,446 for economy
Lodging: $86 to $90 per night for one 2 or 3-star hotel room
or $93 to $113 per night for a 1-bed vacation rental
Average Family Vacation
The average cost for 4 people to visit Ames for a week is $3,472-$5,904($496-$843 per day)
Food, Travel, and Sightseeing: $164 to $276 per day for four people’s daily expenses
Flights: $1,544 to $2,892 for economy
Lodging: $172 to $180 per night for two 2 or 3-star hotel rooms
or $130 to $170 per night for a 2-bed vacation rental
Traveling Cheap to Ames
How cheap can you make a vacation to Ames? The cheapest trip to Ames is about $115 per person per day for travelers willing to take standby flights, deal with inconvenience, and otherwise limit travel expenses. About 0% of rentals are available in the $0 to $100 range for an entire place, and vacation rentals can be booked for as low as $120 per night. These inexpensive rentals must be booked as early as possible and may not be in the most desirable areas. 1-star hotels are more likely to be available, with rooms starting at around $45.
Even cheaper trips are possible depending on where you live and whether you can drive. Check the cheapest times to fly for more saving ideas.
Budget Solo Traveler
The lowest cost for one person to visit Ames for a week is $803-$1,977($115-$282 per day)
Food, Travel, and Sightseeing: $21 to $42 per day for one person’s daily expenses
Flights: $386 to $723 for economy
Lodging: $45 to $55 per night for one 1-star hotel room
or $120 to $160 per night for a 1-bed vacation rental
Budget Couple’s Trip
The lowest cost for a couple to visit Ames for a week is $1,336-$2,994($191-$428 per day)
Food, Travel, and Sightseeing: $42 to $84 per day for two people’s daily expenses
Flights: $772 to $1,446 for economy
Lodging: $45 to $55 per night for one 1-star hotel room
or $120 to $160 per night for a 1-bed vacation rental
Budget Family Vacation
The lowest cost for 4 people to visit Ames for a week is $2,672-$5,508($382-$787 per day)
Food, Travel, and Sightseeing: $84 to $168 per day for four people’s daily expenses
Flights: $1,544 to $2,892 for economy
Lodging: $90 to $110 per night for two 1-star hotel rooms
or $168 to $240 per night for a 2-bed vacation rental
Overall it is possible but not easy to travel to Ames cheaply.
The Cost of a Luxury Ames Trip
There is no true ceiling on the cost of a luxury trip, so our estimates are based on what most people do in Ames.
Luxury Solo Traveler
The high-end price for one person to visit Ames for a week is $2,128-$7,558($304-$1,080 per day)
Food, Travel, and Sightseeing: $86 to $138 per day for one person’s daily expenses
Flights: $776 to $2,032 for first class
Lodging: $125 to $253 per night for one 4 or 5-star hotel room
or $380 to $760 per night for a preferred vacation rental
Luxury Couple’s Trip
The high-end price for a couple to visit Ames for a week is $3,506-$10,556($501-$1,508 per day)
Food, Travel, and Sightseeing: $172 to $276 per day for two people’s daily expenses
Flights: $1,552 to $4,064 for first class
Lodging: $125 to $253 per night for one 4 or 5-star hotel room
or $380 to $760 per night for a preferred vacation rental
Luxury Family Vacation
The high-end price for 4 people to visit Ames for a week is $7,012-$18,376($1,002-$2,625 per day)
Food, Travel, and Sightseeing: $344 to $552 per day for four people’s daily expenses
Flights: $3,104 to $8,128 for first class
Lodging: $250 to $506 per night for two 4 or 5-star hotel rooms
or $532 to $1,064 per night for a preferred vacation rental
Ames Hotel Prices
The cost of staying in Ames is about average than the average city. On average hotels are less expensive than vacation rentals. Luxury vacation rentals are more expensive in Ames due to very high property costs. The graphs below show how much cost can vary depending on the type of experience you’re looking for.
Ames Lodging Cost by Star Status
The average price for the class of hotel is on the (y) axis. The hotel class (out of 5 stars) is on the (x) axis.
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Prices are based on Ames hotel averages and may not reflect current prices. In some cases, we extrapolate prices to estimate costs, and hotels with your desired star rating may not be available.
Vacation Rental Prices
The percent of vacation rentals in the price range is on the left (y) axis. Price range is on the bottom (x) axis.
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There are a healthy amount of vacation rentals serving all budgets in Ames.
Flight Costs to Ames
Averaging flights around the world, prices go from a high of $892 average in late July to a low of $588 in early to mid September. Median flight price is $554. These prices are based on millions of flights. For Ames our data includes 473 originating airports, and 106 airlines. The area has average variance in price compared with other locations. Flying to Ames from an airport like Shevchenko (SCO) in Aktau (Kazakhstan) for an average $6,341 trip fare will obviously cost a lot more than from an airport like Minneapolis-St Paul International (MSP) in Minneapolis, MN (the United States) at an average of just $184.
Average Flight Cost by Season
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Average Flight Cost by Day of Week
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The cheapest day to fly in is typically Tuesday, and the cheapest day to fly back is usually Tuesday. Click here to see data for the cost of flights from your airport. In Ames, the difference between the cheapest and the most expensive week is about $303, so you can easily save about 52% simply by using our free flight guides and booking in advance.
Daily Expenses Budget
Daily vacation expenses vary more based on what you’re interested in doing. A fine dining restaurant with drinks around Ames can easily cost $310 per person or more, while a standard nice meal might be about $21 per person. Private tours can cost $629 per day, but self-guided tours to see the outdoor sights can be free. Costs vary wildly, so recommendations are made based on the cost of living and averages we see for this type of vacation.