Ames

Ames's bar scene centers on Welch Avenue in Campustown, the strip right off Iowa State University's south end that turns into the loud, student-driven heart of the city's nightlife on game days and weekends. BarFinder lists 43 venues around Ames, led by classic bars, sports bars, and pubs, plus a smaller dive bar and nightclub scene. Welch Ave. Station, a Campustown fixture for more than three decades, is one of the longest-running bars in the area, while spots like The Blue Owl Bar and The Sports Page Grill & Bar serve the city's more residential, less student-heavy side. It's a classic college-town split: rowdy campus bars a few blocks from quieter neighborhood spots.