Overview
Grinnell is a town of almost 10,000 people (2020) in Central Iowa, home to Grinnell College.
2 sights · 12 things to do · 8 places to eat · 1 bars & cafés · 2 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Grinnell
Grinnell College Museum of Art
Art gallery in the middle of Grinnell College's Bucksbaum Center for the Arts.
Rock Creek State Park
Bike to the park, about 7 miles west of town. Take a picnic. Go fishing (wheelchair-accessible options), canoeing, kayaking, or pedal boating. Boat rentals available during warmer months. Motorboats allowed with a maximu…
The Grinnell Herald-Register
Local newspaper, published twice each week.
Louis Sullivan Jewel Box Bank
One of many banks in the Midwest designed by Louis Sullivan. Built in 1914.
Strand Theatre
Three-screen cinema.
Grinnell Mutual Family Aquatic Center
Municipal swimming pool. Lap swimming only in the mornings; hours vary. Two water slides, lap pool, lazy river.
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: May–Oct. Summer highs reach about 83°F; winter lows dip to about 10°F. Cold months (Jan, Feb, Dec) can bring snow and ice; check road conditions. Wettest: Jun and May.
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- DSM Des Moines International Airport, Des Moines — 50 mi away (major hub). Directions
- CID The Eastern Iowa Airport, Cedar Rapids — 53 mi away. Directions
Grinnell is along Interstate 80 about midway between Des Moines and Iowa City.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
- Places to stay listed here: about $150–$150 a night (typical $175), from 2 listed prices.
- Typical meal: about $12 per person at listed restaurants.
- Estimated daily budget per person (room, two meals, local transport and an activity): budget ~$180, mid-range ~$230, comfortable ~$280.
See the Sleep guide ↓ for places to stay.
Sample 3-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Louis Sullivan Jewel Box Bank, Strand Theatre, St. Mary's Catholic Church
- Lunch Pagliai's Pizza
- Afternoon The Grinnell Herald-Register, Drake Community Library
- Dinner Montgomery's Sandwich Shop
- Evening Saints Rest
Day 2
- Morning Rock Creek State Park
- Lunch West Side Family Restaurant
- Afternoon Jacob Krumm Nature Preserve
- Dinner Grin City Bakery
Day 3
- Morning Grinnell Friends Church
- Lunch I-80 Dhaba
- Dinner El Cascabelia
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
If you are looking for grocery stores, there are two in the downtown area: McNally's and Fareway. McNally's, which has a deli counter and sells hot food at lunch during the week, may be the best option if you're looking for high-quality picnic fixings. Fareway (closed Sundays) is a low-cost grocery store with a butcher counter in the back. The biggest grocery store in town is the Hy-Vee, close to the interstate. Some food is also sold at the Walmart and the DollarTree across the street from Hy-Vee.
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Photos
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Understand
Grinnell is a town with strong agricultural roots that hosts a highly rated liberal arts college, Grinnell College.
Climate
The climate in Iowa is pretty much the same everywhere. In the autumn, when the daytime highs get down in the 50s, people break out the sweaters and talk about how cold it is. In the spring, when the daytime highs get up to the 50s, people break out the shorts and start talking about how warm it is. The difference has more to do with what you've become accustomed to, rather than any meteorological difference. After months of cold weather, sometimes not rising above freezing for a week or more at a stretch, anything reliably above the freezing point feels warm.
Daily temperatures can be quite variable. For example, the average temperatures for July are a high of 83 °F (28 °C) and a low of 62 °F (17 °C), but in practice, some days the high temperature will be in the 60s and other days, it will be 100 °F with humidity so high it feels like walking through warm Jell-O. Farmers call those hot days "good corn growing weather".
Get in
By car
Grinnell is along Interstate 80 about midway between Des Moines and Iowa City.
By bus
By plane
Get around
You will either need a car or a bicycle, as there is no mass-transit option. Alternatively, sidewalks are plentiful in the central portion of the town and near the college.
If you are driving an electric vehicle, there are a couple of charging stations at Grinnell College, plus a Tesla Supercharger at the Kum & Go near Interstate 80.
See
Do
Do Rock Creek State Park
Bike to the park, about 7 miles west of town. Take a picnic. Go fishing (wheelchair-accessible options), canoeing, kayaking, or pedal boating. Boat rentals available during warmer months. Motorboats allowed with a maximum speed of 5 mph. Swimming in designated area. Multi-use trails on either side of the man-made lake permit hiking, bicycling, horseback riding, cross-country skiing and snowmobiling. Almost 200 campsites with restrooms, showers, playground, and seasonal camp store selling ice, snack food, bait/tackle and firewood.
Do Jacob Krumm Nature Preserve
This nature preserve, about three-quarters of a square mile in size, has about seven miles of trails to walk through the prairie and a man-made lake. Fishing by boat or off the wheelchair-accessible pier at the lake. Good for picnicking, hiking, and cross-country skiing. Dogs welcome, but watch for ticks. Restrooms.
Do Ahrens/Paschall Memorial Park
Best playground in town for kids with mobility impairments, with an inclusive swing, poured rubber surfaces, and transfer points that let kids climb up. Separate playground structures for big and little kids. This is the main destination for youth sports programs, with soccer fields, baseball and softball diamonds, and dedicated courts for basketball, beach volleyball, pickleball and tennis, plus a driving range for golfers. During the winter, there's an outdoor ice skating rink and a hill that's good for sledding. Wheelchair-accessible restrooms.
Buy
There are several chain stores, including the discount stores Walmart, DollarTree, and Dollar General, as you head south towards the interstate. There are also several convenience stores, including the "Almost Always Open" (which isn't open overnight), and some vintage and consignment stores downtown.
Place Pioneer Bookshop
The college's bookstore is downtown and does double-duty as both the supplier of textbooks to students and a bookstore for the general public as well. They sell children's books, books on local history, a few travel-friendly toys, and all the logo-adorned souvenirs anyone could ever wish for.
Eat
Treats
Eat Grin City Bakery
Open only four mornings a week, this little bakery is the place to satisfy your doughnut fix. The cream-filled coneys are a local favorite. Pick up a few sugar cookies for later while you're there.
Eat Dari Barn
Soft-serve ice cream fast-food options at this locally owned business. They have dozens of specialty sundaes, which are available in a "mini" size for just $5. Some dairy-free and gluten-free options. Outdoor seating only. Large groups welcome, especially with a little advance notice.
Meals
Eat Pagliai's Pizza
A small, family-owned Iowa pizza chain since 1957. Order a slice of cheese bread to eat while waiting for your pizza.
Eat West Side Family Restaurant
Classic diner food on the west side of town. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Wheelchair accessible. Kids welcome. If the kids need to burn off some energy, then you're right next door to the Grinnell Area Recreational Trail, and they can be running around in Lion's Park in two minutes. Reservations available for groups of 6+; private rooms can be reserved for large groups.
Eat El Cascabelia
On the site of the former Union Depot for the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad, this Mexican restaurant serves lunch and dinner.
Eat I-80 Dhaba
100% meat-free Indian food. Vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options.
Splurge
Eat Rube's Steakhouse
The original grill-your-own steak house. Reservations recommended. Children's menu (age 10 and under) is about $15, or they can order the sides for $5 and share your steak. During the day, you can buy their steaks at their butcher shop across the street.
If you are looking for grocery stores, there are two in the downtown area: McNally's and Fareway. McNally's, which has a deli counter and sells hot food at lunch during the week, may be the best option if you're looking for high-quality picnic fixings. Fareway (closed Sundays) is a low-cost grocery store with a butcher counter in the back. The biggest grocery store in town is the Hy-Vee, close to the interstate. Some food is also sold at the Walmart and the DollarTree across the street from Hy-Vee.
Drink
Drink Saints Rest
Local coffee shop since 1999. In addition to hot tea and the usual list of coffee drinks, they sell horchata, iced coffee, chai lattes, hot chocolate, cider, Italian sodas, and Italian creams. Muffins, scones, cookies, and other baked goods available. The 2018 film of the same name was named after, and partially filmed at, the coffee shop.
Sleep
The large hotel chains are south of the main part of town, near Interstate 80. They often cost around $100 per night for a basic room.
Usually, it's easy to find a place to stay in Grinnell. However, you should book your accommodations early for the weekend when the students of Grinnell College return to school (end of August), family visitation weekend (end of September), graduation weekend (one week before Memorial Day), and alumni reunion (the weekend after Memorial Day).
Stay healthy
Place Medicap Pharmacy
Closest pharmacy to the hospital and walk-in clinic. There are also pharmacies inside the Hy-Vee grocery store and Walmart near the highway; they are both open for a few hours on Sundays.
Go next
Grinnell is about halfway between Des Moines and Iowa City on Interstate 80 (I-80).
Nearby
Newton
City / town · 13 listings · 17 mi away
Marshalltown
City / town · 3 listings · 23 mi away
Pella
City / town · 6 listings · 25 mi away
Amana Colonies
City / town · 26 listings · 42 mi away
Carlisle
City / town · 5 listings · 43 mi away
Ankeny
City / town · 8 listings · 45 mi away
Des Moines
City / town · 131 listings · 47 mi away
Albia
City / town · 5 listings · 50 mi away
My experience
Write about your trip here. Notes save automatically in this browser as you type; back them up from My journal.