Grinnell

Grinnell is a town of almost 10,000 people (2020) in Central Iowa, home to Grinnell College.

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.

By car
Grinnell is along Interstate 80 about midway between Des Moines and Iowa City.

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, near the college and several small bed and breakfast inns.

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.



Eat


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.

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).



Go next
Grinnell is about halfway between Des Moines and Iowa City on Interstate 80 (I-80).