View of Grinnell from above

Beyond Campus

Don’t just learn here. Live here.

Grinnell will challenge you, starting your expectations: It's a place where rural doesn’t mean limited, where small doesn’t mean boring. It's a place where students learn the skills to make meaningful change in the world, to build communities that question the status quo. It's also a place where there is as much opportunity for learning off campus as on, a place where your curiosity and attention are rewarded — if you dare to give them.

Introducing Grinnell, Iowa

Stepping off campus means stepping into a community brimming with opportunity: for art, for activities, for enrichment. Hop on the the Grinnell-operated shuttles to explore the opportunities our area has to offer.

Get where you want to go

Tulips in downtown Grinnell

Meet Grinnell

  • museum guest peering up at a painting

    Campus Amenities

    Come to have some fun.

    There is plenty of fun to be had and much to explore while you are here. The College offers pristine green spaces and a 9-hole public golf course. As well as an exquisite state-of-the-art museum. And there’s a good chance that you will leave here with a Grinnell College tchotchke from the Bookstore. 

  • Tulips in front of storefront with Grinnell, Iowa written in tile

    Restaurants and Dining

    Come to eat.

    Our community’s creative spirit is part of what makes our city’s cuisine so exceptional. Thirty local eateries. Critically acclaimed bakeries. Dining options for everyone. And there’s a good chance that the food on your plate was grown just around the corner.

  • Student walking in front of ARH in spring

    Hotels and Lodging

    Come to stay.

    The city of Grinnell offers many options for lodging, all within a few miles of campus. Check out Hotel Grinnell, which is just around the corner. The city also has plenty of bed-and-breakfasts, if that’s more to your liking. At certain times of year (like commencement), hotel vacancy can be hard to come by, but be sure to check out the accommodations in nearby cities.

  • student on bike in south campus with autumn leaves

    Transportation

    Getting to and Around Grinnell

    Grinnell sits at the heart of a constellation of Midwestern cities. The College's location in central Iowa makes it an easy drive from any major metropolis in the Midwest. If you’re coming from afar, you can fly into Des Moines or Cedar Rapids. Both are a one-hour drive from campus.

  • prairie grass in fall

    Living and Working in Grinnell

    A Place to Grow.

    With the chance to get to know your neighbors and the variety and amenities of a city, Grinnell can be a fantastic place to live and work. Hear from the people who know it best why they've chosen to live in the Jewel of the Prairie.

Photo of Students socialize in a residence hall lounge

Explore the Campus

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