Big 12 Hotel & Travel

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Hotel Booking

We have reserved a block of rooms for conference attendees at the Hilton Garden Inn from November 9-12, 2025.

  • Standard King: $114 + tax per night
  • Standard Double Queen: $119 + tax per night

Please be sure to book by October 19 to take advantage of the group rate. Reservations can be made using our direct booking link or by calling the hotel at 515-233-8000 and mentioning you are with the Big 12 Directors Conference.

Hotel Information

Hilton Garden Inn

1325 Dickinson Avenue

Ames, IA  50014

515-233-8000

 

Hotel amenities include:

  • Fitness center, indoor pool, and whirlpool
  • Business center
  • Free internet access
  • Microwave, refrigerator, Keurig, iron, and ironing board in each room
  • Garden Grille Restaurant & Lounge serving breakfast and dinner
    • Breakfast is available for $13.95 per person
  • Onsite bar
  • Evening room service
  • On-site laundry facilities
  • Free parking

 

Travel to Iowa State

Des Moines International Airport is approximately a 45 minute drive from the Iowa State University campus.

Rideshare services such as Uber and Lyft as well as taxis are an option but availability is somewhat limited in Ames and can be hit or miss at the airport depending on arrival time. The airport is also served by several rental car agencies which are conveniently located right inside the baggage claim area.

MU staff will coordinate shuttle service to and from the Des Moines airport as well as a local shuttle between the hotel and the Memorial Union.

To arrange airport shuttle service, please contact 2025uniondirectors@iastate.edu with your flight details by Friday, October 31.

CyRide is the city bus system for Ames, Iowa. It is a collaboration between the City of Ames, Iowa State, and our Student Government. There are 13 fixed routes that cover most of the city, especially in the campus area, and boasts the fourth highest ridership per capita in the United States behind only New York City, Honolulu, and San Francisco. Regular fare is $1.00 per person. 

Check the CyRide schedule for current routes and times. The Memorial Union is served by the red, blue, brown, gold, orange, plum, cherry, and purple routes. The red route will also take you to downtown Ames. The cherry route runs between the Hilton Garden Inn and the Memorial Union.

Iowa State is located in Ames, Iowa. The address for the Memorial Union is 2229 Lincoln Way. 

From the Des Moines airport, turn left onto Fleur Drive and then take I-235 E through downtown Des Moines. Continue on I-35 N to exit 111A-111B for US-30 and use the left two lanes to merge onto US-30 W. To get to the Memorial Union, take exit 146 and stay right onto S University Blvd. Take a left on Lincoln Way and then the Memorial Union will be on your right.

From the east or west, take I-80 to I-35 N. From the south, take I-35 N and follow the directions above. 

Parking at Iowa State

The most convenient place to park during the conference is the Memorial Union Parking Ramp. The maximum daily fee is $20. Accessible parking spaces are available in the ramp as well as in the metered spaces along the circle drive west of the building. 

Most other parking lots on campus are by permit only although there is some metered parking and General Staff lots are free on weekdays after 5:30 pm as well as weekends. Check with Parking Services for additional information on general campus parking.