Beyond Campus | Grinnell College
Source: https://grinnell.edu/life/beyond
Archived: 2026-04-23 17:32
Beyond Campus | Grinnell College
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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 Grinnell-operated shuttles to explore the opportunities our area has to offer.
Get where you want to go
Meet Grinnell
See for yourself.
Our town boasts shops, restaurants, a movie theatre, bakery, regional medical center, aquatic center, and easy access to bike trails, local parks, and state parks.
Grinnell science students share their research with community members at the popular Grinnell Farmers Market. The “Market Science” project gives students a chance to gain experience communicating their research to a broad audience while interacting directly with the public. The Farmers Market is also a great place to buy fresh produce and baked goods.
Saints Rest Coffee House in downtown Grinnell is a favorite meeting place for the entire community, from college students to grandparents.
Coffee and conversation are both something to savor when classes meet at Saints Rest Coffee House.
Grinnell is a bike-friendly community, with paved and gravel trails as well as helpful and knowledgeable experts at the local bike shop.
The Pioneer Bookshop is set in downtown Grinnell, just a few minutes’ walk from campus.
The Pioneer Bookshop in downtown Grinnell is your first stop for the best Grinnell logo apparel, gifts for the family, office supplies, and even textbooks.
Downtown Grinnell is a short walk from campus and an even shorter walk from Renfrow Hall, our newest residence hall. You’ll find a variety of restaurants, coffee shops, stores, a brew pub, and a movie theatre, just to name a few of our favorites.
Looking for a place to express your creativity? The Stew Makerspace might be your new favorite destination. Open to all, the Stew is a downtown space that offers facilities for woodworking, ceramics, 3D printing, and laser engraving.
The donuts and other baked goods created with care at Grin City Bakery are good enough to make your day, and maybe even your whole week. The hardest part is choosing from all the tempting possibilities.
Students enjoy studying and relaxing in the campus hammocks.
The Grinnell College Golf Course is part of campus and offers golfers a place to hone their skills. It's also considered one of the best cross country courses for spectators in the Midwest Conference.
Grinnell’s annual Jingle Bell Holiday brings the magic of the season to life for the entire community.
The recently renovated and expanded Strand 3 Theatre downtown shows recently released films and hosts special screenings for events such as New Student Orientation and Grinnell College Cultural Films.
The historic Strand 3 Theatre is a jewel of the downtown, thanks to the recent restoration of its exterior.
Striking murals brighten the exterior of many of Grinnell’s downtown buildings.
Need something to brighten up your room? Several downtown businesses, such as flower shops and art galleries, will have just the right thing.
Photo of Students socialize in a residence hall lounge
Explore the Campus
Plan your Visit
Take the Virtual Tour
Community Engagement
Grinnellians never hang back when they can jump in, and there are so many ways to lead good work for our community.
Deep Connections
Grinnell offers access. Access to local politicians, business leaders, and change-makers. Access that empowers change and emboldens action that you can actually see in your new community. That kind of access has a way of involving everyone and grounding our community. “I think the richness it adds to anyone’s life, to sort of feel really connected to and rooted in a place, is pretty invaluable,” says Tina Elfenbein, senior assistant director of admissions.
Giving Gardens
The Giving Gardens is a local collaborative effort to care for our community’s well-being by providing access to fresh, homegrown fruits and vegetables. Volunteers make the work possible, from pulling the food from the ground to placing it in the hands of people — hands that deserve health and care.
Civic Engagement
A gateway between Grinnell College and Grinnell, Iowa, the Civic Innovation Pavilion at Renfrow Hall seeks to foster collaboration between the campus and the community so that each can support the other. Grinnellians value the interdependence of their communities and champion access for all.
Lodging
Whether you are looking for a historic bed & breakfast conveniently located on the edge of campus, a cozy hotel experience in the heart of downtown Grinnell, or a more familiar big-name chain option a short drive down the road, Grinnell has a variety of lodging options for you and your family.
Lodging and Accommodation
Dining
Grinnell’s dining scene offers a wide variety of global cuisines, including traditional Indian dishes, authentic Vietnamese pho, and fresh Tex-Mex. Other local Iowa restaurants include the cozy Prairie Canary, vibrant Hometown Heroes, and award-winning Pagliai’s.
Dinng and Local Foods
Transportation
The Grinnell College Local Shuttle and the Saturday Metro Shuttle give you the freedom to explore all the possibilities our community has to offer, and Safe Rides are available 24/7 through Campus Safety. Our shuttle service also brings Grinnellians to important travel destinations like the Des Moines International Airport and Chicago's Union Station.
Transportation
Extraordinary journeys begin here.
Request Information
Visit Our Campus
Apply to Grinnell
Des Moines and Iowa City
If you want to take your influence further and extend your community farther, Grinnell is located near the cities of Des Moines and Iowa City. The Saturday metro shuttles and other transportation options are ready to take you on your next adventure.
Des Moines' East Village
The historic East Village is a walkable and bustling hub for shopping, dining, and nightlife, located on our side of the Des Moines River.
Iowa City Downtown District
Iowa City's vibrant arts scene boasts film screenings, museums, live music, and plenty of food to choose from.
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Skip to main content
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 Grinnell-operated shuttles to explore the opportunities our area has to offer.
Get where you want to go
Meet Grinnell
See for yourself.
Our town boasts shops, restaurants, a movie theatre, bakery, regional medical center, aquatic center, and easy access to bike trails, local parks, and state parks.
Grinnell science students share their research with community members at the popular Grinnell Farmers Market. The “Market Science” project gives students a chance to gain experience communicating their research to a broad audience while interacting directly with the public. The Farmers Market is also a great place to buy fresh produce and baked goods.
Saints Rest Coffee House in downtown Grinnell is a favorite meeting place for the entire community, from college students to grandparents.
Coffee and conversation are both something to savor when classes meet at Saints Rest Coffee House.
Grinnell is a bike-friendly community, with paved and gravel trails as well as helpful and knowledgeable experts at the local bike shop.
The Pioneer Bookshop is set in downtown Grinnell, just a few minutes’ walk from campus.
The Pioneer Bookshop in downtown Grinnell is your first stop for the best Grinnell logo apparel, gifts for the family, office supplies, and even textbooks.
Downtown Grinnell is a short walk from campus and an even shorter walk from Renfrow Hall, our newest residence hall. You’ll find a variety of restaurants, coffee shops, stores, a brew pub, and a movie theatre, just to name a few of our favorites.
Looking for a place to express your creativity? The Stew Makerspace might be your new favorite destination. Open to all, the Stew is a downtown space that offers facilities for woodworking, ceramics, 3D printing, and laser engraving.
The donuts and other baked goods created with care at Grin City Bakery are good enough to make your day, and maybe even your whole week. The hardest part is choosing from all the tempting possibilities.
Students enjoy studying and relaxing in the campus hammocks.
The Grinnell College Golf Course is part of campus and offers golfers a place to hone their skills. It's also considered one of the best cross country courses for spectators in the Midwest Conference.
Grinnell’s annual Jingle Bell Holiday brings the magic of the season to life for the entire community.
The recently renovated and expanded Strand 3 Theatre downtown shows recently released films and hosts special screenings for events such as New Student Orientation and Grinnell College Cultural Films.
The historic Strand 3 Theatre is a jewel of the downtown, thanks to the recent restoration of its exterior.
Striking murals brighten the exterior of many of Grinnell’s downtown buildings.
Need something to brighten up your room? Several downtown businesses, such as flower shops and art galleries, will have just the right thing.
Photo of Students socialize in a residence hall lounge
Explore the Campus
Plan your Visit
Take the Virtual Tour
Community Engagement
Grinnellians never hang back when they can jump in, and there are so many ways to lead good work for our community.
Deep Connections
Grinnell offers access. Access to local politicians, business leaders, and change-makers. Access that empowers change and emboldens action that you can actually see in your new community. That kind of access has a way of involving everyone and grounding our community. “I think the richness it adds to anyone’s life, to sort of feel really connected to and rooted in a place, is pretty invaluable,” says Tina Elfenbein, senior assistant director of admissions.
Giving Gardens
The Giving Gardens is a local collaborative effort to care for our community’s well-being by providing access to fresh, homegrown fruits and vegetables. Volunteers make the work possible, from pulling the food from the ground to placing it in the hands of people — hands that deserve health and care.
Civic Engagement
A gateway between Grinnell College and Grinnell, Iowa, the Civic Innovation Pavilion at Renfrow Hall seeks to foster collaboration between the campus and the community so that each can support the other. Grinnellians value the interdependence of their communities and champion access for all.
Lodging
Whether you are looking for a historic bed & breakfast conveniently located on the edge of campus, a cozy hotel experience in the heart of downtown Grinnell, or a more familiar big-name chain option a short drive down the road, Grinnell has a variety of lodging options for you and your family.
Lodging and Accommodation
Dining
Grinnell’s dining scene offers a wide variety of global cuisines, including traditional Indian dishes, authentic Vietnamese pho, and fresh Tex-Mex. Other local Iowa restaurants include the cozy Prairie Canary, vibrant Hometown Heroes, and award-winning Pagliai’s.
Dinng and Local Foods
Transportation
The Grinnell College Local Shuttle and the Saturday Metro Shuttle give you the freedom to explore all the possibilities our community has to offer, and Safe Rides are available 24/7 through Campus Safety. Our shuttle service also brings Grinnellians to important travel destinations like the Des Moines International Airport and Chicago's Union Station.
Transportation
Extraordinary journeys begin here.
Request Information
Visit Our Campus
Apply to Grinnell
Des Moines and Iowa City
If you want to take your influence further and extend your community farther, Grinnell is located near the cities of Des Moines and Iowa City. The Saturday metro shuttles and other transportation options are ready to take you on your next adventure.
Des Moines' East Village
The historic East Village is a walkable and bustling hub for shopping, dining, and nightlife, located on our side of the Des Moines River.
Iowa City Downtown District
Iowa City's vibrant arts scene boasts film screenings, museums, live music, and plenty of food to choose from.
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To accept the use of cookies and continue on to the site, click "I Agree." For more information about our use of cookies and how to opt out, please refer to our website privacy policy.