Life in Iowa City

Summer in Iowa City

Iowa City is a vibrant community of 62,000 set along the rolling banks of the Iowa River. The city is infused with a lively mix of restaurants, shops, historic architecture, music, art, festivals, sports, and theater, yet retains the scope and friendliness of a small town. With its numerous parks, outstanding schools, four distinct seasons, and strong sense of community, Iowa City is an exceptional and comfortable place to live and learn.

Located centrally in the Midwest, Iowa City is just 3.5 hours by car from Chicago, and 4 to 5 hours from Minneapolis/St. Paul, Kansas City, St. Louis, Milwaukee, and Omaha. The Eastern Iowa Airport in Cedar Rapids, with direct connections to major Midwestern hubs, is only about 30 minutes away.

The Cambus, the public transportation system of The University of Iowa, is free to the public and has routes which cover a large perimeter of the University (including to and from the Mayflower Dorm).

The Iowa City/Coralville Convention and Visitors Bureau has a very nice website that provides a great deal of information about living in the area. You can even request a catalog from them. Some additional resources can be found on The University of Iowa Graduate College website, The City of Iowa City website, and some campus specific information is available at the main University of Iowa website and the IMU website. There is always plenty to do in downtown Iowa City including numerous cultural events. Some examples of events downtown are Friday night music on the Ped Mall and movies shown on the Pentacrest on Saturday night.

The group organizes some social events like local hiking, a trip to the nearby Amana Colonies, and sporting events, amongst other things. Please contact us with any specific questions.