Days in Ames are currently getting shorter, about 20 minutes shorter than a week ago.*
* Calculated from sunrise and sunset times; actual visible daylight can vary slightly with weather, elevation and atmospheric conditions.
Geographic position of Ames
Ames is located in the Northern Hemisphere and the Western Hemisphere. Its coordinates are 42.0347° N, 93.6199° W.
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Distance from the Equator:
about 4,679 km (2,907 mi)
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Distance from the North Pole:
about 5,339 km (3,317 mi)
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Distance from the South Pole:
about 14,698 km (9,133 mi)
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Distance from the Prime Meridian:
about 7,741 km (4,810 mi) west
Ames lies in the temperate latitude zone. This latitude affects daylight length, seasonal variation and how local solar time compares with standard clock time.
Antipode of Ames
The point on Earth exactly opposite Ames is near Perth - when it's noon in Ames, it's close to midnight there.
Golden Hour & Blue Hour in Ames
Approximate times based on sunrise/sunset. Actual golden hour quality varies with weather and season.
Current Season in Ames
Ames is currently in Autumn. Autumn begins around September 22, which is 1 day from now.
Because Ames is in the Northern Hemisphere, its seasons run opposite to cities in the other hemisphere. When it is autumn here, places on the other side of the equator are experiencing the opposite season at the same time.
Longest & Shortest Day in Ames
In Ames, the longest day of the year falls around June 21 and lasts about 15h 14m. The shortest day falls around December 21 and lasts about 9h 6m, a difference of roughly 6h 8m between the two.
This seasonal swing depends on Ames's latitude: cities closer to the equator see little variation in daylight throughout the year, while cities farther from it, like Ames at 42.03° N, experience a much wider gap between summer and winter daylight.
Population Ranking of Ames
With a population of 65,060, Ames ranks as the 673rd most populous city in United States, out of 3,397 cities tracked on this site.
Nearest Airport to Ames
Des Moines International Airport (DSM / KDSM) is a major international airport located about 56 km (35 mi) from Ames.
Current local time at the airport is 09:19:25.
Daylight saving time changes in Ames
Ames uses the IANA time zone identifier America/Chicago. The current local offset is UTC-5 / CDT.
2026
Previous change: Daylight saving time started
- The offset changed from UTC-6 / CST to UTC-5 / CDT.
- The clock was moved forward from 02:00 to 03:00 local time.
2026
Next change: Standard time starts
- The offset will change from UTC-5 / CDT to UTC-6 / CST.
- The clock will be moved back from 02:00 to 01:00 local time.
Best Time to Call Ames
Business hours in Ames (9 AM-5 PM local time) fall at these local times elsewhere:
- New York: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM ( Convenient)
- Los Angeles: 7:00 AM - 3:00 PM ( Partial overlap)
- London: 3:00 PM - 11:00 PM ( Partial overlap)
- Dubai: 6:00 PM - 2:00 AM (next day) ( Partial overlap)
- Mumbai: 7:30 PM - 3:30 AM (next day) ( Partial overlap)
- Tokyo: 11:00 PM - 7:00 AM (next day) ( Outside normal hours)
- Sydney: 12:00 AM (next day) - 8:00 AM (next day) ( Outside normal hours)
Times shown reflect current UTC offsets and may shift by up to an hour around daylight saving transitions.
Time Difference from Ames
Compare time in Ames with major cities worldwide.
Time now in other cities in United States
Public Holidays Affecting Ames
Official national holiday observed in United States.
Frequently Asked Questions
What time zone is Ames in?
Ames follows the America/Chicago time zone, the official IANA identifier used by computers and databases worldwide to track local time accurately. Right now, this puts Ames at UTC-5.
What time is it in Ames right now?
The current local time in Ames is 09:19:25 on Sunday, 20 September 2026. This page updates automatically, so refreshing it will always show the live time.
Does Ames observe daylight saving time?
Yes. Ames is currently observing daylight saving time, which temporarily shifts the clock forward by one hour compared to standard time.
How far ahead or behind UTC is Ames?
Ames is currently UTC-5, meaning local time is 5 hours behind Coordinated Universal Time (UTC).
What is the nearest airport to Ames?
Des Moines International Airport (DSM) is the nearest airport to Ames, located about 56 km away. The current local time at the airport is 09:19:25.
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