Ainsworth is a friendly Sandhills hub with a tight-knit community, affordable short-term housing and easy access to outdoor recreation—fishing, boating, hiking and quiet local spots that make multi-week assignments comfortable and restorative.
For bigger‑town options on days off, Valentine (about 41–46 miles) and O’Neill (~65 miles) add more restaurants, shopping and attractions like Merritt Reservoir, the Niobrara/Smith Falls area and Fort Niobrara for paddling, waterfalls and wildlife viewing.