Eight "host communities" are selected each year by RAGBRAI organizers, with the exception of the inaugural route (1973). Two of the communities are beginning or end points, while the other six serve as overnight stops for the participants.
From 1973 to 2016, the distance between consecutive host communities averaged about 67 miles. 1985 was the longest route at 540 miles and 1977 the shortest at 400 miles. On average, the length of the route has been 467 miles.
At the beginning of the ride, riders traditionally dip the rear wheel of their bikes in either the Missouri River or the Big Sioux River (depending on the starting point of the ride), and dip their front wheels in the Mississippi River at the end of the ride. There has been at least one incident of a rider losing his bike after riding into the Mississippi River.[ citation needed ]
Click on column headings to sort.
^ (a): Including the "century loop" and other additional "loops".
^ ǂ: The 2014 overnight Okoboji stay was hosted by five communities: Arnolds Park , Milford , Okoboji , Spirit Lake , and West Okoboji .
^ ǂǂ: There was no RAGBRAI in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic . The planned 2020 route was used in 2021, with modifications due to overnight town availability changing. [1]
Click on column headings to sort.
City | # of Visits | First Year | Most Recent | Years (S=Start, E=End) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Adel | 1 | 1984 | 1984 | 1984 |
Akron | 1 | 1982 | 1982 | 1982 (S) |
Algona | 6 | 1977 | 2017 | 1977, 1990, 1999, 2005, 2010, 2017 |
Altoona | 1 | 2011 | 2011 | 2011 |
Amana | 1 | 1991 | 1991 | 1991 |
Ames | 5 | 1973 | 2023 | 1973, 1983, 2008, 2018, 2023 |
Anamosa | 4 | 1991 | 2021 | 1991, 2002, 2012, 2021 |
Ankeny | 1 | 2000 | 2000 | 2000 |
Arnolds Parkǂ | 1 | 2014 | 2014 | 2014 |
Atlantic | 8 | 1974 | 2024 | 1974, 1980, 1989, 1991, 2001, 2011, 2019, 2024 |
Audubon | 2 | 1986 | 2006 | 1986, 2006 |
Bedford | 2 | 1992 | 2003 | 1992, 2003 |
Belle Plaine | 1 | 1986 | 1986 | 1986 |
Bellevue | 5 | 1989 | 2007 | 1989, 1991, 1999, 2002, 2007 (E, all years) |
Bloomfield | 2 | 1997 | 2003 | 1997, 2003 |
Boone | 4 | 1975 | 2011 | 1975, 1988, 1998, 2011 |
Burlington | 7 | 1979 | 2024 | 1979, 1984, 1990, 2000, 2009, 2019, 2024 (E, all years except 2019) |
Camp Dodge | 1 | 1974 | 1974 | 1974 |
Carroll | 5 | 1980 | 2023 | 1980, 1988, 1994, 2011, 2023 |
Cedar Falls | 4 | 1989 | 2015 | 1989, 1998, 2007, 2015 |
Cedar Rapids | 2 | 1990 | 2012 | 1990, 2012 |
Centerville | 3 | 1981 | 2019 | 1981, 2016, 2019 |
Chariton | 2 | 1997 | 2009 | 1997, 2009 |
Charles City | 6 | 1982 | 2022 | 1982, 1996, 2002, 2010, 2017, 2022 |
Cherokee | 5 | 1975 | 2012 | 1975, 1982, 1998, 2002, 2012 |
Clarinda | 1 | 1989 | 1989 | 1989 |
Clarion | 2 | 1983 | 1993 | 1983, 1993 |
Clear Lake | 4 | 1977 | 2017 | 1977, 1999, 2010, 2017 |
Clinton | 6 | 1978 | 2021 | 1978, 1985, 1994, 2004, 2012, 2021 (E, all years) |
Coralville | 6 | 1995 | 2023 | 1995, 2001, 2006, 2011, 2015, 2023 |
Council Bluffs | 7 | 1974 | 2019 | 1974, 1986, 1994, 2000, 2009, 2013, 2019 (S, all years) |
Cresco | 3 | 1996 | 2017 | 1996, 2005, 2017 |
Creston | 3 | 1984 | 2016 | 1984, 1997, 2016 |
Davenport | 6 | 1973 | 2023 | 1973, 1982, 2011, 2015, 2018, 2023 (E, all years) |
Decorah | 3 | 1977 | 1999 | 1977, 1993, 1999 |
Denison | 3 | 1987 | 2018 | 1987, 2001, 2018 |
Des Moines | 6 | 1973 | 2023 | 1973, 1988, 1992, 1997, 2013, 2023 |
DeWitt | 1 | 2021 | 2021 | 2021 |
Dubuque | 4 | 1974 | 2010 | 1974, 1983, 1993, 2010 (E, all years) |
Dyersville | 2 | 1989 | 2007 | 1989, 2007 |
Eldora | 3 | 1986 | 2015 | 1986, 1998, 2015 |
Elkader | 1 | 1980 | 1980 | 1980 |
Emmetsburg | 5 | 1985 | 2022 | 1985, 1993, 2002, 2014, 2022 |
Estherville | 3 | 1982 | 2005 | 1982, 1996, 2005 |
Fairfield | 5 | 1979 | 2019 | 1979, 1988, 1997, 2013, 2019 |
Fayette | 1 | 1996 | 1996 | 1996 |
Forest City | 4 | 1982 | 2014 | 1982, 1987, 2002, 2014 |
Fort Dodge | 6 | 1973 | 2021 | 1973, 1987, 1995, 2004, 2015, 2021 |
Fort Madison | 5 | 1975 | 2013 | 1975, 1988, 1997, 2003, 2013 (E, all years) |
Glenwood | 8 | 1980 | 2024 | 1980, 1984, 1989, 1992, 2003, 2011, 2016, 2024 (S, all years) |
Greenfield | 3 | 1981 | 2009 | 1981, 2000, 2009 |
Grinnell | 4 | 1976 | 2011 | 1976, 1991, 2001, 2011 |
Grundy Center | 1 | 1983 | 1983 | 1983 |
Guthrie Center | 2 | 1974 | 1983 | 1974, 1983 |
Guttenberg | 5 | 1980 | 2014 | 1980, 1987, 1996, 2005, 2014 (E, all years) |
Hampton | 2 | 1990 | 2007 | 1990, 2007 |
Harlan | 6 | 1976 | 2013 | 1976, 1983, 1994, 2000, 2008, 2013 |
Hawarden | 3 | 1975 | 1998 | 1975, 1985, 1998 (S, all years) |
Hiawatha | 2 | 2004 | 2015 | 2004, 2015 |
Humboldt | 3 | 1978 | 2007 | 1978, 1985, 2007 |
Ida Grove | 4 | 1977 | 2022 | 1977, 1988, 2006, 2022 |
Independence | 3 | 1982 | 2014 | 1982, 2007, 2014 |
Indianola | 2 | 2009 | 2019 | 2009, 2019 |
Iowa City | 2 | 1976 | 2018 | 1976, 2018 |
Iowa Falls | 4 | 1978 | 2021 | 1978, 1995, 2004, 2021 |
Jefferson | 4 | 1976 | 2018 | 1976, 1989, 2008, 2018 |
Keokuk | 3 | 1981 | 2019 | 1981, 1992, 2019 (E, all years) |
Keosauqua | 1 | 1981 | 1981 | 1981 |
Knoxville | 4 | 1991 | 2024 | 1991, 2000, 2013, 2024 |
Lake City | 1 | 1981 | 1981 | 1981 |
Lake Mills | 1 | 1996 | 1996 | 1996 |
Lake View | 4 | 1975 | 2012 | 1975, 1995, 2004, 2012 |
Lansing | 3 | 1977 | 2022 | 1977, 2017, 2022 (E, all years) |
Laurens | 1 | 1977 | 1977 | 1977 |
Le Mars | 2 | 2005 | 2021 | 2005, 2021 (S, all years) |
LeClaire | 1 | 2008 | 2008 | 2008 (E) |
Leon | 2 | 1981 | 2016 | 1981, 2016 |
Manchester | 4 | 1983 | 2010 | 1983, 1993, 1999, 2010 |
Mapleton | 1 | 1981 | 1981 | 1981 |
Maquoketa | 3 | 1978 | 2004 | 1978, 1994, 2004 |
Marengo | 1 | 2006 | 2006 | 2006 |
Marion | 1 | 1994 | 1994 | 1994 |
Marshalltown | 4 | 1974 | 2012 | 1974, 1994, 2004, 2012 |
Mason City | 3 | 1985 | 2022 | 1985, 2014, 2022 |
Milfordǂ | 1 | 2014 | 2014 | 2014 |
Missouri Valley | 4 | 1981 | 2008 | 1981, 1991, 1997, 2008 (S, all years) |
Monticello | 3 | 1974 | 1998 | 1974, 1985, 1998 |
Mount Pleasant | 6 | 1975 | 2024 | 1975, 1984, 1992, 2003, 2009, 2024 |
Mount Vernon | 1 | 1978 | 1978 | 1978 |
Muscatine | 6 | 1976 | 2016 | 1976, 1986, 1995, 2001, 2006, 2016 (E, all years) |
Nevada | 1 | 1976 | 1976 | 1976 |
New Hampton | 1 | 1977 | 1977 | 1977 |
Newton | 3 | 1975 | 2018 | 1975, 2006, 2018 |
North Liberty | 1 | 2008 | 2008 | 2008 |
Northwood | 1 | 2005 | 2005 | 2005 |
Oelwein | 2 | 1990 | 2002 | 1990, 2002 |
Okobojiǂ | 1 | 2014 | 2014 | 2014 |
Onawa | 6 | 1977 | 2018 | 1977, 1983, 1987, 1995, 2004, 2018 (S, all years) |
Orange City | 1 | 2017 | 2017 | 2017 (S) |
Osage | 2 | 1987 | 1993 | 1987, 1993 |
Osceola | 2 | 1992 | 2003 | 1992, 2003 |
Oskaloosa | 4 | 1988 | 2013 | 1988, 1992, 2003, 2013 |
Ottumwa | 5 | 1984 | 2024 | 1984, 2000, 2009, 2016, 2024 |
Pella | 1 | 1984 | 1984 | 1984 |
Perry | 5 | 1980 | 2013 | 1980, 1986, 1994, 2001, 2013 |
Pocahontas | 1 | 2022 | 2022 | 2022 |
Red Oak | 5 | 1976 | 2024 | 1976, 1986, 1997, 2009, 2024 |
Rock Rapids | 3 | 1979 | 2007 | 1979, 1999, 2007 (S, all years) |
Rock Valley | 1 | 2014 | 2014 | 2014 (S) |
Rockwell City | 2 | 1979 | 1998 | 1979, 1998 |
Sabula | 1 | 1998 | 1998 | 1998 (E) |
Sac City | 1 | 2021 | 2021 | 2021 |
Sergeant Bluff | 2 | 2006 | 2022 | 2006, 2022 (S, all years) |
Sheldon | 2 | 1993 | 2005 | 1993, 2005 |
Shenandoah | 4 | 1984 | 2016 | 1984, 1992, 2003, 2016 |
Sibley | 2 | 1985 | 1996 | 1985, 1996 |
Sidney | 1 | 1976 | 1976 | 1976 (S) |
Sigourney | 3 | 1975 | 2018 | 1975, 1995, 2018 |
Sioux Center | 4 | 1990 | 2012 | 1990, 1996, 2002, 2012 (S, all years) |
Sioux City | 8 | 1973 | 2023 | 1973, 1978, 1988, 1993, 2001, 2010, 2015, 2023 (S, all years) |
Spencer | 5 | 1979 | 2017 | 1979, 1990, 1999, 2007, 2017 |
Spirit Lakeǂ | 1 | 2014 | 2014 | 2014 |
Storm Lake | 7 | 1973 | 2023 | 1973, 1978, 1987, 2001, 2010, 2015, 2023 |
Story City | 2 | 1979 | 1989 | 1979, 1989 |
Tama/Toledo | 4 | 1979 | 2023 | 1979, 1995, 2008, 2023 |
Tipton | 2 | 1982 | 2008 | 1982, 2008 |
Vinton | 1 | 1978 | 1978 | 1978 |
Wapello | 1 | 1979 | 1979 | 1979 |
Washington | 4 | 1986 | 2016 | 1986, 1990, 2000, 2016 |
Waterloo | 4 | 1974 | 2021 | 1974, 1985, 2010, 2021 |
Waukee | 1 | 2006 | 2006 | 2006 |
Waukon | 1 | 2017 | 2017 | 2017 |
Waverly | 3 | 1980 | 2014 | 1980, 1999, 2014 |
Webster City | 2 | 1980 | 2012 | 1980, 2012 |
West Okobojiǂ | 1 | 2014 | 2014 | 2014 |
West Union | 3 | 1987 | 2022 | 1987, 2005, 2022 |
Williamsburg | 1 | 1973 | 1973 | 1973 |
Winterset | 3 | 1991 | 2024 | 1991, 2019, 2024 |
^ ǂ: The 2014 overnight Okoboji stay was hosted by five communities: Spirit Lake , Okoboji , Arnolds Park , West Okoboji and Milford
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