List of RAGBRAI overnight stops


Eight "host communities" are selected each year by RAGBRAI organizers, with the exception of the inaugural route. 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, 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.

Statistics

  • As of 2022, 14 communities have served as the starting point, and 12 have hosted the finish.
  • 108 communities have been overnight hosts.
  • The ride has passed through all 99 of Iowa's counties in its history.
  • Atlantic has served as an overnight host 8 times
  • Two cities have served as the starting point 8 times: Sioux City and Glenwood.
  • In 2019, Burlington became the first community to have been both a finish point as well as an overnight host that was not a finish.
  • 1978 was the first year with recurring host cities.
  • 1981 was the most recent year with all first-time host cities.
  • 1999 was the first year with no first-time host city.
  • 2022 was the most recent year with a first-time host city.
  • Iowa City has the distinction of being the city with longest time between hosting an overnight stay, at 42 years. Lansing is the next-longest at 40 years ; and Centerville and Leon are tied for the third-longest at 35 years.
  • Willamsburg has the distinction of being the city with longest time without a repeat.

By year

Click on column headings to sort.

By city

Click on column headings to sort.
City# of VisitsFirst yearMost RecentYears
Adel1198419841984
Akron1198219821982
Algona6197720171977, 1990, 1999, 2005, 2010, 2017
Altoona1201120112011
Amana1199119911991
Ames5197320231973, 1983, 2008, 2018, 2023
Anamosa4199120211991, 2002, 2012, 2021
Ankeny1200020002000
Arnolds Parkǂ1201420142014
Atlantic8197420241974, 1980, 1989, 1991, 2001, 2011, 2019, 2024
Audubon2198620061986, 2006
Bedford2199220031992, 2003
Belle Plaine1198619861986
Bellevue5198920071989, 1991, 1999, 2002, 2007
Bloomfield2199720031997, 2003
Boone5197520261975, 1988, 1998, 2011, 2026
Burlington7197920241979, 1984, 1990, 2000, 2009, 2019, 2024
Camp Dodge1197419741974
Carroll5198020231980, 1988, 1994, 2011, 2023
Cedar Falls5198920251989, 1998, 2007, 2015, 2025
Cedar Rapids2199020121990, 2012
Centerville3198120191981, 2016, 2019
Chariton2199720091997, 2009
Charles City6198220221982, 1996, 2002, 2010, 2017, 2022
Cherokee5197520121975, 1982, 1998, 2002, 2012
Clarinda1198919891989
Clarion2198319931983, 1993
Clear Lake4197720171977, 1999, 2010, 2017
Clinton6197820211978, 1985, 1994, 2004, 2012, 2021
Coralville6199520231995, 2001, 2006, 2011, 2015, 2023
Council Bluffs7197420191974, 1986, 1994, 2000, 2009, 2013, 2019
Cresco3199620171996, 2005, 2017
Creston3198420161984, 1997, 2016
Davenport6197320231973, 1982, 2011, 2015, 2018, 2023
Decorah3197719991977, 1993, 1999
Denison3198720181987, 2001, 2018
Des Moines6197320231973, 1988, 1992, 1997, 2013, 2023
DeWitt1202120212021
Dubuque5197420261974, 1983, 1993, 2010, 2026
Dyersville3198920261989, 2007, 2026
Eldora3198620151986, 1998, 2015
Elkader1198019801980
Emmetsburg5198520221985, 1993, 2002, 2014, 2022
Estherville4198220251982, 1996, 2005, 2025
Fairfield5197920191979, 1988, 1997, 2013, 2019
Fayette1199619961996
Forest City5198220251982, 1987, 2002, 2014, 2025
Fort Dodge6197320211973, 1987, 1995, 2004, 2015, 2021
Fort Madison5197520131975, 1988, 1997, 2003, 2013
Glenwood8198020241980, 1984, 1989, 1992, 2003, 2011, 2016, 2024
Greenfield3198120091981, 2000, 2009
Grinnell4197620111976, 1991, 2001, 2011
Grundy Center1198319831983
Guthrie Center3197419261974, 1983, 2026
Guttenberg6198020251980, 1987, 1996, 2005, 2014, 2025
Hampton2199020071990, 2007
Harlan7197620261976, 1983, 1994, 2000, 2008, 2013, 2026
Hawarden3197519981975, 1985, 1998
Hiawatha2200420152004, 2015
Humboldt3197820071978, 1985, 2007
Ida Grove4197720221977, 1988, 2006, 2022
Independence4198220261982, 2007, 2014, 2026
Indianola2200920192009, 2019
Iowa City2197620181976, 2018
Iowa Falls5197820251978, 1995, 2004, 2021, 2025
Jefferson4197620181976, 1989, 2008, 2018
Keokuk3198120191981, 1992, 2019
Keosauqua1198119811981
Knoxville4199120241991, 2000, 2013, 2024
Lake City1198119811981
Lake Mills1199619961996
Lake View4197520121975, 1995, 2004, 2012
Lansing3197720221977, 2017, 2022
Laurens1197719771977
Le Mars2200520212005, 2021
LeClaire1200820082008
Leon2198120161981, 2016
Manchester4198320101983, 1993, 1999, 2010
Mapleton1198119811981
Maquoketa3197820041978, 1994, 2004
Marengo1200620062006
Marion1199419941994
Marshalltown5197420261974, 1994, 2004, 2012, 2026
Mason City3198520221985, 2014, 2022
Milfordǂ2201420252014, 2025
Missouri Valley4198120081981, 1991, 1997, 2008
Monticello3197419981974, 1985, 1998
Mount Pleasant6197520241975, 1984, 1992, 2003, 2009, 2024
Mount Vernon1197819781978
Muscatine6197620161976, 1986, 1995, 2001, 2006, 2016
Nevada1197619761976
New Hampton1197719771977
Newton3197520181975, 2006, 2018
North Liberty1200820082008
Northwood1200520052005
Oelwein3199020251990, 2002, 2025
Okobojiǂ1201420142014
Onawa7197720261977, 1983, 1987, 1995, 2004, 2018, 2026
Orange City2201720252017, 2025
Osage2198719931987, 1993
Osceola2199220031992, 2003
Oskaloosa4198820131988, 1992, 2003, 2013
Ottumwa5198420241984, 2000, 2009, 2016, 2024
Pella1198419841984
Perry5198020131980, 1986, 1994, 2001, 2013
Pocahontas1202220222022
Red Oak5197620241976, 1986, 1997, 2009, 2024
Rock Rapids3197920071979, 1999, 2007
Rock Valley1201420142014
Rockwell City2197919981979, 1998
Sabula1199819981998
Sac City1202120212021
Sergeant Bluff2200620222006, 2022
Sheldon2199320051993, 2005
Shenandoah4198420161984, 1992, 2003, 2016
Sibley2198519961985, 1996
Sidney1197619761976
Sigourney3197520181975, 1995, 2018
Sioux Center4199020121990, 1996, 2002, 2012
Sioux City8197320231973, 1978, 1988, 1993, 2001, 2010, 2015, 2023
Spencer5197920171979, 1990, 1999, 2007, 2017
Spirit Lakeǂ1201420142014
Storm Lake7197320231973, 1978, 1987, 2001, 2010, 2015, 2023
Story City2197919891979, 1989
Tama/Toledo4197920231979, 1995, 2008, 2023
Tipton2198220081982, 2008
Vinton1197819781978
Wapello1197919791979
Washington4198620161986, 1990, 2000, 2016
Waterloo4197420211974, 1985, 2010, 2021
Waukee1200620062006
Waukon1201720172017
Waverly3198020141980, 1999, 2014
Webster City2198020121980, 2012
West Okobojiǂ1201420142014
West Union3198720221987, 2005, 2022
Williamsburg1197319731973
Winterset3199120241991, 2019, 2024