(Des Moines) On Saturday, Officials from The Register’s Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa (RAGBRAI) announced the route for its 53rd annual seven-day ride across Iowa. RAGBRAI is the oldest, largest, and longest recreational bicycle touring event in the world. The 2026 ride runs from July 18-25.
This will be our shortest-ever route and the tenth-hilliest RAGBRAI, covering 391.4 miles and 16,027 feet of climb. The trip starts in Onawa, with overnight stays in Harlan, Guthrie Center, Boone, Marshalltown, Independence, Dyersville, and ends in Dubuque.
This rolling celebration of Iowa attracts participants from all 50 states and many foreign countries. It has covered thousands of miles through the years, and hundreds of thousands of riders have hopped in the saddle to pedal part of those miles.
Day 0 – Onawa: Riders will dip their tires in the Missouri River and officially begin their journey in Onawa.
Day 1 – Harlan: After 58.5 miles and 3,465 feet of climbing, riders will reach their first overnight stop in Harlan.
Day 2 – Guthrie Center: Riders will cover 53.9 miles with 3,544 feet of elevation gain before their second overnight stop in Guthrie Center.
Day 3 – Boone: Following 59.5 miles and 1,503 feet of climbing, riders will spend the night in Boone.
Day 4 – Marshalltown: After riding 62.2 miles and climbing 3,465 feet, riders will arrive at their fourth overnight stop in Marshalltown.
Day 5 – Independence: Riders will tackle the longest day—81.4 miles with 2,713 feet of elevation gain—before stopping overnight in Independence.
Day 6 – Dyersville: After 42.2 miles and 1,441 feet of climbing, riders will spend their sixth night in Dyersville.
Day 7 – Dubuque: The journey concludes after 33.7 miles and 1,788 feet of elevation gain as riders dip their tires in the Mississippi River and finish in Dubuque.
