2021 Route Maps - RAGBRAI
The 2021 Route is 426 miles and 11,481 feet of climb making it the 16th flattest in RAGBRAI History.
SATURDAY, JULY 24 | Le Mars
- Population: 9,996
- History: Second time as host; returning after 15 years; previously kicked off the ride in 2005.
- Fun fact: Welcome to the Ice Cream Capital of the World! Home of Blue Bunny dairy, Le Mars claims to produce more ice cream from a single company than any other city in the world. The Plymouth County seat is also the hometown of Paul Rust, most recently the creator and star of Netflix’s “Love.”
- Learn more: Lemarsiowa.com.
SUNDAY, JULY 25 | Le Mars to Sac City
Mileage: 79.5 miles
Feet of Climb: 2,665 feet
Sac City Fun Facts
- Population: 2,001
- History: First overnight visit; previous stops as pass thru towns were in 1975, 1995 and 2012.
- Fun fact: In 2016, volunteers assembled the world’s largest popcorn ball weighing in at 9,370 lbs. It’s on display for residents and tourists to see.
- Learn more: https://www.saccountyiowa.com/
MONDAY, JULY 26 | Sac City to Fort Dodge
Mileage: 53.7 miles
Feet of Climb: 807 feet
Fort Dodge Fun Facts
- Population: 24,098
- History: Sixth overnight visit; returning after five years; previous stops were in 1973, 1987, 1995, 2004 and 2015.
- Fun fact: Experience prairie life in the 19th century at the Fort Museum and Frontier Village. Visitors to the fort can also see a replica of the Cardiff Giant, a sculpture of a 10-foot-tall man made from gypsum mined in the area. The original sculpture was displayed in New York as the remains of a real giant before a lawsuit forced its owner to reveal his hoax.
- Learn more: FortdodgeCVB.com
TUESDAY, JULY 27 | Fort Dodge to Iowa Falls
Mileage: 54.9 miles
Climb: 1,006 feet
Iowa Falls Fun Facts:
- Population: 5,036
- History: Fourth overnight visit; returning after 16 years; previous stops were in 1978, 1995 and 2004.
- Fun fact: Enjoy the great outdoors at Calkins Nature Area, home to a natural history museum known for its Native American artifacts collection, or the Rock Run Creek Trial & Bridge, which allows visitors hike over its eponymous waterway.
- Learn more: cityofiowafalls.com.
WEDNESDAY, JULY 28 | Iowa Falls to Waterloo
Mileage: 68 miles
Climb: 1, 619 feet
Waterloo Fun Facts:
- Population: 67,798
- History: Fourth overnight visit; returning after 10 years; previous stops were in 1974, 1985 and 2010.
- Fun fact: Watch a John Deere tractor be assembled and learn more about modern farming during an hourlong tour of the company’s factory.
- Learn more: Experiencewaterloo.com.
THURSDAY, JULY 29 | Waterloo to Anamosa
Mileage: 77.8 miles
Climb: 2,546 feet
Anamosa Fun Facts:
- Population: 5,507
- History: Fourth overnight visit; returning after eight years; previous stops were in 1991, 2002 and 2012.
- Fun fact: Anamosa was named the Pumpkin Capital of Iowa by the Iowa State Legislature in 1993 and hosts Pumpkinfest, a pumpkin festival and weigh-off, each October.
- Learn more: Anamosa-iowa.org.
FRIDAY, JULY 30 | Anamosa to DeWitt
Mileage: 60.3
Climb: 1,690 feet
DeWitt Fun Facts:
- Population: 5,203
- History: First time as an overnight town; DeWitt has only hosted RAGBRAI once before as a pass-thru town in 1994
- Fun fact: DeWitt is referred to as the Crossroads of Opportunity and at the crossroads of four-lane Highways 30 and 61 and is apart of the historic Lincoln Highway.
- Learn more: cityofdewittiowa.org/
SATURDAY, JULY 31 | DeWitt to Clinton
Mileage: 31.6 miles
Climb: 1,148 feet
Clinton Fun Facts:
- Population: 25,184
- History: Sixth time as host; returning after eight years; previously marked the end of the ride in 1978, 1985, 1994, 2004, and 2012.
- Fun fact: Take in a Clinton LumberKings minor league baseball game or check out the Sawmill Museum, which details the history of the Midwest’s lumber industry and the barons who ruled the Mississippi River.
- Learn more: Cityofclintoniowa.us
