Need some help from the natives…
What airport should I fly into to start my RAGBRAI ?
I’d like to fly one-way to the start and one-way home from the finish.
If there’s a huge difference in fares, I’ll fly round trip to one end or the other and ground transport across Iowa.
19 Replies
Prices probably are going to be steep either way. You’re not likely to find cheap airfares like you would to to Florida, California, or Vegas, since normally there aren’t a whole lot of people clamoring to fly in and out of either Omaha or the Quad Cities. Found that out myself many years ago when I was quoted a price so high that I told the counter attendant “You misunderstood me. I only want to sit in the seat, not take it with me when I get off the airplane”.
-“BB”-
If you could find someone in Glenwood, Thru their website or chamber of commerce, to ship your gear to, you could fly to Omaha and ride to Glenwood (only ablout 30 miles). There will probably be a shuttle tho, but those are usually $50 or so.
Halfway there! Did I mention I cannot wait???
Omaha has a very nice airport and one of their airlines is Southwest which has pretty good fares and no extra charge for luggage.
At the end in Davenport, it sounds like a lot of people bus it back to the start but looking on a map, Chicago is closer. Anyone know of transportation to Chicago Midway Airport on Sunday (we’re flying Southwest). Thanks!
fly in and out of DM and charter with Bike World?
The Register does contract for bike shipping to and from the event, High Country or something, at the end Harpers Bike Shop boxes and ships.
should be onfo somewhere. :About RAGBRAI” maybe.
You could literally ride right up to the Moline airport at the end. Also, like others have said, omaha is very close to glenwood (or is it the other way around?!)
I’ve been looking as well. Omaha is only about 30 miles from the start. I know Pork Belly Ventures runs buses from the airport to the start and my guess is that other charters and/or services can get you from the Omaha airport to the start, as well. On the way back, Quad City International in East Moline (MLI) is serviced by Delta, United and American with connections to whatever hub you need to get to. I think the issues there are when you need to leave, Sat or Sunday, and booking early enough for what will probably be limited seats out of MLI late Sat or early Sun. MLI is just across the river from Davenport. If you are using a charter you should be able to get them to ship your bike home from the dip site and then catch a shuttle to the airport. At least that is plan I’ve come up with so far.
High Country is who RAGBRAI contracts with
https://ragbrai.com/about/bike-shipping/
no, they are not. PBV works directly with FedEx through their own “company” (I think it’s “Ship my bike” or something like that).
I think you might want to re-read that, iceman. He said “High Country is who RAGBRAI contracts with”. He wasn’t talking about PBV.
That being said, I agree. Fedex (through whichever company) has got to be the most convenient way to get your bike to the start and back home from the finish.
In the past there has always been shuttle service from Omaha Airport. Moline International has free shuttle service from the hotels and casinos. Citibus has routes from down Davenport. Metro on the Illinois side. We have several Fedex/kinko offices in the metro area. I’m sure they will have a shipping station setup downtown. Moline International is a Fedex air hub. UPS has a very large ground hub just off of I80 in Davenport. I’m sure they will have a shipping station setup. I also want to note to people unfamiliar with the Davenport area. Davenport is part of the Quad Cities. The largest of the towns at just under 100K persons. But the metro area has about 350K people. Add in the outlaying towns with in 15 minute drive. You can take that to over 500k. While we are separated by the big muddy. Its very easy to get to and from Illinois. When trying to book rooms. Do check Moline, Rock Island, Milian, Silvis, and East Moline in Illinois for rooms. In Iowa check Eldridge, Leclaire, and Bettendorf. All these towns are less than 15 minutes from down town Davenport.
http://www.visitquadcities.com/page.php?page_id=62
Rockman, check your pm and let me give you a hand if you need it.
there are team/charters out of Chicago, KC and Minneapolis. These are all airports with reasonably good airfares.
Typically, Kansas City will be cheapest, but you will have a 3.5-hour drive to the start town. Chicago is 6.5 hours and Minneapolis is 5-hours from the start town. Omaha is about 30-minutes from the start town. Oh, and Des Moines will be 2.25 hours from the start town, but is usually expensive and few airlines fly there. Just check all of them out and find what works best for you.
<FONT face=Calibri>There are a couple of low cost options into MLI Moline-qc international. Allegiant air currently flies direct to and from Phoenix and Vegas for less than $100 one way. From the south east Airtran </FONT><FONT face=Calibri>is very cheap to Florida. United has a direct from/to Denver. With Airtran, Allegiant, Delta, United, and American you have some decent options. Directs to Detroit, Minneapolis, Memphis, Dallas, Atlanta, Tampa, Orlando, Vegas, Phoenix, Denver</FONT>
<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = “urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office” /><o:p><FONT face=Calibri> </FONT></o:p><FONT face=Calibri>Being from Davenport I don’t know that much about OMA Epply (Omaha) but Southwest does fly in there.<o:p></o:p></FONT>
<o:p><FONT face=Calibri> </FONT></o:p><FONT face=Calibri>Another option maybe to round trip to Des Moines and grab a ride. It is only 2.5 hours </FONT>