RAGBRAI Logistics

Long term parking will be available in the start town and end town. To reserve your spot, please visit the town pages when available.

Travel to the starting point of RAGBRAI and back home from the ending point of the ride is the responsibility of the registrant. Many rely on relatives and friends for transportation while others take chartered buses offered by bicycle clubs, bicycle shops, and other organizations. You could choose to fly into Des Moines, Iowa, Chicago, Illinois, Moline, Illinois (Quad Cities), St. Louis, Missouri, or Omaha, Nebraska and take a charter to the starting town and a charter back to Des Moines, Chicago, Moline, St. Louis or Omaha from the ending town.

The route does change each year so starting and ending towns will not be the same from year to year. RAGBRAI personnel will be glad to answer any logistical questions you may have at [email protected].

From Dubuque to Onawa:

For shuttle travel from Dubuque to Onawa, riders should contact the following charters:

End of Ride Return Shuttle – Out of Staters:

For a return trip from Dubuque to Onawa after RAGRRAI, visit OOS Bicycle Club for offerings.

Onawa, Iowa:

If you are flying to the start of the ride, there will be shuttle service available to the start town from Omaha Eppley Air Field in Omaha, Nebraska, Des Moines International Airport, and Midway Airports. Please contact the charter services for pricing and availability.

Omaha International Airport – Eppley Airfield (OMA) – Quad City International Airport (MLI)

Chicago O’Hare (ORD) & Midway (MDW) Airports

Des Moines International Airport (DSM)

Quad City International Airport (MLI)

Dubuque, Iowa

If you are flying out from the end of the ride, there will be shuttle services available from Dubuque to: DSM, OMA, ORD, MDW, and MLI. Please contact the charter services for pricing and availability.

Des Moines International Airport (DSM)

Omaha International Airport – Eppley Air Field (OMA)

Chicago O’Hare (ORD) & Midway (MDW) Airports

Quad City International Airport (MLI)

Lodging while on RAGBRAI can take many forms. Included in all registrations is access to the Main Campground. The Main Campground is home to the baggage trucks, SAG drop-off, the Info Tent, and more. Amenities include showers and a Bike Shop, and the campground is served by shuttles to take you around town after you arrive.

Charters: Charters can provide private campground areas, concierge tent service, baggage service, bunkhouses and shower trailers, dedicated charging stations and more. Check out the list of Charters here to find one that fits your needs!

Local lodging: Some riders prefer to book hotels, motels, B&B’s or other accommodations. Due to the varying sizes of the towns we visit, inventory is often limited and should be booked as soon as possible.

Host housing: Generous residents open up their homes for camping, inside stays, and more! Host housing can be requested as towns prepare the request forms. Host housing isn’t guaranteed due to demand, so having a backup plan is always recommended!

RAGBRAI does not offer any bike shipping. However, if you’re planning to ship your bike to the starting town we recommend the following:

Labeling: Clearly label your bike box with “ASSEMBLE” or “DO NOT ASSEMBLE” to ensure smooth handling. Include your name, phone number, and email on both the bike and box to confirm ownership and facilitate any necessary contact during transit.

Independent Shipping Providers:

SendMyGear takes the complication out of shipping your bike, bike gear, and luggage.  Simply pack your bike and gear, print a shipping label, and enjoy the ride! We’ll make sure your gear arrives safely and on time at RAGBRAI in Onawa.  Pick your bike up fully built by RAGBRAI Official Shops or build it yourself- the choice is yours! Once you’re done riding at any point during the ride, drop it off, and we’ll make sure it gets home safely.

BIKEFLIGHTS has teamed up with long-time RAGBRAI Charter, Pork Belly Ventures, offering affordable full-service bike and luggage shipping Making this a reliable, cost-effective option to ship bikes and gear directly, helping you avoid the hassle of flying with your bike. For more information: Pork Belly Ventures

Any vehicle accompanying RAGBRAI participants during the week must have a vehicle pass purchased during registration. This pass grants access to designated RAGBRAI campgrounds in each host town.

Please Note: You do not need a vehicle pass if you plan to park your vehicle at the starting or ending towns during the week of RAGBRAI.

If you have an RV pass and are bringing a self-contained motor home, be aware that most RAGBRAI campgrounds lack electrical and water hookups or may add potential fee for amenities.

Towns typically won’t provide locations to fill water tanks, so plan to come prepared. However, there will be designated dumping stations noted along the route.

Make sure to plan accordingly for a self-sufficient RV setup!

Each day, one of the pass-through towns is designated as a meeting town for you and your riders. We will indicate on the support vehicle map the routes into the meeting towns that you may use to meet your riders and enjoy the hospitality of the local residents. Bright pink arrows will be used to direct support vehicles to and from the designated meeting town from the vehicle route.