RAGBRAI XLIX to Highlight Iowa Cities Along 462-Mile Route

The oldest, largest and longest touring bicycle ride in the world — RAGBRAI XLIX — is happening July 23 – 30! From highlighting some of Iowa’s local musicians to offering philanthropic opportunities and one-of-a-kind merchandise, RAGBRAI is a chance for bicycling enthusiasts to come together to put in miles and make memories across Iowa’s lush landscape.

RAGBRAI Route

The 2022 RABRAI route is 454.1 miles with 11,954 feet to climb. Starting off Saturday, July 23 in Sergeant Bluff, cyclists will move on to seven more Iowa host cities before completing the ride, including:

• 53.2 miles to Ida Grove – Sunday, July 24
• 71.2 miles to Pocahontas – Monday, July 25
• 56.4 miles to Emmetsburg – Tuesday, July 26
• 105 miles to Mason City – Wednesday, July 27
• 47.9 miles to Charles City – Thursday, July 28
• 63 miles to West Union – Friday, July 29
• 65.4 miles to Lansing – Saturday, July 30

Prior to the event, riders can review the RAGBRAI Packing List for ideas on items to bring, including biking gear, toiletries, clothing and more. During the ride, daily route maps, published each morning in the Des Moines Register, will be available at campground Information Centers. Find a copy prior to the day’s starting ride time at 6 a.m.

RAGBRAI Expo

On Saturday, July 23, the first day of the event, visit the RAGBRAI Expo in Sergeant Bluff from Noon until 9 p.m. At the Expo, there will be more than 80 exhibitors featuring cycling gear, health info and more.

Find RAGBRAI merchandise at the Expo, as well as the overnight towns and meeting towns along the route. Merchandise will be sold again online following the event. See a video of the logo reveal that features the logo on 2022 merchandise below:

 

Learn more about the Expo here.

Live Entertainment

Kick off RAGBRAI with Sergeant Bluff’s musical acts, including Placid Quake, Smokin’ Clams, Wrecked and Above the Covers. After day one, see Damon Dotson from 5 – 7 p.m. and cover band Not Quite Brothers from 8 – 11 p.m. in Ida Grove. The following day, ride to Pocahontas where to see The PolkaToons from 2 -5 p.m., DJ Jimmy Jim from 5 – 8 p.m. and Pop Rocks from 8 – 11 p.m. The Pork Tornadoes will headline in Emmetsburg, performing well-known hits from 8 – 11 p.m. Mason City’s national acts — Don Felder and Sugar Ray — come into town on Wednesday, July 27 to provide some free RAGBRAI entertainment, as well as other acts throughout the day. In Charles City, Viva Knievel headlines on the main stage. West Union’s entertainment lineup includes Beau Timmerman, The Swing Crew, Bar Flyz, Steven Schroeder, Rolling Thunder and Arch Allies. And finally, Saturday, July 30, live music in Lansing will not disappoint! Celebrate the end of the ride with Buffalo Express from 9:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. and Squirrel Tail from 12:30 p.m. until 3:30 p.m.

Philanthropy

Many RAGBRAI riders choose to use GoFundMe to raise money for causes that mean the most to them, and those who raise more than $500 receive special swag, too. For those interested in contributing to a good cause, choose a charity here, rally your community and see those dollars come in and make a difference! Or consider donating to the Community Fund, which supports charities nominated by the 2022 overnight towns.

For more information about RAGBRAI, please email the team at info@ragbrai.com.

The Greater Des Moines Partnership calendar of events is a one-stop resource for activities taking place throughout the region. Find networking information for Greater Des Moines (DSM) businesses or events specific to Downtown DSM.