WINTERSET, Iowa — RAGBRAI LI is just a few months away, and participants can expect some fun twists to this year's ride.
Organizers announced the full route, including pass-through towns, on Thursday morning. The route will take cyclists through 35 communities, in addition to the eight overnight towns.
“I’m excited for this year’s full route.” said Matt Phippen, RAGBRAI Ride Director, in a statement. “It combines iconic views of Iowa with communities that have proven they can provide world class hospitality and experience for the riders.”
This year, RAGBRAI will offer gravel options for the entire ride. In addition to road routes, the ride will feature gravel trails ranging from 2 to 14.5-mile sections for a total of 53 miles for the week.
“We moved from a one-day option to a seven-day option to showcase all the great gravel that Iowa has to offer,” Phippen said in a statement. “I love gravel and think this year provides more scenic views and ways to ride gravel that I’m excited for riders to experience.”
In total, the 2024 RAGBRAI route is roughly 434 miles with 18,375 feet of climb, making it the eighth shortest and hilliest route on record.
RAGBRAI expects more than 20,000 riders will participate in this year's event, with participants coming from all 50 states and at least 17 international locations.
Registration for the ride is open through May 15. See the full day-by-day route below.
Sunday, July 21: Glenwood to Red Oak
- Theme: Tire Dip, Mile of Silence
- Distance: 41.9 miles
- Elevation: 2,435 ft.
- Gravel Option
- Distance: 7.6 miles
- Elevation: 638 ft.
- Pass-Through Towns
- Silver City
- Henderson (Meeting town)
- Emerson
Monday, July 22: Red Oak to Atlantic
- Theme: Hometown Pride Jersey Day
- Distance: 40.7 miles
- Elevation: 1,702 ft.
- Gravel Option
- Distance: 3.7 miles
- Elevation: 250 ft.
- Pass-Through Towns
- Elliott
- Griswold (Meeting town)
- Lewis
Tuesday, July 23: Atlantic to Winterset
- Theme: College Jersey Day
- Distance: 82 miles
- Elevation: 4,519 ft.
- Gravel Option
- Distance: 4.5 miles
- Elevation: 339 ft.
- Pass-Through Towns
- Wiota
- Cumberland
- Massena
- Fontanelle
- Greenfield (Meeting town)
- Orient
- Macksburg
Wednesday, July 24: Winterset to Knoxville
- Theme: RAGBRAI Jersey Day
- Distance: 75 miles
- Elevation: 3,041 ft.
- Gravel Option
- Distance: 9.5 miles
- Elevation: 708 ft.
- Pass-Through Towns
- St. Charles
- St. Marys
- Indianola (Meeting town)
- Milo
- Lacona
- Melcher-Dallas
Thursday, July 25: Knoxville to Ottumwa
- Theme: I Ride 4 Day
- Distance: 62.9 miles
- Elevation: 2,502 ft.
- Gravel Option
- Distance: 4.6 miles
- Elevation: 223 ft.
- Pass-Through Towns
- Attica
- Lovilia
- Albia (Meeting town)
- Eddyville
- Chillicothe
Friday, July 26: Ottumwa to Mt. Pleasant
- Theme: Karras "Century" Loop, Mr. Porkchop Jr. Day
- Distance: 84.8 miles
- Elevation: 3,160 ft.
- Gravel Option
- Distance: 8.5 miles
- Elevation: 218 ft.
- Pass-Through Towns
- Agency
- Eldon
- Selma
- Libertyville
- Fairfield (Meeting town)
- Pleasant Plain
- Brighton
- Wayland
- Trenton
Saturday, July 27: Mt. Pleasant to Burlington
- Theme: Tire Dip
- Distance: 46.5 miles
- Elevation: 1,016 ft.
- Gravel Option
- Distance: 14.5 miles
- Elevation: 295 ft.
- Pass-Through Towns
- Mediapolis
- Kingston