List of RAGBRAI overnight stops

Eight "host communities" are selected each year by RAGBRAI organizers, with the exception of the inaugural route (1973). Two of the communities are beginning or end points, while the other six serve as overnight stops for the participants.

From 1973 to 2016, the distance between consecutive host communities averaged about 67 miles. 1985 was the longest route at 540 miles and 1977 the shortest at 400 miles. On average, the length of the route has been 467 miles.

At the beginning of the ride, riders traditionally dip the rear wheel of their bikes in either the Missouri River or the Big Sioux River (depending on the starting point of the ride), and dip their front wheels in the Mississippi River at the end of the ride. There has been at least one incident of a rider losing his bike after riding into the Mississippi River.