RAGBRAI 2026 - Day One

RAGBRAI 2026 was initially published with an official total of 391.4 miles across its 7-day route from Onawa to Dubuque, making it the shortest and hilliest published route in the ride's history. Here is the complete day-by-day official mileage, elevation gain, and pass-through town list for the 2026 RAGBRAI route. Due to late reroutes and bridge closures, the actual final main-route mileage was adjusted to 406.9 miles (no longer the shortest). Day 1: Onawa to Harlan Distance: 59.4 miles Elevation Gain: 3,535 feet Pass-Through Towns: Turin, Soldier, Westphalia, Earling Meeting Town: Dunlap Day 2: Harlan to Guthrie Center Distance: 53.9 miles Elevation Gain: 3,554 feet Pass-Through Towns: Elk Horn Meeting Town: Exira Day 3: Guthrie Center to Boone Distance: 59.5 miles Elevation Gain: 1,503 feet Pass-Through Towns: Panora, Yale, Ogden Meeting Town: Perry Day 4: Boone to Marshalltown Distance: 62.2 miles Elevation Gain: 1,563 feet Pass-Through Towns: Gilbert, Colo, State Center Meeting Town: Nevada Day 5: Marshalltown to Independence Distance: 87.1 miles (Main Route) Elevation Gain: 2,643 feet Pass-Through Towns: Green Mountain, Beaman, Grundy Center, Morrison, Washburn, Gilbertville, Jesup Meeting Town: Reinbeck Note: This featured the optional 160-mile "America 250 Double Loop" challenge. Day 6: Independence to Dyersville Distance: 42.2 miles Elevation Gain: 1,441 feet Pass-Through Towns: Winthrop, Earlville Meeting Town: Manchester (Features the Field of Dreams) Day 7: Dyersville to Dubuque Distance: 33.7 miles Elevation Gain: 1,788 feet Pass-Through Towns: Farley, Epworth, Centralia