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RAGBRAI® TRANSPORTATION

Overall Information

From Chicago to the Start of RAGBRAI

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Travel to the Start of RAGBRAI
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RAGBRAI® TRANSPORTATION
Travel to the Start of RAGBRAI

Opening Meeting Coach Bus Travel Time Mid-Route Stop and Lunch


Opening Meeting
Immediately before we depart we will conduct a very brief opening meeting on the coach busses to explain how to meet us at the end of RAGBRAI. We will also show the RAGBRAI RIDE RIGHT DVD presentation on our charter coach bus if it has a DVD player.

  • Click Here for more information about the opening meeting.
  • Click Here for the overall policies and procedures that will apply to our RAGBRAI transportation service from Chicago to the start of RAGBRAI

Coach Bus Travel Time
Information for the current year is highlighted and all times are estimates only unless otherwise noted. The actual times experienced may vary significantly from these estimates, particulary if there are limited roads serving the starting town and/or due to heavy traffic, and will be updated based on our experience every year.

Based on actual previous experience, we assume an average travel speed of 54 miles per hour which also includes the time spent at the mid-route stop and lunch (see below).

  • Click Here for more information about our people and baggage transportation means.
Starting Town
Mileage
Actual
Coach Bus
Departure
Time
Coach
Bus
Travel
Time
Coach
Bus
Average
Speed
Coach Bus
Arrival
Time
Remaining
Daylight
Sunset
Akron
580
-
approx.
10:44
-
approx.
7:29 pm
approx.
1:25
8:54 pm
Council Bluffs
(2019)
472
8:15 am*
(2019)
10:00*
(2019)
47
6:15 pm*
(2019)
2:36*
(2019)
8:51 pm
(2019)
Glenwood
(2024, 2016)
493
8:45 am*
(2016)
8:45*
(2016)
56
5:30 pm*
(2016)
3:17*
(2016)
8:47 pm*
(2016)
Hawarden
621
-
approx.
11:30
-
approx.
8:15 pm
approx.
0:40
8:55 pm
Le Mars
(2021)
517
8:45 am*
(2021)
9:45*
(2021)
53
5:30 pm*
(2021)
3:23*
(2021)
8:53 pm*
(2021)
Missouri Valley
471
-
approx.
8:43
-
approx.
5:28 pm
approx.
3:20
8:48 pm
Onawa
(2018)
508
8:15 am*
(2018)
10:00*
(2018)
51
6:15 pm*
(2018)
2:35*
(2018)
8:50 pm
(2018)
Orange City
(2017)
584
8:12 am*
(2017)
9:57*
(2017)
59
6:09 pm*
(2017)
2:46*
(2017)
8:55 pm*
(2017)
Rock Rapids
612
-
approx.
11:20
-
approx.
8:35 pm
approx.
0:20
8:55 pm
Rock Valley*
(2014)
602
9:00 am*
(2014)
10:30*
(2014)
57
7:30 pm*
(2014)
2:29*
(2014)

8:59 pm*
(2014)

Sergeant Bluff
(2022)
536
-
approx.
9:56
-
approx.
6:41 pm
approx.
2:11
8:52 pm
Sidney
525
-
approx.
9:43
-
approx.
6:28 pm
approx.
2:17
8:45 pm
Sioux Center
587
-
approx.
10:52
-
approx.
7:37 pm
approx.
1:17
8:54 pm
Sioux City*
(2023, 2015)
544
(2015)
9:30 am*
(2015)
9:38*
(2015)
56

7:08 pm*
(2015)

1:40*
(2015)
8:58 pm*
(2015)
* = actual values

Estimated arrival times are based on an actual average departure time of 8:45 am from Chicago, a one hour mid-route stop, and an average speed of 54 mph based on actual previous experience.

Regardless of the RAGBRAI starting town, it will be a very long ride from Chicago. Not including the mid-route stop the ride duration will be anywhere between about seven and a half to over ten hours.

Although our actual arrival time at the start of RAGBRAI will vary year after year, we expect to arrive no later than about 8:00 pm. This will give you at least 45 minutes of daylight to get set up, check into Pork Belly Ventures or another charter if necessary, check out the RAGBRAI expo and pick up your bike if you shipped it there, get some food, and get ready for the next day's ride. Unfortunately you may not have the opportunity to dip your rear tire in the Missouri River, particularly if you have to ride 5-10 miles to it.

Mid-Route Stop and Lunch

We will have about a one hour mid-route stop at a truck stop/travel plaza situated directly along our route from Chicago in order to minimize the time spend getting on and off the highway. You will be able to get out of the bus and stretch your legs, get some fresh air, use the restroom, and buy some lunch and snacks if you did not bring your own. There will be also be several different restaurants available within an easy walking distance. We will also be able to get fuel for our vehicles and our drivers will be able to take a break. Before we depart we will conduct another head count to make sure no one gets left behind.

I-80 Starting Towns
If the RAGBRAI starting town is one of these towns:

  • Council Bluffs
  • Glenwood
  • Missouri Valley
  • Onawa
  • Sidney

We will primary follow I-80 across Iowa and stop here for the mid-route stop and lunch at approximately 2:15 pm, about 5 hours and 45 minutes after departing Chicago.

Flying J
3231 Adventureland Dr.
Altoona, IA 50009
(515) 967-7878
I-80 Exit 142, US 65

  • Click Here for the mid-route stop and lunch locations overlaid on satellite imagery.

US 20 Starting Towns
If the RAGBRAI starting town is one of these towns:

  • Akron
  • Hawarden
  • Le Mars
  • Orange City
  • Rock Rapids
  • Rock Valley
  • Sergeant Bluff
  • Sioux Center
  • Sioux City

We will primary follow US 20 across Iowa and stop here for the mid-route stop and lunch at approximately 2:00 pm, about 5 hours and 30 minutes after departing Chicago.

Flying J
445 Evansdale Dr.
Evansdale, IA 50707
(319) 291-7714
I-380 US 20 Exit 68, Elk Run Heights Evansdale Dr.

  • Click Here for the mid-route stop and lunch locations overlaid on satellite imagery.

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