Thousands and thousands of people will be traveling to Onawa over the next few days, as a huge bicycling event kicks off a weeklong trek across Iowa.
The RAGBRAI ride will begin in that Monona County town on Sunday, and wrap up 391 miles later in Dubuque on July 25. As the opening town for the ride, Onawa officials have entertainment, food, housing and camping options set up for Saturday and Sunday.
The Onawa theme for the event is Rock And Roll Out. In a letter to visitors, Mayor David Silk said preparations are set: “Whether this is your first RAGBRAI or one of many, your presence brings energy and joy to our streets.”
A RAGBRAI tradition is that riders on day one dip their bike tires in the Missouri River at the beginning, then the Mississippi River at the conclusion. Since Onawa is located about five miles east of the river, river water will be carted into town.
The first day of biking includes such towns of Onawa, Dunlap, Turin and Soldier, over 60 miles to reach Harlan on Sunday evening.
This has been a big recent era with more opening days of RAGBRAI being in Northwest Iowa than historically, covering five of the last six years. The 2021 ride began in Le Mars, in 2022 in Sergeant Bluff, in Sioux City in 2023 and in Orange City in 2025.
RAGBRAI has begun in Onawa seven times, with 2018 being the most recent time.
