JULY 20, 2026

The City of Dubuque is preparing to welcome the thousands of bicyclists who will visit the city on Saturday, July 25, as part of the final day of 2026 edition of RAGBRAI.

RAGBRAI, or the Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa, is an annual event in which between 25,000 and 40,000 bicyclists ride from the Missouri River in western Iowa to the Mississippi River on the state’s eastern border, with overnight stops in several communities along the way. 2026 marks the first time RAGBRAI has visited Dubuque in 16 years.

Riders are expected to begin arriving in Dubuque prior to 6 a.m. and will continue throughout the day. The bulk of the bicycle traffic will likely move through the city from west to east between 9 a.m. and noon.

To accommodate RAGBRAI, the City is implementing several street closures, parking restrictions, and other temporary changes which will primarily be in effect on Saturday, July 25:

Street Closures: The RAGBRAI route in Dubuque begins on Seippel Rd. at the western city limits. From there, it moves along Chavenelle Rd., Radford Rd. and Pennsylvania Ave. to the intersection with the Northwest Arterial. The route continues on Pennsylvania Ave. until it reaches University Ave., then shifts onto Loras Blvd., leading riders into the downtown area. From Loras Blvd., the route continues to E. 14th St. to Jackson St., Rhomberg Ave., and finally Hawthorne St., which takes riders to the “dip site” at A.Y. McDonald Park.

Most of the streets along the route will be fully closed to vehicle traffic on Saturday, July 25, with the primary exception of Pennsylvania Ave., where westbound traffic will be maintained. Vehicles will also be allowed to cross the RAGBRAI route at certain designated intersections, which will be controlled by Dubuque Police officers and City staff. These intersections are:

• Pennsylvania Ave. at the Northwest Arterial
• Pennsylvania Ave. at John F. Kennedy Rd.
• Loras Blvd. at N. Grandview Ave.
• Loras Blvd. at Central Ave.
• E. 14th St. at White St.
• Rhomberg Ave. at Fengler St.

Traffic will also be impacted on Kerper Blvd. After completing the ride at A.Y. McDonald Park, many riders are expected to use Kerper Blvd. to exit the “dip site” area. RAGBRAI support vehicles will travel in dedicated lanes in each direction on Kerper Blvd.

Detailed maps of the RAGBRAI route can be found in the “Locals” section of DubuqueRAGBRAI.com

Parking Restrictions: To provide a safe roadway for the RAGBRAI riders, all vehicles will be required to be moved off of the route by 6 a.m. on Saturday, July 25. Residents living along the route are encouraged to find alternate parking arrangements beginning on the evening of Friday, July 24, through 7 p.m. on Saturday, July 25. Signs with details about parking restrictions will be posted along the route during the week of July 20. Vehicles in violation of the parking restrictions will be ticketed and towed.

Those living along the route who have a critical need for vehicle access are encouraged to call the Dubuque Police Department at 563-589-4410 prior to Saturday, July 25.

A.Y. McDonald Park Access: To allow for site preparations ahead of RAGBRAI’s arrival, A.Y. McDonald Park will close to the public beginning at 8 a.m. on Friday, July 24. This includes the public boat ramp at the park.

Access to the park will re-open on the morning of Saturday, July 25. Parking in the area around A.Y. McDonald Park will be restricted to RAGBRAI vehicles.

Spectators and supporters who want to visit the dip site can utilize free shuttles being provided by Travel Dubuque. The pick-up location for the shuttles will be at the grass parking lot along E. 5th St. in the Port of Dubuque. The shuttles will run from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, July 25.

Pool Closures and Entrance Changes: With both of Dubuque’s public pools being along the RAGBRAI route, there will be changes to access for both facilities on Saturday, July 25.

• Sutton Pool, 1900 Hawthorne St., will be closed.
• The traditional entrance to Flora Pool, 2525 Green St., from Pennsylvania Ave. will be blocked due to the RAGBRAI route. Those wishing to visit Flora Pool should instead use Flora Park Dr. or Bunker Hill Rd. to access the facility.

Jule Route Adjustments: The Jule will be running reduced routes with on-demand service on Saturday, July 25, due to RAGBRAI. Impacted routes include the Blue, Brown, Green, Orange/Grey, Pink, and Purple lines. Full details can be found at cityofdubuque.org/Transit

DMASWA Closure: Due to its proximity to the RAGBRAI route, the Dubuque Metropolitan Area Solid Waste Agency’s landfill will be closed on Saturday, July 25.

Additional Information: Full details about RAGBRAI’s visit to Dubuque can be found at DubuqueRAGBRAI.com