Resident resources for Ames RAGBRAI

We have over 200 volunteer opportunities remaining  for RAGBRAI. If you are interested in volunteering please visit DiscoverAmes.com/RAGBRAI-volunteer or email our volunteer coordinator, Veronica at veronicat@discoverames.com.

We recommend Wednesday day riders get dropped off in the Ames Sam’s Club parking lot at 305 Airport Rd. From here there is easy access to the bike trail on the north side of Airport Rd. Riders can follow the bike trail West until reaching University Boulevard where they then will go north to Mortensen Rd. The route on Wednesday morning will begin at University and Mortensen Rd.

The City of Ames will also have a designated drop off at 321 State Ave. in Ames. 

Day passes are sold at all RAGBRAI merchandise trailers throughout the day/night and at our baggage trucks in the main campground in the morning of the ride. Hours and other details below.

Meeting Town Trailer                                   7am-4pm

Overnight Town Trailer                               12pm-10pm

Campground Information Tent                 10am-7pm

Baggage Trucks in the mornings only from 5:30am-7:00am

Food and drink vendors will be located at campgrounds, the welcome rally, and Downtown Ames during our festival. Many Ames businesses will also be available during this time. To see the locations of all official Ames RAGBRAI vendors and other maps visit the Ames RAGBRAI maps page.

The Downtown Expo on Main Street is open to everyone. Parking is available to the public in the CBD lots south of Main Streets, at the Ames Depot (526 Main St.), and the future LINC site on Lincoln Way between Clark Ave. and Kellogg Ave. 

The beer tents will open at 2:30 p.m. on July, 25 and close at 10:30 p.m. Tickets are available for purchase at information booths. 

Riders and members of the community are invited to downtown Ames to enjoy a wide variety of food and drink vendors, games, as well as live music. 

Monday, July 24

CLOSED: Main Street, from Clark to Douglas avenues – closes at 4 pm

Tuesday, July 25

CLOSED: Main Street, from Clark to Douglas avenues

CLOSED: US 30 ramps at South Dakota

CLOSED: South Dakota, south of the Mortensen Road intersection; OPEN: South Dakota, north of the Mortensen Road intersection

CLOSED: Mortensen from Pinion Drive east to Ash Avenue

RESTRICTED TO RESIDENTS: Mortensen from Pinion Drive west to South Dakota (Right turn only at Pinion; Left turn only at Coconino)

OPEN: Mortensen west of South Dakota

CLOSED: Sixth Street, University to Brookridge

CLOSED: South Fourth Street, University to South Hazel

Wednesday, July 26 – Until 10 am

CLOSED: Main Street, from Clark to Douglas avenues

CLOSED: US 30 ramps at South Dakota

CLOSED: South Dakota, south of the Mortensen Road intersection; OPEN: South Dakota, north of the Mortensen Road intersection

CLOSED: Mortensen from Pinion Drive east to Ash Avenue

RESTRICTED TO RESIDENTS: Mortensen from Pinion Drive west to South Dakota (Right turn only at Pinion; Left turn only at Coconino)

OPEN: Mortensen west of South Dakota

CLOSED: Sixth Street, University to Brookridge

CLOSED: South Fourth Street, University to South Hazel

Residents in west Ames along Mortensen Road between South Dakota Avenue and Seagrave Boulevard will have two access points to Mortensen Road. Residents on the northside of Mortensen Road will have right turn only access off Pinion Drive to Mortensen Road to South Dakota. Residents on the southside of Mortensen Road will access the temporary traffic signal at Coconino Road. This will allow motorists to turn west (left) onto Mortensen Road to South Dakota.

Residents who live close to Mortensen Road and Beach will be able to turn west on Mortensen at Beach and reach Ash Avenue. Ash Avenue will be open for north traffic only.

A temporary traffic signal at Mortensen and Hayward will allow those living near Gateway Hills Park Drive to enter and exit via the Hansen Learning Center.

A temporary traffic signal at Bluestem will allow residents to access Mortensen west to Ash Avenue to travel north.

CLOSED: South Fourth Street, University to South Hazel

Parking for registered RAGBRAI support vehicles are located in lots G2, G4, and G8 south of Jack Trice Stadium. Short-term and mid-term parking for riders starting or ending their ride in Ames will be located at North Grand Mall. For Wednesday day riders, park in lot B1 and C1 north of Hilton and Scheman. 

The restrooms at Brookside Park are closed because they were not designed to handle large volumes of campers. Portable showers, toilets, and handwashing stations will be provided.

For other questions, please contact Discover Ames at info@discoverames.com or call 515.232.4032