Pork Belly Update-Long-Term Parking in Dubuque

Our friends on the Dubuque RAGBRAI Committees have been busy bees, making preparations for our visit in July. The End Towns have a unique task, as they welcome many riders into their town twice during the week - and plan an area for many vehicles to be left while we're pedaling back to them.

All week-long parking in Dubuque will be in one location. No need to worry about which lot to select, everyone will park in the same place.

Parking will take place in a large grass lot, which will be well signed, at 16th & Kerper - near the dip site and an easy on/off from Highways 151/61. These spots will be open for parking July 17-24, 2026. Shuttle service will be provided from the Long-Term Parking Lot to the Charter Departure area on July 17 & 18. 

To book your space, please know the size of the vehicle you will be bringing to long- term park. If your vehicle is larger than what is booked, fees will be charted day of arrival. There is a tiered pricing system dependent on vehicle size and registration date. The committee is requesting that everyone registers prior to July 17th.

Pork Belly will not know our exact physical staging location for the E/W Shuttles before RAGBRAI or the Post-RAGBRAI Shuttles until after we make our scouting trip and meet with the Committee in Dubuque - hopefully in the next few weeks.

Dubuque's complimentary trolley shuttles make it easy to get around July 17 & 18. On July 17, shuttles run from 10 am to 10 pm with routes connecting McAleece Campsite, downtown Dubuque, the Port of Dubuque, Schmitt Island, and the Millwork District along with service to showers at Sutton Pool as well as to and from Long-Term Parking. On July 18, shuttles run from 5 am to 10 am between Long-Term Parking and McAleece Park to our charter departure location.

If you are on the E/W Shuttle, it's likely that you will want to drop your things off at our staging area, park your vehicle, and then hop on their town shuttle back to our staging area.

The link for Dubuque's Week-Long Parking (and more) is here: https://dubuqueragbrai.ticketspice.com/traveldubuqueragbrai

Our hosts in Dubuque have lined up a great option for pre-purchased box lunches for your E/W Shuttle ride! Convivium Urban Farmstead is a local nonprofit restaurant who sources from their gardens, chickens and other local products.

They will be offering a full-size wrap; plain chips OR apple; and a cookie for $15. Options for the wrap include Roast Beef, Chicken Caesar, or Roasted Balsamic Veggie with Feta.

You can select this optional box lunch at the same time when you purchase your week-long parking, or by itself if you're getting dropped off! They will deliver these to our staging location on the day that you select. You can read more about the mission of Convivium Urban Farmstead here: Convivium Urban Farmstead.

Located near the long-term parking, Dubuque will also offer overnight tent camping to folks for no charge before RAGBRAI. While there is no charge for camping, the Committee is asking people to register so that they can be sure there is room within their campgrounds and that Fire/Police Departments can locate individuals should an emergency occur. Tent camping at the end of RAGBRAI and RV Camping both before and after is available through a separate reservation system through the City of Dubuque.

We are still working with the Dubuque RAGBRAI Committee to try to get indoor sleeping at or near our staging area. We hope to know this information sometime in early April!

There are also hotel options close to the long-term parking areas. Travel Dubuque has provided the following recommendations: https://www.traveldubuque.com/dbqragbrai#riders

Our RAGBRAI Invitation Letter went out late on New Year's Eve, and registration for services opened up on New Year's morning. Each year is different, so we never know if/when we will sell out, but we want to keep you informed of our status - in case you're planning on it but happen to be a Pork-crastinator and need that nudge....or are waiting to finalize plans and want a little reassurance that you may have more time.

• Weeklong Service: We are a little more than 80% sold out. You've still got some time, but it is possible that we could sell out.

• Rental Tent Service: We are sold out. You may email kay@pkbelly.com to get on the waitlist if you are still hoping to get one for this year.

• PHAT Rooms: We have a long waiting list. If you're serious about wanting a room at some point in the future, you can complete the form linked here and get on the waitlist.

• Rental Bikes: When you add your services, you'll have the option to add a rental bike if you need one. Availability varies, so please reach out to Pete if you have any questions.

• Shuttles: We try to build the number of buses around demand as much as possible. That being said, we have to make cutoffs at some point, so the earlier you know your plans the better chance of you getting on the bus you want (especially if you want the Friday E/W Shuttle)! Don't forget your group name, if traveling with other folks!

We will offer all the usual shuttles - E/W on Friday & Saturday pre-RAGBRAI, Omaha pre- & post-, Des Moines pre- & post-, Des Moines midweek Exit/Enter, and the Quad Cities Airport in Moline, IL post-RAGBRAI. All Pork Belly Ventures RAGBRAI shuttles are described below, with details and departure times. 

Pork Belly's shuttles are available to any registered RAGBRAI rider, using Pork Belly for other services or not.

A few reminders...

MAKE SURE YOUR AIR AND GROUND TRAVEL ARE ALIGNED!

Some of you are ready to buy airline tickets. Please bear in mind our shuttle departure times as you make your airline reservations. Problems arise from arriving too late or departing too early for your ground transportation. People have bought non-refundable tickets into airports we do not serve. Read carefully, please, and connect your travel dots! If you have any questions, we encourage you to email us at info@pkbelly.com or have a phone conversation with Pete before making any non-refundable reservations.

BIKE TRANSPORT INCLUDED

All shuttle prices include your seat on a comfortable, air-conditioned motor coach, and transport of your baggage and a bicycle. We plan for one bike per person on our shuttles, and the shuttle price is the same, whether or not you want us to transport a bike (some folks will ship a bike to Iowa or rent a bike in Iowa). 

BIKE TYPES

There is no extra charge to transport a tandem, recumbent, trike, or virtually any type of bike. However, if your bike is way out of the norm in terms of size or shape, let us know so that we can adequately plan for it. Pork Belly Ventures will collect your bike type and other information later in the season.

ON SENDING BIKES WITH FRIENDS

If you are using one PBV shuttle and sending your bike with a friend on a different PBV shuttle, that is allowed (no extra charge), but we must know about it in advance. 

If you are not using one of our shuttles, and your friend is bringing your bike with him/her on a shuttle instead, then we must still know about it in advance, and we charge $75 per extra bike. 

Please write to Kay@pkbelly.com if you will have extra bikes on the E/W Shuttle from end town to start town prior to RAGBRAI. Give her the type of bike and name of the owner of the extra bike.

ADD SHUTTLES TO YOUR EXISTING REGISTRATION

Duplicate registrations are the bane of our existence--yours and ours! So let's sort it out from the get-go!

If you have an existing 2026 PBV Registration, please LOGIN with that username and password, then click Edit to add your shuttle/s. Do not invent a new username/password and create a duplicate registration for yourself or your group.

After you have successfully added shuttles to your existing registration, click "Make Payment" and bring your deposit up to 10% of the new total. Some folks prefer to pay in full.

Just don't start making up new login credentials, okay? If you create more than one registration and if you make payments on both, you'll be needlessly confused about your LOGINs and recording information later in the season. Our team will have to consolidate your duplicates into one registration. Let's avoid this!

IF YOU DON'T YET HAVE A PBV REGISTRATION

If you don't yet have a 2026 PBV Registration, then DO come up with login credentials, create your only 2026 account, and select any services, including shuttles. Please make the minimum 10% payment to secure your services.

If you've forgotten your credentials or if you're having trouble, write to us at info@pkbelly.com, please. We'll get back to you ASAP and maybe get on the phone together to add your shuttles if you need additional help. 

Three PBV Shuttle Options Before RAGBRAI

Pre-RAGBRAI East/West Shuttle, Dubuque to Onawa on Friday Afternoon or Saturday Morning: $210 per person

If you plan to get dropped off or park your car in Dubuque prior to RAGBRAI, we'll meet you there either on Friday afternoon (the 17th) or early on Saturday (the 18th) and transport you, your baggage, and your bike to Onawa. Our departure times are 1 PM and 3 PM on Friday, and at 7, 8, and 9 AM on Saturday.

We estimate that the E/W bus ride will take about 5-1/2 hours, depending on traffic. We will share information about Dubuque's week-long parking when that is available, likely by May.

Pre-RAGBRAI Omaha Airport to Onawa on Saturday, various times: $78 per person

This is the most popular airport shuttle. For those who fly or drive into Omaha, this shuttle operates throughout the day from 8 AM until 4 PM on Saturday. On Saturday, the 18th, we'll meet you at the Candlewood Suites hotel parking lot near Omaha's Eppley Airport and transport you, your baggage, and your bike to our campsite in Onawa. We emphatically recommend arriving on Friday, especially if you're traveling by air. We usually have ten departures with a coach leaving for the start town every hour or so throughout the day on Saturday, between 8 AM and 4 PM. Again, we highly recommend arriving on Friday, but if you can't - try for an early Saturday morning flight. Note: You will not select a departure time for this shuttle yet. Later on, we will ask you what your preferred departure time is and match you up with the closest shuttle. Most shuttles typically leave Omaha by 10:30 AM.

We estimate that the bus ride from Omaha to Onawa should take about 1-1/4 hours, depending on traffic.

Pre-RAGBRAI Des Moines to Onawa:  $151 per person

The shuttle departs from the Des Moines Holiday Inn airport hotel parking lot. On Saturday, July 18th, it will depart at 9:15 AM. The post-RAGBRAI shuttle returning to Des Moines will return to this same hotel. Please note that Des Moines is in the south/central part of the state, not near the start or the finish. This shuttle usually makes sense for those who live nearby in Iowa or Missouri, or who have other reasons for visiting Des Moines.

We estimate that the bus ride from Des Moines to Onawa should take about 3-1/2 hours, depending on traffic.

Three PBV Shuttle Options After RAGBRAI

*UNDERSTAND, PLEASE, THAT THERE COULD BE LENGTHY TRAFFIC DELAYS added onto your normal travel time. We cannot make the coaches go faster in congested traffic. Take the pressure off by booking your return flight on Sunday.

Post-RAGBRAI Dubuque to Omaha on Saturday after RAGBRAI:  $214 per person

On Saturday, the 25th, we'll transport you, your baggage, and your bike from Dubuque (exact location TBD) to the same Omaha Airport hotel (see Hotel section below), so you can fly or drive home Sunday.

There are 33.7 cycling miles with hills on the last day of RAGBRAI.

We will have several coaches, with ONE DEPARTURE TIME at 2:15 PM on Saturday, 7/25. We will try to stage all coaches 30 minutes early, so that we can depart on time.

We estimate that this will take 5.5 to 6 hours, barring traffic congestion, which would not be unusual in a RAGBRAI end town.

Post-RAGBRAI Dubuque to Quad Cities International Airport in Moline, IL: $99 per person

On Saturday, the 25th, after your last day's ride, we'll transport you and your baggage (let us know if you'll have a bike) from Dubuque (exact location TBD) to the Quad Cities International Airport in Moline, IL.

There are 33.7 miles and some hills to cycle on the last day of RAGBRAI.

We will again have two departure times to the Quad Cities this year - Noon and 1:30 PM.

We estimate that this will take about 2 hours on the coach, barring traffic congestion, which can happen in a RAGBRAI end-town.

***Our shuttle will carry you directly from our staging area in Dubuque to the Departures area of the Quad Cities International Airport. From there, you may go to car rentals, you may catch a free shuttle to any number of airport hotels, or you may go directly to the gates to catch your flight.

We don't have relationships with any particular hotels on the east side of Iowa. But you will have no trouble reserving a room in advance near this airport. Simply google hotels near MLI.[Note: we don't shuttle from the Quad Cities airport before RAGBRAI.]

Post-RAGBRAI Dubuque to Des Moines: $154 per person

This shuttle returns to the same Des Moines airport hotel parking lot that the pre-RAGBRAI shuttle staged from. For the return trip, it departs Dubuque on Saturday, July 25th, at an afternoon time TBA. Please note that Des Moines is in the central part of the state, not near the start or the finish. This shuttle usually makes sense for those who live nearby in Iowa or Missouri, or who have other reasons for visiting Des Moines.

The final day of RAGBRAI is 33.7 miles (subject to change) with hills.

The Des Moines coaches will depart at 2:30 PM and return our passengers to the Des Moines Airport Holiday Inn on Fleur Drive on Saturday the 25th. 

We estimate that this will take about 3.5 to 4 hours on the coach, barring traffic congestion, which can happen in a RAGBRAI end-town.

Subject to availability, the hotel may be able to offer you weeklong parking in the hotel lot--check with them. A free shuttle can take you to the airport on Sunday morning. See below for information about our hotel block.

Three PBV Shuttle Options for a Half Hog

Partial-Week Options: Shuttles for PBV Riders or any RAGBRAI Rider

Some folks can't go Whole Hog this year, and here are your options for going Half Hog, what we call a Partial-Week Rider. You can ride the first several days or last several days of RAGBRAI -- with Pork Belly Ventures or some other way. PBV's Partial-Week Support is $95 per day, and it can only be used for consecutive days. We can't have people jumping in and out during the week. 

1) You can ride the first three days and jump out on Tuesday afternoon at Boone, or 2) you can jump in on Tuesday at Boone and ride the last four days. And finally, at the end of Day 4 in Marshalltown, 3) you can exit RAGBRAI in the late afternoon, after riding Sunday to Wednesday.

Whether or not you are with PBV during the week, you can use the midweek transportation options described above. Select the Tuesday Exit Shuttle, the Wednesday Exit Shuttle, or Tuesday Enter Shuttle on your PBV online application. 

If any RAGBRAI rider needs to do an unplanned exit from RAGBRAI midweek, you can come to the PBV campsite (find our front desk) on Tuesday or Wednesday afternoon and sign up for the shuttle to a Des Moines airport hotel parking lot. From there, you can check in for the night, arrange to fly, or rent a car.

Des Moines Hotel and Parking for Partial-Week Riders

On Tuesday and Wednesday, July 21 and 22, we have reserved a block of rooms at the Des Moines airport Holiday Inn on Fleur Drive. To take advantage of our block, call 515-287-2400 and mention Pork Belly Ventures for a reservation. It may be possible to use an inexpensive parking option at the hotel, Park and Fly, depending on availability. Other inexpensive airport parking is available in the airport area. The hotel offers a free shuttle to the Des Moines airport just down the road. NOTE: We only run the half-week enter/exit shuttles to/from the Des Moines airport, no other locations!

Tuesday EXIT Shuttle:  $91 per person

This shuttle runs from our Boone on Tuesday afternoon to the Des Moines Holiday Inn airport hotel. This shuttle is for those who ride the first three days, Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday, and then exit RAGBRAI.

Tuesday, 7/21: 59.5 cycling miles

Exit Shuttle departs our Boone campsite at 6 PM.

We estimate that the coach ride to the Des Moines Holiday Inn on Fleur Drive near the airport will take about 1-1/2 hours.

You may choose among our shuttles to the start town, or but if you're parking a car, you should park in Des Moines at or near our designated airport hotel and use our shuttle to the start ($151). Our partial-week support is $95 per day, and three days is $285.

Tuesday ENTER Shuttle: $89 per person

This shuttle goes from the Des Moines Holiday Inn airport hotel to our Boone campsite on Tuesday afternoon. This shuttle is for those who enter the ride midweek and cycle Wednesday through Saturday.

Enter Shuttle departs Des Moines airport hotel at 4 PM.

We estimate that the coach ride to our Boone campsite will take about 1-1/2 hours.

If you are joining Pork Belly for services, our partial-week support is $95 per day, and four days is $380. Partial-Week Riders may check in right away at our front desk (or set off to find your charter). You may spend four days with us, pedaling into Dubuque on Saturday, the 25th. From here, you can use our Dubuque/Des Moines Shuttle to return you to the Des Moines airport hotel by early evening. (In fact, you can use any of our post-RAGBRAI shuttles--to Quad Cities, Omaha, or Des Moines, whichever is best for your situation.)

Wednesday EXIT Shuttle: $99 per person

This shuttle goes from our Marshalltown campsite on Wednesday afternoon to the Des Moines Holiday Inn airport hotel, late in the afternoon. This shuttle is for those who ride the first four days - Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday - and then exit RAGBRAI.

Wednesday, 7/22: 62.2 cycling miles

Exit Shuttle departs Marshalltown campsite at 6 PM.

We estimate that the coach ride to the Des Moines Holiday Inn on Fleur Drive near the airport will take about 1.5 hours.

You may choose among our shuttles to the start town, but if you're parking a car, you should park in Des Moines at or near our designated airport hotel and use our shuttle to the start ($151). Our partial-week support is $95 per day, and four days is $380.

Hotel Options to go with your RAGBRAI Shuttles

In Omaha Before/After RAGBRAI

On the nights of July 18th through the 24th, you will be camping with PBV, but if you're flying into Omaha on Friday, the 17th, and/or returning with us to Omaha late on Saturday evening, the 25th, you will need Omaha hotel reservations. We will have room blocks for both nights at two side-by-side airport hotels.

All Pork Belly buses will depart from and return to the Omaha airport Candlewood Suites, next door to the Best Western Plus. Both are across the street from a large convenience store, Subway sandwich shop, and Perkins Restaurant (with breakfast all day and other options). You can work with your respective hotel to secure very reasonable weeklong hotel parking, arranged between you and your hotel on the day.

Best Western Plus - Call the local number: 402-505-4900.

Mention our name to reserve your king or double queen room, $147 plus tax per night. Hot breakfast, a swimming pool, and Triple-sheeting is the standard at this hotel. We hear they will have a complete remodel between now and July! Unused rooms that the Best Western Plus in Council Bluffs has set aside for our group on Thursday July 16, Friday July 17, and Saturday July 25 will be released on 7/3/2026.

Candlewood Suites - Call the local number: 402-342-2500.

Mention our name to reserve your king or double queen room, $142 plus tax per night. The north side of Candlewood is the site of our bus loading and unloading (Best Western Plus guests walk over and back.) No breakfast is offered to Candlewood guests, but there is a great convenience store off the hotel lobby or you can buy breakfast nearby. Free laundry service to guests, Hospitality areas available to our guests before and after RAGBRAI, Triple-sheeting is the standard at this hotel. Unused rooms that the Candlewood Inn and Suites in Council Bluffs has set aside for our group on Thursday July 16, Friday July 17, Saturday July 25, and Sunday July 26 will be released on 6/1/2026.

In Des Moines Before/After RAGBRAI

On the nights of July 18th through the 24th, you will be camping with PBV, but if you're flying into Des Moines on Friday, the 17th, and/or returning with us to Des Moines and flying out on Sunday, the 26th, you will need Des Moines hotel reservations. All Pork Belly shuttle buses will depart from and return to the Des Moines Holiday Inn airport hotel.

Holiday Inn Conference Center - Call the local number: 515-287-2400.

Mention our name to reserve your king or double queen room, $129 plus tax per night. On-site restaurant, airport shuttle, pool, fitness center, laundry, and hospitality areas available to our guests before/after RAGBRAI. You may arrange for weeklong parking directly with the hotel. Unused rooms that the Holiday Inn in Des Moines has set aside for our group on Friday July 17, Tuesday July 21, Wednesday July 22, and Saturday July 25, will be released on 6/26/2026.

We do not recommend flying into any airport on Saturday, July 18th or out of any airport on Saturday, July 25th. The first Saturday is part of the RAGBRAI experience, and you miss it (and maybe your shuttle!) when you fly into the airport at 1 PM. You'll want to get to the start town as soon as possible to enjoy the big bike expo on Saturday, the festivities, and a town filling up with people and bikes. Depending on the difficulty of the riding on the last day and the traffic situation leaving the end town, there can be delays on the last day as well. We have seen some things in our time, including delayed flights, cancelled flights, closed airports, and lost luggage--which can cause a rider to miss their shuttle to the start town. When you fly in on Friday and out on Sunday, you hedge your bets against most of the problems an airline can cause. Please give yourself some breathing room and book your flights for Friday, July 17th and Sunday, July 26th, if possible.

Feel free to call Pete (402-681-2613) to discuss logistics for getting to/from RAGBRAI. We really want to be sure that you make the best plan for you while considering all available options.

PLEASE LEARN FROM THE MISTAKES OF OTHERS, WHO BOOKED NON-REFUNDABLE AIRFARES WITHOUT KNOWING THE CRITICAL DETAILS.

We and our crew can only operate in three places--listed above. Some airports get only a few flights per day, so it's not practical for us serve those airports even if you may be able to find a flight there.

NOTE: Pork Belly Ventures does not make stops along the way to drop off riders going to different destinations. We also do not return to long-term parking in the start town.

That's all on our shuttles! 

Any RAGBRAI rider can login and reserve a PBV Shuttle with a 10% deposit.

If you wish to add shuttles (or any service) to your existing application, be sure to do the following:

--LOGIN with your current credentials

--write to us if you have trouble - info@pkbelly.com

--MAKE A PAYMENT so that all services are secured with a 10% deposit.

We'll be in touch when we have more news to share, friends! Remember, all RAGBRAI-specific info will be shared through our RAGBRAI 2026 list from here on out (if you're receiving this, you're on the list!). As always, let us know if you have any questions as we dive into the details planning for your Week in the Corn!

Cheers, from all of us here at Pork Belly Ventures!