A trip through Kinnick Stadium awaits RAGBRAI on Day 7, with additional trips to W. Liberty and Muscatine

The seventh and final day of RAGBRAI 50 begins in Coralville and ends with a double dip of cyclists’ tires in Muscatine and Davenport.

The 71.2-mile leg will take riders through the concourse of Kinnick Stadium on July 29, pedaling into the heart of Iowa City under the early morning shadow of the Old Capitol Building.

Some riders are expected to stop off in West Branch for a quick breakfast before heading to Muscatine, following the banks of the Mississippi to Davenport, capping the week-long 50th-anniversary.

Here’s what to expect from some of the spots along the final leg of the journey:

Get a taste of history in Iowa City

Riders will exit Coralville in the early morning hours Saturday, July 29, traveling through the concourse of Kinnick Stadium from 6-8:30 a.m.

Cyclists will depart Kinnick and head through the heart of downtown Iowa City, passing the Old Capitol Building on Iowa Avenue. Riders will loop past the morning farmer’s market as well before leaving town.

Breakfast vendors will be available on Iowa Avenue though participants aren't expected to stay long, Think Iowa City’s Josh Shamberger told the Press-Citizen.

The city will lean heavily on Hawkeye spirit, Shamberger said.

How will vehicle traffic be affected by RAGBRAI?

Riders will exit Coralville along First Avenue and Highway 6 before taking a right onto Hawkins Drive. Riders will bounce briefly onto Evashevski Drive and enter Kinnick on the northwest side of the stadium. After leaving the concourse, cyclists will head toward Carver-Hawkeye Arena through Elliot Drive, connecting with Newton Road where riders will cross the Iowa River onto Iowa Avenue. The route will turn left at the three-way stop below the Old Capitol before rising up the Pentacrest hill on Jefferson Street.

The city has advised several road closures, beginning at 2 a.m. on Saturday until approximately 10 a.m., as a result of the anniversary ride. These include:

• Highway 6 at Newton Road will be closed to through traffic

• Clinton Street from Jefferson Street to Washington Street

• Dubuque Street from Iowa Avenue to Washington

• Linn Street at the Iowa Avenue intersection

• Iowa Avenue from Clinton to Gilbert Street

The Gilbert and Iowa Avenue intersection will be staffed by police, who will control and balance traffic and cyclist flow.

The city also advises that people avoid driving along any areas between 6 a.m. and approximately 10 a.m. Riders will leave downtown Iowa City on East Iowa Avenue, connecting with Muscatine Avenue, which turns into American Legion Road Southeast. The route will feed directly into Highway 6 toward West Liberty, totaling 18.3 miles between stops.

An interactive map detailing the route from Coralville through Iowa City and out to West Liberty is available online.

RAGBRAI's visit will also impact Iowa City transit services. The city’s transportation center will be moved from Washington Street to the Court Street Transportation Center for the entire day while many downtown stops will be closed. Route 2 at Court Street, route 9 at Towncrest and route 10 for west Iowa City will face significant delays next week and will have detours.

Additional details are available on the city’s RAGBRAI 2023 web page.

West Liberty offers live music and food

RAGBRAI rolls through West Liberty around 10 a.m. Saturday, July 29. Day 7's second pass-through town will feature live music and food vendors, including performances by Iowa City native Dave Zollo and Brian Cooper in the beer garden.

Much of the festivities will be housed near Third Street and Fourth Street in the heart of downtown.

RAGBRAI last visited West Liberty in 2018.

The fun doesn’t stop once riders depart, as West Liberty will welcome Sam Joens and Scott Stowe to the Liberty Public House in the early afternoon.

Where will the route impact travel?

Riders will enter West Liberty on Highway 6 and exit town on Iowa 70 before hopping onto Iowa 22 and traveling the 21 miles to Muscatine.

The riders are expected to have all passed through West Liberty by 11:30 a.m., but those looking to travel on roads along or near the route should expect severe delays.

A Mississippi view in Muscatine

RAGBRAI first hits the banks of the Mississippi in Muscatine, beginning the final 28-mile riverside stretch to Davenport.

Riders will enter town on Hershey Avenue, cruising along the riverfront, where the city will offer vendors serving pies, ice cream, and beer. The river will serve as a backdrop for photo opportunities, with the bridge across the Mississippi in the background, Mayor Brad Bark told the Press-Citizen.

Residents of Muscatine have the opportunity to win some cash, too. The city is holding a house decorating contest, with the top prize of $500 and an additional $500 distributed between the second and third-place finishers.

Bark said the city expects to welcome a crowd of 50,000, double its population. Muscatine is also the first spot where riders can dip their tires into the river, which Bark said has been dubbed the “double dip in the Mississippi.”

Watermelon slices, a staple product of Muscatine, will be available for riders as they make their way through the second-to-last stop.

Riders will leave Muscatine on IA 22, following the river 18.5 miles into the final pass-through town of Buffalo. Travel times will be severely impacted by riders along the route.

Ryan Hansen covers local government and crime for the Press-Citizen. He can be reached atrhansen@press-citizen.com or on Twitter @ryanhansen01

This article originally appeared on Iowa City Press-Citizen: RAGBRAI Day 7 to take riders through Kinnick, along the Mississippi