Chicago Marathon street closures begin ahead of the October 11, 2026 race, with major restrictions around Grant Park and dozens of race-day closures across the city. Here is what drivers, residents, runners and spectators should know about the route and reopening times.
Major Chicago Marathon street closures will begin this week as the city prepares for the Bank of America Chicago Marathon on Sunday, October 11, 2026.
The 26.2-mile race starts and finishes in Grant Park and travels through 29 Chicago neighborhoods. More than 55,000 participants are expected for the 48th running of the event.
Chicago Marathon road closures begin before race day
Balbo Drive from Columbus Drive to DuSable Lake Shore Drive was already closed as of Monday and is expected to remain closed until the Friday after the marathon.
Additional restrictions begin Thursday, including sections of Balbo Drive, Jackson Drive, Columbus Drive, Congress Plaza Drive and Ida B. Wells Drive.
On Saturday morning, closures expand to portions of Columbus Drive, Roosevelt Road and Monroe Street near Grant Park.
Race-day street closures start at 4 a.m.
On Sunday, October 11, closures beginning at 4 a.m. include sections of Columbus Drive, Michigan Avenue and Roosevelt Road.
A much larger group of streets along the marathon route will close beginning at 6 a.m. These include Grand Avenue, Dearborn Street, Jackson Boulevard, LaSalle Street, Sheridan Road, Broadway, Clark Street, Wells Street, Wacker Drive, Adams Street, Damen Avenue, Halsted Street, Cermak Road and Michigan Avenue.
Reopenings will occur progressively as runners clear different sections of the course. The earliest listed streets are expected to reopen around 10:30 a.m., while Roosevelt Road between Michigan Avenue and Columbus Drive is scheduled to reopen around 6 p.m.
Chicago Marathon route and race schedule
The marathon begins and ends in Grant Park, taking runners through downtown and neighborhoods on Chicago's North, West and South Sides.
Grant Park opens to runners at 5:30 a.m. The men's professional wheelchair race starts at 7:20 a.m., professional runners begin at 7:30 a.m., Wave 1 starts at 7:35 a.m., Wave 2 at 8 a.m. and Wave 3 at 8:35 a.m. Spectators can enter Grant Park beginning at 9:30 a.m.
Drivers should expect major traffic disruptions
Read our complete Chicago Marathon 2026 guide for the route, race schedule, transportation, spectator access, runner tracking and Grant Park information.
Marathon organizers are encouraging runners and spectators to use public transportation because of extensive road closures and congestion. No-parking restrictions will also be enforced along the course during the early morning hours.
Drivers traveling through central Chicago or neighborhoods along the route should check closure and reopening schedules before leaving, as access will change throughout race day.
