On marathon weekend, Chicago turns into one huge street festival, and the traffic pays the price. The 48th Bank of America Chicago Marathon lands on Sunday, October 11, with more than 55,000 runners taking on the course and an estimated 1.7 million fans packing the sidewalks. Planning to take your car through downtown or the surrounding areas? Think again, because big stretches of that area are closed to cars for the day. Whether you’re running, watching, or just crossing town, a handful of details can save you a lot of stress. This guide covers the dates, start times, route, and road closures, plus the transportation piece that leaves so many visitors scrambling.
Chicago Marathon 2026 Dates and Race Weekend Schedule
Race weekend gets going well before Sunday. The Abbott Health & Fitness Expo takes over McCormick Place from Thursday, October 8 through Saturday, October 10, and you’ll find it in the North Building on Level 3, Hall B1. Doors open at 10 a.m. on Thursday and 9 a.m. on Friday and Saturday, and each day wraps up at 6 p.m. Entry is free for everyone, and runners collect their packets there. Saturday morning also brings the Abbott Chicago 5K, which starts on Ida B. Wells Drive.
Chicago Marathon 2026 Start Time and Wave Schedule
There isn’t a single start for everybody, and plenty of first-timers don’t realize it. Grant Park opens to runners at 5:30 a.m., and gear check and the start corrals open at the same time. First off the line is the men’s professional wheelchair race at 7:20 a.m. The women’s wheelchair start follows at 7:21, then the handcycles at 7:23. The professional runners head out at 7:30. Then the waves begin: Wave 1 goes at 7:35 a.m., Wave 2 at 8:00, and Wave 3 at 8:35.
Corrals shut well ahead of each start. The Wave 1 corral closes at 7:20, Wave 2’s at 7:45, and Wave 3’s at 8:10. Put simply, arriving on time means arriving early. Spectators should know the main field won’t set off until 7:35 at the earliest. Every runner faces a course limit of 6 hours 30 minutes, which equals a 15-minute-per-mile pace.
Chicago Marathon 2026 Route: One Loop, 29 Neighborhoods
The course is a single 26.2-mile loop. The start is on Columbus Drive near Monroe Drive in Grant Park, and the finish is on Columbus Drive, just south of Balbo Drive. Along the way, runners head north to Lake View, turn west toward Damen Avenue, then go south toward 35th Street before looping back to Grant Park. In total, the course runs through 29 neighborhoods, Pilsen and Chinatown among them.
It’s famously flat. The one real climb is a short rise on Roosevelt Road right before the finish, and by mile 26 it feels much bigger than it looks on paper. Check the official course map before race day in case anything changes at the last minute.
Chicago Marathon 2026 Road Closures: What to Expect Sunday
From 6 a.m. on Sunday, most streets along the route are closed to traffic, and many don’t reopen until around 4 p.m. No-parking zones are enforced from 1 a.m., and any car left in one can be ticketed and towed. CTA buses that normally cross the course are rerouted from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. as well.
Reopening times differ from street to street. In the published closure list, a North Side stretch like Sheridan Road between Diversey Parkway and Belmont Avenue is listed for around noon. Michigan Avenue between 31st Street and Roosevelt Road stays shut until roughly 4:30 p.m. Roosevelt Road from Michigan Avenue to Columbus Drive doesn’t reopen until about 6 p.m. The streets around Grant Park are the last to clear. Organizers suggest using the expressways, including DuSable Lake Shore Drive, to get around the closed areas. It’s worth checking the official closure map the night before.
Chicago Marathon 2026 Spectator Guide
First, the bad news: the general public can’t enter the start or finish areas inside Grant Park on race day, and the paid Finish Line Viewing Area along Columbus Drive has already sold out. The good news is that you can cheer from just about anywhere else on the course. A popular spot for the final stretch is the mile 26 cheer zone at Michigan Avenue and Roosevelt Road, right where runners turn off Michigan and head into Grant Park.
Hoping to catch your runner in several places? Riding the CTA makes that simple. For mile 17 in Greektown, get off at UIC-Halsted and walk a block north to Jackson. For around mile 23, exit at 35th Street and walk four blocks east to Michigan Avenue. For mile 25, take the Green Line to Cermak-McCormick Place and walk two blocks east. Roosevelt station (Red, Green, and Orange lines) drops you near the finish. The official Chicago Marathon app lets you track your runner as they go.
After the race, the 27th Mile Post-Race Party at Butler Field, at Columbus Drive and Jackson Drive, opens to spectators at 9:30 a.m. and runs until 4 p.m. It’s the official reunite spot. Pick an exact meeting spot before race morning, since phone signal gets patchy with a crowd this large.
Chicago Marathon Transportation: CTA, Metra, and Rideshare
Organizers and the CTA give the same advice: don’t bring a car. Red, Blue, Brown, Green, Orange, and Pink line trains all serve Grant Park or stops near the course, and the CTA adds extra service on several lines when needed. Load your fare onto a Ventra card, the Ventra app, or a contactless bank card before race morning so you can skip the machine lines.
Metra offers a $7 Sunday Day Pass, and Ventra app users can add unlimited CTA and Pace rides for another $2.50 with the Regional Day Pass option. Metra is also adding extra early morning inbound trains and mid-afternoon outbound trains on three lines.
Rideshare is where plans tend to fall apart. Official guidance says participants should be dropped off west of Michigan Avenue and south of Ida B. Wells Drive, and drivers regularly get stuck behind closures. Request your ride early, expect delays, and don’t set your destination right at Grant Park.
Chicago Marathon Hotel and Transportation: Where to Stay
Where you sleep shapes your whole morning. The Hilton Chicago, at 720 S. Michigan Avenue, is the official headquarters hotel, a large property overlooking Grant Park and Lake Michigan close to the start and finish. The official housing partner, Maritz, also offers room blocks at other hotels. The Congress Plaza Hotel and the Palmer House Hilton are other options near the park, while hotels farther out in the Loop or West Loop mean a longer walk or a short ride on the L. Book as early as you can.
Lots of runners simply walk from their hotel to Grant Park. Everyone else needs to plan around the closures.
Getting Around on Race Day with Chi Town Black Cars
Walking works well if you’re staying near the park. Families, groups, and anyone with luggage or tired legs after 26.2 miles have a bit more to figure out. Booking ahead with Chi Town Black Cars takes some of the guesswork out. A point-to-point car service can get you to a drop-off point outside the closures, and since closed streets are closed for every vehicle, the smart move is to agree on that spot with the driver beforehand instead of hoping for a door-to-door drop at Grant Park.
Want to catch your runner at several spots? An hourly car service keeps one driver with your group, though it still has to work around the closures, so plan your stops along open streets. A black car service suits families, since one ride fits everyone. Airport transfers from O’Hare or Midway cover your arrival and departure days. Race weekend rides also fit alongside the other special event bookings they handle all year.
Tips for Chicago Marathon Weekend
Know your wave and your corral time. Corrals close 15 to 25 minutes before each start, and they stick to it.
Pick a meeting spot before race day. Cell service gets shaky near the finish.
Book any ride the day before. Race morning is no time to start sorting out logistics.
Final Thoughts on Chicago Marathon 2026
Chicago Marathon 2026 is a big day for the city, and the people who enjoy it most tend to have planned the dull parts in advance. Whether you’re running 26.2 miles or standing on the curb with a sign, the day goes a lot smoother when you’ve sorted out the basics before race morning.
Start with the schedule. Know your wave, know when your corral closes, and get to Grant Park early. Then look at the route and the road closures, because streets around the course shut early and some stay closed well into the afternoon. If you’re cheering from the sidelines, pick your spots along the course ahead of time and choose a meeting point for after the race, since cell service gets shaky in a crowd this size.
Getting around is the piece that catches most people off guard. The CTA and Metra are the easiest options, and a pre-loaded fare saves you time at the station. If you’d rather ride, book early, agree on a drop-off point outside the closures, and book your ride with Chi Town Black Cars the day before. Then the race is the only thing left to think about.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the Chicago Marathon 2026?
It’s Sunday, October 11, 2026, the 48th running of the race. Both the start and the finish are in Grant Park.
What time does the Chicago Marathon 2026 start?
Things begin with the wheelchair race at 7:20 a.m. Professional runners head out at 7:30, then Wave 1 sets off at 7:35, Wave 2 at 8:00, and Wave 3 at 8:35.
Which roads are closed for the Chicago Marathon?
Most streets along the course shut down at 6 a.m., and many don’t reopen until about 4 p.m. See the official closure list for each street.
Can spectators go inside Grant Park?
Not at the start or finish areas. Spectators can enter Grant Park from 9:30 a.m. for the 27th Mile Post-Race Party and the runner reunite area.
What’s the best way to get downtown on race day?
Take the CTA or Metra. If you’d rather skip the trains, book a ride ahead of time and agree on a drop-off point outside the closures.