The 2024 Bank of America Chicago Marathon is less than a month away, and runners around the world are preparing to take part in one of the world’s biggest races on October 13.
As competitors and spectators prepare for one of Chicago’s premier events, many others may be wondering when the events will begin this October Sunday.
As preparations get underway for the 46th Chicago Marathon, here’s what you need to know about the day’s schedule and how it will impact traffic in the city.
What time is the Chicago Marathon?
Here’s a look at race day’s start times:
Wheelchair Marathon (men) start: 7:20 a.m.
Wheelchair marathon start (women): 7:21 a.m.
Handcycle marathon start: 7:23 a.m.
Start of the first wave of the marathon: 7:30 a.m.
Start of wave 2 of the marathon: 8:00 a.m.
Start of wave 3 of the marathon: 8:35 a.m.
Spectator access to Grant Park begins at 9:30 a.m.
Where is the starting line?
The starting line is located in Grant Park at the intersection of Columbus Drive and Monroe Street.
What is the route of the 2024 marathon?
See the full itinerary here and check out a preview of what it will look like below.
Discover the route of the 2024 Bank of America Chicago Marathon.
Street closures
The historic number of runners plying the city’s streets will also lead to a number of closures in the area.
Here is a complete list:
Pre-race closures
| Street Description | Early closure | Opening planned | ||
| Balbo Dr.: Columbus Dr. to DuSable Lake Shore Dr. | 09/30/24 | 10:00 a.m. | 10/16/24 | 6:00 a.m. |
| Jackson Dr.: Columbus Dr. to DuSable Lake Shore Dr. | 09/10/24 | 10:00 a.m. | 10/14/24 | 6:00 a.m. |
| Balbo Dr.: Michigan Ave. at Columbus Dr. | 10/10/24 | 4:00 in the morning | 10/14/24 | 3:00 p.m. |
| Columbus Dr.: Ida B. Wells Dr. to Balbo Dr. | 10/10/24 | 4:00 in the morning | 10/14/24 | 3:00 p.m. |
| Columbus Dr.: Balbo Dr. to Roosevelt Rd. | 10/10/24 | 4:00 in the morning | 10/14/24 | 3:00 p.m. |
| Columbus Dr.: Monroe St. to Jackson Dr. | 11/10/24 | 4:00 in the morning | 10/13/24 | 8:00 p.m. |
| Columbus Dr.: Jackson Dr. to Ida B. Wells Dr. | 11/10/24 | 4:00 am | 10/13/24 | 8:00 p.m. |
| Congress Plaza Dr.: Michigan Ave. (Van Buren St. to Harrison St.) | 11/10/24 | 4:00 am | 10/13/24 | 8:00 p.m. |
| Jackson Dr.: Michigan Ave. at Columbus Dr. | 11/10/24 | 4:00 in the morning | 10/13/24 | 8:00 p.m. |
| Columbus Dr.: Randolph St. to Monroe St. | 12/10/24 | 6:00 a.m. | 10/13/24 | 2:00 p.m. |
| Roosevelt Rd.: Columbus Dr. to DuSable Lake Shore Dr. | 12/10/24 | 11:00 a.m. | 10/13/24 | 6:00 p.m. |
| Monroe St.: Michigan Ave. to Columbus Dr. | 12/10/24 | 12:00 p.m. | 10/13/24 | 2:00 p.m. |
| Monroe Street: Columbus Dr. to DuSable Lake Shore Dr. | 12/10/24 | 12:00 p.m. | 10/13/24 | 3:00 p.m. |
Marathon Day Closures
| Mile | Description | Early closure | Opening planned | ||
| 1 | Columbus Dr.: Departure to Grand Ave. | 10/13/24 | 7:00 a.m. | 10/13/24 | 10:00 a.m. |
| 1 | Grand Ave.: from Columbus Dr. to State St. | 10/13/24 | 7:00 a.m. | 10/13/24 | 10:00 a.m. |
| 2 | State St.: Grand Ave. at Jackson Blvd. | 10/13/24 | 7:00 a.m. | 10/13/24 | 10:30 a.m. |
| 3 | Jackson Blvd. : from State St. to LaSalle St. | 10/13/24 | 7:00 a.m. | 10/13/24 | 10:30 a.m. |
| 3/4/5 | LaSalle Street: from Jackson Boulevard to Stockton Drive. | 10/13/24 | 7:00 a.m. | 10/13/24 | 11:30 a.m. |
| 6 | Stockton Dr.: From LaSalle Dr. to Fullerton Dr. | 10/13/24 | 7:00 a.m. | 10/13/24 | 11:45 |
| 6 | Fullerton Dr.: From Stockton Dr. to Cannon Dr. | 10/13/24 | 7:00 a.m. | 10/13/24 | 11:45 |
| 7 | Cannon Dr.: Fullerton Dr. to Sheridan Rd. | 10/13/24 | 7:00 a.m. | 10/13/24 | 11:45 |
| 7 | Sheridan Rd.: from Diversey Pkwy. to Belmont Ave. | 10/13/24 | 7:00 a.m. | 10/13/24 | 11:45 |
| 8 | Inner Lakeshore Dr.: Belmont Ave. to Sheridan Rd. | 10/13/24 | 7:00 a.m. | 10/13/24 | 12:00 p.m. |
| 8 | Sheridan Rd.: from Inner Lakeshore Dr. to Broadway | 10/13/24 | 7:00 a.m. | 10/13/24 | 12:00 p.m. |
| 9 | Broadway: Sheridan Rd. to Briar Pl. | 10/13/24 | 7:00 a.m. | 10/13/24 | 12:15 p.m. |
| 10 | Broadway: Briar Pl. to Diversey Pkwy. | 10/13/24 | 7:00 a.m. | 10/13/24 | 12:30 p.m. |
| 10 | Clark Street: Diversey Pkwy. to Fullerton Pkwy. | 10/13/24 | 7:00 a.m. | 10/13/24 | 12:30 p.m. |
| 11 | Clark Street: Fullerton Pkwy. to Webster Ave. | 10/13/24 | 7:00 a.m. | 10/13/24 | 12:45 p.m. |
| 11 | Webster Avenue: from Clark Street to Sedgwick Street. | 10/13/24 | 7:00 a.m. | 10/13/24 | 12:45 p.m. |
| 11 | Sedgwick Street: Webster Avenue to North Avenue. | 10/13/24 | 7:00 a.m. | 10/13/24 | 1:00 p.m. |
| 12 | North Avenue: from Sedgwick Street to Wells Street. | 10/13/24 | 7:00 a.m. | 10/13/24 | 1:00 p.m. |
| 12 | Wells St.: North Ave. in Walton St. | 10/13/24 | 7:00 a.m. | 10/13/24 | 1:00 p.m. |
| 13 | Wells Street: Walton Street to Wacker Drive. | 10/13/24 | 7:00 a.m. | 10/13/24 | 1:15 p.m. |
| 13 | Wacker Dr.: Wells St. to Adams St. | 10/13/24 | 7:00 a.m. | 10/13/24 | 1:15 p.m. |
| 14/15 | Adams Street: from Wacker Dr. to Damen Ave. | 10/13/24 | 7:00 a.m. | 10/13/24 | 1:45 p.m. |
| 15 | Damen Ave.: Adams Street to Jackson Boulevard. | 10/13/24 | 7:00 a.m. | 10/13/24 | 1:45 p.m. |
| 15/16/17 | Jackson Blvd.: Damen Ave. to Halsted St. | 10/13/24 | 7:00 a.m. | 10/13/24 | 2:15 p.m. |
| 18 | Halsted St.: Jackson Blvd. at Taylor St. | 10/13/24 | 7:00 a.m. | 10/13/24 | 2:30 p.m. |
| 18/19 | Taylor Street: Halsted Street to Loomis Street | 10/13/24 | 7:00 a.m. | 10/13/24 | 2:45 p.m. |
| 19/20 | Loomis Street: Taylor Street to 18th Street. | 10/13/24 | 7:00 a.m. | 10/13/24 | 2:45 p.m. |
| 20 | 18th Street: Loomis Street to Halsted Street. | 10/13/24 | 7:00 a.m. | 10/13/24 | 3:00 p.m. |
| 20 | Halsted St.: 18th to 21st Street. | 10/13/24 | 7:00 a.m. | 10/13/24 | 3:15 p.m. |
| 20/21 | 21st Street: Halsted to Canalport Ave. | 10/13/24 | 7:00 a.m. | 10/13/24 | 3:15 p.m. |
| 20/21 | Canalport Ave.: 21st St. to Cermak Rd. | 10/13/24 | 7:00 a.m. | 10/13/24 | 3:15 p.m. |
| 21 | Cermak Rd.: Canalport Ave. at Wentworth Ave. | 10/13/24 | 7:00 a.m. | 10/13/24 | 3:30 p.m. |
| 22/23 | Wentworth Avenue: Cermak Rd. to 26th St. | 10/13/24 | 7:00 a.m. | 10/13/24 | 3:45 p.m. |
| 23/24 | 26th Street: Wentworth Ave. to Michigan Ave. | 10/13/24 | 7:00 a.m. | 10/13/24 | 3:45 p.m. |
| 24 | Michigan Avenue: 26th to 35th Street. | 10/13/24 | 7:00 a.m. | 10/13/24 | 4:00 p.m. |
| 24 | 35th Street: Michigan Ave. to Indiana Ave. | 10/13/24 | 7:00 a.m. | 10/13/24 | 4:00 p.m. |
| 24 | Indiana Ave.: 35th to 31st Street. | 10/13/24 | 7:00 a.m. | 10/13/24 | 4:00 p.m. |
| 25 | 31st Street: Indiana Ave. to Michigan Ave. | 10/13/24 | 7:00 a.m. | 10/13/24 | 4:15 p.m. |
| 25/26 | Michigan Ave.: 31st St. to Roosevelt Rd. | 10/13/24 | 7:00 a.m. | 10/13/24 | 4:30 p.m. |
| 26 | Roosevelt Rd.: Michigan Ave. at Columbus Dr. | 10/13/24 | 7:00 a.m. | 10/13/24 | 6:00 p.m. |
