Here\u2019s what to know if you plan to participate, cheer on a runner \u2014 or just want to avoid traffic jams on race day.<\/p>\n
Start times
\n![\"Thousands](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/ctc-l-tess-marathon-2024-004_207522408.jpg\")
Thousands of runners head north on Columbus Avenue in Grant Park to start the Chicago Marathon on Oct. 13, 2024. (Tess Crowley\/Chicago Tribune)<\/p>\n
The start line is in Grant Park, which opens to runners<\/a> at 5:30 a.m. Sunday, at the intersection of Columbus Drive and Monroe Street. Before entering Grant Park, there will be security and bag screening. All participants must use the clear plastic event-issued bag; no backpacks or luggage will be permitted.<\/p>\n Race organizers recommend participants arrive in their corrals about 20 minutes before the close of the corral. Wave 1 start corrals close at 7:20 a.m., with Wave 2 corrals following at 7:45 and Wave 3 at 8:10.<\/p>\n The forecast Expect partly cloudy skies with a high of 68 degrees and winds of 5-10 mph. Sunrise will be at 6:59 a.m. Check the latest forecast here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Ideal race conditions:<\/strong> Temperatures between 40 and 50 degrees, low humidity, partly cloudy and dry.<\/p>\n The hottest:<\/strong> The high was 89 degrees on Oct. 7, 2007. For the first time in Chicago Marathon history, officials\u00a0cut the race short<\/a>\u00a0as hundreds of runners laboring across oven-like streets were treated for heat-related illnesses. The stoppage happened about 3\u00bd hours after the start amid complaints of insufficient water for the runners.<\/p>\n Vintage Chicago Tribune: Chicago Marathon \u2014 highs and lows from the race\u2019s 45-year history<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Of the 35,867 who started, 24,933 finished. More than 300 runners were taken from the course in ambulances. One runner, a Michigan police officer with a heart condition, died, although the Cook County medical examiner\u2019s office determined his death was not heat-related.<\/p>\n The coldest:<\/strong> The low temperature for the Oct. 30, 1988, race was\u00a021 degrees<\/a>.<\/p>\n The course<\/p>\n Chicago has one of the flattest \u2014 and hence fastest \u2014 marathons in the world. Six world records have been set here, but many runners compete in this race to qualify for others, such as the Boston Marathon.<\/p>\n Runners start and finish in Grant Park<\/a> but go as far north as Sheridan Road and as far south as 35th Street. Streets along the course will be closed for most of the morning and reopen on a rolling basis.\u00a0(Note: The route is subject to change.)<\/p>\n Records: <\/b>The course has been the site of three men\u2019s world records and four women\u2019s world records.<\/p>\n Time limit: <\/b>The course is open for 6 hours, 30 minutes. Registrants must be capable of completing the full distance \u2014 start line to finish line \u2014 within this time requirement (about 15 minutes per mile). Participant times that exceed the event time requirement will not be recognized as official.<\/p>\n Getting to the course Running? Watching someone run? Here\u2019s how to get there, including all the transit options.<\/p>\n Parking: <\/b>Runners and spectators can\u00a0reserve a parking spot<\/a>\u00a0in advance through Millennium Garages, ParkWhiz or SpotHero. There will be no parking along the course.<\/p>\n Chicago Transit Authority trains and buses: <\/strong>CTA will add service<\/a> on its Red, Blue, Brown and Green lines and earlier service on the Purple Line on race day. Some buses will be rerouted. See the CTA website<\/a>\u00a0for more information, including where to purchase passes in advance, race viewing areas near CTA stations and park-and-ride locations.<\/p>\n Metra: <\/b>It will run extra trains<\/a>\u00a0in addition to its regularly scheduled Sunday train service on the Metra Electric, Milwaukee District North and Union Pacific Northwest and West lines. Unlimited rides Sunday are available for $7.\u00a0See the Metra website<\/a>\u00a0for more information.<\/p>\n South Shore Line: <\/b>The route, which connects South Bend, Indiana, with Chicago, will operate extra service on race day. See the South Shore Line website<\/a>\u00a0for more information.<\/p>\n What Chicago residents should know No-parking zones along the course will be enforced beginning at\u00a01 a.m. Sunday<\/a>, which means any vehicles in those areas will be ticketed and towed. Street closures along the route will occur between 6 a.m. and 4 p.m. Sunday. The roads in Grant Park will be closed longer. City streets will reopen promptly as the final runners pass through (at a 15-minute mile pace).<\/p>\n Road closures: <\/strong>Roads on the course close at 6 a.m. and will begin reopening around 10 a.m.<\/a> after the final runners have passed through. In the Loop, plans are for the roads to reopen at 10 a.m. Lincoln Park roads are set to reopen around 12:30 p.m., Near West Side around 2:45 p.m., Pilsen around 3:15 p.m., Bronzeville around 4 p.m. and the entire course around 6 p.m. But as always, times are subject to change, so check first.<\/p>\n Grant Park:<\/strong> Roads inside Grant Park will close Thursday<\/a> and most will reopen by Sunday evening. All streets will reopen by 6 a.m. Monday.<\/p>\n Roads that will remain open<\/strong><\/p>\n To avoid delays:<\/strong> Consider using Jean Baptiste Point DuSable Lake Shore Drive and the expressways \u2014 including the Dan Ryan (I-90\/94), Kennedy (I-90\/94), Eisenhower (I-290) and Stevenson (I-55) \u2014 instead of local roads.<\/p>\n What spectators should know To avoid extra crowds, spectators aren\u2019t allowed to escort runners to the\u00a0start line\u00a0or greet runners at the finish line. Organizers recommend spectators support runners from various spots on the course and meet up with runners after the race in designated areas within Grant Park.<\/p>\n Finish line:<\/strong> The closest spot to view runners at the finish line is the Bank of America Cheer Zone at Mile 26, Michigan Avenue and Roosevelt Road.<\/p>\n Reunite with a runner:<\/strong> The 27th Mile Post-Race Party and\u00a0Runner Reunite area of Grant Park<\/a>\u00a0will open to spectators at 9:30 a.m. To access this area, spectators must pass through security and bag screening at Jackson Drive and Michigan Avenue or Ida B. Wells Drive and Michigan Avenue.<\/p>\n What participants should know Race participants will meet at the start line in Grant Park.<\/p>\n Packet pickup: <\/strong>These must be claimed by each participant at the Health & Fitness Expo at\u00a0McCormick Place, Lakeside Center<\/a>\u00a0on Thursday, Friday or Saturday. Bring photo identification to obtain a bib number, timing device, gear-check tag, participant shirt and bag. No one will be allowed to pick up these items on behalf of others. Items will not be available for pickup on race day.<\/p>\n Tracking: <\/b>Runners can sign up to track live results or download the\u00a0official mobile app<\/a>. Results also will be available at\u00a0chicagomarathon.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n
\n![\"Participants](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/CTC-L-Chicago-Marathon-streets-2-46_207682256.jpg\")
Participants run through Chinatown during the Chicago Marathon on Oct. 13, 2024. (Eileen T. Meslar\/Chicago Tribune)<\/p>\n![\"Amber](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/CTC-L-1014-MARATHON_QQQ_189462889.jpg\")
Amber Mercier, left, and Leslee Hewlett, both of Chicago, receive water as the runners head east on West Jackson Boulevard at the marathon on Oct. 7, 2007. The race was cut short due to heat-related stresses, and one person died during the event. (Jos\u00e9 M. Osorio\/Chicago Tribune)<\/p>\n\n
![\"Alejandro](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/CTC-L-CTHIST-Chicago-Marathon-009_229046203.jpg\")
Alejandro Cruz (54) leads the field as the runners go past Soldier Field on South Lake Shore Drive during the Chicago Marathon on Oct. 30, 1988. (John Dziekan \/Chicago Tribune)<\/p>\n![\"Kelvin](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/1760107214_698_CTC-L-CT-marathon-19_182087625.jpg\")
Kelvin Kiptum celebrates his Chicago Marathon world record victory, 2:00:35, in Chicago\u2019s Grant Park on Oct. 8, 2023. (Eileen T. Meslar\/Chicago Tribune)<\/p>\n\n
\n![\"Janette](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/CTC-L-Chicago-Marathon-streets-2-30_207679122.jpg\")
Janette Matza, left, and Kathryn Fahey wait for a train at the Jackson CTA station to go cheer on their friend in the Chicago Marathon on Oct. 13, 2024. (Eileen T. Meslar\/Chicago Tribune)<\/p>\n
\n![\"Runners](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/CTC-L-Chicago-Marathon-streets-02_207556460.jpg\")
Runners cross the State Street Bridge downtown in the first miles of the Chicago Marathon on Oct. 13, 2024. (Brian Cassella\/Chicago Tribune)<\/p>\n\n
\n![\"People](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/CTC-L-Chicago-Marathon-streets-31_207557812.jpg\")
People cheer as runners cross the LaSalle Street Bridge during the Chicago Marathon on Oct. 13, 2024, through the Loop. (Brian Cassella\/Chicago Tribune)<\/p>\n
\n![\"Ashley](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/CTC-L-Chicago-Marathon-streets-2-34_207679218.jpg\")
Ashley Golen stops to hug her sons Max, 5, and Charlie, 3, as she runs on Halsted Street in Greektown during the Chicago Marathon on Oct. 13, 2024. (Eileen T. Meslar\/Chicago Tribune)<\/p>\n\n