The Philadelphia Marathon returns this weekend for its 32nd year, bringing an expected 37,000 runners for races and events from Friday to Saturday.
That would be a record number of runners participating across its three main races that will travel through Center City, Old City, University City, Mantua and Fairmount Park.
Though the total number of registrants is the same as last year, which was a record, organizers anticipate more people “toeing the start line” and subsequently crossing the finish line this weekend, thanks to the addition of a waitlist. In previous years, roughly 14% of registrants defer or drop out before race day.
“This is the highest number we’ve had a week out from the race,” said Kathleen Titus, race director for the Philadelphia Marathon. “So we feel really confident that, come race weekend, we will have over 2,000 more finishers than we’ve had in the past.”
The runner breakdown is as follows:
- 17,000 participants running the full marathon
- 15,000 running the half marathon
- 5,000 doing the 8K
If you hoped to join in, sorry — it’s too late to sign up for most events at this point.
Here’s the rundown of what races are scheduled, what other events are happening for runners and spectators, where you can cheer people on, and what the road closures will look like.
The races and events
There are four races over the course of the weekend: the Dietz & Watson-sponsored half marathon and the Rothman Orthopedics 8K on Saturday, then the AACR Philadelphia Marathon and Nemours Children’s Run on Sunday.
Titus said that three elite runners will be participating in the half marathon: Jared Ward, who finished sixth at the 2016 Rio Olympics marathon, runner and “Good for a Girl” author Lauren Fleshman, and Dakotah Popehn, who was the top American finisher at the 2024 Paris Olympics marathon.
Saturday
- The half marathon starts at 6:55 a.m. for those who use push rim wheelchairs, followed by the running athletes at 7 a.m. The start line is at 22nd Street and the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, east of Eakins Oval.
- The 8K begins at 10:55 a.m. with the push rim wheelchair athletes, followed at 11 a.m. by the running athletes. It starts in front of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, near the Rocky Statue.
Sunday
- The full marathon starts at 6:55 a.m. with those who use push rim wheelchairs, followed by the running athletes at 7 a.m. The start line is at 22nd Street and the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, east of Eakins Oval.
- Registration for the Children’s Run starts at 8 a.m. and the race begins at 10 a.m. It starts at Eakins Oval.
You can keep up with all the race happenings through the event’s phone app, where you can also track the runner you’re supporting and send them messages of encouragement as they run. Folks can also sign up for free emergency alerts by texting RunPHL to 888-777, following @PhilaOEM on X, formerly Twitter, or by visiting www.phila.gov/ready.
All three races finish back at Eakins Oval on Kelly Drive, near Spring Garden Street. The finish will be open for seven hours for the full marathon, 3½ hours for the half marathon and 80 minutes for the 8K.
Other events throughout the weekend include:
- The free Health and Fitness Expo at the Pennsylvania Convention Center, where runners will pick up their bibs and race packets. It’s open from noon to 9 p.m. Friday and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m Saturday.
- The Nemours Children’s Fun Zone, which will have family-friendly activities like face painting, a rock-climbing wall and a bounce zone, at the same time and place as the Expo, though only from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday.
Both the half and full marathon sold out back in August, but there are still spots left for the Children’s Run — on-site registration can be done at the Expo or at the Fun Zone.
SEPTA has posted details on its route detours for Saturday’s half marathon and Sunday’s marathon, as well as the best ways to get to the race. You can check for the latest alerts here before you head out. The following bus routes will see detours starting 6 a.m. Saturday until Sunday:
- Routes K-12: 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 12
- Routes 16-31: 16, 17, 21, 23, 25, 27, 30, 31
- Routes 32-47: 32, 33, 38, 40, 42, 43, 44, 45, 47
- Routes 47M-125: 47M, 48, 49, 57, 64, 124/125
The marathon’s website also has travel information, including for the hotel shuttle service on race days.
When and where to cheer on runners
This year, the race is only permitting pre-approved cheer zones to be set up along the race routes, to “ensure all cheer locations are coordinated, safe, and compliant with city regulations.” Titus said the race isn’t accepting any more applications for cheer zones for this year’s race.
The races are, of course, welcome for all to come and offer support along the routes. Runsignup has recommended the following spots for the public to see the runners for the half and full marathons, and the best times to be there. There will be two viewing areas near the finish line, but spectators will not be allowed into the secure running area until 8 a.m. on both Saturday and Sunday.
For the half marathon:
- Start Line: Benjamin Franklin Parkway (5 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.)
- Miles 0.8 and 2.9: 16th and Arch streets at Café Cret (7:25 to 8:45 a.m.)
- Mile 1.8: 6th and Market streets (7:30 to 8:30 a.m.)
- Mile 2.6: 15th and Market streets, on the northwest corner (7:30 to 8:30 a.m.)
- Mile 3.1: Eakins Oval, on the riverside (7:45 to 9:10 a.m.)
- Mile 5.1: Sweetbriar and Martin Luther King Drive (7:45 to 9:15 a.m.)
- Mile 6.8: Martin Luther King Drive and Black Road (7:50 to 10 a.m.)
- Mile 7.8: Ford Road and Chamounix Drive (8 to 10:15 a.m.)
- Mile 9.1: Strawberry Mansion and Huntington drives (8:10 to 10:30 a.m.)
- Mile 10.3: Diamond and Reservoir drives (8:15 to 10:45 a.m.)
- Mile 12: Brewery Hill and Kelly drives, entering from Girard Avenue (8:20 to 11:10 a.m.)
- Mile 12.6: Kelly and Sedgley drives, at Lloyd Hall (8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.)
- Mile 13.1: The finish line at Kelly Drive near Spring Garden Street
For the full marathon:
- Start Line: Benjamin Franklin Parkway (5 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.)
- Mile 1: 16th and Arch streets at Café Cret (6:55 to 7:40 a.m.)
- Mile 1.5: 10th and Arch streets at Friendship Gate in Chinatown (7 to 7:55 a.m.)
- Mile 2.2: Columbus Boulevard at Race Street near Fringe Arts (7 to 8 a.m.)
- Mile 3.8: Washington Avenue between Columbus Boulevard and Front Street (7 to 8:30 a.m.)
- Mile 4.5: 2nd and South streets at Bridget Foy’s (7:05 to 8:30 a.m.)
- Mile 5.1: 6th and Walnut streets (7:05 to 8:40 a.m.)
- Mile 6: Broad and Chestnut streets (7:10 to 9 a.m.)
- Mile 6.5: 21st and Chestnut streets at Caffeination (7:10 to 9 a.m.)
- Mile 7: Chestnut Square at 32nd and Chestnut streets (7:10 to 9:19 a.m.)
- Mile 7.5: 34th and Chestnut streets at Domus (7:10 to 9:15 a.m.)
- Mile 8: 34th Street and Fairmount Avenue (7:15 to 9:30 a.m.)
- Mile 8.3: 34th Street and Girard Avenue at the Philadelphia Zoo (7:15 to 9:30 a.m.)
- Mile 10: The Please Touch Museum at West Memorial Drive and Avenue of the Republic (7:15 to 9:45 a.m.)
- Mile 10.8: States Drive and Belmont Avenue (7:18 to 9:55 a.m.)
- Mile 11.9: Martin Luther King Drive and Black Road (7:20 to 10 a.m.)
- Miles 14.3 and 25.7: Sedgley Avenue and Kelly Drive (7:25 a.m. to 2 p.m.)
- Miles 14.7 and 24.6: Kelly and Fountain Green drives (7:30 a.m. to 1:45 p.m.)
- Miles 17.2 and 22.9: Hunting Park and Kelly Drive at Laurel Hill Cemetery (7:35 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.)
- Miles 17.7 and 22.4: Kelly Drive and Ferry Street (7:35 a.m. to 1:15 p.m.)
- Miles 18.3 and 21.9: Ridge Avenue and Kelly Drive, near the I-76 off ramp (7:40 a.m. to 1:15 p.m.)
- Miles 18.9 and 21.1: Main Street and Ridge Avenue (7:40 a.m. to 1 p.m.)
- Miles 19.8 and 20.2: Main and Cotton Streets at Winnie‘s LeBus (7:40 a.m. to 12:40 p.m.)
- Mile 20: Main and Carson streets (7:45 a.m. to 12:40 p.m.)
- Mile 26.2: Finish Line, Kelly Drive near Spring Garden Street
Road closures
- The Ben Franklin Parkway will be closed in both directions Friday to Sunday.
- The outbound lanes will be opened after 2:45 p.m. for afternoon rush hour, along with the inbound lanes from 22nd Street to Logan Circle.
- After evening rush hour, all inner lanes will be closed again from Binswanger Triangle to 20th Street, with cross traffic allowed on 22nd and 21st streets.
- The I-676 off-ramp at 22nd Street, westbound, will be closed on Saturday and Sunday at 4 a.m. for event security preparation. Ramps at 15th and Broad streets may also close if needed.
- The eastbound I-76 at Spring Garden Street will be closed at 4 a.m. No traffic will be permitted into Center City, though traffic for the Art Museum and the Art Museum garage is allowed on Saturday and Sunday.
- Winter Street at 23rd Street, just off eastbound I-676, will be closed at 2 a.m.
- Westbound I-76 at Girard Avenue (Exit #342) will be closed beginning at 6 a.m.
- Starting from 1 a.m. on both Saturday and Sunday, vehicles along the race route will be moved and the city’s “No Parking” regulations will be strictly enforced.
Saturday’s road closures
These streets will remain closed all day till around 5 p.m. Sunday:
- All lanes of Benjamin Franklin between 22nd Street and Eakins Oval.
- Kelly Drive inbound closed at 25th Street, with local traffic permitted to Anne d’Harnoncourt Drive.
- Inbound traffic on Spring Garden Street Bridge and MLK Drive detoured onto 24th Street.
- Spring Garden Street closed between Benjamin Franklin Parkway and Pennsylvania Avenue.
2 a.m. closures
- 2000-2400 for the inner drives of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway
- Spring Garden Street, from Pennsylvania Avenue to Benjamin Franklin Parkway
- 23rd Street, from Pennsylvania Avenue to Benjamin Franklin Parkway
- 22nd Street, from Winter Street to Park Towne Place (with local access to Park Towne Place)
- 21st Street, from Pennsylvania Avenue to Winter Street
4 a.m.
- I-676 off-ramp at 22nd Street, westbound
- Eastbound I-76 at Spring Garden Street
6 a.m.
- 17th Street, from Arch Street to Vine Street
- 18th Street, from Arch Street to Callowhill Street
- 19th Street, from Arch Street to Callowhill Street
- 20th Street, from Arch Street to Callowhill Street
- 21st Street, from Arch Street to Spring Garden Street
- 22nd Street, from Arch Street to Spring Garden Street
- Benjamin Franklin Parkway, from 16th Street to 20th Street
- Market Street, from 6th Street to 16th Street
- Chestnut Street, from 5th Street to 8th Street
- 6th Street, from Market Street to Chestnut Street
- 5th Street, from Chestnut Street to Race Street
- South Penn Square
- Juniper Street, from Chestnut Street to Market Street
- John F. Kennedy Boulevard, from Juniper Street to 17th Street
- 15th Street, from Race Street to Chestnut Street
- 16th Street, from Chestnut Street to Race Street
- Race Street, from 6th Street to Columbus Boulevard
- Columbus Boulevard’s southbound lanes, from Callowhill Street to Washington Avenue
- Columbus Boulevard’s northbound lanes, from Washington Avenue to Callowhill Street
- The Southbound off-ramp of I-95 at Washington Avenue
- Washington Avenue, from Columbus Boulevard to Front Street
- Front Street, from Washington Avenue to South Street
- South Street, from Front Street to 7th Street
- 6th Street, from Bainbridge Street to Locust Street
- Lombard Street, from 5th Street to Broad Street
- 13th Street, from Bainbridge Street to Chestnut Street
- Walnut Street, from 12th Street to 34th Street
- 33rd Street, from Walnut Street to Spring Garden Street
- 34th Street, from Walnut Street to Girard Avenue
- Spring Garden Street, from 32nd Street to 34th Street
- Girard Avenue, 33rd Street to 38th Street
- 33rd Street, from Girard Avenue to Cecil B. Moore Avenue
- Reservoir Drive, from 33rd Street to Diamond Drive
- Mt. Pleasant Drive
- Fountain Green Drive
- Kelly Drive
Many Center City roads will open as the race winds down and they are serviced and cleared, with all streets, except for Eakins Oval, scheduled to be reopened by 2 p.m.
Sunday’s road closures
Sunday will see the same parking restrictions as the previous day, plus the following road closures:
2 a.m.
- The 2000-2400 inner drives of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway
- Spring Garden Street, from Pennsylvania Avenue to Benjamin Franklin Parkway
- 23rd Street, from Pennsylvania Avenue to Benjamin Franklin Parkway
- 22nd Street, from Winter Street to Park Towne Place (with local access to Park Towne Place)
- 21st Street, from Pennsylvania Avenue to Winter Street
4 a.m.
- The I-676 off-ramp at 22nd Street, westbound
- Eastbound I-76 at Spring Garden Street
6 a.m.
- 17th Street, from Arch Street to Vine Street
- 18th Street, from Arch Street to Callowhill Street
- 19th Street, from Arch Street to Callowhill Street
- 20th Street, from Arch Street to Callowhill Street
- 21st Street, from Arch Street to Spring Garden Street
- 22nd Street, from Arch Street to Spring Garden Street
- Benjamin Franklin Parkway, from 16th Street to 20th Street
- Arch Street, between 3rd Street and 16th Street
- 4th Street, between Arch Street and Vine Street
- Race Street, from 6th Street to Columbus Boulevard
- Columbus Boulevard’s southbound lanes, from Vine Street to Washington Avenue
- Columbus Boulevard’s northbound lanes, from Washington Avenue to Callowhill Street
- Southbound off-ramp, from I-95 at Washington Avenue
- Washington Avenue, from Columbus Boulevard to Front Street
- Front Street, from Washington Avenue to South Street
- South Street, from Front Street to 7th Street
- 6th Street, from Bainbridge Street to Market Street
- Chestnut Street, from 6th Street to 15th Street
- 15th Street from Chestnut Street to Walnut Street
- Walnut Street from Broad Street to 34th Street
- Chestnut Street, from 33rd Street to 34th Street
- 34th Street, from Walnut Street to Girard Avenue
- Girard Avenue, 33rd Street to 38th Street
- Lansdowne Drive, from Girard Avenue to South Concourse Drive
- South Concourse Drive, from Lansdowne to West Memorial Hall Drive
- East Memorial Hall Drive, from South Concourse to Avenue of the Republic
- Avenue of the Republic, from East Memorial Hall Drive to Catholic Fountain
- Belmont Avenue, Montgomery to Parkside Avenue
- States Drive to Lansdowne Drive
- Lansdowne Drive to Girard Avenue
- Girard Avenue Bridge, from Lansdowne Drive to 33rd Street
- 33rd Street, from Girard Avenue to Reservoir Drive
- Reservoir Drive, from 33rd Street to Edgley Drive
- Edgley Drive, from Reservoir Drive to Fountain Green Drive
- Fountain Green Drive, from Edgley Drive to Kelly Drive
- Kelly Drive
- The Falls Bridge
- Ridge Avenue, from Schoolhouse Lane to Manayunk Avenue
- Main Street, from Ridge Avenue to Conarroe Street
