Chicago Marathon Road Closures for Cyclists: Where You Can Ride
How the Chicago Marathon closes streets and what cyclists can ride: the 2026 course schedule, open crossings, bike valets, and the ban on bikes on the course.
In the 2026 edition, course streets closed to traffic from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, October 11, and bicycles were prohibited on the course. Grant Park streets closed from September 24. DuSable Lake Shore Drive stayed open. The organizer posts 2027 closure details in September 2027.1,2
- At a glance
- 2026 race day
- Sunday, October 111
- Course closed
- 6 a.m. to 4 p.m.1
- No-parking enforcement
- From 1 a.m.1
- Bikes on the course
- Prohibited2
- Free bike valet
- 4 a.m. to 4 p.m.3
- Next closure details
- September 20271
Prices from Bank of America Chicago Marathon (Chicago Event Management), checked 2026-10-19.
On this page
The Chicago Marathon turns the Loop and a ring of neighborhoods into a footrace for most of a Sunday. A cyclist cannot ride the course, but can ride around it and park near the finish. This page covers the 2026 edition, run on Sunday, October 11, so you can plan any future race weekend from the same pattern.1
The 2026 closure schedule
Course streets closed to traffic from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m.1 Streets not directly on the course in those areas could also be affected.1 The Chicago Police Department closed and reopened streets, and the organizer asked everyone to follow police instructions and never try to block the course.1
Streets reopen as the final runners pass, at a 15-minute mile pace.1 No-parking zones along the course were enforced from 1 a.m. on race day, with towing for vehicles left behind.1
The City reminded the public in 2025 that the race crosses 29 neighborhoods, so plan for delays and expect detours.4
Closures begin before race day
Grant Park street and park closures started on Thursday, September 24.1 The first closed stretch, Balbo Drive from Columbus Drive to DuSable Lake Shore Drive, ran from September 24 to October 16.1 Jackson Drive between Michigan Avenue and Columbus Drive closed on October 8 and reopened on October 11 at 8 p.m.1 Columbus Drive between Ida B. Wells Drive and Roosevelt Road stayed closed until Monday, October 12 at 3 p.m.1
Closures may change if the City deems it necessary.1
When the course streets reopen
The organizer published an opening time for each stretch in 2026.1 Examples:
| Course stretch | Mile | Opened |
|---|---|---|
| Columbus Drive, start to Grand Avenue | 1 | 10:30 a.m.1 |
| Stockton Drive, LaSalle Drive to Fullerton Drive | 6 | 12:00 p.m.1 |
| Clark Street, Fullerton Parkway to Webster Avenue | 11 | 1:00 p.m.1 |
| North Avenue, Sedgwick Street to Wells Street | 12 | 1:30 p.m.1 |
Michigan Avenue between Madison Street and Balbo Drive closed from 4 a.m. to 4 p.m.1 The Loop reopened to traffic by 9 a.m., with public transportation recommended.1
What stayed open for riding
Several main routes stayed open in 2026.1
- DuSable Lake Shore Drive, northbound and southbound.1
- Michigan Avenue north of 11th Street, including access to the Magnificent Mile.1
- Milwaukee Avenue.1
- Archer Avenue south of Cermak Road.1
Clark Street ran two-way between Lake Street and Adams Street from about 6 a.m. to noon, a change to help drivers leave the Loop.1
Bikes on the course
Do not ride the course. Bicycles, strollers, skateboards, rollerblades and motorized devices are all prohibited.2 Only registered and authorized wheelchair, handcycle and duo team participants may use wheeled devices on the course.2 Participants who fall behind the 15-minute-per-mile pace must move to the sidewalk as streets reopen.2
Bike parking and valet
The organizer asks participants and spectators to use public transportation race weekend.3 If you ride, use a valet.
- World Bicycle Relief ran a free bike valet at Michigan Avenue and Van Buren Street.3
- Bikes could be stored from 4 a.m. and had to be picked up by 4 p.m.3
- Bring a lock in case the valet reaches capacity.3
- Divvy ran a valet for Divvy bikes only at Michigan Avenue and Jackson Boulevard.3
For other events, see bike valet at Chicago festivals.
Divvy on race weekend
Event attendees could rent a bike or scooter from docking stations around Chicago.3 The City’s rule for the lakefront east of DuSable Lake Shore Drive between Fullerton Parkway and Grand Avenue is that riders must end trips at Divvy stations, overflow corrals next to stations, or designated bike racks.5 Park inside those zones, not on the path.
The City advised drivers and riders in 2025 to allow extra time, expect delays and consider alternate routes.4
Race weekend extras
The Abbott Chicago 5K ran downtown on Saturday, October 10, 2026, with its own street closures.1 Metra offered a $7 Saturday or Sunday Day Pass for unlimited rides.3
The organizer will update street closures for the 2027 race in September 2027.1 Check the course closures page then. For other dates on the calendar, start at the Events hub and the Chicago bike events calendar.
Read next
Bike Valet at Chicago Festivals: Lollapalooza and Bike the Drive
Free bike valet at Chicago festivals: where Lollapalooza's valet stood in 2026, what Bike the Drive offers, and where bikes are not allowed inside.
eventsChicago Cycling Events Calendar: Rides, Races and Bike Month
Chicago cycling events by season: Bike Month, Bike the Drive, Chicago Grit, cyclocross and monthly Critical Mass, with the next confirmed dates.
rentalsDivvy Stations Downtown: Millennium Park, the Loop and Navy Pier
Where the Divvy stations are around Millennium Park and the Loop, their dock capacity, where to return a bike, and what the city is changing downtown.
Questions people ask
What roads are closed for the Chicago Marathon?
The course streets, from Columbus Drive through the North Side, the West Side and the South Side and back to Columbus Drive. In 2026 they closed at 6 a.m. on October 11 and reopened in stages through the afternoon. Grant Park closures began September 24.1
Can I ride my bike on the marathon course?
No. Wheeled devices are barred from the course except registered and authorized wheelchair, handcycle and duo team participants. Bicycles are on the prohibited list.2
Is there bike parking at the marathon?
Yes. World Bicycle Relief ran a free bike valet at Michigan Avenue and Van Buren Street, open from 4 a.m. to 4 p.m. Divvy ran a valet for Divvy bikes only at Michigan Avenue and Jackson Boulevard.3
Does DuSable Lake Shore Drive close for the marathon?
No. In 2026 the northbound and southbound lanes of DuSable Lake Shore Drive remained open.1
When do the streets reopen?
As the final runners pass, at a 15-minute mile pace, with the Loop open to traffic by 9 a.m. In 2026 the scheduled openings on the course ran from 10:30 a.m. at the start to the afternoon on the south side.1
Sources
- Street Closures, Bank of America Chicago Marathon (2026 edition)OPERATOR
Bank of America Chicago Marathon (Chicago Event Management) · chicagomarathon.com · checked 2026-10-19 - Course, Bank of America Chicago MarathonOPERATOR
Bank of America Chicago Marathon (Chicago Event Management) · chicagomarathon.com · checked 2026-10-19 - Transportation & Parking, Bank of America Chicago MarathonOPERATOR
Bank of America Chicago Marathon (Chicago Event Management) · chicagomarathon.com · checked 2026-10-19 - The City of Chicago and Race Organizers Prepare for the Bank of America Chicago Marathon (2025 edition)GOV
City of Chicago, Office of Emergency Management and Communications · chicago.gov · checked 2026-10-19 - Mayor Johnson, CDOT, and Lyft Announce New Divvy Stations and Service Improvements Along Chicago's LakefrontGOV
City of Chicago, CDOT · chicago.gov · checked 2026-10-19
Photo credits (1)
- Benjamin Lipsman / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0 · source
Laws are quoted from Illinois statute and the Chicago Municipal Code; prices from each operator on the date shown. Editorial policy · Corrections.