Philadelphia Marathon Weekend: Road closures, parking, transportation, and more
The Philadelphia Marathon returns this weekend. Here is everything you need to know to attend or avoid the race.
![While races are set to start as early as 7 a.m., you can expect road closures to begin at 2 a.m.](https://www.inquirer.com/resizer/iV5Ff-yhpzhLy6GP9AHrPmJ0U14=/760x507/smart/filters:format(webp)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/pmn/XW6VMOWHSVCKZG42GORIXHD5NQ.jpg)
The Philadelphia Marathon returns this weekend, bringing runners from all over to race through the city’s streets. That’s great news if you’re a runner, and bad news if you plan to drive through the city.
The three-day event will be held rain or shine, from Friday, Nov.18 to Sunday, Nov. 20. Masks and vaccines are recommended for participants, but not required.
While races are set to start as early as 7 a.m. Saturday, you can expect closures to begin on Nov. 18 at 9:30 a.m. Here is what you should know about the 2022 Philadelphia Marathon, and what roads you might want to avoid:
🧑🏻🤝🧑🏾For spectators
If you are planning on watching the races in person, spectators won’t be admitted until 8 a.m. each day and must enter through the gates on Park Towne Place, Kelly Drive, or Spring Garden and Bridge.
❌ What you can’t bring
Weapons (regardless of permitting), fireworks, suitcases, bulky items larger than 12″x12″x6″, containers that can hold more than 1 liter of liquid, alcohol, illegal drugs, bicycles, scooters, any kind of face or head covering (except religious headwear and masks), drones, selfie sticks, large umbrellas, or pets (except for service animals).
Transportation to the races
🚌 Bus: Lines 7, 32, 38, 43, 48, and 49 can take you within a two-minute walk from the Philadelphia Museum of Art. But, due to the race, they will operate with detours. Check SEPTA’s system status for the latest schedules.
🚴♀️ Bicycle: The Parkway is within a 15-minute ride from many locations in Center City. If you rent an Indego bike, there are four stations to return it near the race. If you ride your own, there is a Bike Valet zone on the south side of Eakins Oval, at River Field on 24th Street.
Where to park
You won’t be able to park along Benjamin Franklin Parkway, but here are some alternative lots and garages nearby the start line:
SP+ Parking: 22nd and Walden Streets, or 222 N. 20th St.
Patriot Parking: 23rd and Cherry Streets (Closed on Sundays)
Logan Square Parking: 1815 Cherry Street
The Windsor Suites: 1700 Benjamin Franklin Parkway
Central Parking System: 23rd and Arch Streets, 1901 JFK Boulevard, 1815 JFK Boulevard, or 36 S. 19th St.
Road closures Friday, Nov. 18
Benjamin Franklin Parkway inner-drive lanes will close, in both directions, at 9:30 a.m. But, if you are there during rush hour, don’t worry. To accommodate traffic, lanes will re-open at 2:45 p.m.
Inner lanes from Binswanger Triangle to 22nd Street will remain closed until Sunday, Nov. 20 at 5:00 p.m.
Road closures Saturday, Nov. 19
Over twenty roads will be closed for the race route this weekend. If you are parked on any of these streets, make sure to move your car or the city will relocate it beginning at 2 a.m.
Closing times vary, but most streets are set to reopen by 2 p.m. Parts of 18th Street, the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, and the Logan Circle area will open as early as 11:30 a.m. Eakins Oval will be open to traffic by 5:00 p.m.
Closing at 2:00 a.m.
Benjamin Franklin Parkway, from the 2000 to 2400 block.
Spring Garden Street, from Pennsylvania Avenue to Benjamin Franklin Parkway
23rd Street, between Pennsylvania Avenue and Benjamin Franklin Parkway
22nd Street, from Winter Street to Park Towne Place
21st Street, between Pennsylvania Avenue and Winter Street
Closing at 4:00 a.m.
I-676 Westbound: Off-ramp at 22nd Street
I-76 Eastbound: Off-ramp at Spring Garden Street
Closing at 6:00 a.m.
17th Street, from Arch to Vine Streets
18th, 19th, and 20th Sreets, from Arch Street to Callowhill Street
21st and 22nd streets, from Arch Street to Spring Garden Street
Benjamin Franklin Parkway, from 16th Street to 20th Street
Market Street, from Sixth Street to 16th Street
Chestnut Street, from Fifth Street to Eighth Street
6th Street, from Market Street to Chestnut Street
Fifth 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 Sixth Street to Columbus Boulevard
The southbound lanes of Columbus Boulevard, from Vine Street to Washington Avenue
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 Seventh Street
Sixth Street, from Bainbridge Street to Locust Street
Lombard Street, from Fifth 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 Spring Garden Street to Girard Avenue
Spring Garden Street, from 32nd Street to 34th Street
Girard Ave., 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
Road closures Sunday, Nov. 20
Much like Saturday, “No Parking” regulations will continue to be enforced on Nov. 20. Move your car before 2 a.m. All streets are set to reopen by 2 p.m. Eakins Oval and Benjamin Franklin Parkway will be fully open by 5:00 p.m.
Roads closed at 2 a.m. and 4 a.m. on Nov. 19th, will also be closed on Sunday, but at 6 a.m. closures will change:
Closing at 6:00 a.m.
17th Street, from Arch Street to Vine Street
18th, 19th, and 20th Streets, from Arch Street to Callowhill Street
21st and 22nd Streets, from Arch Street to Spring Garden Street
Benjamin Franklin Parkway, from 16th Street to 20th Street
Arch Street, between Third Street and 16th Street
Fourth Street, between Arch Street and Vine Street
Race Street, from Sixth Street to Columbus Boulevard
Columbus Boulevard (southbound lanes), from Vine Street to Washington Avenue
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 Seventh Street
Sixth Street, from Bainbridge Street to Market Street
Chestnut Street, from Sixth Street to 10th Street
Walnut Street, from Sixth Street to 34th Street
33rd Street, from Walnut Street to Chestnut Street
Chestnut Street, from 33rd Street to 34th Street
34th Street, from Chestnut Street to Girard Ave.
Lansdowne Drive, from Girard Ave. to South Concourse Drive
South Concourse Drive, from Lansdowne to West Memorial Hall Drive
East Memorial Hall Drive, from South Concourse to Ave. of the Republic
Ave. of the Republic, from East Memorial Hall Drive to Catholic Fountain
Belmont Ave., Montgomery to Parkside Ave.
States Drive to Lansdowne Drive
Lansdowne Drive to Girard Ave.
Girard Ave. Bridge, from Lansdowne Drive to 33rd Street
33rd Street, from Girard Ave. 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 Ave., from Schoolhouse Lane to Manayunk Ave.
Main Street, from Ridge Ave. to Conarroe Street
Where does the money go?
The money raised will go to fund cancer cure research, education, prevention, and advocacy.
Awards
Race winners will get cash prices between $1,000 to $10,000 depending on the category.