About 9,000 people participated in the Portland Marathon in 2024 and that means many runners will again be hitting the road Sunday morning, Oct. 5.
Organizers and city officials aim for safety as they close many areas to vehicles along the route of this year’s Portland Marathon presented by OHSU Health.
Both the marathon and half-marathon kick off about 7 a.m., but streets, bridges and roads along the route may close several hours earlier.
To get an in depth look at local street closures, visit the “Traffic” page here: portlandmarathon.com/traffic.
Generally, travelers will not be able to drive on, or drive across, streets used for the race route until the last runner has passed the location, and the traffic control devices have been removed. Vehicles will be turned away one block prior to reaching the route.
Residents in the race area are warned that all streets that are used for the actual race will be posted “No Parking” from 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 4, to 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 5. If your home or business is located on the actual race route, please note that any vehicles parked on the street during the indicated hours will be towed.
Most race activities should be finished by about 2 p.m. The race begins and ends at Portland’s Waterfront Park, 1000 S.W. Naito Parkway at the intersection with Salmon Street.
The route travels through the Pearl District, down Southwest Macadam Avenue over the Sellwood Bridge, through Westmorland, and on Southeast Milwaukie Avenue. See map.
Vehicle traffic, bicyclists, and pedestrians will see these delays or closures on area streets and bridges. Check the website for specific times:
- Salmon Street closed between Naito Parkway and First Avenue
- Naito Parkway northbound lanes closed between Hawthorne Bridge and Taylor Street
- Burnside Bridge delays in traffic and a temporary closure 7-7:30 a.m.
- Broadway Bridge closed to everyone except race participants
- Sellwood Bridge westbound lane closed
Those using public transportation on race day may see delays on bus lines that travel through the race route. MAX trains may also be delayed, especially in the downtown core. Visit TriMet.org/alerts for race day information.
With thousands of people gathering and running in downtown on Sunday, parking will be at a premium. If you must travel in downtown or in many Portland neighborhoods early Sunday, be prepared for delays, limited parking and closed streets.
Check www.tripcheck.com for the latest in traffic delays.
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