Street Closures, Parking Restrictions Outlined For 2025 Manchester Road Race

MANCHESTER, CT — Thousands of runners will fill Manchester's central streets on Thanksgiving Day when the Manchester Road Race steps off for the 89th time. The world-famous event, which is one of America’s largest and most iconic Turkey Day runs, is also expected to draw approximately 30,000 spectators.

The Manchester Road Race Committee is working closely with the Manchester Police Department and other town and state officials to plan for the large volumes of traffic and visitors expected in the downtown Manchester area on Thanksgiving morning.

Here is some important information about race day parking restrictions, street closures and areas of the town that will be inaccessible to vehicular traffic:

• The road race starts at 10 a.m. on Thanksgiving Day (Nov. 27 this year 2025) on Main Street in Manchester, in front of St. James Church.
• It is run on a 4.737-mile loop course that starts and finishes in front of the church. The street closures and parking restrictions will occur before the race and continue until after it ends.
• In preparation for the race, the Manchester Police Department has announced that no on-street parking will be allowed on East Center Street from Lenox Street to Center Street during the overnight period from 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 26, through 1 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 27.
• Parking will also be prohibited on Main Street, from Center Street to Hartford Road, as well as on Linden Street, from Center Street to Myrtle Street, during the same period of 11:59 pm. on Wednesday, Nov. 26 through 1 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day.
• If necessary, vehicles will be towed.
• The Downtown portion of Main Street will be closed to all motor vehicle traffic between Bissell Street and Maple Street at 5 a.m. on Thanksgiving morning in order to allow crews to erect fencing and ropes along the roadway. The Main Street closures will be extended from East Center Street to Charter Oak Street starting at 5:30 a.m.
• All local roads intersecting the road race course will be completely closed at 9 a.m. on Thanksgiving Day. Vehicular traffic will not be permitted to enter or exit roads located within the interior of the road race course perimeter from 9 a.m. until the race has ended (at approximately 11:30 a.m.).
• Although private vehicular traffic will not be permitted to enter or leave the interior of the race course while the event is being held, Town of Manchester officials have made extensive plans to provide fire, police and emergency medical services to residents inside the affected area during the road race.
• Exit ramps on I-384 that abut the MRR course will be closed from 8:45 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on race day. They include Westbound Exit 3 (Charter Oak St.); Westbound Exit 4 (Highland Street); Eastbound Exit 3 (Main Street) and Eastbound Exit 4 (Wyllys St).
• No parking is permitted along the shoulders of I-384.
• Normal traffic on the affected Manchester streets and roads will resume after the race ends, at approximately 11:30 a.m.

"We are working closely with the Manchester Police Department, the Connecticut State Police, Manchester Fire-EMS and other town officials to ensure that the road race is a safe and enjoyable experience for all our runners, spectators and volunteers," said Dr. Tris Carta, President of the Manchester Road Race Committee. "We also want to alert everyone, especially the residents who live within the interior of the road race course, about the street closures so they can make their plans for the holiday. If you live in that area and need to travel on Thanksgiving morning, please be sure to leave before the roads are closed to traffic at 9 a.m."

Carta indicated that due to the high volume of traffic expected in Manchester on Thanksgiving morning, the race committee will once again offer free shuttle bus rides to and from the event. The buses will run from the Connecticut Community College at Manchester (formerly Manchester Community College) parking lot before the race, and return there after the event concludes. The community college is located on Great Path in Manchester.

More information about the free shuttle service, including the schedule of operation, can be obtained on “Shuttle, Parking and Rest Rooms” at www.manchesterroadrace.com.