Chicago Marathon 2018: Street Closings And Best Views Of The Race

CHICAGO — Run shortly after a mass shooting that killed more than 50 people during a country music festival in Las Vegas, last year's Chicago Marathon was punctuated by increased security measures. Chicago police provided additional undercover officers after it was discovered that the slain gunman had made reservations overlooking Grant Park during Lollapalooza in 2017.

Fortunately, this year's event won't be held in the shadow of such a violent tragedy. The 41st annual Chicago Marathon will be Sunday, Oct. 7, and it's expected to draw about a million racers and spectators.

As in past years, the race is expected to attract more than 40,000 participants who will pass through 29 city neighborhoods as they navigate the 26.2-mile route. The marathon begins and ends in Grant Park, and the course runs to Addison Street in the north, Damen Avenue in the west and 35th Street in the south.

While they don't have the heightened concerns of 2017, marathon officials are still focused on the safety of racers and attendees. For instance, anyone wanting to enter the runner reunite area at Butler Field in Grant Park must go through security and bag screening. Any items considered to be dangerous or inappropriate will be confiscated.

Whether you're competing in the race or simply watching, Patch gives you the information you need to enjoy this year's Chicago Marathon.

Chicago Marathon 2018: The Basics

Packet Pickups: Runners will be able to pick up marathon packets from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 5, and 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 6, at the Abbott Health & Fitness Expo in Hall B of McCormick Place's north building.

Start and Finish Lines: The 26.2-mile course beings and end in Grant Park. The marathon starts at Monroe Street and Columbus Drive, and the finish line is just south of Balbo Drive on Columbus.

Start Times: The marathon's start times are staggered in the morning. Here's when the different groups of participants will take off Sunday, Oct. 7 (times are subject to change):

• 7:20 a.m.: Men's wheelchair start
• 7:21 a.m.: Women's wheelchair start
• 7:22 a.m.: Handcycle start
• 7:23 a.m.: Disabled athletes start
• 7:30 a.m.: Wave 1 start
• 8 a.m.: Wave 2 start
• 8:35 a.m.: Wave 3 start

Finish Line Party: The 27th Mile Post-Race Party will be from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Grant Park's Butler Field.

TV | Radio | Streaming: 7 to 11 a.m., WMAQ-TV (Channel 5, NBC) and Telemnudo | 7 to 11 a.m., WSCR-AM (670 The Score) | 7 to 3 p.m., websites for WMAQ and Telemundo

Route and Race Results: Go to the Chicago Marathon's website for the complete race route and unofficial finish times following the race.

Spectator Parking

Marathon parking spots can be reserved using the SpotHero app. Some parking spots will be discounted as much as 50 percent when booked ahead of time. Go to the SpotHero's marathon parking page for details, and iPhone and Android users can download the app.

Viewing Areas

Spectators aren't allowed in Grant Park's start and finish areas, but they can meet participants at Butler Field's reunite area following the marathon. Recommended viewing areas include:

• Grand Avenue, Between Columbus Drive and State Street. This area is closest to the marathon's starting line, near Mile 1. State Street, between Grand Avenue and Jackson Boulevard, also is a good spot to catch the beginning of the race.
• Michigan Avenue and Roosevelt Road Cheer Zone: This area will give spectators a good view of the finish line.

The CTA also have designated certain stations where spectators can get to good viewing spots for the marathon. Here's what the transit agency recommends:

Grand Avenue (Red Line): Exit at Grand (Mile 1), walk three blocks west to LaSalle Street (Mile 3) or go four blocks west to Wells Street (Mile 12.5).

Monroe Street (Red Line): Exit at Monroe (Mile 2).

Chicago Avenue (Red Line): Walk three blocks west to LaSalle (Mile 3.5) or four blocks west to Wells (Mile 12.25).

Clark/Division (Red Line): Exit at LaSalle (Mile 4) or walk a block west to Wells (Mile 12).

Sheridan Road (Red Line): Exit at Sheridan and walk four blocks east to Broadway (Mile 8).

Addison Street (Red Line): Exit at Addison and walk four blocks east to Broadway (Mile 8.5).

Sedgwick Street (Brown Line): Exit at Sedgwick and walk a half-block north to North Avenue (Mile 11).

Washington/Wells Elevated Station (Brown, Pink or Orange Lines): Exit at Washington/Wells and walk a block west on Washington St. to Franklin St. (Mile 13.5)

UIC-Halsted Street (Blue Line): Use Halsted or Morgan Street exits and walk two blocks north to Adams Street (Mile 14.25) or walk a block north to Jackson Boulevard (Mile 17).

18th Street (Pink Line): Exit at 18th and walk four blocks east to Loomis Street (Mile 19.25).

Cermak-Chinatown (Red Line): Mile 21.5 Exit at Cermak-Chinatown (Mile 21.5).

Sox-35th Street (Red Line): Use the 33rd Street exit (Mile 23) or walk two blocks east on 35th to State Street (Mile 23.25).

35th-Bronzeville-IIT (Green Line): Use the 33rd exit (Mile 23) or 35th exit (Mile 23.25).

Cermak-McCormick Place (Green Line): Exit at Cermak-McCormick Place and walk two blocks east to Michigan Avenue (Mile 25).

Roosevelt Road (Red, Green and Orange Lines): Walk east on Roosevelt toward Grant Park (Finish Line).

Go to CTA's website for more details.

Estimated Expected Arrival Times

Start Line to Mile 2

Wheelchair: 7:23 a.m.

Runners: 7:30 to 9:30 a.m.

Route: North on Columbus to Grand Avenue, west on Grand to State Street, south on State to Jackson Drive.

Mile 2 to Mile 4

Wheelchair: 7:26 a.m.

Runners: 7:39 a.m. to 10 a.m.

Route: West on Jackson to LaSalle Street, north on LaSalle to Division Street.

Mile 4 to Mile 6

Wheelchair: 7:32 a.m.

Runners: 7:49 to 10:30 a.m.

Route: North on LaSalle from Division to Stockton Drive, north on Stockton to Fullerton Avenue, east on Fullerton to Cannon Drive, north on Cannon.

Mile 6 to Mile 8

Wheelchair: 7:40 a.m.

Runners: 7:58 to 11 a.m.

Route: North on Cannon from Fullerton to Sheridan Road, north on Sheridan to Inner Lake Shore Drive, north on Inner LSD to Sheridan, west on Sheridan to Broadway.

Mile 8 to Mile 10

Wheelchair: 7:45 a.m.

Runners: 8:08 to 11:30 a.m.

Route: South on Broadway from Sheridan to Clark Street, south on Clark to Fullerton.

Mile 10 to Mile 12

Wheelchair: 7:52 a.m.

Runners: 8:17 a.m. to noon

Route: South on Clark from Fullerton to Webster Avenue, west on Webster to Sedgwick Street, south on Sedgwick to North Avenue, east on North (eastbound lanes) to Wells Street, south on Wells to Walton Street.

Mile 12 to Mile 14

Wheelchair: 7:58 a.m.

Runners: 8:27 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Route: South on Wells from Walton to Wacker Drive, west on Wacker (westbound lanes) to Franklin Street, south on Franklin to Monroe Drive, west on Monroe to Jefferson Street, south on Jefferson to Adams Street, west on Adams to Halsted Street.

Mile 14 to Mile 16

Wheelchair: 8:05 a.m.

Runners: 8:36 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Route: West on Adams from Halsted to Ashland Avenue, west on Adams to Damen Avenue, south on Damen to Jackson Boulevard, east on Jackson to Ogden Avenue.

Mile 16 to Mile 18

Wheelchair: 8:11 a.m.

Runners: 8:46 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Route: East on Jackson from Ogden to Halsted, south on Halsted to Taylor Street, west on Taylor to Morgan Street.

Mile 18 to Mile 20

Wheelchair: 8:18 a.m.

Runners: 8:55 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Route: West on Taylor from Morgan to Loomis Street, south on Loomis to 18th Street, east on 18th to Newberry Avenue.

Mile 20 to Mile 22

Wheelchair: 8:24 a.m.

Runners: 9:05 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Route: East on 18th from Newberry to Halsted, south on Halsted to Canalport Avenue, southwest on Canalport to Cermak Road, east on Cermak to Wentworth Avenue, south on Wentworth to 26th Street.

Mile 22 to Mile 24

Wheelchair: 8:31 a.m.

Runners: 9:14 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Route: South on Wentworth from 26th to 33rd Street, east on 33rd to State, south on State (southbound lanes) to 35th Street, east on 35th to Indiana Avenue, north on Indiana to 31st Street.

Mile 24 to Mile 26

Wheelchair: 8:37 a.m.

Runners: 9:24 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Route: West on 31st from Indiana to northbound Michigan Avenue, north on Michigan to Roosevelt Road, east on Roosevelt (westbound lanes) to Columbus, north on Columbus.

Mile 26 to Finish Line

Wheelchair: 8:44 a.m.

Runners: 9:34 a.m. – 3:35 p.m.

Route: Concludes north on Columbus to the finish.

Open Roads

These streets will be be available race day, but additional streets might be closed by the Chicago police or marathon officials.

Main Streets

Lake Shore Drive: Northbound and southbound lanes will remain open.

Inner Lake Shore Drive: Northbound and southbound lanes will remain open from Diversey Parkway to Belmont Avenue. Access to Lake Shore Drive will remain open at Belmont Avenue.

Dan Ryan Expressway (I-90/94): Eastbound and westbound lanes will remain open. Southbound exit ramp to 31st Street closed.

Kennedy Expressway (I-90/94): Eastbound and westbound lanes will remain open. Entrance
and exit ramps at Adams Street closed.

Eisenhower Expressway (I-290): Eastbound and westbound lanes will remain open.

Stevenson Expressway (I-55): Northbound and southbound lanes will remain open.

Neighborhood Streets

The Loop (Wells Street, Van Buren Street, Wabash Avenue and
Lake Street): All streets will be open by 9 a.m Sunday, but public transportation is recommended.

North of the Loop: Michigan Avenue, north of 8th Street, and north and southbound lanes
will be open, including access to the Magnificent Mile. Other open stretches include:

• Clybourn Avenue
• Lincoln Avenue, north of Sedgwick Street
• Clark Street, north of Diversey Parkway

West of the Loop: These areas will remain open during the marathon:

• Milwaukee Avenue
• Halsted Street, north of Adams Street
• Ashland Avenue, north of Adams
• Damen Avenue, north of Adams

South of the Loop: These areas will remain open during the marathon:

• Damen, south of Jackson Boulevard
• Ashland, south of Jackson
• Archer Avenue, south of Cermak Road
• Halsted, south of Cermak
• Michigan Avenue, south of 35th Street
• Martin Luther King Drive

Street Closings

The following roads will be opened and closed at different times during Sunday's marathon. Times are subject to change by the Chicago police or marathon officials.

Columbus Drive, starting line to Grand Avenue (Mile 1): Closed at 7 a.m. Open at 10 a.m.

Grand Avenue, Columbus Drive to State Street (Mile 1): Closed at 7 a.m. Open at 10 a.m.

State Street, Grand Avenue to Jackson Boulevard (Mile 2): Closed at 7 a.m. Open at 10:30 a.m.

Jackson Boulevard, State to LaSalle streets (Mile 3): Closed at 7 a.m. Open at 10:30 a.m.

LaSalle Street, Jackson Boulevard to Stockton Drive (Miles 3, 4 and 5): 7 a.m. 11:30 a.m.

Stockton Drive, LaSalle to Fullerton drives (Mile 6): Closed at 7 a.m. Open at 11:45 a.m.

Fullerton Drive, Stockton to Cannon drives (Mile 6): Closed at 7 a.m. Open at 11:45 a.m.

Cannon Drive, Fullerton Drive to Sheridan Road (Mile 7): Closed at 7 a.m. Open at 11:45 a.m.

Sheridan Road, Diversey Parkway to Belmont Avenue (Mile 7): Closed at 7 a.m. Open at 11:45 a.m.

Inner Lakeshore Drive, Belmont Avenue to Sheridan Rd (Mile 8): Closed at 7 a.m. Open at noon.

Sheridan Road, Inner Lakeshore Drive to Broadway (Mile 8): Closed at 7 a.m. Open at noon.

Broadway, Sheridan Road to Briar Place (Mile 9): Closed at 7 a.m. Open at 12:15 p.m.

Broadway, Briar Place to Diversey Parkway (Mile 10): Closed at 7 a.m. Open at 12:30 p.m.

Clark Street, Diversey Parkway to Fullerton Pkwy (Mile 10): Closed at 7 a.m. Open at 12:30 p.m.

Clark Street, Fullerton Parkway to Webster Ave. (Mile 11): Closed at 7 a.m. Open at 12:45 p.m.

Webster Avenue, Clark Street to Sedgwick Street (Mile 11): Closed at 7 a.m. Open at 12:45 p.m.

Sedgwick Street, Webster Avenue to North Avenue (Mile 11): Closed at 7 a.m. Open at 1 p.m.

North Avenue, Sedgwick Street to Wells Street (Mile 12): Closed at 7 a.m. Open at 1 p.m.

Wells Street, North Avenue to Walton Street (Mile 12): Closed at 7 a.m. Open at 1 p.m.

Wells Street, Walton Street to Wacker Drive (Mile 13): Closed at 7 a.m. Open at 1:15 p.m.

Wacker Drive, Wells to Franklin streets (Mile 13): Closed at 7 a.m. Open at 1:15 p.m.

Franklin Street, Wacker Drive to Monroe Street (Mile 14): Closed at 7 a.m. Open at 1:30 p.m.

Monroe Street, Franklin to Jefferson streets (Mile 14): Closed at 7 a.m. Open at 1:30 p.m.

Jefferson Street, Monroe to Adams streets (Mile 14): Closed at 7 a.m. Open at 1:30 p.m.

Adams Street, Jefferson Street to Damen Avenue (Miles 14 and 15): Closed at 7 a.m. Open at 1:45 p.m.

Damen Avenue, Adams Street to Jackson Boulevard (Mile 15): Closed at 7 a.m. Open at 1:45 p.m.

Jackson Boulevard, Damen Avenue to Halsted Street (Miles 15, 16 and 17): Closed at 7 a.m. Open at 2:15 p.m.

Halsted Street, Jackson Boulevard to Taylor Street (Mile 18): Closed at 7 a.m. Open at 2:30 p.m.

Taylor Street, Halsted to Loomis streets (Miles 18 and 19): Closed at 7 a.m. Open at 2:45 p.m.

Loomis Street, Taylor to 18th streets (Miles 19 and 20): Closed at 7 a.m. Open at 2:45 p.m.

18th Street, Loomis to Halsted streets (Mile 20): Closed at 7 a.m. Open at 3 p.m.

Halsted Street, 18th Street to Canalport Avenue (Mile 21): Closed at 7 a.m. Open at 3:15 p.m.

Canalport Avenue, Halsted Street to Cermak Road (Mile 21): Closed at 7 a.m. Open at 3:15 p.m.

Cermak Road, Canalport to Wentworth avenues (Miles 21 and 22): Closed at 7 a.m. Open at 3:30 p.m.

Wentworth Avenue, Cermak Road to 33rd Street (Miles 22 and 23): Closed at 7 a.m. Open at 3:45 p.m.

33rd Street, Wentworth Avenue to State Street (Miles 23 and 24): Closed at 7 a.m. Open at 3:45 p.m.

State Street, 33rd to 35th streets (Mile 24): Closed at 7 a.m. Open at 4 p.m.

35th Street, State Steet to Indiana Avenue (Mile 24): Closed at 7 a.m. Open at 4 p.m.

Indiana Avenue, 35th to 31st streets (Mile 24): Closed at 7 a.m. Open at 4 p.m.

31st Street, Indiana to Michigan avenues (Mile 25): Closed at 7 a.m. Open at 4:15 p.m.

Michigan Avenue, 31st Street to Roosevelt Road (Miles 25 and 26): Closed at 7 a.m. Open at 4:30 p.m.

Roosevelt Road, Michigan Avenue to Columbus Drive (Mile 26): Closed at 7 a.m. Open at 6 p.m.

Columbus Drive, Roosevelt Road to Finish Line: Closed at 7 a.m. Open at 6 p.m.

The 2017 Chicago Marathon (Photo by Dylan Buell | Getty Images)