Motorists in Phoenix should prepare for potential delays on Saturday due to the Phoenix Marathon, which will see participants running through the city’s streets. Street closures will begin at 4 a.m. and will gradually be lifted by 2 p.m. as runners complete their routes, according to Lauren Evans from the city’s Street Transportation Department.
Evans emphasized that traffic will not be allowed to cross the race course during the event, advising drivers to plan ahead for delays. The Phoenix Marathon features three races: a full 26.2-mile marathon, a half-marathon, and a 10K. Participants will follow largely overlapping routes, and the event’s website provides an interactive map outlining these paths as well as spectator viewing areas.
A significant portion of the marathon course, approximately 9 miles long, runs alongside the Arizona Canal, stretching from 43rd Avenue and Peoria Road to 24th Street near Bethany Home Road. As the race concludes in Papago Park, visitors to nearby attractions, such as the Phoenix Zoo and Desert Botanical Garden, should also anticipate traffic disruptions.
For those interested in the schedule, the marathon starts at 7 a.m. at Deer Valley Towne Center, the half-marathon kicks off at 7:15 a.m. at Central and Glendale avenues, while the 10K race begins at 7:30 a.m. on the canal trail near 40th Street and Camelback Road. All three races will conclude at Priest Drive and Van Buren Street, just outside the Phoenix Municipal Stadium.
In addition to the marathon, the downtown Tempe area will experience street closures for the Fantasy of Lights Boat Parade on Saturday, highlighting a busy day for local events. For real-time traffic updates, listeners can subscribe to KTAR News 92.3 FM’s alerts by texting “TRAFFIC” to 620620.