Marine Corps Marathon route details
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The gist
The 51st Marine Corps Marathon starts Sunday on Route 110 between the Pentagon and Arlington National Cemetery.
Runners cross Key Bridge and the Mall, and drivers face closures from Saturday.
Background
The Marine Corps Marathon, often called "The People's Marathon," is in its 51st edition and is run through Arlington and Washington, D.C. Axios describes it as the nation's third-largest marathon without prize money, drawing thousands of runners and widespread traffic disruptions. This year's USATF-certified 26.2-mile course starts between the Pentagon and Arlington National Cemetery, crosses into D.C. through Georgetown and the National Mall, returns over the 14th Street Bridge and finishes uphill at the Marine Corps War Memorial. Shorter races are held Saturday before Sunday's main event, and the Arlington County Police Department is warning drivers to expect significant delays and use alternate routes or public transportation.
How it unfolded
- Oct 21, 2026Axios reports road closures in Arlington and D.C. begin as early as Saturday, with Key and Memorial bridges closing Sunday 5:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Metro rail opening early at 5 a.m. Sunday.
- Oct 22, 2026WTOP reports the course starts between the Pentagon and Arlington National Cemetery, runs through Rosslyn and over Key Bridge into Georgetown, around the National Mall, back over the 14th Street Bridge, through Crystal City and finishes at the Marine Corps War Memorial.
- Oct 22, 2026Patch reports, per the Arlington County Police Department, that closures begin as early as 4 p.m. Saturday, with southbound Route 110 from Washington Boulevard to Route 1 closed about 4 p.m. Saturday until 5 p.m. Sunday.
- Oct 24, 2026FOX 5 DC reports Arlington closures begin as early as 3 a.m. Sunday on Route 110, Lynn Street, Fort Myer Drive and the Marine Corps War Memorial Access Road, and D.C. closures begin at 3:45 a.m. around the National Mall, expanding by 5:30 a.m. to Key Bridge, Canal Road and Rock Creek and Potomac Parkway.
- Oct 25, 2026Race day: the wheelchair and hand cycle division starts at 7:05 a.m., the duo division at 7:07 a.m. and the main marathon at 7:20 a.m., all on Route 110 in Arlington. Runners must clear three course "Gauntlets," including the "Beat the Bridge" checkpoint at 1:15 p.m., to remain on the certified course and be recognized as official finishers.
Who’s saying what
- Official
- The Arlington County Police Department says drivers should expect significant delays around the racecourse and use alternate routes or public transportation.
- Analysts
- Axios notes the event is the nation's third-largest marathon without prize money, drawing thousands of runners and widespread traffic disruptions.