PHILADELPHIA – The City of Philadelphia today released information about upcoming road closures associated with the Philadelphia Marathon Race Weekend. Streets will be closed in many parts of the city during the weekend of November 19 – 21. Delays can be expected. Motorists are advised to use alternate routes, avoid areas along the race course, allow for extra driving time, and proceed with caution during race weekend.

Due to increased security in the Parkway area, parking and traffic regulations will be strictly enforced. Street closures will be implemented on a rolling basis and will be lifted as runners go by and roads are serviced. City officials urge motorists to refrain from double-parking, which creates congestion, limits traffic flow, and is illegal.

Roadways and areas that will be impacted  include:

  • The Benjamin Franklin Parkway Friday, November 19 through Sunday, November 21.
  • The I-676 off-ramp at 22nd Street (westbound) will be closed on Saturday, November 20 and Sunday, November 21 at 4 a.m. for event security preparation. Ramps at 15th and Broad Streets may also close, if needed.
  • The I-76 off-ramp at Spring Garden (eastbound). Soft-close at 4 a.m. and hard-close at 6:15 a.m. on Saturday, November 20 and Sunday November 21.
  • Citywide along the 13.1-mile Dietz & Watson Philadelphia Half Marathon route on Saturday, November 20. The full route can be viewed online.
  • Citywide along the 26.2-mile route of the AACR Philadelphia Marathon on Sunday, November 21. The full route can be viewed online.

Road Closures and Parking Restrictions by Date:

Friday, November 19

The inner-drive lanes (both directions) of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway will be closed, from 9:30 a.m. until 2:45 p.m., on Friday, November 19. At 2:45 p.m., all lanes will be opened for the afternoon rush hour. Inbound, inner lanes from Binswanger Triangle to 22nd Street will remain closed.

Saturday, November 20

As part of enhanced security for the Dietz & Watson Philadelphia Half Marathon, City of Philadelphia “No Parking” regulations will be strictly enforced. All vehicles on the race route will be relocated, beginning at 2 a.m. on Saturday, November 20.

Street closures will be in effect for the Dietz & Watson Philadelphia Half Marathon and the Rothman Orthopaedics 8K on Saturday, from 2 a.m. until 3 p.m., along the Benjamin Franklin Parkway between 20th and 25th Streets, on Kelly Drive, and numerous other roads in Center City (see complete list below). Prior to Saturday, “No Parking” signs will be posted in the Parkway area, and along the race course. On Saturday, the vicinity near 18th Street and the Parkway, and the Logan Circle area will be closed to vehicular traffic until approximately 11:30 a.m.

The following streets will be affected across the city on Saturday, November 20:

2:00 a.m. Closures

  • 2000-2400 Benjamin Franklin Parkway
  • Spring Garden Street, from Pennsylvania Avenue to Benjamin Franklin Parkway
  • 23rd Street, from Pennsylvania Avenue to Benjamin Franklin Parkway
  • 22nd Street, from Winter Street to Park Towne Place (local access to Park Towne Place)
  • 21st Street, from Pennsylvania Avenue to Winter Street

4:00 a.m. Closures

  • I-676 off-ramp at 22nd Street (westbound)
  • I-76 off-ramp at Spring Garden (eastbound)

6:00 a.m. Closures

  • 17th Street, from Arch Street to Vine Street
  • 18th Street, from Arch Street to Callowhill Street
  • 19th Street, from Arch Street to Callowhill Street
  • 20th Street, from Arch Street to Callowhill Street
  • 21st Street, from Arch Street to Spring Garden Street
  • 22nd Street, from Arch Street to Spring Garden Street
  • Benjamin Franklin Parkway, from 16th Street to 20th Street
  • Market Street, from 6th Street to 16th Street
  • Chestnut Street, from 5th Street to 8th Street
  • 6th Street, from Market Street to Chestnut Street
  • 5th Street, from Chestnut Street to Race Street
  • South Penn Square
  • Juniper Street, from Chestnut Street to Market Street
  • John F. Kennedy Boulevard, from Juniper Street to 17th Street
  • 15th Street, from Race Street to Chestnut Street
  • 16th Street, from Chestnut Street to Race Street
  • Race Street, from 6th Street to Columbus Boulevard
  • Columbus Boulevard (southbound lanes), from Vine Street to Washington Avenue
  • Southbound off-ramp, from I-95 at Washington Avenue
  • Washington Avenue, from Columbus Boulevard to Front Street
  • Front Street, from Washington Avenue to South Street
  • South Street, from Front Street to 7th Street
  • 6th Street, from Bainbridge Street to Locust Street
  • Lombard Street, from 5th Street to Broad Street
  • 13th Street, from Bainbridge Street to Chestnut Street
  • Walnut Street, from 12th Street to 34th Street
  • 33rd Street, from Walnut Street to Spring Garden Street
  • 34th Street, from Spring Garden Street to Girard Avenue
  • Spring Garden Street, from 32nd Street to 34th Street
  • Girard Avenue, 33rd Street to 38th Street
  • 33rd Street, from Girard Avenue to Cecil B. Moore Avenue
  • Reservoir Drive, from 33rd Street to Diamond Drive
  • Mt. Pleasant Drive
  • Fountain Green Drive
  • Kelly Drive

Local access will be maintained for residents and businesses at traffic control points controlled by Philadelphia Police.

Access to the Philadelphia Museum of Art on Saturday, November 20 during event hours will be maintained via Spring Garden Street (Spring Garden Street Bridge) to Anne D’ Harnoncourt Drive.

Motorists and pedestrians can expect delays when trying to cross roads or streets along the race course. Police will allow traffic through intersections when possible, depending on the flow of race participants. All streets (with the exception of Eakins Oval) are scheduled to be reopened no later than 2 p.m. on Saturday, November 20, and many roads in Center City will open earlier in the day as they are cleared and serviced. Eakins Oval will be open to traffic by 5 p.m. The inbound, inner drive of Benjamin Franklin Parkway, from Binswanger Triangle to 22nd Street, will be closed until Sunday afternoon at 5 p.m.

Sunday, November 21

As part of enhanced security for the AACR Philadelphia Marathon, City of Philadelphia “No Parking” regulations will be strictly enforced. All vehicles on the race route will be relocated, beginning at 2 a.m. on Sunday, November 21.

2:00 a.m. Closures

  • 2000-2400 Benjamin Franklin Parkway
  • Spring Garden Street, from Pennsylvania Avenue to Benjamin Franklin Parkway
  • 23rd Street, from Pennsylvania Avenue to Benjamin Franklin Parkway
  • 22nd Street, from Winter Street to Park Towne Place (Local Access to Park Towne Place)
  • 21st Street, from Pennsylvania Avenue to Winter Street

4:00 a.m. Closures

  • I-676 off-ramp at 22nd Street (westbound)
  • I-76 off-ramp at Spring Garden (eastbound)

 6:00 a.m. Closures

  • 17th Street, from Arch Street to Vine Street
  • 18th Street, from Arch Street to Callowhill Street
  • 19th Street, from Arch Street to Callowhill Street
  • 20th Street, from Arch Street to Callowhill Street
  • 21st Street, from Arch Street to Spring Garden Street
  • 22nd Street, from Arch Street to Spring Garden Street
  • Benjamin Franklin Parkway, from 16th Street to 20th Street
  • Arch Street, between 3rd Street and 16th Street
  • 4th Street, between Arch Street and Vine Streets
  • Race Street, from 6th Street to Columbus Boulevard
  • Columbus Boulevard (southbound lanes), from Vine Street to Washington Avenue
  • Southbound off-ramp, from I-95 at Washington Avenue
  • Washington Avenue, from Columbus Boulevard to Front Street
  • Front Street, from Washington Avenue to South Street
  • South Street, from Front Street to 7th Street
  • 6th Street, from Bainbridge Street to Market Street
  • Chestnut Street, from 6th Street to 10th Street
  • Walnut Street, from 6th Street to 34th Street
  • 33rd Street, from Walnut Street to Chestnut Street
  • Chestnut Street, from 33rd Street to 34th Street
  • 34th Street, from Chestnut Street to Girard Avenue
  • Lansdowne Drive, from Girard Avenue to South Concourse Drive
  • South Concourse Drive, from Lansdowne to West Memorial Hall Drive
  • East Memorial Hall Drive, from South Concourse to Avenue of the Republic
  • Avenue of the Republic, from East Memorial Hall Drive to Catholic Fountain
  • Belmont Avenue, Montgomery to Parkside Avenue
  • States Drive to Lansdowne Drive
  • Lansdowne Drive to Girard Avenue
  • Girard Avenue Bridge, from Lansdowne Drive to 33rd Street
  • 33rd Street, from Girard Avenue to Reservoir Drive
  • Reservoir Drive, from 33rd Street to Edgley Drive
  • Edgley Drive, from Reservoir Drive to Fountain Green Drive
  • Fountain Green Drive, from Edgley Drive to Kelly Drive
  • Kelly Drive
  • The Falls Bridge
  • Ridge Avenue, from Schoolhouse Lane to Manayunk Avenue
  • Main Street, from Ridge Avenue to Conarroe Street

Local access will be maintained for residents and businesses at traffic control points controlled by Philadelphia Police.

Access to the Philadelphia Museum of Art on Sunday, November 21 during event hours will be maintained via Spring Garden Street (Spring Garden Street Bridge) to Anne D’ Harnoncourt Drive.

Motorists and pedestrians can expect delays when trying to cross roads or streets along the race course. Police will allow traffic through intersections when possible, depending on the flow of race participants. All streets (with the exception of Eakins Oval) are scheduled to be reopened no later than 2 p.m. on Sunday, November 21, and many roads in Center City will open earlier in the day as they are cleared and serviced. Eakins Oval and Benjamin Franklin Parkway will be fully open to traffic by 5 p.m.

COVID-19 Safety Information

In accordance with guidance provided by the Philadelphia Department of Public Health, all in-person runners at all 2021 Philadelphia Marathon Weekend events will be required to provide proof of a complete COVID-19 vaccination series prior to race weekend. Proof of a negative COVID-19 PCR or rapid antigen test will not be considered acceptable documentation for participation.

Runners must provide proof of vaccination prior to pick-up/delivery of race bibs and other materials. Runners may elect to bring an original paper copy, digital copy, photocopy, or photo of their vaccination proof to the Philadelphia Marathon Expo at the Pennsylvania Convention Center on Friday, November 19 or Saturday, November 20, 2021. Staff will be on hand at the Convention Center to verify documentation and distribute bibs and race materials. This year’s Expo will be open to runners only, and all attendees, staff and volunteers will be required to wear a face mask.

Public Transportation

Philadelphia’s mass transit system (SEPTA) offers two subway lines, regional rail service to and from the surrounding suburbs, and bus service throughout the city.  Below is a summary of SEPTA detours (from the SEPTA website) that will be in effect during Marathon Race Weekend. Check the SEPTA website for additional information.

Bus detour information and updates or changes to service will be published on SEPTA’s System Status page. Customers can also use TransitView on the SEPTA app. Riders should check System Status regularly or follow @SEPTA and @SEPTA_BUS on Twitter for updates. Detour times are subject to change.

Detours: Half Marathon & Marathon

Detours on the Routes listed below are scheduled to begin at 6 a.m. Saturday, November 20 and Sunday, November 21. Select buses will operate on different routes during the Dietz & Watson Philadelphia Half Marathon and the AACR Philadelphia Marathon. Service is subject to change. Customers should refer to System Status regularly for updates to routing throughout the day.

In addition to the routes noted below, Bus Routes 7, 32, 33, 38, 43, 48 and 49 will operate on a temporary detour to allow for the setup of marathon events on Ben Franklin Parkway between Eakins Oval and 20th Street. Routing information will be posted to System Status prior to the event.

Routes K-12

  • K, R, 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 12

Routes 16-31

  • 16, 17, 21, 23, 25, 27, 30, 31

Routes 32-47

  • 32, 33, 35, 38, 40, 42, 43, 47

Routes 47M-125

  • 47M, 48, 57, 61, 64, 65, 124/125, Trolley Route 15 (Bus)

Regional Rail

Customers can take Regional Rail Trains to Suburban Station or 30th Street Station for access to the start and finish lines. Check the SEPTA website for schedule information and updates.

Event Alerts

Sign up for free text alerts from the City to get weather, transit, event details, and public safety updates. Text RUNPHL (one word, no space) to 888-777.

Connect with marathon course maps, public safety features, road closures, and more helpful tips by visiting the Office of Emergency Management’s story map: phila.gov/marathonweekend. Follow @PhilaOEM on Twitter and use #PhillyMarathon.

Impact on Cultural Institutions

While cultural institutions along or near the Benjamin Franklin Parkway will experience the greatest impact from the race, they generally will maintain normal weekend hours of operation on Marathon Race Weekend. These institutions include: The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University, Barnes Foundation, Fairmount Water Works, The Franklin Institute, Free Library of Philadelphia – Parkway Central Library, The Galleries at Moore College of Art and Design, Philadelphia Museum of Art and the Perelman Building Annex, Rodin Museum, and Eastern State Penitentiary.

Parking may be available at or near the cultural institutions, but using public transportation is strongly encouraged. The institutions’ individual websites should be referenced for information on exhibit hours, ticket-admission, parking accommodations, and COVID-19 safety guidelines.

About the Philadelphia Marathon

Pre-COVID the Philadelphia Marathon Race Weekend, organized by the Office of the Managing Director, welcomes over 30,000 runners, 60,000 spectators, and 3,000 volunteers each year. Race Weekend 2021 features a free two-day Health & Fitness Expo on Friday, November 19 and Saturday, November 20; Dietz & Watson Half Marathon and Rothman Orthopaedics 8K on Saturday, November 20; and the AACR Philadelphia Marathon on Sunday, November 21. Race participants pass many of Philadelphia’s famous attractions on the swift and scenic USATF-certified course, which is a Boston qualifier. Take the first step to experiencing 26.2 miles of fun, beauty, history and excitement by registering at philadelphiamarathon.com.

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