The Ultimate Guide To Nashville Marathon Road Closures 2026: 15+ Streets You Must Avoid (April 25)
Heads up, Music City residents and visitors! The annual running of the St. Jude Rock 'n' Roll Nashville Marathon and Half Marathon is set to bring over 20,000 runners and a major wave of temporary road closures to the heart of Nashville on Saturday, April 25, 2026. This comprehensive guide provides the most current, detailed information on which roads will be completely shut down, the critical times to avoid key intersections, and the essential alternative routes you need to know to navigate the city without frustration.
The Rock 'n' Roll Nashville event is one of the city's largest annual spectacles, transforming major thoroughfares into a massive, 26.2-mile running party. While the race is a huge boost for local charities and tourism, it demands significant logistical planning from anyone driving, especially within Downtown, The Gulch, and East Nashville. Plan your travel now to avoid being trapped by the closure perimeter.
St. Jude Rock 'n' Roll Nashville Marathon 2026: Event & Route Profile
The St. Jude Rock 'n' Roll Nashville Marathon is not just a race; it's a full-scale music and running festival that celebrates the city's unique culture. The 2026 event will follow a route that showcases many of Nashville's most iconic landmarks, requiring a massive police and public works effort to secure the course.
- Official Event Name: St. Jude Rock 'n' Roll Nashville Marathon & Half Marathon
- Date: Saturday, April 25, 2026
- Marathon/Half Marathon Start Time: 7:20 a.m. CDT
- Start Line Location: Intersection of 8th Avenue and Broadway
- Finish Line Location: Titans Way, outside Nissan Stadium
- Key Neighborhoods Traversed: Downtown Nashville, The Gulch, Music Row, 12 South, Germantown, Shelby Park, and East Nashville.
- Course Distance: Full Marathon (26.2 miles), Half Marathon (13.1 miles), 10K, and 5K.
The race course is a dynamic, moving closure, meaning roads will reopen sequentially as the last runner passes and clean-up crews clear the area. However, the closures in the immediate vicinity of the start and finish lines are the most extensive and last the longest.
Critical Road Closures and Estimated Reopening Times
The most significant traffic disruptions will occur in the early morning hours, particularly in the downtown core. Advance closures for the start/finish line setup begin as early as Friday afternoon, but the major, city-wide closures start before dawn on Saturday.
Below is a list of the most critical street closures, categorized by area, along with estimated closure and reopening times. These times are based on previous year’s official race schedules and are subject to change by the Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD) and race organizers.
Downtown & Start/Finish Line (Longest Closures)
These roads will have the earliest closures, with some sections shutting down as early as 3:00 AM on Saturday, April 25, and some remaining closed until noon or later for the finish line breakdown.
- Broadway (From 7th Ave to 14th Ave): Closed for the start line staging. Expect closures from Friday evening through Saturday morning (approx. 3:00 AM – 9:00 AM).
- 7th Avenue North & 9th Avenue North: Key sections closed for the initial stages of the race. (Approx. 3:00 AM – 9:00 AM).
- Commerce Street (Downtown Section): Closed to facilitate runner movement away from the start. (Approx. 3:00 AM – 9:00 AM).
- Titans Way & Victory Way (Near Nissan Stadium): Closed for the finish line setup and breakdown. These are often the last roads to reopen, potentially remaining closed until 1:00 PM or 2:00 PM.
Music Row, The Gulch, and South Nashville
The course winds through these popular neighborhoods, creating a temporary barrier for local traffic and access to businesses like those in 12 South.
- Demonbreun Street: A critical corridor for the 5K/10K start and early marathon route. Expect closures from 6:30 AM to approximately 10:00 AM.
- Music Row (Various Streets): The marathon route typically runs along major sections of Music Row, including parts of 16th and 17th Avenues. Closed from approximately 7:30 AM to 10:30 AM.
- 12 South Neighborhood: Residential and commercial streets in this area will be completely locked down as the runners pass through the mid-morning. (Approx. 8:00 AM – 11:30 AM).
- Rosa Parks Boulevard: Sections will be closed, with some lanes potentially used for contraflow traffic to maintain limited access. (Approx. 7:00 AM – 11:00 AM).
East Nashville & River Crossings (Major Bridge Impact)
The course crosses the Cumberland River and extends into East Nashville, significantly impacting access to and from the eastern side of the city.
- Woodland Street Bridge: A major choke point, this bridge is typically closed to all vehicular traffic while the runners use it to cross the river toward Nissan Stadium for the finish. Closed from approximately 7:30 AM to 1:00 PM.
- Shelby Park & Fatherland Street: Roads around Shelby Park, where the full marathon course turns around, will be closed. This includes parts of Fatherland Street and 5th Avenue. (Approx. 8:30 AM – 1:00 PM).
- Bicentennial State Park Area: Roads surrounding the park, including the Capitol and Germantown areas, will be closed during the morning hours. (Approx. 7:30 AM – 10:30 AM).
Alternative Routes and Navigation Strategies
The key to navigating Nashville on race day is to think *around* the downtown loop, not through it. The marathon essentially creates a temporary, massive ring road closure that isolates many central neighborhoods.
Essential North/South Corridors to Use
The primary arteries that remain open are the interstate highways and routes that completely bypass the central core. Use these to move around the city:
- I-65 and I-40 (Outer Loops): For North/South travel, I-65 is your best bet, but be prepared for heavy congestion at interchanges near the race course. I-40 is your primary East/West bypass.
- Ellington Parkway & Briley Parkway: If you need to travel from North Nashville/East Nashville to the West side, taking Ellington Parkway up to Briley Parkway (TN-155) provides a much wider detour around the entire course. This is the recommended bypass for East Nashville residents.
- I-24/I-65 Connector: Use this to move between the north and south sides of the city, but be aware that exits into the downtown area will be blocked or heavily restricted.
Accessing Downtown (If Necessary)
If you absolutely must access a destination within the closure perimeter (e.g., a hotel or hospital), you must arrive before 6:30 AM. Once the course is fully secured, vehicular access is impossible until the police officially reopen the road. Do not attempt to cross the course; you will be turned away by law enforcement.
Parking and Public Transportation
Parking in the immediate downtown area is severely restricted. Any vehicle parked in a designated "No Parking" zone along the route will be towed, often starting as early as 3:00 AM.
- Park Outside the Perimeter: If you are attending the race or visiting downtown, park your vehicle outside the marathon route—for example, near the airport or along the outer edges of Midtown—and use rideshare services or public transit to get as close as possible.
- Rideshare Zones: Designated rideshare drop-off and pickup zones are usually established well outside the main closure area, often near the Music City Center or Capitol Hill, requiring a walk to the start or finish line.
- Public Transit: The Music City Star commuter rail can be an option for those coming from Lebanon, but its schedule is limited. Check the WeGo Public Transit website for race-day bus route detours, as nearly all central routes will be affected.
LSI Keywords and Topical Entities
Understanding the impact of the St. Jude Rock 'n' Roll Nashville Marathon requires familiarity with the city's geography and key entities. The closures affect access to major landmarks and institutions, including:
- Music City Center: Access will be highly restricted in the morning.
- Bridgestone Arena: Located near the start line, access will be difficult until mid-morning.
- Ascend Amphitheater: Located near the river, its surrounding roads will be closed.
- Vanderbilt University & Hospital: While the route does not directly pass through the main campus, surrounding streets like Demonbreun and those leading to Music Row will be impacted, potentially slowing emergency services.
- Nashville Sounds Baseball Club (First Horizon Park): The route passes near the park in Germantown.
- The Parthenon (Centennial Park): The marathon route often loops near this landmark, affecting nearby streets.
- Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD): They manage all official road closures and traffic control points.
To ensure a smooth Saturday, whether you are a runner, a spectator, or a resident, your best strategy is simple: Check the official map, plan your route, and leave early. The downtown area transforms into a pedestrian zone for the morning, and patience will be your most valuable asset.
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