The Delaware Marathon Running Festival endeavors to be a good neighbor.  Here are some things you need to know about race day traffic. 

The Start is at 7:00 am. The Finish is at 1:00 pm.  All events start and Finish at Tubman Garrett Riverfront Park at S. Market Street (US 13) and Rosa Parks Drive (Water Street). 

Brief Course Description:

The marathon and half marathon course proceeds from Tubman Garrett Riverfront Park to Water Street to West Street to Justison Street.   After a loop on the RiverWalk, the runners head out S. Front Street to E. 4th Street to N. Walnut Street.  They proceed up N. Walnut from E. 4th to E. 16th, where they cross the Market Street Bridge (Brandywine River). They proceed up N. Park Drive and cross the swinging foot bridge and return on the jogging path to N. Adams Street, where the runners head up S. Park Drive, to Lovering Avenue to Kentmere Parkway to Bancroft Parkway. The runners turn left on Bancroft, cross Delaware and Pennsylvania Avenues and loop through Wawaset Park via W. 11th Street. After returning to Bancroft Parkway, the runners turn left on W. 9th, and right on N. Union, and left on W. 4th, and left on N. Lincoln, and left on W. 9th before returning to the downtown via Bancroft, Kentmere, and S. Park Drive. Turning right onto N. King Street, the runners return to the Riverfront by crossing by Rodney Square. They finish at S. Market Street and Rosa Parks Drive. The marathon runners then proceed to do a complete second lap.

Roads Closed:

Rosa Parks Drive from S. Market to S. French Street (all weekend long)

S. Market Street from MLK Boulevard to the S. Market Street bridge 7:00 am - Noon.

Water Street from S. Market to West Street 6:50 am to 7:30 am

Other streets on the course will be temporarily blocked during the race but will allow intermittent vehicle traffic.    

Suggested Detours:

S. Market Street Bridge:  Proceed out E. 4th Street (Rte 9) crossing the Christina River to S. Heald Street to A. Street.  Return to Route 13S.    

From PA - Rte 52 South (blockage at N. Bancroft Parkway): – Right onto Greenhill Avenue to W. 4th Street or to Lancaster Avenue. (Do not cut through West 11th Street, MacDonough Drive, or West 7th Street or you will have to cross the course)

From Downtown - Rte 52 North: (blockage at N. Bancroft Parkway) – Left onto N. DuPont Street to Lancaster Avenue, right onto Greenhill Ave to PA Ave North. Vehicle traffic will be funneled to one lane.

From Rockford Park South at Delaware Art Museum: Right onto Woodlawn Avenue to Delaware Ave. (Note: runners proceed on Bancroft Parkway all the way from Kentmere Parkway to West 9th Street)

From North Wilmington (blockage at the North Market Street bridge): Right onto W. 18th Street up to Washington St. Left on Washington Street and across the Washington Street bridge into downtown Wilmington.

Union Street at Ninth Street: the runners cross Union Street at Ninth Street and proceed to Fourth Street. They return via Lincoln Street from Fourth Street to Ninth Street. Expect delays in this area. Vehicle traffic will be funneled to one lane. Your best option is to stay on PA Ave, turn left onto Greenhill Ave, and turn left onto Lancaster Ave. Remember, the runners run on Union, Lincoln and Bancroft.

Best Option from I-95 to reach the Amtrak/Bus Station: I-95 to I-495 North to Rte 13 North to S. Walnut Street. Optional: Take Exit 6 (MLK Blvd) off I-95, left onto N. West Street right on W. 4th Street, (cross the running course at 4th & King), right onto Poplar St, right onto E 2nd Street, left on S. French Street.