Marathon brings large crowds, road closures to Columbus

Drivers can expect to double their travel time through downtown Columbus this weekend with more than 18,000 people in the area for the annual Nationwide Children’s Columbus Marathon and Half Marathon.

The race starts at 7:30 a.m. Sunday, October 21, with Corrals opening at 6 a.m.

Tips from organizers of the Nationwide Children’s Columbus Marathon and Half Marathon:

• We recommend carpooling. It cuts down on traffic and parking problems for all and will save you money!
• Check out CoGo Bike Sharing (there are several bike stations within walking distance of the start/finish), taxis or Uber and Lyft for an alternative to driving downtown.
• Tell your family and friends to ride their bikes to meet you at the Race! Yay Bikes will offer free, secure bike parking at the Start/Finish, and we have also partnered with COGO Bike Share to develop a self-guided bike tour of the course that incorporates many of COGO’s 46 bike stations. For the route, click here.
• Make sure you know about any road closings/construction that may get in your way of being in your corral early. Check out Paving the Way's Website for the latest road construction information, including weekend work.

ROAD CLOSURES:
Thursday, Oct 18

• Long St. between Neil Ave. to Hocking St. will close at 9:30 a.m.

Friday, Oct. 19

• Long St. between Neil and Hocking St. (2 lanes only) will re-open from 6 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. for rush hour and then Long St. from Marconi to Hocking will close for the weekend at 9:30 a.m.
• Spring St. will be closed from West St. to Hocking St. at 11 p.m.
• Neil Ave. will be closed south of New Public Way to the combined Start/Finish Line at Long St. at 11 p.m.
• NOTE: Entrances and exits from all Nationwide parking lots and garages will remain accessible

Saturday, Oct 20

• Spring Street will re-open from 3 pm to 11 pm for the Columbus Blue Jackets’ home game; and then will close until 6 pm Sunday

Race Day, Sunday, Oct 21:

Starting at the start line on Long Street at 7:30 a.m. and for the 26.2 miles of the marathon course and the 13.1 miles of the ½ marathon course, roads will be subject to partial or full closure based upon the expected arrival times of the first and last athlete. Spring Street, Long Street and Neil Ave. will open back up to traffic at 6 p.m.

NOTE: On Sunday, COTA services will be disrupted in the downtown area and rerouted. Click here for more information on bus reroutes and times.

PARKING THROUGHOUT THE COURSE:

BEXLEY​

• ​Parking lot on the corner of Drexel and Main Streets​
• ​Residential streets in the vicinity​

GERMAN VILLAGE​

• ​Golden Hobby Shop located on the corner of Sycamore and Third Streets​
• ​Residential streets in the vicinity​

UPPER ARLINGTON​ ​

• Downtown Upper Arlington shops/Arlington Ave.
• Residential streets in the vicinity​
• Here’s a website that gives parking options in Upper Arlington

GRANDVIEW

• Here’s a website that gives parking options on Grandview Ave.

HARRISON WEST

• Residential streets in the vicinity

DIRECTIONS TO PARKING FROM THE NORTH
I-71 South to I-670 West
Exit at Third St. (on the Left)
Take Third St. to Chestnut St.
Right onto Chestnut St.
Choose a parking garage on Chestnut St.

(Alternately with this route)

Continue on Chestnut St. to High St.
Right onto High Street
Take High St. to Nationwide Blvd.
Left onto Nationwide Blvd.
Proceed on Nationwide Blvd.to available parking throughout the Arena District.

OR

I-71 South to I-670 West
Exit at Neil Ave.
Left onto Neil Ave.
Proceed on Neil Ave. to available parking throughout the Arena District.

OR

St. Rt. 315 South to I-670 East
Exit at Neil Ave.
Right onto Neil Ave.
Proceed on Neil Ave. to available parking throughout the Arena District.

DIRECTIONS TO PARKING FROM THE SOUTH
I-71 North to St. Rt. 315 North
St. Rt. 315 North to Long St.
Right onto Long St.
Long St. To Hocking St. (Police will direct)
Left onto Hocking St. to Nationwide Blvd.
Right onto Nationwide Blvd.
Proceed on Nationwide Blvd. to available parking throughout the Arena District.

OR

I-71 North (do not merge onto St. Rt. 315 North)
Exit at Fourth St.
Left onto Fourth St.
Fourth St. to Nationwide Blvd.
Left onto Nationwide Blvd.
Proceed on Nationwide Blvd. to available parking throughout the Arena District.

DIRECTIONS FROM THE EAST
I-70 West to Fourth St.
Right onto Fourth St.
Fourth St. to Nationwide Blvd.
Left onto Nationwide Blvd.
Proceed on Nationwide Blvd. to available parking throughout the Arena District.

OR

I-670 West
Exit at Neil Ave.
Right onto Neil Ave.
Proceed on Neil Ave. to available parking throughout the Arena District.

DIRECTIONS FROM THE WEST
I-70 East to I-670 East.
I-670 East to Grandview Ave.
Right onto Grandview Ave.
Grandview Ave. to Dublin Rd.
Right onto Dublin Rd.
Stay on Dublin Rd. (becomes Long St.)
Long St. to Hocking St. (Police will direct)
Left onto Hocking St. to Nationwide Blvd.
Right onto Nationwide Blvd.
Proceed on Nationwide Blvd. to available parking throughout the Arena District.

OR

I-70 East to Exit for Fourth St.
Turn left onto Fourth St.
Fourth St. to Nationwide Blvd.
Left onto Nationwide Blvd.
Proceed on Nationwide Blvd. to available parking throughout the Arena District.

OR

I-670 East to Neil Ave.
Right onto Neil Ave.
Proceed on Neil Ave. to available parking throughout the Arena District.