Road closures begin for St. Jude Marathon weekend
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC) - Memphians and Mid-Southerners are preparing for one of the biggest weekends of the year here in the 901. The 2025 St. Jude Memphis Marathon Weekend is officially here, and tens of thousands of runners are set to lace up for an incredible cause.
More than 22,000 participants will take to the streets Saturday, weaving through Downtown and Midtown Memphis to raise money for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital—helping save lives and support families facing childhood cancer and other life-threatening illnesses.
Major Landmarks Along the Route
The marathon course will stretch across the city and pass several iconic Memphis locations, including:
- Beale Street
- Overton Park
City officials say the goal is to create a safe, smooth experience for both runners and residents throughout the day.
Road Closures Begin Soon
Within the next hour, Union Avenue will close to all traffic and parking from B.B. King Boulevard to Danny Thomas Boulevard. Additional temporary closures will roll out across the city throughout race day.
To navigate these changes, officials are urging residents to download the Waze app for real-time detours and traffic updates.
Police Prepared for a Large-Scale Event
Memphis Police Department’s Col. Willie Mathena says the department is fully prepared for the size and scale of this year’s race.
“We have more than 212 traffic control points, and we have more than 450 personnel that we use for this race. This race—it’s huge.”
Mathena also advises anyone with appointments or time-sensitive plans to leave at least 30 minutes early to ensure timely arrival amid the closures.
Race Day Schedule
The full lineup of events kicks off early Saturday morning:
- 5K — 7:00 a.m.
- 10K, Half Marathon, & Full Marathon — 8:00 a.m.
A full list of street closures and course maps is available through race organizers.
For more information on road closure, click here.
Click here to sign up for our newsletter!
Click here to report a spelling or grammar error. Please include the headline.
Copyright 2025 WMC. All rights reserved.