Twin Cities Marathon 2025: Race routes, start times and road closures
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The Twin Cities Marathon expects to have around 30,000 runners gather for competitions this weekend, ranging from a 5K to the full marathon between Minneapolis and St. Paul, ending at the state Capitol grounds.
This could be one of the largest turnouts to the weekend of events since the COVID-19 pandemic, with 9,200 marathon runners and 11,700 participating in the 10-mile race.
If you want to watch the runners — or hope to avoid road closures over the big weekend — here’s what you need to know for the annual footrace.
Traffic
Watch for closures along the race routes over the weekend. Race day restrictions begin at 5 a.m. Sunday, with the start of the race at Sixth Street and Portland Avenue near U.S. Bank Stadium. Roads in downtown Minneapolis from Fifth Avenue to 11th Avenue and from Sixth Street to Third Street will be closed starting at 5 a.m. for the start line setup and reopen around 9 a.m.
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Roads following the marathon route will be closed and reopen as the participants finish passing through the route.
The course heads through the Minneapolis Chain of Lakes, following Minnehaha Parkway, then east to West River Parkway, crossing the Mississippi River on Franklin Avenue, then heading down Summit Avenue to eventually reach the finish line at the state Capitol grounds.
Some tips from the marathon organizers on best ways to navigate the Twin Cities during race days:
Use I-94, I-35W and I-35E to move widely across the Twin Cities metro on Sunday.
To cross Minnehaha Parkway, use Nicollet Avenue, I-35W or Highway 55/Hiawatha Avenue.
To cross the river, use I-94, the Lake Street/Marshall Avenue bridge or Ford Parkway bridge.
To get north or south of Summit, use Ayd Mill Road.
Expect street closures near the state Capitol in St. Paul starting Thursday and throughout the weekend.
Expect street closure on Summit Avenue east of Snelling Avenue on Saturday morning.
The Marion Street exit from eastbound I-94 will be closed both Saturday morning and Sunday. Use the Dale Street exit instead.
Expect street closures in downtown Minneapolis in the early morning on Sunday.
Motorists are reminded to take note of hooded meters and no parking signs along and near racecourses.
If you’re using smaller transportation, like bikes or scooters, you’re not permitted to ride on the marathon course.
Weather
All this week, temperatures are expected to be above average throughout Minnesota. Since the 2023 marathon race was cancelled because of high temperatures of 91 degrees, Twin Cities Marathon officials are closely monitoring the weather for the start of the races on Saturday and Sunday.
Charlie Mahler, a spokesperson for the Twin Cities in Motion, the organization that hosts the marathon events, said while the temperatures are expected to be warmer than normal for October, the conditions are vastly different than in 2023, when it was hotter, more humid and sunnier.
“We’re anticipating running under an EAS Yellow Flag (less than ideal conditions) for the races on both Saturday and Sunday,” Mahler said in an email to MPR News. “The current forecast is much different than 2023, where we anticipated EAS Red Flag (potentially dangerous) conditions from the start of the week, and late changes in the forecast prompted the Black EAS Flag (extreme and dangerous conditions) and cancellation.
Participants will be alerted of a cancellation from the race via email, and updates will also be shared on the marathon website, app and on social media.
Following the Twin Cities Marathon cancelling the race in 2023, the organization commissioned a study to examine weather patterns and the possibility of moving the race to later in the fall, but the organization decided to stay with the first weekend of October.
However, last year marathon president Dean Orton told MPR News that moving the date in 2026 is a possibility, with the goal to have more “green-flag conditions” for the events.
Expanded accessibility
Last year, organizers started a handcycle program after disabled athletes pushed for inclusion. Mahler said this year the event has seven handcycle participants registered, a growing number he said the organization is pleased to see.
Orton also said the marathon will be extended from a 6-hour run time to 6-and-a-half hours to boost accessibility.
“It’s not an insignificant feat,” Orton said. “It sounds simple, but there’s a lot that goes into this.”
Half marathon
After introducing the Twin Cities half marathon at last year’s event, the shorter distance race will return for a second year with a focus on fundraising and charity.
Nearly 400 runners have raised funds for charity to compete in the race over the weekend.
The course starts at the Lake Nokomis Beach parking lot and will continue along the same course as the marathon, ending at the state Capitol in St. Paul.
The half marathon will start 9:30 a.m. Sunday.
Search for volunteers
It takes nearly 5,000 volunteers to keep the race and events running. Roles can include everything from helping at both the start and finish line, fluid stations, lead biker, transportation or course marshal.
If you’re interested in helping the race and runners for the big event, check out the Twin Cities in Motion website and fill out a form.
Watching the marathon
Organizers highlight recommended spectator spots on the 10-mile and marathon maps, including the finishing stretch down Summit Avenue in St. Paul and — for the marathon — the Chain of Lakes in Minneapolis.
The marathon course will be closed to vehicles.
Keep an eye out for creative cheer teams that are participating in the Diane and Alan Page Community Cheer Challenge, inspired by former Minnesota Supreme Court Justice Alan Page and his wife, who’s known for playing a sousaphone at mile 5. Nearly 60 cheer zones will be located along the race track, and spectators and participants can scan a QR code for their favorite cheer team and help them win a prize for a selected charity.
Elite runners to watch
Runners from around the globe and across the Midwest will be among the participants in the races this weekend.
Minnesota native and long-distance Olympian Joe Klecker is among the big names who will be lacing up on Sunday for the Medtronic TC 10 mile.
“Growing up, I worked at a local running store, Twin Cities Running, and every year I would help out with their cheer station which is at mile 24 of the marathon,” Klecker said. “So I remember being down there most years, watching the marathon go by.”
Klecker is a Hopkins High School alum. He says at the time, he imagined himself running the Twin Cities Marathon when he was older.
Along with Klecker, 10 mile runner-up Yemane Haileselassie and 2021 U.S. 10 mile champion Biya Simbassa will return to the race.
For the marathon, last year’s men’s runner-up Tesfu Tewelde will be back to compete for the top finish, as well as defend his title at the Best of the Midwest Invitational. Tewelde will represent Wisconsin. Elisha Barno and Nicolas Rotich — who is a six-time winner of Grandma’s Marathon in Duluth — both of Kenya, are expected to be top contenders as well.
In the women’s marathon race, ultramarathon runner and Minnesota native Courtney Dauwalter joins a packed crew of road racing specialists including Allie Kieffer of West Islip, N.Y., Annmarie Tuxbury of Blowing Rock, N.C., and Jane Bareikis of Crestwood, Ill. in the race.
And in the 2025 wheelchair race, men’s defending champion Fidel Aguilar and 2022 champion Wyatt Willand are expected to be a tough competition. Veronica Gonzalez, who won in 2024, will compete against two-time winner Hannah Babalola.
