Chicago Marathon 2026 Street Closures and Best Viewing Spots

My parents are coming in from Michigan for marathon weekend and are really excited to see it, but they're in their 70s and can't stand for 3 hours straight. We live near Lawrence and Sheridan. I was thinking of walking over to Broadway to watch the runners come through the turnaround, but I have no idea what to expect. Is it a total zoo? Are there any coffee shops or restaurants with windows right on the course around there where we could get a seat? I'm worried if we get on the wrong side of Broadway we'll be trapped for hours and can't get back to my place. Any tips for watching in the Uptown/Buena Park area without it being a huge ordeal?

Hey Maria, it's definitely a party on Broadway but it gets packed, especially right at the turnaround by Addison. We're on Buena and people start claiming spots with chairs by 7:30 AM. My advice is to go south of Irving Park Road, the crowds thin out a tiny bit. You can cross the street between packs of runners early on, but by 9:30 AM it's a solid wall of people. Honestly, there aren't many places with seats and a view. The cafes get swamped and you won't be able to see over the people standing outside. Your best bet is to bring your own folding chairs.

I'd skip the north side turnaround entirely if your parents need to sit. The crowds are just too deep. You should take the Red Line down to North/Clybourn and walk over to Wells Street in Old Town. That's around mile 10-11. Lots of bars and brunch places put tables out on the sidewalk. You can get a coffee or a bloody mary and have a guaranteed seat with a perfect view. The runners are still fresh and the energy is amazing. It's way more manageable than the chaos up by Wrigleyville.

Oscar's right that Old Town is a good option. But if you want the best energy, you come to Halsted for mile 8. Yes it's loud and crowded, but it's the most fun you'll have watching. A tip for your parents: set up on the west side of Halsted, maybe near Aldine. It's slightly less of a bottleneck than right at Belmont, and you avoid having the morning sun right in your eyes. You can get pretty close to the action there without being ten people deep.

If you really want to avoid the biggest crowds, take the Pink Line down to 18th in Pilsen. That's around mile 19. The crowds are much thinner, more families and neighborhood folks. You can get a spot right up against the barricade without showing up at sunrise. The vibe is incredible, tons of local bands playing. It's a totally different experience seeing the runners that deep into the race. And you won't have to deal with any of the north side street closures to get home.

Just a general warning wherever you end up: cell service becomes basically useless along the entire course. Don't plan on texting your parents to meet up. Pick a very specific corner and a time and stick to it, because your calls and texts will not go through from about 8am to noon.

Wow, this is all so helpful, thank you everyone. That tip about cell service is something I would have never thought about. And Beth, thanks for confirming my fear about trying to cross Broadway, that would have been a disaster. The Old Town idea sounds perfect, I think my dad would love getting a real seat at a cafe. The Pilsen idea is really interesting too. I'm going to show my parents both options and see what they're feeling. At least now we have a solid plan A and B. Much appreciated!