Starting at the crack of dawn on Sunday, thousands of people from across the globe will flood the streets of Miami for the annual race, which begins at the Kaseya Center (formerly known as FTX Arena), runs across the MacArthur Causeway to Ocean Drive, circles back downtown, and loops through Coconut Grove before heading north to the finish line at Bayfront Park.
It's an exciting weekend for marathoners and Miamians alike — but for those not participating, it can be a hellish time to hit the roads.
The event, in its 22nd year, incudes three components throughout the weekend: the 5k race on Saturday and the 13.1-mile half-marathon and full 26.2-mile marathon on Sunday. Biscayne Boulevard closures began Friday and will continue through Sunday afternoon (detailed closure times are listed in the marathon traffic advisory).On Saturday, Jan. 27 the Life Time Tropical 5k will race through the city and on Sunday, Jan. 28, the 22nd Annual Life Time Miami Marathon and Half Marathon will return with thousands of participants running through Miami Beach.
— City of Miami Beach (@MiamiBeachNews) January 22, 2024
View traffic impacts: https://t.co/oXV0M29VJc pic.twitter.com/YM7D9Y5peI
On Saturday, two of the eastbound lanes of the MacArthur Causeway will be closed from 4 a.m. to 9 a.m., and Alton Road will be blocked off from 5 a.m. till 9:30 a.m.
The closures become more widespread on Sunday as the marathon routes extend into downtown and Coconut Grove.
Here are some areas you might want to avoid on Sunday:
Downtown/Brickell: 5:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
MacArthur Causeway: 5:00 a.m. – 8:10 a.m.
Miami Beach: 5:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
Venetian Causeway: 6:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
Rickenbacker: 6:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Coconut Grove: 7:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
On Sunday, street closures will begin in Miami and Miami Beach at 5 a.m. and will start to taper off around 11 a.m. following the tail of the race. Two of the eastbound lanes on the MacArthur Causeway will be closed from 5 a.m. till 8:10 a.m., and the Venetian Causeway westbound will be shut down from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m.
"Shortly after the last participant finishes the race, all road closures except for Biscayne Boulevard counter-flow will re-open. The Biscayne Boulevard counter-flow is estimated to be opened at approximately [5 p.m.]," a downtown traffic advisory reads.
The city is recommending that drivers heading to Miami Beach between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m. on Sunday utilize the Julia Tuttle Causeway.
You can find a full list of marathon road closures here.
