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I’ve run the Chicago Marathon five times since 2002, but cheered even more often—and so has my husband Matt, who’s a semi-pro spectator at this point. (And hugely helpful in crafting this plan; in fact, we’ve even written a guide to spectating.) Thanks to a looped course and the city’s extensive public transit system, it’s possible to see runners multiple times either driving or taking the train.
Either way, you’ll need the Chicago Marathon app, which offers real-time race-day tracking and a detailed course map. Provided you can get reception, you’ll see exactly where your runner is on the course with astonishing accuracy. (Free, iOS, Android) You can search for runners by bib number or name, and star them in advance for easy access later.
The stops below are designed to give you enough time to spot your runner at any location, even for runners on the faster side of average—say, a 3:45 marathon.
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General rules of marathon spectating apply—the brighter your colors and your runner’s, the better. Consider bringing a flag, balloons, or other landmark even a fatigued marathoner can spot from far away. And make sure you explain beforehand where you’ll be, including which side of the street.
The Chicago Marathon website has good spectator info, including a downloadable PDF guide, if you want to craft your own plan—or, just follow one of these. (Click the links on each suggested stop to pull up a Google Map if you’re on the move.)
By Train
The elevated “El” train has sections that run above and underground, allowing you to bypass race-day street closures. Here’s what you need to know:
- Lines are designated by colors—the Red Line and Brown Line travel north and south; the Blue Line runs west and back east.
- Train fare is $2.50 each way; vending machines at stations sell $3 passes that cover one ride and two transfers. The best value is a $10 day pass. Or, you can order a reloadable Ventra card online in advance and connect it to your credit card.
- Helpful app: Transit (Free, iOS, Android) provides point-to-point directions, arrival times for each train, and even a map of each line that shows where every train is currently located. You can also find docking stations for Divvy, the city’s bike-sharing program—more on that in a minute.
The Plan by Train
- Spot 1 (Between Miles 1-2): Start downtown at the intersection of State Street and Lake Street, on the west side of State. Your runner should look nice and fresh passing south, so tell him or her to look for you on the right side of the street and then snap a photo with the iconic Chicago Theater sign as a backdrop.
- Spot 2 (Mile 3): Walk three blocks west on Lake Street to see runners heading back north on LaSalle Boulevard; again, you’ll be on their right. (Note: If your runner is clocking fast times, say 6-minute miles, you might want to skip this second viewing and head straight to the next spot.)
- Spot 3 (Mile 9): Walk back east on Lake Street to the Clark and Lake train station, entering on the north side of the street. Board the Brown Line north, to Kimball. You’re heading to the Lakeview neighborhood, a little to the south of Wrigley Field and near the northernmost section of the course. Go eight stops and get off at Belmont, then walk a half-mile east on Belmont Avenue to Broadway Street. Runners are heading back south to downtown; you’ll be on their right. If you prefer a rowdier crowd and have time, walk a couple blocks north. This is where the Frontrunners, Chicago’s LGBT running club, will have three stages set up hosting a military-style drill team, drag-queen cheerleaders, and dancers.
- Spot 4 (Mile 17): Head back to the Belmont Station, but get on the Red Line heading south, to 95th/Dan Ryan. After seven stops, at Jackson, transfer to the Blue Line to Forest Park. Go three stops to the UIC-Halsted stop, and walk west along the platform to take either the Peoria Street or Morgan Street exit. Do not exit at Halsted. Walk one block north on either Morgan or Peoria Street to Jackson Boulevard, and you’ll see runners heading east. You’ll be on their right. (Super speedy runners might beat you to this point—if so, move on to the next step.)
- Spot 5 (Mile 23): Get back on the Blue Line, heading to O’Hare, and go three stops. At the Jackson stop, transfer back to the Red Line south to 95th/Dan Ryan. Get off after five stops, at the Sox-35th stop, and exit at 35th Street. The course runs directly in front of the station. This is one of the least populated areas, spectator-wise, so your runner will be especially glad to see you on the left side.
- The Finish: Get back on the Red Line north, to Howard. If you want to give the finish a shot, get off after two stops, at Roosevelt, and head straight east toward the Museum Campus/Grant Park. Otherwise, go one more stop to Jackson and head east. Pass through the pedestrian gate—it’ll be labeled “Gate 1”—and you’ll eventually hit runner reunite, where runners will gather under letters representing their last names. (Tip: even if your last name’s Brown or Smith, there’s usually a smaller crowd by letters like Q and Z, so coordinate this with your runner ahead of time).
By Car
Spectating on four wheels works best if you have someone to drive, drop you off, and search for parking—but it’s still possible alone.
- Helpful apps:
- ParkChicago to pay parking meters by credit card and extend your time without heading back to your car. (Free, iOS, Android).
- SpotHero to search for, compare prices, and pay in advance for garages and other non-public parking. (Free, iOS, Android). Scope out marathon parking online in advance with the app’s handy marathon page, overlaying lots with the course map.
The Plan by Car
- Spot 1 (Mile 1): Find street parking or use parking app to pre-book a space near the corner of Ontario and Fairbanks Ct. Walk south until Fairbanks turns into Columbus, and you reach the corner of Grand and Columbus—the runners will be heading downhill toward you in a giant mass, so it will be hard to pick out your runner, but it’s an excellent photo op if you are lucky enough to spot them.
- Spot 2 (Mile 8): Head back to your car and west to Michigan Avenue. Turn right and drive north on Michigan, following signs for Outer Lake Shore Drive. Drive about four miles and exit at Irving Park Rd. Take the first available street parking and walk south one block to Sheridan. You will be on the runners’ right side.
- Spot 3 (Mile 14): Get back on Irving Park Road, go east, then make a right onto Lake Shore Dr., heading south. Drive about eight miles, exiting to I-55 South. Within 1 mile, take exit 292 for I-90 W/I-94W. Take exit 52C for Roosevelt Road. Turn right on Roosevelt and make the first left onto Jefferson. Go north on Jefferson toward Jackson. Find street parking or a SpotHero space near the corner of Jackson and Jefferson. Walk north to Adams Street to catch runners after the halfway mark. You’ll be on the runners’ left.
- Spot 4 (Mile 17): Walk back a block south to Jackson and head west over the highway bridge. You will be on the runners’ left.
- Spot 5 (Mile 22): Chinatown (around mile 21) has an impressive display of lion dancers who perform throughout the race, but it also has huge crowds. Avoid them by driving back east on 18th Street; turn right on State Street, then right again on 26th Street, where you can look for parking near Federal Street. (Or head the other way on 26th Street toward Wabash Avenue, where there are meters.) From Federal Street, walk about about a tenth of a mile west on 26th to look for your runner heading south on Wentworth.
- Spot 6 (Mile 24): From there, walk a half-mile back east on 26th Street to Michigan Avenue and catch the runners heading back north just past mile 24.
- The Finish: If you have a driver and a little luck, you can try to race to the finish line—hurry up State Street and get dropped off as close to Roosevelt Road as you can, then run east to Michigan Avenue and slightly north to the finish line on Columbus. Otherwise, park in one of the Millennium Park garages near Grant Park—reserve online in advance for a discounted rate—or search for an alternate on SpotHero. Head to runner reunite.
The Plan by Bike and Scooter
Divvy is the bike share system for Chicago. Here’s what you need to know:
- Divvy has 600 stations and more than 6,000 bikes across the city, so a bike is often only a short walk away.
- A single ride costs $3, but visitors should consider a day pass for $15, which covers an unlimited number of three-hour rides.
- Helpful app: Transit and the Divvy app, both of which allow you to plan routes, check the number of bikes and docks at each station, and purchase single-trip or day passes. You can also purchase rides by credit card at the kiosk at each station. [there is a still photo of the kiosk]
For scooters, Chicago is currently running a pilot program that allows 10 companies to operate scooters in a confined area (luckily for marathon spectators, it lasts until October 15). Each company can only put 250 scooters on the street, so availability in a certain location can vary widely from day to day.
- Only miles 14 to 20 of the marathon take place in the area west of Halsted St., where scooters are allowed.
- Helpful app: Transit shows the location of all of the scooters and gives links to download each vendor’s app. You’ll use the app to activate scooters when you find one—and to mark it returned when you’re done.
- Costs vary, but are typically in the range of $2 to $3 for a 10-minute ride.
Spot 1 (Mile 2.2): Start downtown at the southwest corner of LaSalle and Jackson. It’s easiest to get there via the CTA La Salle Blue Line stop or the Quincy Brown/Orange/Pink Line Stop. You are on the runners’ left side.
Breakfast: Fuel up for the journey. Walk west on Jackson about .3 miles to Lou Mitchell’s at 565 W. Jackson. You can walk from Spot 1. They have great omelets, and if there is a line for a table, they give you a delicious doughnut while you wait.
Spot 2 (Mile 14): From breakfast, the pace picks up! Walk to the corner of Adams and Jefferson. You’re on the runners’ left.
Spot 3 (Mile 18): Walk west to Desplaines and pick up a Divvy Bike on the northeast corner of Desplaines and Jackson. Ride south down Desplaines to Roosevelt, turn right on Roosevelt, and ride to Halsted and Roosevelt. Drop off your bike (make sure you push it securely into the dock until the green light illuminates), then walk one block north to Taylor Street. You are on the runners’ left.
Spot 4 (Mile 20): Open the Transit app, which has all of the scooter companies participating in Chicago’s scooter program. Find a nearby scooter and ride one block west to Morgan Street, then south to 18th Street—to 18th Street and Morgan; you’ll be on the runners’ left. If there is no scooter nearby, you can go back to the Divvy station at Halsted and Roosevelt, then ride to the station at 18th and Morgan (it’s on the northwest corner, so you’ll be able to deposit or pick up a bike as runners stream by in front of you).
Spot 5 (Mile 22): You will be on the runners’ left. Pick up a Divvy bike at 18th and Morgan, go north to 16th Street and turn right. Head east on 16th Street, right on Canal, then left on 18th Street. Ride about one more mile to State Street then turn right. At 26th Street, turn right and go to Wentworth. Keep your bike with you.
Spot 6 (Mile 24.5): Turn around and head east on 26th Street about a quarter-mile to Michigan Avenue. You will be on the runner’s left.
Finish Line! Head west to State Street, then ride north on to Harrison and drop your Divvy. If you have time and want to brave the finish line, walk or run south to Roosevelt Road and east to the finish line. Or, go straight east through gates 6 and 7 to runner reunite at Buckingham Fountain.
Cindy is a freelance health and fitness writer, author, and podcaster who’s contributed regularly to Runner’s World since 2013. She’s the coauthor of both Breakthrough Women’s Running: Dream Big and Train Smart and Rebound: Train Your Mind to Bounce Back Stronger from Sports Injuries, a book about the psychology of sports injury from Bloomsbury Sport. Cindy specializes in covering injury prevention and recovery, everyday athletes accomplishing extraordinary things, and the active community in her beloved Chicago, where winter forges deep bonds between those brave enough to train through it.
