Important Community Road Closure Information
Drivers are encouraged to adjust travel time by 1-2 hours. Be Aware. Plan Ahead.
Facts About the Event:
- The P.F. Chang's Rock 'n' Roll Arizona Marathon & ½ Marathon is the largest combined running event in the United States.
- P. F. Chang's Rock 'n' Roll Arizona brings over 34,000 runners and walkers to the Valley of the Sun.
- The two race routes will be lined with 70 live bands, 5,000 volunteers, and 40 high school cheer squads competing for cash and prizes in the "Spirit on the Course" competition.
- The P.F. Chang's Rock 'n' Roll Arizona Marathon & ½ Marathon is a major sporting event in Phoenix, Scottsdale and Tempe. Traffic delays are comparable to those experienced during the Fiesta Bowl.
- Charity participants at the P.F. Chang's Rock 'n' Roll Arizona event will raise over $5 million for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, American Diabetes Association, Phoenix Children's Hospital and more.
- An additional $40 million will be spent at Phoenix, Scottsdale and Tempe hotels, restaurants and businesses, greatly impacting businesses and residents of the Valley of the Sun.
Join the festivities! Local residents are encouraged to visit the Health & Fitness Expo at the Phoenix Civic Plaza Convention Center, volunteer during race weekend, line the course to cheer runners and/or attend the post-race headliner concert at Tempe Beach Park.
Freeway Information:
Click here to see the freeway/ramp closure grid.
No major freeways will be closed on race day. However, the following off-ramps will be completely closed. Please plan your travel route accordingly.
- From 51: Off-ramps to east and westbound McDowell Road will be closed 6:00 – 12:00 Noon.
- From 202: The eastbound off-ramp to north and southbound McClintock Drive will be closed 8:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
- From I-10: Off-ramps to 7th Avenue will be closed 4:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
- From I-10: The 16th Street exit (northbound) will be closed 6:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. The off-ramp to southbound 16th Street will remain open.
Some freeway traffic patterns will be affected. The following off-ramp detours will be in effect:
- From westbound 202: Traffic may only exit east on 52nd Street to turn right at Van Buren from 6:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
- From east and westbound 202: Traffic may only exit south on 32nd Street from 6:00 – 12:00 Noon.
- From east and westbound 202: Traffic may only exit south on 24th Street from 6:00 – 12:00 Noon
- From eastbound 202: Traffic may only exit north on 40th Street to 44th Street from 6:00 a.m. - 12 Noon. There is no access to southbound 44th Street from the eastbound 40th Street off-ramp from 6:00 a.m. – 12 Noon. 40th Street exits remain open.
- From westbound 202: Traffic may only exit north on 44th Street from 6:00 a.m. – 12 Noon.
- From east and westbound 202:
Traffic may only exit north on Scottsdale Road from 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
All major freeways throughout the Valley of the Sun will be open on race day, including I-10, 202, 143 and 51. However, expect delays, especially on I-10 around 7th Avenue and downtown Phoenix (6:00 – 9:00 a.m.) and on 202 around Mill Avenue, Scottsdale Road and Rio Salado Parkway (6:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.) If you need to travel around these areas during the peak times listed above, it is recommended that you drive around the course, rather than trying to cross it. Your altered travel plans may require driving a few extra miles or using a different freeway, but this will save you time in the end.
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2008 Popular Spectator Spots:
Start Line: Welsey Bolin Plaza
View 35,000 runners and walkers as they begin their 13.1-mile or 26.2-mile journeys at the start of the Marathon & ½ Marathon.
From I-17N: Exit 19th Avenue, Buckeye, Grant or Adams / Van Buren. Parking is available on 19th Avenue between Jefferson and Washington or off 18th Avenue between Van Buren and Monroe Street.
From I-10W: Merge onto I-17S and exit on Jefferson or Grant. Parking is located on 19th Avenue between Jefferson and Washington.
2008 Marathon Spectator Spots
Stage 9: Mile 8.6, 24th St. and Camelback
Calling all chic spectators. You’re sure to look fashionable while spectating between the glamorous Ritz Carlton and the stylish Biltmore Fashion Square.
From Scottsdale and Tempe: Head west on Camelback and park at the Biltmore Fashion Square parking lot just east of 24th Street.
From Downtown Phoenix: Take 51N to Highland, head east on Highland to 20th Street and park at the Town and Country parking lot. From here you can walk to stage 9.
From North Phoenix: Take 51S, exit on Coulter, turn left on Camelback and head east to the Town and Country parking lot on 20th Street. From here you can walk to stage 9.
Stage 13: Mile 13.2, 44th Street and Thomas
Meet the marathoners just past the halfway point. Give them that extra boost they’ll need to continue the second half or their 26.2-mile trek.
From 51: Exit east on Thomas Road to 42nd Street. Turn right on 42nd and park along the street. Stage 13 is within walking distance.
Stage 18: Mile 18.9, 1st Avenue and Marshall Way
Experience the heart of downtown Scottsdale, where you’ll find an array of fabulous restaurants, unique shops, exquisite art galleries and pumpin’ nightclubs - perfect for all of your post-race partying!
From 101: Exit west on Indian School Road to Scottsdale Road. Park on surface streets in downtown Scottsdale and walk to the stage located at the intersection of 1st Avenue and Marshall Way.
Stage 19: Mile 20.0, Scottsdale Road and Thomas
They’re almost finished! Help the runners through the “20-mile wall,” and catch a glimpse of P.F. Chang’s “Great WALL of Chocolate!”
From 101: Exit west on Thomas Road to Scottsdale Road. Park in the Albertson’s parking lot and walk to stage 19.
2008 ½ Marathon Spectator Spots
Stage 4: Mile 2.6, McDowell and 7th Street
Boogie with your favorite half-marathoners as they pick up the pace at mile 2.6.
From the 51: Exit west on Thomas and turn left on 7th Street. Parking is available in the Safeway lot located on McDowell and 7th Street.
Stage 15: Mile 12.3, Mill Avenue & Rio Salado
You’re sure to enjoy Downtown Tempe, where eclectic restaurants, shops and bars await. Watch the half marathoners enter the home stretch, just up the road from ASU.
From Loop 202, access Rio Salado Pkwy by exiting south on the Priest Drive, Scottsdale Road or McClintock Drive exits. Parking garages are available in downtown Tempe.
STAGE 16: Mile 12.9, Sundevil Stadium Parking Lot
The time has finally arrived! Be there to cheer as the half marathoners cross that glorious finish line. Then walk to the Finish Line Festival for some much-needed refreshments and fun. Follow the Finish Line directions below.
Finish Line Festival
Let the fun continue! Join your family and friends at the Finish Line Festival. Enjoy live music, refreshments and ice-cold beer from Michelob Ultra at Arizona State University’s (ASU) Sun Angel Stadium. The finish lines for the Marathon & ½ Marathon are in the parking lots between ASU’s Sun Devil and Sun Angel stadiums in Tempe.
From the 202: Exit south onto Priest Drive, turn left at University Drive and proceed to the parking lots on Ash Avenue, Mill Avenue or Rural Road, south of University.
From Tempe: Drive north on Mill Avenue or Rural Road to the parking lots south of University.
From the 101: Exit west on Broadway, turn right (north) on Rural Road or Mill Avenue and proceed to parking lots south of University.
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Road Closures
The Marathon & ½ Marathon will be run on two separate courses. The majority of road closures along the two routes will be between 6:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. The roads in the immediate start and finish areas will be closed longer. The first miles of the course will re-open prior to the latter miles of the course.
At 6:30 a.m., the Marathon course will be completely closed to all traffic; the 1/2 Marathon course will close to traffic at 7:30 a.m. During the race, cars may be allowed to cross the course only when safe to do so. Traffic metering will be monitored by police officers stationed along the courses.
Please Note: Metering vehicles across the race courses will be at the discretion of the police officer on duty. For easiest access, avoid the race course and follow directions around the road closures. Please note that during the peak race flow time (see road closure grid), the roads will be impassable.
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Recommended Access Routes
Specific Driving Directions:
Phoenix Area Directions:
For easiest entrance and exit between 6:00 am and 12 noon, please use the 51 freeway. Do NOT use the off ramps to east or westbound McDowell Road during this time period.
Scottsdale Area Directions:
For easiest entrance and exit between the hours of 7:00 am and 12:30 pm, please use the following directions:
- Entering: From east or westbound 202, exit Scottsdale Rd. and go north. Southbound Scottsdale Rd. will be closed at this location from 8:30 am until 3:30 pm. There will also be access to the Scottsdale "Area" from eastbound McDowell Rd. to southbound Scottsdale Rd.
- Exiting: There are a few options to leave the Scottsdale "Area":
- Take Scottsdale Rd. south to the east or westbound 202 freeway.
- Go north on Scottsdale Rd. to McDowell Rd., where vehicles may only turn left.
- Go west on Van Buren Street to westbound 202 or northbound 44th Street.
Tempe Area Directions:
For easiest entrance and exit between 6:00 am and 3:00 pm, please use Broadway Road or the 101 or 43 freeways. Expect increased traffic and heavy delays around Arizona State University and downtown Tempe until 3:00 pm. Do not use McClintock/Hayden Road, avoid Rio Salado Parkway, University Drive, Mill Avenue, 5th Street, and the area surrounding the finish line area at ASU's Sun Devil Stadium.
Between the hours of 6:00 am and 12 noon, please use the following routes for best access to the Phoenix Airport:
- From north Scottsdale: Take 101 south, to 202 west, to 143 south or 24th St., exit south and follow signs to the airport.
- From Tempe and Mesa: Take 101 north, to 202 west, to 143 south or 24th St. and exit south.
- From west Phoenix: Take I-17 south, to 10 east to 24th St. and exit south.
- From the Scottsdale "Area": From Scottsdale Road, take 202 west, to 143 south or 24th Street, exit south and follow signs to airport.
- From the Phoenix "Area": Take 51 south to 202 east. Exit south on 24th Street and follow signs to airport.
- DO NOT use southbound 44th Street to access the airport from 6:00 am to 12 noon.
- All access routes leaving the airport will be open during the race. At 44th Street, only left or right turns will be allowed from the airport between 6:00 am and 12 noon. No northbound traffic will be allowed on 44th Street from the airport.
Phoenix Zoo & Desert Botanical Garden:
The Phoenix Zoo and Desert Botanical Garden will be open during the event and accessible all day. Between the hours of 8:00 am and 12:30 pm, please use the following routes for best access:
- From east or westbound 202: Exit Scottsdale Road and go north, turn left at Curry Road (westbound), go about 1 ½ miles and turn right on Priest Drive. Go one mile (Priest becomes Galvin Pkwy) to the main Zoo entrance on the right. Traffic may also take the 143 expressway north to McDowell Road, and turn right on 64th Street / Galvin Parkway, proceeding south to the Zoo entrance. The Desert Botanical Garden is ¼ mile north of the Zoo entrance on Galvin Parkway.
- From the Scottsdale "Area": Use either westbound Curry Road (see directions above) or westbound McDowell Road to Galvin Pkwy.
- From the 202 Freeway: DO NOT use northbound Priest Drive or Center Pkwy to access the Zoo or Botanical Garden between 8:00 am and 12 noon.
- From Phoenix: DO NOT use eastbound Van Buren or McDowell (west of the 143) to access the Zoo or Garden between 8:00 am and 12 noon.
Biltmore Fashion Park
Expect road closures and delays on Missouri Avenue and 24th Street around the Biltmore Fashion Park until 10:30 am on race day.
- From the Phoenix area, take the 51 freeway to eastbound Bethany Home Road.
- From the Scottsdale area, access the Biltmore Fashion Park from the north/east whenever possible, using westbound Camelback Road (eastbound Camelback will be closed until 11:00 am).
Phoenix Art Museum
The Phoenix Art Museum is open 10:00 am – 5:00 pm on Sundays. On race day, expect road closures and delays on the streets surrounding the Museum, including Central Avenue and McDowell Road, until 9:45 am. At this time, the Marathon and ½ Marathon courses will have passed the Museum and visitors will be able to access Museum parking lots at Coronado Road and Alvarado Street.
Phoenix Library
Phoenix Public Library branches will open at 12:00 noon on race day. Closed roads surrounding the Burton Barr Library on Central Avenue will reopen by 10:00 am on race day for easy access to the main branch location.
Scottsdale Fashion Square
Scottsdale Fashion Square opens at 11:00 am on Sundays. Eastbound Indian School Road, between 48th Street and Goldwater Boulevard will be closed until 1:00 pm on race day. Eastbound Camelback Road will also be closed, between 24th Street and 44th Street until 11:00 am.
To avoid road closure delays, mall employees should use freeway 101, to connect with westbound Chaparral Road. Turn left on Scottsdale Road to access mall parking lots. After 11:00 am, Camelback Road will reopen and shoppers can easily access Scottsdale Fashion Square from both east and westbound Camelback Road.
Downtown Scottsdale
The Marathon course runs through historic downtown Scottsdale, along Indian School Road and Scottsdale Road. Eastbound Indian School Road will be closed from 48th Street to Goldwater Boulevard until 1:00 pm on race day. Southbound Scottsdale Road will be closed from Goldwater Boulevard to McDowell Road until 1:45 pm.
- From the 101 freeway, exit west on Indian School Road. The intersection of Scottsdale Road and Indian School Road is in the heart of downtown Scottsdale.
- From north Scottsdale, go south on Scottsdale Road, past Camelback Road. Turn right on Stetson Drive to access the Contemporary Arts District. Mile 19 of the Marathon course is near the intersections of Indian School Road and Goldwater Boulevard and Main Street and Marshall Way. Roads surrounding this part of the course will reopen at 1:15 pm.
