The 23rd Annual University of Michigan Health - West Grand Rapids Marathon is scheduled for Sunday, October 18, 2026, and it will bring thousands of runners onto the streets of Grand Rapids. Race day will also mean a series of road closures across downtown Grand Rapids and the West Side, with advance notice now in place for motorists and residents.
The event is expected to draw between 4,500 and 5,000 runners over the 26.22-mile course. An optional early start is available at 7:00 a.m. on October 18, while runners will begin the course at the David D. Hunting YMCA at 8 a.m.
Where the race begins
The main start is at the David D. Hunting YMCA, with runners set to head out at 8 a.m. on Sunday. The marathon route then moves through downtown Grand Rapids and the West Side, creating the need for temporary street closures along the way.
For runners, the course is a full marathon distance and the city streets will provide the backdrop for the entire morning. For everyone else, the key message is simple: expect disruption in and around the race route while the marathon is under way.
Which streets are affected
Street closures are listed as advance notice for race day, with timing varying by location. The affected streets include Winter Street and Front from 7 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., Fulton Street from 7 a.m. to 8:30 a.m., Mt. Vernon and Seward from 7 a.m. to 8:45 a.m., Lake Michigan Drive and Watson from 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m., Leonard and Sixth from 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., Broadway and Monroe from 8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., Sixth and Fulton from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., Watson and Wealthy from 7 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., and Front and Garfield from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Other closures on the course include Monroe and Seward, Vernon and Seward, Lake Michigan and Leonard, Seward and Broadway, and the Coke Plant trailhead area. The marathon’s presence will be felt across Grand Rapids for several hours, especially where road access intersects with the route.
What comes next
With race day set for Sunday, October 18, the main details for drivers and runners are now clear: an 8 a.m. start at the David D. Hunting YMCA, an optional 7:00 a.m. early start, and several hours of street closures across downtown Grand Rapids and the West Side. For the city, it is one of the bigger fall events on the calendar.
