City of Oaks Marathon, Sunday, Nov. 1: 7 a.m. start at 400 Glenwood Ave., road closures from 3 a.m. to 1 p.m., parking decks and Oct. 30-31 packet pickup.

Last checked Oct. 27, 2026. Updated each year; the same page carries next year’s race. Facts come from the organizer, Capstone Event Group, on the City of Oaks Marathon website.

The Martin Marietta City of Oaks Marathon is Raleigh’s fall marathon weekend, with a full marathon, a half marathon, the Old Reliable 10K and the Acorn 5K. In 2026 all four run on Sunday, Nov. 1, starting at 7 a.m. at 400 Glenwood Ave. and finishing at 500 N. West St. This is the race’s 20th year. Registration stays open until 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31, if spots remain, on the organizer’s registration page.

Updated Oct. 27: the organizer has posted the start and finish addresses, the road closure schedule and race-day parking. The City of Raleigh and Raleigh Police will send race-morning alerts to anyone who texts RALEIGHOAKS to 888777.

Before you go

Race day: Sunday, Nov. 1

From the organizer’s race pages for the marathon, half marathon, 10K and 5K:

Race Wheelchair start Start Course closes
Marathon 6:55 a.m. 7 a.m. 1 p.m.
Half marathon 6:55 a.m. 7 a.m. 10:30 a.m.
Old Reliable 10K 7:15 a.m. 7:20 a.m. 9 a.m.
Acorn 5K 7:15 a.m. 7:20 a.m. 9:30 a.m. (two-hour limit)

Overall awards are at 9 a.m. for the 10K and 5K, 10 a.m. for the half and 11 a.m. for the marathon. The post-race party ends at 1:30 p.m. No 5K runner may start after 7:25 a.m. The organizer says the timeline can change and that it will email runners if it does.

Where: from the organizer’s 2026 athlete guide:

  • Start line: 400 Glenwood Ave. Portable toilets are on Tucker Street on both sides of the start, and customer service opens at 6 a.m. on the Whiskey Rose patio at North West and Tucker streets.
  • Finish line: 500 N. West St.
  • Gear check: opens at 6 a.m. next to Milk Lab at Smoky Hollow.
  • Post-race party: Smoky Hollow, until 1:30 p.m.

Every distance now starts in pace corrals printed on the bib, and the 10K moves to 7:20 a.m. with the 5K. Routes are on the course maps page; the organizer says the course may change before race day.

Road closures Sunday, Nov. 1

From the organizer’s detours and road closures page. The Raleigh Police Department may close roads near the start earlier, and police and course marshals will direct detours.

Road Closed Reopens
Glenwood Avenue, Peace Street to Hillsborough Street 3 a.m. 1 p.m.
Hillsborough Street, Pullen Road to Glenwood Avenue 7 a.m. 8 a.m.
Fayetteville Street, Davie Street to Morgan Street; Martin Street, Dawson to Fayetteville 7 a.m. 8 a.m.
Downtown: Dawson, McDowell, Salisbury, Wilmington, Edenton and East Morgan streets 7 a.m. 8:30 a.m.
Capital Boulevard southbound at the Peace Street exit 7 a.m. 8:30 a.m.
Western Boulevard westbound, Ashe Avenue to South Boylan Avenue; South Boylan, Western to Morgan 7 a.m. 7:45 a.m.
Ashe Avenue, Hillsborough Street to Western Boulevard 7 a.m. 8:30 a.m.
West Morgan Street, West Peace Street and Clark Avenue 7 a.m. 9:15 a.m.
Streets around the Raleigh Rose Garden; Oberlin Road, Clark to Hillsborough 7:15 a.m. 9:15 a.m.
Dixie Trail, Wade Avenue to Hillsborough Street; Clark Avenue, Dixie Trail to Faircloth 7:30 a.m. 9:45 a.m.
Horton Street at Lake Boone Trail 7:30 a.m. 12:30 p.m.
Faircloth Street, Beaver Dam Road to Hillsborough Street 7:30 a.m. 1 p.m.
Hillsborough Street, Pullen Road to the I-440 northbound ramp; Gorman Street at Hillsborough 7:30 a.m. 1 p.m.
Blue Ridge Road and Crabtree Valley Avenue near Homewood Banks Drive 7:45 a.m. Noon
North Hills Drive, Northbrook Drive to Hillock Drive 8 a.m. Noon

Johnson Street and North West Street by the start also close at 3 a.m. Check DriveNC.gov and our road closures page before you drive Sunday morning.

Race-day parking

The organizer’s parking page lists these, first come, first served, and asks runners to arrive by 6 a.m.:

  • State Deck 75 and State Deck 76, about 0.8 mile from the start
  • The garage at 413 N. Salisbury St. and the Green Square Deck, about 0.7 mile
  • Street parking by Fred Fletcher Park, about 0.55 mile
  • Street parking in the Forest Park neighborhood, about a third of a mile

Drop-off points are Wiley Elementary School and Peace and St. Mary’s streets. More downtown options are in our parking guide.

Packet pickup

From the packet pickup page:

  • Friday, Oct. 30, 3 to 6 p.m.
  • Saturday, Oct. 31, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
  • Where: Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek, 3801 Rock Quarry Road. Pickup is outdoors, and parking there is free.
  • There is no packet pickup on race day. The bib-mailing deadline has passed.

Registration, transfers and deferrals

Entry fees are on the organizer’s registration page. From its FAQs:

  • Registration closes one hour before packet pickup ends, if spots remain. Sign up on your own device; there is no registration at pickup.
  • Entry fees are not refundable. Transfers to another runner are allowed.
  • Deferring to next year costs $20, and the deferral window closes Oct. 22, 2026.
  • Switching to a shorter race is free; switching to a longer one costs the difference.
  • The full marathon course is a Boston qualifier, and the courses are USATF certified.
  • Pace groups are planned from 3:15 to 5:30 for the marathon and 1:45 to 3 hours for the half.

What to know

  • Rain or shine: races go ahead unless officials judge conditions too dangerous. If weather cancels the race, there are no refunds or transfers.
  • Strollers and pets: not allowed on the course. Runners with ADA service animals should email info@cityofoaksmarathon.com first and start in the last corral.
  • Course cutoffs: when the course closes, roads reopen and remaining runners move to the sidewalk without an official time.
  • Spectators: the organizer recommends watching at the start and finish. Live tracking and gear check are offered.
  • Results: sent by text to runners who opt in and posted on the results page; there is no results tent.

What this means for you

  • Running? Get your bib at Walnut Creek on Oct. 30 or 31; you cannot get one Sunday morning.
  • Driving Sunday morning, Nov. 1? Glenwood Avenue is closed from 3 a.m. to 1 p.m.; most other closures lift by 9:45 a.m.
  • Want to cheer? Go to the start on Glenwood Avenue or the finish on North West Street, where the organizer says crowds are best.
  • Clocks fall back an hour at 2 a.m. that morning, so the 7 a.m. start comes an hour later by your body clock.

More plans: things to do this month, parks and trails and walking and biking trails.

Frequently asked questions

Where does the City of Oaks Marathon start and finish?

The start line is at 400 Glenwood Ave. and the finish line is at 500 N. West St., both in the Glenwood South area downtown. The post-race party is at Smoky Hollow, according to the organizer’s 2026 athlete guide.

What roads are closed for the City of Oaks Marathon?

Glenwood Avenue from Peace Street to Hillsborough Street closes from 3 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 1. Most other downtown, Hillsborough Street, Rose Garden, Dixie Trail, Blue Ridge Road and North Hills closures fall between 7 and 9:45 a.m.; Faircloth Street and Hillsborough Street west of Pullen Road stay closed until 1 p.m.

When is the City of Oaks Marathon in 2026?

Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026. The full and half marathons start at 7 a.m., with wheelchair starts at 6:55 a.m.; the 10K and 5K start at 7:20 a.m.

Where is packet pickup for the City of Oaks Marathon?

At Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek, 3801 Rock Quarry Road, from 3 to 6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30, and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31. There is no race-day packet pickup.

What is the City of Oaks Marathon time limit?

Six hours for the full marathon, which closes at 1 p.m.; 3.5 hours for the half, closing at 10:30 a.m.; and two hours for the 10K and 5K.

Is the City of Oaks Marathon a Boston qualifier?

Yes. The organizer says the full marathon course is a Boston qualifier and the courses are USATF certified.

Can I run the City of Oaks Marathon with a stroller or dog?

No. Strollers and pets are not allowed on the course. ADA service animals are allowed if the runner emails the organizer first.