Baltimore Running Festival 2025 Triggers Major City-Wide Traffic Disruption

The 25th annual Baltimore Running Festival will cause significant traffic delays and road closures this Saturday. Over 14,000 runners are expected to participate in the day-long event. The Baltimore City Department of Transportation (BCDOT) has issued a major travel advisory.

Residents and visitors are urged to plan for severe disruptions. The festival includes a marathon, half-marathon, 5K, and 10K race. All courses are scheduled to conclude by 3:00 p.m.

Key Road Closures and Timings for Downtown Access

Street closures begin as early as Thursday for setup. According to the BCDOT, the most impactful closures start Friday evening. Pratt Street from Charles to Light Streets will fully close at 9:00 p.m. Friday.

On Saturday, major arteries will shut down for hours. Camden Street will close from 6:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Key Highway will be affected from 6:30 a.m. until noon. Pratt Street from Howard to President Streets faces a lengthy closure from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

These closures will make cross-town travel very difficult. Motorists should use routes north of 33rd Street or south of McComas Street. An interactive closure map is available online for real-time updates.

Parking Bans and Public Transit Alternatives

Dozens of streets will have parking restrictions from Friday evening through Saturday. Illegally parked vehicles will be ticketed and towed. Motorists must call 311 to locate a towed vehicle.

Strict commercial vehicle restrictions will also be enforced downtown. The BCDOT highly recommends using public transportation. The MTA Metro SubwayLink is the best option as it avoids all race routes.

Charm City Circulator service will be severely limited. Most routes will not operate from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Service is expected to resume later in the evening.

The Baltimore Running Festival is a major civic event that demands careful travel planning. City officials stress that using public transit is the most reliable way to navigate the widespread traffic disruption on Saturday.

Thought you’d like to know-

Which streets are closed the longest for the Baltimore Running Festival?

Pratt Street from Howard to President Streets faces an 11-hour closure from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Maryland Avenue and connecting streets from 29th to Pratt will also be closed from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

What is the best way to get around during the marathon?

The MTA Metro SubwayLink is the top recommendation as its route is unaffected by the race. Driving on roadways outside the immediate race footprint, like north of 33rd Street, is also advised.

What happens if my car is parked on a restricted street?

Vehicles parked in violation of posted signs will be ticketed and towed. Owners will need to call 311 to find the location of their impounded vehicle.

Are commercial trucks allowed downtown during the event?

No. Strict commercial vehicle restrictions are in effect from 2 a.m. to 4 p.m. This includes a ban on tanker trailers and most large trucks in the downtown core.

When will all roads reopen after the festival?

All race courses are scheduled to be cleared and reopened by 3:00 p.m. However, some major closures, like on Pratt Street, are not set to reopen until 6:00 p.m.