2024 Houston Marathon Guide: Course, Closures, Spectating & Specials

Prepare for the 2024 Chevron Houston Marathon & Aramco Half Marathon with our guide to course info, street closures, spectating spots, and post-race specials on Sunday, January 14, 2024.

The 52nd Chevron Houston Marathon and Aramco Half Marathon returns to the streets of the city, sending runners from Downtown Houston to spots throughout the inner and outer loop.

With so much taking place across Houston on Sunday, we’ve gathered some of the most vital information for runners and spectators alike.

Get in the know with Sunday morning’s forecast, course information and street closure times, the best places along the route to cheer on runners, and a handful of post-race specials to celebrate this massive achievement.

What to know about the 2024 Houston Marathon & Half Marathon

A Cold Weather Forecast

In case you missed it, an Arctic outbreak is expected to sweep through the United States and into Houston in the coming days.

Current—though still a bit uncertain—forecasts from Eric Berger and Matt Lanza over at Space City Weather have the front crossing into Houston by sunrise on Sunday morning.

That will mean frigid temperatures for runners and spectators alike, so be prepared if you’re planning on being out in the morning to support participants.

At this point, expect temperatures in the 30s with northerly winds and low expectations for rain. Keep an eye on Space City Weather as the big day nears.

Marathon Course Info & Street Closures

In general, the route sends runners in both races out of Downtown and through Washington Avenue, Waugh Drive, River Oaks, Upper Kirby and east along Bissonnet.

The course then splits, sending half-marathoners up Montrose to Allen Parkway and into Downtown to the finish line.

Marathoners will head to the Medical Center, around Rice University, through West University to the Galleria, up through Tanglewood, and down the length of Memorial Drive and Allen Parkway into the Downtown area.

Street closures begin for the entire course around 6am and remain closed anywhere from two to eight hours, depending on the route. All roads should be reopened around 2pm.

Washington Avenue opens earliest around 8:30am, while roads in Montrose and River Oaks will open between 9am and 11am.

Streets south of US-59 will reopen between 10am and 11am, with Memorial Drive opening after 12:30pm and Allen Parkway reopening around 2pm.

Find more information on Houston Marathon course routes and street closures.

The Best Spots for Marathon Spectators

If you’re planning to head out and cheer on runners, the most crowded and difficult-to-reach spots will be in Downtown Houston for the start and finish of the marathon.

Spectators are permitted to cross the route only at times where it does not interfere with runners. Vehicle crossing will be prohibited while streets are closed.

You can also track your runner during the race to determine when they’ll be passing your spot.

Here are some of the best spots along the route to cheer on runners during the Marathon and Half Marathon:

• Mile 1-2: Washington Avenue – If you want to provide a boost at the start of the race, this stretch of Washington will see both marathon and half-marathon runners sharing the course until they head south on Waugh toward River Oaks. Parking can often be found a block away along Center Street, but crossing the course will be quite difficult as runners will be bunched up at the beginning of the race.
• Mile 3 & 24 (Half Marathon Mile 11): Waugh at Allen Parkway – This junction at Waugh is a great place to see runners at the beginning of the race in the third mile, then a few blocks east at the end of the race as they turn toward Downtown for final stretches of both the half marathon and full marathon. If you’re watching from within the route, then you’ll have most of Montrose to yourself before streets open back up later in the afternoon, so snag a coffee and breakfast before runners hit the home stretch.
• Mile 6-7: Baileson Brewing Company – The Bissonnet brewery continues their tradition of handing out beer samples to runners as they head toward the route split in Museum District. Stop by and help out while cheering on participants along the tree-covered street.
• Half Marathon Mile 10: Westheimer & Montrose – One of the city’s biggest crossroads also marks 10 miles for half marathon runners. Crowds can thin out at this pivotal stretch through Allen Parkway, so join in to cheer them on as they search for that final push through Montrose.
• Mile 14-15: Post Oak Boulevard – This section of the route sends marathon runners past the Galleria and into the Tanglewood neighborhood, before the final winding stretch along Memorial Drive. Just past the halfway point, crowds can be thin along this part of the route, so help be the motivator many runners need during this quieter section. Parking is available at the Galleria.
• Mile 22-23: Memorial Drive – Just a few miles from the finish line, this stretch past Memorial Park is one of the best places to rally runners outside of the more congested areas near Downtown. Plus, ample street parking can be found in the surrounding neighborhoods. If you want to take in a new runner tradition during the race, then move west before Mile 22 at the landbridge tunnels and catch runners letting it all out as they scream while passing through.

Find more information on spectator hot spots for the Houston Marathon.

Post-Marathon Specials

Participants in the Marathon can take advantage of a handful of specials available from area breweries and other Houston hot spots:

• True Anomaly Brewing in EaDo – Just blocks from the finish line, True Anomaly will open early on Sunday, treating runners to a free short pour of a draft beer of their choice, including non-alcoholic offerings like the Boldy Hop Water or Fauxpo Chico. Open at 10am.
• Frost Town Brewing in Downtown – On the north side of Downtown, this brewery hosts an after-marathon party with smash burgers and DJ tunes to follow in the afternoon. Plus, you can get a custom poster with your finishing time printed on it. Open at 10am.
• Axelrad in Midtown – Head to the neon beer garden and show your race bib for a free beer or non-alcoholic beverage.
• Cafe Leonelli in Museum District – The MFAH casual cafe is offering the Amore Di Cafe, a chocolate-dipped cookie decorated with runners. The cookies are $6 each and available from Friday through Sunday.
• Juiceland at Multiple Locations – Bring your race bib to any Houston location of the juice bar and receive $3-off your order.

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Don’t Miss Out on Tomorrow’s Fun!