Road Closures and More about the Covenant Health Knoxville Marathon

Knoxville, TN (WOKI) – The 2026 Covenant Health Knoxville Marathon is this weekend.

• Dates: Saturday, April 11 – Sunday, April 12, 2026.
• Location: Downtown Knoxville, starting on the Clinch Avenue Bridge and finishing at World’s Fair Park.
• Race Schedule (2026):
  • Saturday, April 11: Covenant Health Kids Run (5:30 p.m.), Covenant Health 5K (7:00 p.m.).
  • Sunday, April 12: Full Marathon, Half Marathon, and 4-Person Relay (7:30 a.m.).
• New for 2026: The Knox Hills Challenge (Sat 5K + Sun Marathon) and Marble City Challenge (Sat 5K + Sun Half Marathon) offer extra medals and gear for participants in both days’ events.
• Virtual Option: In-person and virtual options are available, with registration for both open through RunSignup. 

• Course: The marathon is a Boston Marathon qualifier.
• Expo: The Goody’s Health & Fitness Expo takes place at the World’s Fair Exhibition Hall.
• Awards: $10,000 in cash awards are available for the top marathon and half marathon finishers.
• Road Closures: Expect closures in Downtown, Fort Sanders, and Sequoyah Hills on Sunday, April 12. 

There will be several road closures as a result of the race.

The details for specific road closures are as follows:

• World’s Fair Park Drive: Closed from start of race until half-marathon passes from 11th Street, then closure is moved to south of parking lot beside the Knoxville Museum of Art; closed on north end by Fort Kid.
• Clinch Avenue Viaduct from Henley to 11th streets: Closed throughout marathon weekend events.
• Clinch Avenue: Closed at the start of marathon, 5K and Covenant Kids Run from 11th to 16th streets and at end of marathon between Union Avenue to World’s Park Drive.
• White Avenue: Closed for 5K from James Agee to 22nd streets.
• Lake Loudoun Boulevard: Southbound lanes from Todd Helton Drive to Neyland Drive closed for marathon.
• Neyland Drive: Eastbound and westbound lanes closed for marathon from Walnut Street to Kingston Pike until turnaround is complete.
• Kingston Pike: Eastbound lanes closed between Neyland Drive and Cherokee Boulevard; traffic will be two-way in westbound lanes.
• Cherokee Boulevard: Southbound lanes closed.
• Blows Ferry Road: Westbound lanes closed.
• Alta Vista Way: Northbound lane closed.
• Noelton Drive: Right lane closed from Alta Vista Way to Kingston Pike.
• Kingston Pike: Right lane closed westbound from Noelton Drive to Forest Park Boulevard.
• Forest Park Boulevard: Northbound right lane closed from Kingston Pike to Newcom Avenue.
• Newcom Avenue: Closed from Forest Park Boulevard to Lebanon Street.
• Lebanon Street: Closed from Newcom Avenue to Third Creek Greenway.
• Tyson Park: Closed at Kingston Pike entrance and road closed sign inside Tyson Park at Highway 129 overpass.
• Cumberland Avenue: Right westbound curb lane closed from Tyson Park to 22nd street.
• 22nd Street: Closed for 5K from White to Clinch avenues. Closed for marathon from Forest to Cumberland avenues.
• 23rd Street: Closed for 5K from Clinch to Grand avenues.
• Forest Avenue: Closed for 5K from 13th to 21st streets. Closed for marathon from 17th to 22nd streets; continued closure from 17th Street east to 13th Street.
• Highland Avenue: Eastbound lanes closed from 11th to 13th streets.
• 11th Street: Closed from Highland to Western avenues.
• Grand Avenue: Closed for 5K from 19th to 23rd streets. Closed for marathon between both intersections with World’s Fair Park Drive.
• 21st Street: Closed for 5K from Grand to Forest avenues.
• Gay Street: Northbound right lane closed from Jackson Avenue to Summit Hill Drive.
• Magnolia Avenue: Closed between Gay and North Central streets.
• Central Street: Closed between Magnolia Avenue and Broadway.
• 3rd Avenue: Closed between North Central and Eleanor streets.
• Deery Street: Closed between 4th and Lovenia avenues.
• Lovenia Ave: Closed between Deery and Luttrell streets.
• Luttrell Street: Closed between Lovenia and Wells avenues.
• Wells Avenue: Closed between Luttrell and Eleanor streets.
• Eleanor Street: Closed between Wells and 3rd avenues.
• Fourth Avenue: Closed between Deery to Central streets.
• 5th Avenue: Closed between Hall of Fame Drive and Winona Street.
• Hall of Fame Drive: Closed between two intersections with 5th Avenue.
• Winona Street: Northbound lane closed between 5th and Washington avenues.
• Washington Avenue: Closed between Winona and Spruce streets.
• North Bertrand Street: Closed from Martin Luther King Jr. to McCalla avenues.
• Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue: Westbound lanes closed from North Bertrand Street to Summit Hill Drive.
• James White Parkway: Closed between State Street Connector to Sevier Avenue ramp.
• Sevier Avenue: Right lane closed from James White Parkway to Island Home Avenue. Closed on one eastbound lane hugging median from Island Home Avenue to James White Parkway Connector.
• Island Home Avenue: Closed from Sevier Avenue to Maplewood Drive; westbound traffic to use Hillwood Drive.
• Council Place: Closed from Sevier Ave to Gay Street Bridge.
• Hill Avenue: Closed from Gay Street to Hall of Fame Drive.

Road closure information courtesy of https://knoxvillemarathon.com/.

Maps of the courses and awards information and more are available at http://knoxvillemarathon.com.