Unofficial fan guide · Chicago Marathon 2027

Where to stay for the 2027 Chicago Marathon

By · Last checked: 27 Oct 2026

In short

The 2027 Bank of America Chicago Marathon is on Sunday 10 October 2027, starting and finishing on Columbus Drive in Grant Park. Runners should stay in the Loop or South Loop, 10 to 15 minutes on foot from the Grant Park gates on Michigan Avenue. Supporters can also stay in the West Loop or Lakeview, right on the course and on the CTA trains. Drawing results come out on 8 December 2026, so book a room with free cancellation now.

Course sheet In race order, not to scale

  1. Columbus Drive at Monroe StreetStart in Grant Park, heading north
  2. Lincoln Parkmile 5 (km 8)Stockton Drive past the zoo, around the 8 km mark
  3. Broadway, Lakeviewmile 8.5 (km 14) · cheer spotThe Northalsted block party, around miles 7 to 9
  4. North Avenue, Old Townmile 11 (km 18)By the Sedgwick Brown Line station, then south on Wells Street
  5. Greektown, West Loopmile 14 (km 22) · cheer spotHalsted and Adams at mile 14, back on Jackson Boulevard at mile 17
  6. 18th Street, Pilsenmile 19.2 (km 31)Mariachi bands around mile 19, near the 18th Pink Line station
  7. Chinatownmile 21.5 (km 35) · cheer spotLion dancers near mile 21, at the Cermak-Chinatown Red Line station
  8. 35th Street, Bronzevillemile 23.2 (km 37)The southern tip of the course, then north up Michigan Avenue
  9. Columbus Drive, Grant ParkFinish south of Balbo Drive, after the short climb on Roosevelt Road

Race morning

Grant Park opens to runners at 05:30. Walk in, or take the Red or Blue Line (both run 24 hours) to Jackson or Monroe, then go through security at the Michigan Avenue gate that serves your corral (in 2026: Gate 1 at Jackson Drive, Gates 2 and 3 at Van Buren Street, Gates 4 and 5 at Ida B. Wells Drive). Gear check only takes the clear bag the race gives you. Corrals close at 07:20, 07:45 and 08:10 for wave starts at 07:35, 08:00 and 08:35, and the organizers suggest being in your corral about 20 minutes before it closes.

Where to stay

Pick an area to see hotels and rentals there at live prices.

AB The Loop1 South Loop2 River North and the Mag Mile3 West Loop and Greektown4 Lakeview and Wrigleyville5

Start Finish Acheer spot Course

Live map · The LoopHotels and rentals at live prices, Fri 8 Oct to Mon 11 Oct

Open the live map for The Loop ↗

Prices and availability come from booking sites through Stay22. Change the dates on the map if you are staying longer.

Plan ahead Book a free-cancellation room before the drawing results on 8 December 2026, because official Maritz bookings can be cancelled online at no cost until 14 September 2027.

Watch the race

Ride the CTA trains from north to south: Lakeview at mile 8.5, Greektown at miles 14 and 17, Chinatown at mile 21.5, then the reunion area in Grant Park.

  1. mile 8.5 (km 14)

    Broadway, Lakeview

    The Northalsted block party, drag queens included, lines the course around miles 7 to 9. Take the Red Line to Addison and walk four blocks east to Broadway, then after your runner passes, ride the Red Line south to Jackson and change to the Blue Line.

    Stays near Broadway, Lakeview ↗
  2. mile 14 (km 22)

    Greektown

    Get off the Blue Line at UIC-Halsted and walk two blocks north to Adams Street for mile 14, then one block back south to Jackson Boulevard to see your runner again at mile 17. From there, ride the Blue Line back to Jackson and the Red Line three stops south to Cermak-Chinatown.

    Stays near Greektown, West Loop ↗
  3. mile 21.5 (km 35)

    Chinatown

    Lion dancers perform in Chinatown near mile 21, and the Cermak-Chinatown Red Line station is right at mile 21.5. The Red Line is then one stop to Roosevelt, a short walk from the mile 26 Bank of America Cheer Zone at Michigan Avenue and Roosevelt Road.

    Stays near Chinatown ↗

  4. Meet your runner

    Spectators cannot enter the finish area, so meet at Runner Reunite in Butler Field, which opens at 09:30 and has A to Z towers to meet by last name. In 2026 spectators entered at Gate 1 (Jackson Drive and Michigan Avenue) or Gate 4 (Ida B. Wells Drive and Michigan Avenue); if your runner finishes after 15:30, meet instead in the area west of the finish line, entered at 11th Street and Michigan Avenue.

The official hotels, explained

Maritz runs the official hotel blocks and its 2027 booking site is already open, mostly with hotels in the Loop, River North and along the Mag Mile. Many of these hotels ask for a 2 or 3 night minimum; standard bookings can be cancelled free up to 72 hours before arrival, while the cheaper Prepay rates become non-refundable after 14 September 2027.

Official hotel offerOur maps
Who runs itMaritzEvery hotel and rental near each area
PricesAbout $254 to $575 a night (October 2026)Live prices from several booking sites
Minimum stay and cancellationOften a 2 or 3 night minimum. Standard bookings cancel free up to 72 hours before arrival; Prepay rates cannot be refunded after 14 September 2027.Filter for free cancellation
Need to buy a package?NoNo

See the official hotel offer ↗ · We link to the official option and explain its terms, so you can compare before you book.

When to book

  1. NowBook a room with free cancellation near the start.
  2. Thu, 29 Oct 2026Ballot closes.
  3. Tue, 8 Dec 2026Lottery results. The booking rush starts.
  4. Tue, 21 Sept 2027Official hotel deadline.
  5. Thu, 7 Oct 2027Expo opens. Collect your bib.
  6. Sat, 9 Oct 2027Last chance to collect your bib.
  7. Your cancellation dateKeep or cancel before it passes.
  8. Sun, 10 Oct 2027Race day.

Free guide

The Unofficial 2027 Chicago Marathon Where to Stay Guide

Every area, the race morning plan and the booking dates in one place, updated every year.

Questions

Where should I stay for the Chicago Marathon?

Stay in the Loop or South Loop if you can: both are 10 to 15 minutes on foot from the Grant Park gates on Michigan Avenue, where the race starts and finishes. River North is about 25 minutes away on foot or three stops on the Red Line. Supporters do well in the West Loop or Lakeview, which are right on the course.

Is it better to stay near the start or the finish?

In Chicago they are the same place. The start is on Columbus Drive at Monroe Street and the finish is on Columbus Drive south of Balbo Drive, both in Grant Park, and the Runner Reunite area is in Butler Field next to the start.

How do I get to the start of the Chicago Marathon?

Walk if you can. If not, the Red and Blue Lines run 24 hours to Jackson and Monroe, a few blocks from the gates. Grant Park opens to runners at 05:30, and you enter through the security gate on Michigan Avenue that serves your corral.

Where is the best place to watch the Chicago Marathon?

Popular spots are Lakeview around miles 7 to 9 (Red Line to Addison), Greektown at miles 14 and 17 (Blue Line to UIC-Halsted), Pilsen at mile 19 (Pink Line to 18th) and Chinatown at mile 21.5 (Red Line to Cermak-Chinatown). The race's own Bank of America Cheer Zones are at mile 13 on Wacker Drive and at mile 26 near Michigan Avenue and Roosevelt Road.

Where do I meet my runner after the Chicago Marathon?

Spectators cannot go into the finish area. Meet at Runner Reunite in Butler Field, which opens at 09:30 and has A to Z towers for meeting by last name, and enter Grant Park from Michigan Avenue at Jackson Drive or Ida B. Wells Drive.

When should I book a hotel for the 2027 Chicago Marathon?

Now, with free cancellation. Applications close at 14:00 Central time on 29 October 2026, drawing results come out on 8 December 2026 and selected runners must pay by 15 December 2026, while official Maritz bookings can be cancelled online at no cost until 14 September 2027.

Official race site ↗ · Sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20