Course identity

The Chicago Marathon starts in Grant Park, runs through many Chicago neighbourhoods and returns to Grant Park for the finish. This page pins the 2026-chicago-official-course version using the organiser's public material from Chicago Marathon.

A same-place start and finish simplifies accommodation and post-race movement, but a city loop crosses many neighbourhoods where weather and wind can differ. Use the official map to confirm the version; do not infer road closures or aid stations from a third-party track.

Verified facts

• Start and finish are both in Grant Park, making this a city loop.
• The official material says the route passes through many Chicago neighbourhoods; this page does not turn it into a downloadable track.
• An official course-map PDF is published, but no redistributable public GPX.
• Distance basis: Official 26.2 miles / 42.195 km.
• Elevation basis: The official page does not give a climb figure verified for this site, so it remains unknown here.
• The map anchor is a RunMap editorial overview location, not an official start, finish or course coordinate.

What this page does not provide

This site has no redistributable course track; where the organiser publishes a map, the official page remains the final authority. It does not treat a third-party track, illustration or elevation sketch as official geometry; race-day routes can also change because of construction, weather or safety arrangements.

How to use this page

Treat it as a pinned-version entry, not a navigation tool. Confirm the year, category and direction, then check the organiser's technical material for that edition. Use the pace calculator for arithmetic and read the marathon distance for training context. Ultra and trail races also require separate checks of mandatory kit, aid spacing, weather windows and escape options.

Sources and reuse

This original explanatory text was prepared by the RunMap editorial desk from Chicago Marathon's public material and is licensed CC BY 4.0. Event names, official marks, official route text and official files remain the property of the organiser; This site has no redistributable course track; where the organiser publishes a map, the official page remains the final authority.