Your Guide to the Publix Atlanta Marathon: What to Know, Where to Go, and How to Navigate Race Weekend

The Publix Atlanta Marathon is one of the city’s biggest running events, drawing local runners, visiting athletes, and thousands of spectators to the streets of Atlanta, Georgia each year. Whether you’re planning to run, cheer from the sidewalk, or just figure out how to get around town that weekend, understanding how the marathon works specifically in Atlanta makes race day much smoother.

What Is the Publix Atlanta Marathon?

The Publix Atlanta Marathon is an annual road race held in and around downtown and Midtown Atlanta, usually in late winter or early spring. It’s organized by Atlanta Track Club, a long-established running organization based in the city.

Most years, the weekend includes:

• Full marathon (26.2 miles)
• Half marathon (13.1 miles)
• Shorter events such as a 5K or youth runs, depending on the year’s schedule

Race courses highlight some of Atlanta’s most recognizable neighborhoods and landmarks. You can expect hills, city views, and a course that feels distinctly “Atlanta,” rather than flat, generic city streets.

When and Where the Race Happens

Typical Timing

The Publix Atlanta Marathon is usually scheduled for one weekend per year, often around late February or early March. Exact dates change year to year, so you’ll want to confirm the current year’s details directly with Atlanta Track Club or the event’s official materials.

Key Atlanta Locations to Know

Race weekend activities are typically centered around:

• Downtown Atlanta – Start/finish area is often located near major streets downtown, close to landmarks like Centennial Olympic Park, the Georgia World Congress Center, or nearby blocks.
• Midtown and in-town neighborhoods – Depending on the year’s course, the route can include Midtown, Old Fourth Ward, Georgia Tech area, and other central neighborhoods.

Because the course and staging areas can change slightly, always check the most recent course map, which is usually provided well in advance of race day.

Who Organizes the Publix Atlanta Marathon?

The event is produced by:

Atlanta Track Club
201 Armour Drive NE
Atlanta, GA 30324
Phone: commonly listed on their site or event materials

Atlanta Track Club organizes many large-scale running events in the city, including the Peachtree Road Race. For the Publix Atlanta Marathon, they handle:

• Registration and race communication
• Course design and coordination with the City of Atlanta
• Timing, race bibs, and corrals
• Volunteer recruitment
• Safety and medical coordination with local agencies

Registration: How Atlanta Runners (and Visitors) Sign Up

How to Register

Registration is typically handled online. To sign up, runners usually:

1. Choose the race distance (marathon, half, or other events).
2. Provide basic personal and emergency contact information.
3. Agree to race waivers and event rules.
4. Pay the entry fee, which can vary based on how early you register and which distance you choose.

Registration often opens several months in advance, and prices usually increase in tiers as race day gets closer.

Local vs. Out-of-Town Runners

• Atlanta residents often register early to secure lower pricing and give themselves time to train on local hills and portions of the course.
• Out-of-town visitors tend to look at race registration alongside travel and hotel plans, especially if they want to stay near downtown or Midtown.

If you live in metro Atlanta, consider registering well ahead of time; the race can sometimes sell out, especially the half marathon.

Race Distances and What to Expect

While specific offerings can change, a typical Publix Atlanta Marathon weekend might look like this:

*Exact start/finish locations can change; always check the current year’s maps.

What the Course Is Like in Atlanta

Hills and Terrain

Atlanta is known for its rolling hills, and the Publix Atlanta Marathon course reflects that:

• Expect climbs and descents throughout the route.
• Runners who live in Atlanta often train on Peachtree Street, North Avenue, or other hilly in-town routes to simulate race day.

If you’re visiting from flatter areas, factor in extra time or moderation to handle the elevation changes.

Neighborhoods and Landmarks

Depending on the year’s map, runners may pass:

• Downtown business district
• Midtown corridor and high-rise district
• Historic neighborhoods like Old Fourth Ward or Inman Park (varies by route)
• Park areas and city views that show off Atlanta’s skyline

The course is designed to highlight urban Atlanta, so you’ll be running through active city environments rather than remote roads.

Getting Your Bib: Expo and Packet Pickup

Before race day, runners need to pick up their:

• Race bib (with timing chip)
• Event shirt (if included)
• Race information documents

Typical Pickup Set-Up

Packet pickup is usually held at a race expo the day or two before the event. This is often located at a large venue in or near downtown or Midtown Atlanta, such as a convention center or comparable space.

You’ll typically need:

• Photo ID
• Your registration confirmation or bib number (if assigned in advance)

Atlanta residents often swing by after work or on a weekend afternoon, while out-of-town runners may go straight from the airport or hotel to the expo.

Same-day bib pickup, if offered, can be limited or come with specific restrictions, so it’s safer to plan on attending the expo.

Street Closures, Parking, and Transportation

For Atlanta residents and visitors alike, transportation is one of the biggest practical concerns during the Publix Atlanta Marathon.

Street Closures

Road closures are coordinated with the City of Atlanta and generally include:

• Streets along the start and finish areas, usually downtown
• Major roads and connector streets along the course
• Certain intersections where runners cross

Closures are often rolling – streets reopen as the final runners pass – but much of the course area may be restricted for several hours.

If you live in the city or need to commute:

• Check course maps and closure lists in advance.
• Expect delays and detours near downtown, Midtown, and any neighborhoods on the route.

MARTA and Public Transit

For many people, the easiest way to get downtown on race morning is MARTA:

Key rail stations usually helpful for race access include:

• Peachtree Center Station (downtown)
• Five Points Station (downtown hub)
• Civic Center or North Avenue Stations (depending on course layout)

Because race start times are early, confirm MARTA’s first-train schedules for the day. Riders coming from the suburbs often park at MARTA park-and-ride lots and take the train into downtown.

Driving and Parking

If you do drive:

• Plan extra time for detours.
• Consider parking in a downtown or Midtown parking garage that is outside the immediate start/finish closure zone.
• Follow posted signs and police directions; many intersections are controlled by Atlanta Police Department officers and race marshals.

Rideshare services may have limited access or designated drop-off zones near the event; expect to walk a short distance.

What Atlanta Runners Should Know About Race Morning

Weather in Atlanta

Because the race is usually held in late winter or early spring:

• Early mornings can be cold and breezy, especially in downtown Atlanta’s open areas.
• Later in the race, temperatures may warm up and become more humid.

Locals often dress in layers that they can remove as the race progresses. Check the forecast for downtown Atlanta specifically the night before.

Start Times and Corrals

Start times differ by distance, but all events usually begin early to mid-morning. Corrals are often organized by predicted finish time or pace, which helps reduce congestion on city streets.

• Arrive at least 45–60 minutes before your start time.
• Factor in time to walk from MARTA or parking to the start area.

Spectator Tips for Atlanta Residents and Visitors

You don’t have to be running to be part of the Publix Atlanta Marathon. Spectators help define the atmosphere.

Best Places to Watch

Good viewing spots often include:

• Near the start/finish in downtown Atlanta, where energy is highest.
• Neighborhood segments of the course (if the route passes through accessible residential or commercial areas with sidewalks).
• Areas near MARTA stations, so spectators can easily move between viewing points.

Pick a spot where:

• Streets and sidewalks are open to the public.
• Access isn’t overly restricted by barricades or security zones.

Getting Around as a Spectator

• Use MARTA to avoid parking frustrations.
• Plan your route before race day using the course map and closure list.
• If you live along the route, step out early to avoid being blocked by barricades or police lines.

How the Publix Atlanta Marathon Affects Non-Runners

If you’re not running, race day still affects living and working in Atlanta, especially near the city center.

Commuting and Errands

• Allow extra travel time if you need to reach downtown, Midtown, or course-adjacent neighborhoods.
• Delivery and ride services may be rerouted or delayed around closures.

If you rely on driving across in-town neighborhoods on the weekend of the race, it helps to:

• Review the course map and make note of major cross-streets that remain open.
• Use alternate routes that avoid downtown and in-town corridors during race hours.

Noise and Crowds

Expect:

• Increased noise from announcers, music, and cheering crowds near start/finish areas and along busy course sections.
• Large groups of pedestrians near MARTA stations, parking areas, and sidewalks adjacent to the race.

For residents, it can feel similar to other major downtown events like concerts or sporting events, but concentrated in the morning and midday hours.

Training and Preparation for Atlanta Locals

Many Atlanta-area runners use the Publix Atlanta Marathon as a target race after winter training.

Local Training Considerations

If you live in Atlanta, it’s smart to:

• Train on hilly routes that mimic the race course.
• Get used to running in cool morning conditions transitioning to mild temperatures.
• Test transportation plans by practicing how you’ll get to downtown in the early morning (especially if using MARTA).

Some runners join local running groups or meet-ups organized by Atlanta Track Club or neighborhood clubs to prepare together.

Volunteering and Community Involvement

The marathon requires hundreds of volunteers for:

• Water stations and aid tables
• Course marshaling and crowd guidance
• Start and finish line logistics
• Expo and packet pickup assistance

If you live in Atlanta and want to be involved without running:

• Look for volunteer sign-up opportunities through Atlanta Track Club or the event’s public materials.
• Shifts often start early, especially for start/finish positions and early water stations.

Volunteering can be a way to support friends or family running the race, or just to be part of a major city event.

Key Takeaways for Atlantans and Visitors

• The Publix Atlanta Marathon is a major annual running event centered around downtown Atlanta, with a full marathon, half marathon, and typically shorter races.
• Expect hilly terrain, early start times, and a route that showcases Atlanta’s in-town neighborhoods and skyline views.
• Street closures significantly affect driving through downtown and nearby areas, so plan ahead whether you’re running, spectating, or just trying to get around.
• MARTA is often the most practical way to access the start/finish areas on race morning.
• Atlanta residents can train on local hills, volunteer, or cheer from sidewalks to be part of the event, even if they’re not racing.

By understanding how the Publix Atlanta Marathon is set up specifically in Atlanta—where it happens, how to navigate closures, and what race day feels like—you can make the most of one of the city’s signature annual sports events, whether you’re on the course or watching from the sidelines.