St. Jude Rock’n’Roll Marathon–Nashville

Thanks to 23,000 runners in 2024. See you next year!

From start to finish, here’s what you need to know to have a great race weekend in Nashville – April 27-28, 2024. Here’s the official race homepage.

Arrival

Driving I-65, I-40, and I-24 intersect in Nashville. Before you arrive in town, take a look at our post with a map of secondary roads to help you navigate.

Flying Both Uber and Lyft are allowed to pick up at airport arrivals. A ride downtown costs about $20 on a weekday, but on the weekend, surge prices can double–even quadruple. Taxis charge a flat rate of $30 to downtown or the Opryland Hotel area. If you’re on a tight budget, take the WeGo bus Route #18. It will cost $2 and drop you at Music City Central, the main bus depot downtown.

Registration

This year, registration and packet pick-up returns to Music City Center (after a year at Municipal Auditorium). The location: two blocks south of Broadway, at 201 Rep. John R. Lewis Way, S. You must pick up your own Nashville Marathon packet–no one else can get it for you–on Thursday, noon-7pm and Friday, 10am-7pm. There’s an end of the day crush so get there as early as possible. While there, take advantage of the Health & Fitness Expo at Music City Convention Center–it’s FREE for everyone.

Personally I hate lugging around swag so, if feasible, drop off your marathon goodie bag at your car or hotel, then hit the town unencumbered. Check out our article on how to handle your luggage while in town, there’s some great tips! If you tour the National Museum of African American Music, you can also store your stuff in a locker for free.

St. Jude Rock n' Roll Running Series Nashville

Live Music and Other Entertainment

You probably want to squeeze as much live music and such into all your free time. And you don’t have to like country music. Consult my Live Music posts to guide to the kind of music you enjoy.

Friday Evening

If you’ve been training, I shouldn’t have to remind about alcohol consumption and crazy eating the night before the race. Save your celebrating until Saturday.

The restaurants and bars along Lower Broadway will be packed. Try the off-Broadway venues where waits may be shorter. Even better, visit a nearby neighborhood such as The Gulch, Germantown, East Nashville, Wedgewood/Houston, 12South, or Midtown.

Saturday Parking

Street parking is in short supply and things are a bit goofy since parking with QR codes was introduced last year. Also note: no parking at Nissan Stadium on Saturday.

You can consult ParkItDowntown for locations of pay lots. The cheapest parking is found at our government-owned lots: the Metro Courthouse lot [map], Downtown Library [map], and Music City Center [map]. More about downtown parking here.

You can also make reservations Spot Hero: (private company) 10K/5K, Half/Full, Finish

Take the Old Town Trolley

You can purchase round-trip Old Town Trolley shuttle passes for $25. Routes originate from Holiday Inn-Vanderbilt, Sheraton-Music City, Opry Mills, Airport Center and Loews Vanderbilt. There’s also a route from the finish line back to the starting line.

Road Closures

You can never have too much info so here’s the official pdf rundown on road closures day by day. For additional info, consult Tennessean’s report on closures and parking 

Band playing at Luke's 32 Bridge, one of 20+ honky tonks on Lower Broadway, Nashville

Getting to the Starting Line

The starting line for the Full and Half Marathon is Broadway at Rosa Parks Blvd. (also known as 8th Ave.) The starting line for the 5k and 10k is on Demonbreun Street at Rosa Parks Blvd.

The Music City Star is your only railway option. It runs from Lebanon on the east side of town through Mount Juliet and Donelson to downtown. Here’s the schedule for race day.

Unless you’re within walking distance of the starting line, allow A LOT of extra time to get downtown. There are multiple locations for runner drop-off. Check the official transportation page for locations as well as parking and hotel shuttle information. NOTE: Nissan Stadium parking lots will NOT be available this year.

The Races

People rave about two distinctions of the Nashville races: live music all along the way and the rallying support from people who line the streets to cheer you on. Like many, we set up a curbside brunch with friends to watch the masses sprint past.

This year there are 20+ stages with live entertainment along with convenient water and first aid stations. The 5k runners will hear live music from four stages.

In addition to downtown, distance runners will hoof it past Music Row, Belmont University, the trendy neighborhoods of 12South, The Gulch, Germantown, and East Nashville.

  • 6:30am 5k and 6.15 mile races/starting line at 8th and Demonbreun
  • 7:20am Marathon and Half-Marathon races/starting line at 8th and Broadway

The Kids Rock race is held on Sunday, 1pm at Nissan Stadium.

Post-Race Festival

A festival, open to all, will be held at the finish line featuring multiple artists.

Exit Strategy

Come Sunday, the Nashville airport will be packed so get there 2 hours ahead of your flight. If you have time after passing security, try one of our local restaurants in the airport.

Products to consider to make your running experience better:
(affiliate links, not considered an endorsement)

Downtown Essentials

When you need more than a Honky Tonk

Closest Pharmacy

  • Walgreen’s Our only downtown pharmacy at 226 5th Ave., N. Store hours: M-Fri 7am-7pm, Sat. 8am-7pm, Sun 9am-6pm. Pharmacy hours: M-F 7:30am-5:30pm, Closed on Sat-Sun.

Closest Grocery/Convenience Stores

  • Corner Market at 300 Church St. crams a ton of merchandise in a slender space. If you need a cup of non-designer coffee, a toothbrush, Red Bull or Pepto-Bismol, these folks can hook you up. Note: they’re open later than the others. Hours: Sun-Thurs, 7am-9pm; Fr-Sat, 7am-midnight.
  • M&M Market at 203 2nd Ave., N. is tiny but if you only need snacks, beverages, or Pepto-Bismol, this may be your salvation. Note it’s extended weekend hours. Hours: Sun-Wed., 7am-11pm; Thurs, 7am-midnight; Fri-Sat., 7am-3am.
  • Southernaire is in SoBro, south of Broadway at 150 3rd Ave, S.. You won’t find Cheerios or Gatorade here; it’s an upscale market with artisanal products, locally grown produce, a selection of bottled craft beers, a butcher’s counter and a prepared food spot for paninis and daily specials.
  • Dollar General Store (DGX), 206 3rd Avenue, S. This location caters to the tourist population with items you won’t find in the typical Dollar General. Basically an urban convenience store.
  • Turnip Truck, located in The Gulch at 321 12th Ave. S., advertises itself as “your natural grocery.” Translation: fresh, locally sourced, whole foods along with a juice bar, salad bar and hot food bar. Hours: M-Sat 7:00am-9pm, Sun 8am-8pm.
  • Whole Foods at 1202 Broadway includes a hot bar, in-house bakery and a dining area. Open 7am-10pm daily.
  • Publix-Capitol View is a smaller-than-average store but still has a butcher shop, bakery and deli. Open 7am-10pm daily.
  • Nashville Fresh Market at 531 4th Ave. Sl crams a lot into its store include beverages, fruit, snacks, over-the-counter meds, and to-go meals.

Closest Medical Attention

For after-hours care, the closest ER facilities are St. Thomas Midtown and Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

Another option is GetWell Health, a mobile medical practice that comes to you for basic care, IV infusions, and such.

Read what downtown police officers recommend to stay safe and be smart downtown.

Hope you had a great time at the 2024 St. Jude Rock’n’Roll Nashville Marathon…and y’all come back now, ya hear?