COLUMBUS, Ohio — Are you planning to attend the Nationwide Children's Columbus Marathon on Sunday?

Whether you're driving, biking, taking the bus or rideshare, here's what you can do to plan ahead.

With about 18,000 expected to make their way to the start line, Columbus Marathon officials are advising those headed downtown on race day to arrive early.

"Make plans PRIOR to race day to get downtown and into your parking spot well before the Race starts at 7:30 a.m. How early? The (start line) Corrals open at 6 a.m.," officials said on the Columbus Marathon website.

Marathon officials offered the following tips:

  • Carpool  —  It will cut down on traffic and parking problems and saves money
  • Check out CoGo Bike Sharing — there are several bike stations within walking distance of the start/finish), taxis or Uber and Lyft for an alternative to driving downtown. Car2GO is another option to consider although advance registration is required.
  • Biking — Bikes offer free, secure bike parking at the Start/Finish, and officials have partnered with COGO Bike Share to develop a self-guided bike tour of the course that incorporates many of COGO’s 46 bike stations. For the route, click here.
  • Be aware of road closures/construction — Check out Paving the Way's Website for the latest road construction information, including weekend work.

COTA

Drivers and people who plan to ride the COTA should expect major delays and reroutes.

Reroutes began on Friday and will continue through the weekend.

On Sunday, at least 16 COTA transit lines will be rerouted throughout the morning and early afternoon.

The reroutes will affect Lines 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 22, 31, 102 and CMAX.

"To put this into perspective, nearly all downtown transit stops will be closed beginning at 4 a.m. Sunday. More than 500 transit stops will be closed at some point on Sunday in downtown Columbus, German Village, Bexley, North Bank, Arena District, Short North, Victorian Village, Ohio State University, Grandview Heights and Upper Arlington," said COTA spokesman Jeff Pullen in a press release.

Parking

People who plan to drive downtown can download the Arena District parking map here for all available locations.

For information on parking throughout the course, click here.