Ironman Triathlon to bring road closures, traffic delays to Wilmington area

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Drivers across Wilmington and surrounding areas should prepare for road closures, lane restrictions and traffic pattern changes as more than 3,500 athletes are expected to compete in the Ironman 70.3 North Carolina Triathlon on Saturday, Oct. 17.

According to the City of Wilmington, the race will impact traffic throughout Wrightsville Beach, Eastwood Road, Market Street, Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway, U.S. 421, Greenfield Lake and downtown Wilmington.

Some road closures will begin as early as Thursday, Oct. 15, ahead of Saturday’s race.

Pre-race road closures

The following streets will be closed ahead of the event:

• Water Street: Market Street to Princess Street, from Thursday, Oct. 15, at 8 a.m. through Saturday, Oct. 17, at 8 p.m.
• Princess Street: Approximately half a block from Water Street toward Front Street, from Thursday, Oct. 15, at 8 a.m. through Saturday, Oct. 17, at 8 p.m.
• Hanover Street: Between North Front Street and North Second Street, from Friday, Oct. 16, at 8 a.m. through Saturday, Oct. 17, at 8 p.m.

Race day traffic impacts

The triathlon includes a 1.2-mile swim in the Intracoastal Waterway at Wrightsville Beach, a 56-mile bike ride through Wilmington and Pender County, and a 13.1-mile run through downtown Wilmington and around Greenfield Lake.

City officials say traffic control devices will begin being placed along the bike route at 3 a.m. Saturday.

While the bike course will remain open to traffic, drivers should expect temporary lane closures and changes to traffic patterns. Most traffic signals along the route will operate normally, and law enforcement officers will be stationed along the course.

Cyclists will leave Wrightsville Beach and travel in a coned-off left lane along Eastwood Road, Market Street, North College Road and Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway before crossing the Isabel Holmes Bridge.

The course will continue north along U.S. 421 into Pender County, where cyclists will turn onto Union Chapel Road and travel along secondary roads.

Riders will eventually return to U.S. 421 South by way of Blueberry Road before crossing the Isabel Holmes Bridge again and returning to downtown Wilmington.

Greenfield Lake traffic changes

The running portion of the race will begin on North Front Street near Brunswick Street.

Athletes will travel south along Front Street toward Greenfield Lake, run around the lake in both directions and return north to downtown Wilmington.

The race will finish near the Alton Lennon Federal Courthouse on Water Street.

During the event, the inner lane of Lake Shore Drive, closest to Greenfield Lake, will be closed from Fifth Avenue to Carolina Beach Road.

Traffic will move counterclockwise around the lake.

Drivers entering Lake Shore Drive from intersecting neighborhood streets will be required to turn right. Left turns onto Lake Shore Drive will not be permitted.

Where to find road closure information

The city is encouraging residents and visitors to plan ahead and allow extra travel time during the event.

Detailed traffic impact maps and road closure information are available on the City of Wilmington’s Ironman 2026 webpage.

Race course maps are also available on the official Ironman 70.3 North Carolina website.