Gate River Run returns March 7 with new Shipyards start, shuttles, and major road closures

A new footprint for a longstanding Jacksonville race

Jacksonville’s Gate River Run, a 15-kilometer road race that draws tens of thousands of participants and spectators, is scheduled for Saturday, March 7, 2026. Organizers have moved the 2026 start and finish area to the Jacksonville Shipyards (700 E. Bay St.), a shift that changes how runners arrive, stage and exit—and how drivers should plan to move around Downtown, San Marco and St. Nicholas during race hours.

Key schedule details for runners and spectators

Race weekend logistics begin before Saturday. Packet pickup and the Runners’ Expo are scheduled at Mandarin Point Shopping Center (12200 San Jose Blvd.) on Thursday, March 5, and Friday, March 6, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day. On race day, limited packet pickup is scheduled to begin at 6:30 a.m. at the Shipyards.

• 15K start: 8:00 a.m. (wave start) at Bay Street near the Shipyards.
• Synovus 5K for Charity: 8:45 a.m. from the same start line.
• Additional events at the Shipyards area include the Brooks Rehabilitation Challenge Mile (10:00 a.m.) and youth/family races beginning at 11:00 a.m.

Transportation and parking: plan extra time

With the Shipyards designated as the start/finish hub, organizers have emphasized early arrival to account for traffic, staging and the altered parking landscape near the sports complex. The race’s official guidance also states there is no parking at the Jacksonville Shipyards, directing participants to plan for a walk-in approach from available lots and garages.

For 2026, runners should build additional buffer time for parking, walking to the start area, and navigating event-day crowding near the Shipyards.

Road closures expected across Downtown and the course

Motorists should expect significant restrictions on bridges and key corridors Saturday morning. Road closures are expected to affect travel into and through Downtown Jacksonville, including bridge access across the St. Johns River, and streets connecting the course through neighborhoods on both sides of the river.

• Bay Street (Liberty Street to Jacksonville Shipyards): scheduled closure window from 10 a.m. Friday, March 6, to 2 p.m. Saturday, March 7.
• Hart Bridge (southeast-bound): scheduled closure during the morning race period.
• Additional rolling or time-limited closures are expected along Duval Street, A. Philip Randolph Boulevard and surface streets that connect Downtown to San Marco and St. Nicholas.

What stays consistent: the course challenge and spectator footprint

While the Shipyards site changes race-day logistics, the event remains a prominent 15K road race built around Jacksonville’s bridges and river crossings, with spectators typically spread across the Downtown core and along neighborhood segments of the course. For both runners and those planning to watch in person, the practical takeaway is to arrive earlier than in prior years and treat race morning as a limited-access traffic environment.