TRAFFIC GUIDE

Please contact us if you cannot find an answer below.

If you can’t find your answer below, contact us ahead of race day. Please don’t wait until race morning. We can help you plan your route in advance, but options are limited once the race is underway.

The Woodlands Marathon and all its events significantly contribute to local taxes and has a $4.5 million economic impact on the community annually. Over $1.3 million (and growing) has also been donated to local and national volunteer organizations since 2012. Thank you for your patience, understanding, and willingness to work with us during race weekend. 

  • Event - The Woodlands Marathon, Half Marathon, & 10K

  • Date - Saturday, February 28, 2026

  • Time: 6:00 am – 1:30 pm

  • Support Phone - (281) 939-7409

  • Support Email - admin@thewoodlandsmarathon.com

  1. More than 150 officers are stationed along the course to manage traffic, support access, and keep everyone safe.

  2. Use the Waze app for real-time navigation around the race course.

  3. Traffic signals along the route will be in flashing mode during race operations. Treat flashing signals as controlled by signage and officer direction, proceed with caution.

  4. IMPORTANT: When you contact race support, share your starting address, destination, and the time you need to travel.

Plan Your Morning

The The Woodlands Marathon will impact traffic the morning of the race. A little planning can help you avoid delays.

  • If you need to travel across the race route, please plan to depart before 6:00 a.m.

  • Expect delays from 6:00 a.m. through the early afternoon along major corridors.

  • Please use the recommended detour routes shown below.

  • Avoid the Start and Finish areas in The Woodlands Town Center along Lake Robbins Drive, unless you are attending the event. Use spectator parking information. Click here for the information. 

  • Neighborhoods will be accessible during the race.  Residents along the route may experience temporary access restrictions until runners have passed.

  • If your business is inside the course, expect intermittent holds at access points until runners clear. Schedule deliveries before 6 am or after 1:30 pm, when possible. Ask employees to use Waze and arrive early due to intermittent holds.

  • Crossing the race course is limited and controlled by officers to protect runner safety. You may experience intermittent holds. It is often faster and easier to drive around the course, even if it adds a few minutes, to avoid getting stopped at a crossing.

  • Emergency vehicle access will be maintained at all times.

Roads Open to Travel

  • Westbound Research Forest Drive

  • Branch Crossing north & southbound

  • Woodlands Parkway east and west

  • I45 north and southbound

  • Kuykendahl southbound 

Lake Woodlands Drive Traffic Shift

  • 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Westbound lanes carry eastbound traffic using contra-flow from Lake Front Circle to Palmer Green. Traffic runs both directions in separate lanes.

  • 6:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Eastbound Lake Woodlands Drive is closed from Kuykendahl Road to Grogan’s Mill Road.

Lake Woodlands Drive Contra-Flow guidance

  • Enter and exit from any intersection on the north side of Lake Woodlands Drive within the contra-flow segment, as directed

  • Left turns are allowed to the north only

  • No turns or crossings to the south since eastbound Lake Woodlands Drive is closed, unless an officer directs you through

  • Follow officers and posted signs at signals and driveways and use extra caution due to temporary traffic patterns

Roads to Avoid

These corridors run along or across the race route and will have lane restrictions, intermittent traffic holds, and delays during race operations. 

Primary impacted areas

  • Lake Robbins Drive

  • Grogan’s Mill Road 

  • Research Forest Drive eastbound

  • Kuykendahl Road northbound

  • Timberloch Place

  • Lake Woodlands Drive eastbound

  • East Panther Creek Drive

  • West Panther Creek Drive

Race Route Estimated Road Opening Times

  • 8:45 a.m. - Eastbound Research Forest Drive - Fully Open

  • 9:20 a.m. - Northbound Kuykendahl - Fully Open

  • 10:15 a.m. - Northbound/Southbound Gosling - Fully Open

  • 6:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. - Lake Woodlands Drive westbound - Converted to Contra-Flow for eastbound traffic

  • 11:30 a.m. - Woodlands Parkway Westbound On Ramp/Grogan's Mill - Fully Open

    NOTE: Eastbound Lake Woodlands Drive will have all lanes closed between 6:30am-11am from Kuykendahl to Grogan's Mill. “Fully open” means cones are removed, traffic signals are back to normal operation, and officers are no longer holding traffic.

Alternate Routes, Destination:

  • The Woodlands Country Club - Use Lake Woodlands Contraflow Lane from Grogan's Mill, right on Cochran's Crossing

  • Market Street & The Woodlands Mall - Use Woodlands Parkway to I45, go north on I45, exit take Lake Woodlands Drive access from Lake Woodlands Drive. 

  • Woodlands Resort - I-45 to West on Woodlands Parkway U-turn at E Panther Creek, East on Woodlands Parkway to Grogan's Mill.

  • Bear Branch Sports Park - I45 to West on Research Forest (Westbound is open)

    Only residential traffic is recommended through and around the race course during the hours of 6:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.

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