Cardiff Half Marathon 2026: Where to Park on Race Day
Cardiff shuts down for 27,500 runners on 4 October, so parking near the route needs sorting well before race week.
Cardiff Half Marathon Parking Guide: Road Closures, Routes and Where to Park in 2026
Cardiff Half Marathon 2026 lands on Sunday 4 October, and from early that morning a huge stretch of the city centre closes to traffic for several hours. Whether you're running, cheering someone on, or just trying to get across town while 27,500 people pass through, book your parking with JustPark now, before the closures make the decision for you.
Book Cardiff Half Marathon Parking
Book a space in Cardiff in advance and know exactly where you're parking before you set off
Compare options across the city, from Cardiff Bay to Cathays, and pick what suits your route in
Pay only for the hours you actually need, from an hour to the whole day
Skip the queue for a space once the road closures are in place
When is the Cardiff Half Marathon and What's the Route?
The 2026 race takes place on Sunday 4 October, starting on Castle Street from 10:00am (the elite wheelchair race sets off at 9:57am, with a staggered start for other runners between 10:00 and 10:10). It's the UK's second largest half marathon and Wales' largest multi-charity fundraising event, and one of the six races in the international SuperHalfs series alongside Lisbon, Prague, Berlin, Copenhagen and Valencia.
The 13.1 mile course starts outside Cardiff Castle and heads out past the Principality Stadium and Cardiff City Stadium towards Penarth, taking in Penarth Marina before crossing the Cardiff Bay Barrage. From there it runs through the heart of the bay past the Norwegian Church and Wales Millennium Centre, north through the city and around Roath Park Lake, before finishing back in the centre at the Civic Centre. It's a flat, fast, fully closed-road course, which is exactly why so much of the city needs to shut down to run it.
Road Closures on Race Day
Roads across the route close from early morning and stay shut until each section has been swept, which for most of the course means well into the afternoon. The organiser's cut-off is four hours from the last runner crossing the start line, so roads only start reopening in stages after that. If your usual route into or across the city touches Castle Street, the bay, Cathays or Roath, plan an alternative well ahead of 4 October, and get any parking booked before demand (and the diversions) pile up.
Where to Park for the Cardiff Half Marathon
With so much of the centre closed, the trick is picking a spot just outside the closure zone that still leaves a manageable walk in.
Reserve a space near Cardiff Central Station – from £6.62 a day, with quick access to the M4 in both directions if you're worried about getting boxed in once the roads close.
Park near Cardiff University – a short walk from the top end of the route near Roath Park, with driveway and car park spaces from £4.90 a day and hourly rates from as low as £0.90.
Reserve a space near Cardiff Bay – an easy view of the runners as the course runs straight through, from £5.30 a day, or £0.90 an hour. Book early, this one goes fast.
Reserve a space near Queen Street – central enough for the Event Village and finish at the Civic Centre, with hourly rates from £1.10.
Book any of these ahead of race day through JustPark and you'll know your exact spot before you set off, rather than working it out on the morning.
Live near the Route? Rent Out Your Driveway
With 27,500 runners and thousands more spectators converging on Cardiff for one Sunday morning, demand for parking anywhere near the route spikes hard, and spaces close to the closure zone tend to go early. If you live near Cardiff Castle, the bay, Cathays or Roath Park and won't be using your driveway or off-street space that day, you can list it on JustPark and earn from the demand, even if you're not taking part yourself.
FAQs about Cardiff Half Marathon 2026
When is the Cardiff Half Marathon 2026?
Sunday 4 October 2026, starting at 10:00am.
Is the Cardiff Half Marathon flat?
Yes. It's known as one of the flattest, fastest courses in the UK, which is part of why it attracts such a strong elite field.
Where does the Cardiff Half Marathon start and finish?
It starts on Castle Street outside Cardiff Castle and finishes at the Civic Centre in the city centre.
Where can I park for the Cardiff Half Marathon?
JustPark has spaces across Cardiff Central, Cathays, Cardiff Bay and the city centre, from £0.90 an hour. Book ahead, as options close to the route fill up fast.
What roads close for the Cardiff Half Marathon?
The full closed-road course runs from Cardiff Castle through the city centre, Penarth, the bay and Roath Park, with roads along the route closed from early morning and reopening in stages through the day.
What is the cut-off time for the Cardiff Half Marathon?
Four hours from when the last runner crosses the start line. Roads begin reopening after that.
Is the Cardiff Half Marathon on TV?
It's live streamed on the Run 4 Wales YouTube channel, with a Welsh-language highlights programme on S4C and BBC iPlayer in the days after the race.
Can I wear headphones during the Cardiff Half Marathon?
It's discouraged rather than banned outright. The organiser recommends against it so runners stay aware of course marshals and emergency instructions.
Can I defer my Cardiff Half Marathon place?
No. Entries can't be deferred to another year or event. Refunds are only available within the 14-day cooling-off period after signing up.
What's the bag drop situation at the Cardiff Half Marathon?
There's a baggage facility on Museum Avenue near the Event Village at the Civic Centre, open from around 8:30am. Runners can drop one bag, no bigger than a small backpack.
Ready for Race Day?
Cardiff Half Marathon day is one of the best atmospheres the city puts on all year. Book your parking with JustPark now, and the only thing you'll need to worry about on 4 October is the race itself.
