Manchester Half Marathon 2026 — Beat the Road Closures and Park Like a Local
Everything drivers and supporters need to know before 32,000 runners take over Trafford and Manchester city centre.
Manchester Half Marathon Parking: Everything Drivers Need to Know for 4 October 2026
Roads around Old Trafford and the city centre will be closed from early morning on Sunday 4 October, and official parking near the start line simply doesn't exist, so if you're driving in to run, cheer, or work nearby, the difference between a smooth morning and a stressful one comes down to booking a space in advance.
What to Expect on Manchester Half Marathon Day
Now in its second decade since launching in 2016, the ASICS Manchester Half has grown into the biggest half marathon in the region, and 2026 is set to be the biggest edition yet:
Around 32,000 runners are expected to take on the flat, closed-road 13.1-mile course out from Old Trafford into Manchester city centre and back.
Crowds line the entire route, with cheer stations, live music and DJ sets adding to the noise — great for supporters, but it also means pavements and viewing spots near the finish get busy fast.
The event has raised over £1.1 million for charity in a single year, so expect plenty of local goodwill (and local traffic) around Old Trafford that morning.
The finish stays open for roughly 3 hours after the last runner sets off, so the atmosphere — and the road closures — around the event village last well into the afternoon.
Book Manchester Half Marathon Parking Near Old Trafford
Book your parking near Old Trafford Cricket Ground before race day. This is where the race starts and finishes, so lock in a confirmed space here rather than hoping something turns up when you arrive.
Choose a price point that suits you, from private driveways tucked away from the crowds to car parks a short walk from the event village.
Extend your session through the app if the finish-line celebrations run on longer than planned.
Avoid the scramble for the few residential streets that aren't affected by closures — those fill up fast on race morning.
Park away from the road closure zone and walk the last stretch, rather than getting boxed in by diversions.
Road Closures and Race-Day Traffic You Need to Plan Around
The Manchester Half is run on fully closed roads, and the organisers are upfront that the areas around the route (not just the route itself) will be busy and disrupted:
Closures begin early on Sunday 4 October along and immediately around the 13.1-mile route, which runs out from Old Trafford into Manchester city centre and back.
Roads that stay open nearby will be very busy, so build in extra time for any journey through Trafford or central Manchester that morning.
Bus services will be diverted around the closures, so don't rely on your usual route if you'd normally take the bus.
The finish line stays live for around 3 hours after the last runner starts, so road closures near Old Trafford can remain in place well into the afternoon.
There's no official Manchester Half Marathon car park — organisers themselves direct drivers to Park & Ride rather than any on-site option, which makes booking a private space in advance the more reliable route in.
Exact street-by-street closure times are published by Trafford Council and Manchester City Council closer to race day — worth a quick check the week before if you're driving through the area regardless of the race.
Where to Park for the Manchester Half Marathon
The event village and finish line sit at Old Trafford Cricket Ground (Emirates Old Trafford, M16 0PX), so parking within a short walk of one of the nearby Metrolink stops gives you the easiest route in on foot if roads closer in are shut:
Reserve a Space Near Old Trafford — the closest stop to the event village and finish line, right next to the ground.
Park near Wharfside Way — roughly a 15-minute walk, on the Eccles line side of Trafford.
Park near Trafford Bar — under a 10-minute walk, useful if Old Trafford itself is heaving with runners and supporters.
Reserve a space near Firswood — around a 10-minute walk, a good option if you're coming from the south.
Reserve parking near Exchange Quay — about a 20-minute walk, worth considering if you're also planning to explore Salford Quays before or after the race.
Booking a driveway or car park a little further from the immediate finish-line crush often means an easier getaway once the roads start reopening in stages.
Getting to Old Trafford by Tram
Metrolink is the most direct way to reach the start/finish area on race day:
Old Trafford (Altrincham line) sits right next to the event village and finish line.
Journey time to Manchester city centre is around 10 minutes, useful if you're supporting runners at multiple points along the route.
Expect trams to be busy, particularly around the start in the morning and the finish from late morning onwards.
Contactless payment (tap in, tap out) works across the Metrolink network if you'd rather not queue for tickets.
Park & Ride If You're Travelling From Outside the City
If you're coming in from further afield rather than parking directly around Old Trafford, Metrolink's Park & Ride network gives you another way in:
Park & Ride sites sit across the Metrolink network, letting you leave the car outside the busiest zones and tram straight into Old Trafford or the city centre.
This suits supporters covering multiple points on the route, since you can hop back on the tram to follow runners rather than doubling back on foot.
It's worth pairing with a pre-booked space near your Park & Ride stop of choice if you expect to arrive early and want certainty over cost and availability before you set off.
Manchester Half Marathon 2026 Timing Tips
Arrive well before the 9:00am scheduled start — road closures typically go in ahead of the gun, and the closer to Old Trafford you're trying to get, the earlier you should plan to be parked up.
If you're running, check your race pack for your wave's start access time and aim to be parked and on foot at least 30 minutes before it.
If you're supporting, pick your viewing spot before roads close — once the course is live, crossing points along the route become limited.
Build in extra time for the return journey too, since roads reopen in stages rather than all at once once the last finishers are through.
FAQs about Manchester Half Marathon 2026
When is the Manchester Half Marathon 2026?
The Manchester Half Marathon takes place on Sunday 4 October 2026, starting and finishing at Old Trafford Cricket Ground.
What time does the Manchester Half Marathon start?
The 2026 race currently has a scheduled start of 9:00am, with runners set off in waves — exact wave times are confirmed closer to the event, so check your race pack nearer the day.
Where does the Manchester Half Marathon start and finish?
Both the start and finish are at Old Trafford Cricket Ground (Emirates Old Trafford), Talbot Road, Manchester, M16 0PX.
Are there road closures for the Manchester Half Marathon?
Yes — roads along and around the 13.1-mile route are closed from early morning, with the areas around Old Trafford affected into the afternoon while the finish line remains open.
Is there parking near Old Trafford for the Manchester Half Marathon?
There's no official event car park, but private driveways and car parks around Old Trafford, Trafford Bar and the surrounding Metrolink stops can be booked in advance through JustPark.
How do I get to Old Trafford by tram on race day?
The Old Trafford Metrolink stop, on the Altrincham line, is right next to the event village and finish line, with Manchester city centre around 10 minutes away by tram.
Live Near Old Trafford? Rent Out Your Driveway on Race Day
With around 32,000 runners and their supporters expected to descend on Trafford for a race that raised over £1.1 million for charity in 2024 alone, demand for somewhere to park nearby spikes hard for one Sunday morning a year.
If you've got a driveway or spare space near Old Trafford, Trafford Bar, Firswood, Wharfside or Exchange Quay, renting it out through JustPark turns that one-off surge in demand into straightforward extra income — you set the price and the availability, and JustPark handles the booking. Living near a major sports venue can be worth more to your income than you'd think once event days like this are factored in.
Ready for Race Day
Between the closed roads, the diverted buses and the total absence of an official car park, the Manchester Half Marathon is exactly the kind of morning where a booked space beats a hopeful drive-around. Book your parking near Old Trafford ahead of 4 October and you can focus on cheering on the runners — or lining up at the start yourself — instead of hunting for somewhere to leave the car.
