IRONMAN Chattanooga returns Sunday, Sept. 26, 2027: a 2.4-mile river swim, 112-mile bike and marathon finishing at Ross's Landing. Closures here.

Last checked Oct. 18, 2026. This page is updated each year at the same address. The date, course and closures come from IRONMAN’s own IRONMAN Chattanooga page and its 2026 traffic impact sheet.

IRONMAN Chattanooga is Sunday, Sept. 26, 2027, according to IRONMAN. Athletes swim 2.4 miles down the Tennessee River, ride 112 miles up US 27 to Soddy-Daisy and back, then run a marathon through downtown and the North Shore to the finish at Ross’s Landing Park. The 2026 race, on Sept. 27, drew more than 2,500 athletes over 16.5 hours, IRONMAN’s traffic notice said.

At a glance

  • When: Sun. Sept. 26, 2027; the 2026 race started at 7:30 a.m.
  • Where: swim start upstream on the Riverwalk; transition and finish at Ross’s Landing Park
  • Cost to watch: no spectator ticket is listed; IRONMAN also offers VIP spectator credentials
  • Organizer: IRONMAN; race FAQ
  • Closures: IRONMAN posts a traffic impact page each September

The course

From IRONMAN’s course page:

  • Swim, 2.4 miles: a point-to-point swim that starts upstream and runs with the current nearly all the way to Ross’s Landing Park. In 2026 the start was at Curtain Pole Riverwalk Park, with athlete shuttles from the transition area. IRONMAN’s 2025 Athletes’ Choice awards named it the best swim in North America.
  • Bike, 112 miles: out of transition on Riverfront Parkway, south to Martin Luther King Boulevard and onto US 27, then north through Red Bank to Soddy-Daisy for three loops on US 27, with a dedicated lane the whole way.
  • Run, 26.2 miles: two loops through downtown, the Tennessee Riverwalk, the Veterans Bridge, the North Shore and Riverfront Parkway, ending at Ross’s Landing.

Race week in 2026

IRONMAN’s event schedule for 2026:

Day What happened
Thursday and Friday Athlete check-in and timing chip pickup
Saturday IRONKIDS Chattanooga fun run; mandatory bike and gear check-in
Sunday, race day Transition opens 4:30 a.m.; race start 7:30 a.m.; IRONMAN Village at Ross’s Landing 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; bike checkout 6:15 p.m. to 12:40 a.m.
Monday Awards and world championship slots at the Chattanooga Convention Center

The 2027 schedule will be posted on the same page closer to the race.

Road closures

From IRONMAN’s 2026 traffic impact sheet. Expect a similar plan in 2027.

All of race week, Wednesday 9 a.m. to Monday 8 p.m.:

  • Riverfront Parkway from Molly Lane to Aquarium Way
  • Chestnut Street from Aquarium Way to Riverfront Parkway
  • The Power Alley parking lot
  • The southbound Veterans Bridge ramp at Riverside Drive

Race day, 5 a.m. to 6 p.m.:

  • US 27 northbound from Highway 153 to Soddy-Daisy, and the northbound exit ramp to Tsati Terrace
  • US 27 southbound between Highway 153 and Fourth Street, with the southbound on-ramps from Mountain Creek Road, Morrison Springs Road, Signal Mountain Boulevard and Manufacturers Road, and the Fourth Street exit
  • One lane of eastbound Riverfront Parkway (MLK to Molly Lane) and westbound MLK (US 27 to Riverfront Parkway)

Race day, 5 a.m. to 1 a.m. Monday, one lane closed:

  • Westbound Riverside Drive and Amnicola Highway, Aquarium Way to Riverport Road
  • Veterans Bridge, Barton Avenue and Hixson Pike, Fourth Street to Riverview Road
  • Eastbound Frazier Avenue, Walnut Street Bridge to Barton Avenue

IRONMAN asks drivers to use the posted detours and allow extra time.

Where to watch

  • The swim: IRONMAN says spectators can walk alongside the swimmers on the Chattanooga Riverwalk all the way to the swim exit at Ross’s Landing.
  • The run: two laps mean runners pass downtown, the Veterans Bridge and the North Shore twice.
  • The finish: Ross’s Landing. Spectators are not allowed into the finish area itself, the FAQ says, so pick a meeting place with your athlete ahead of time. Medical updates are given at an information tent next to the medical tent.
  • Volunteer: sign up on the volunteer page.

More IRONMAN races in Chattanooga

IRONMAN lists two more Chattanooga races in 2027 on its race page:

  • IRONMAN 70.3 Chattanooga: Sunday, May 16, 2027.
  • IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship: Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 28-29, 2027, by qualification only.

Related guides: road construction and closures, the riverfront, walking and biking trails and getting around.

Frequently asked questions

When is IRONMAN Chattanooga 2027?

Sunday, Sept. 26, 2027, according to IRONMAN. The 2026 race was Sunday, Sept. 27, with the start at 7:30 a.m.

What roads close for IRONMAN Chattanooga?

In 2026 Riverfront Parkway by Ross’s Landing closed from Wednesday to Monday of race week, and US 27 north of Highway 153 to Soddy-Daisy closed northbound from 5 a.m. to 6 p.m. on race day. Lane closures on the North Shore ran until 1 a.m.

Where can I watch the IRONMAN Chattanooga swim?

IRONMAN says spectators can walk alongside the swimmers on the Tennessee Riverwalk. The swim starts 2.4 miles upstream and ends at Ross’s Landing Park.

Can spectators go into the IRONMAN Chattanooga finish area?

No. IRONMAN keeps the finish area clear for athletes and asks families to agree on a meeting place beforehand.

Is there a shorter IRONMAN race in Chattanooga?

Yes. IRONMAN 70.3 Chattanooga is Sunday, May 16, 2027, and the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship comes to Chattanooga on Aug. 28-29, 2027.