MYRTLE BEACH, SC (WBTW) – Those living in or planning to travel through Myrtle Beach Saturday morning should be aware of traffic changes taking place as The Myrtle Beach Marathon runners complete the course.

The Myrtle Beach Marathon will host runners from 50 states and eight countries.

The race begins at 6:30 a.m. March 5, on Grissom Parkway. This is a new date for the annual race, which winds 26.2 miles through the city, ending at the Myrtle Beach Pelicans’ TicketReturn.Com Field.

Plan ahead if you must travel on Saturday, as traffic will be congested along the course. Share the road with runners and drive with care. US 17 is not part of the marathon route and will provide the best north-south route for traffic.

The Myrtle Beach Police Department offers the following smart tips…

  • You can see a map of the marathon route, road closure times and congestion points at www.myrtlebeacheventmaps.com.
  • Motorists should avoid the intersection of 21st Avenue North and Grissom Parkway as well as the intersection of 29th Avenue North and Grissom Parkway.
  • Anticipate heavy congestion in the Grand Dunes Boulevard and Kings Highway area.
  • Northbound traffic on Ocean Boulevard is only available for race participants.
  • Barricades are located at the cutouts on the east side of Ocean Boulevard for the safety of marathon participants.