Runners cross the finish line at a recent Ironman competition. | Ironman
Published on May 14, 2026 at 11:23 am
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The first ever Ironman Jacksonville will spread across the city Saturday, with more than 1,900 competitors swimming, biking, then running for 17 hours.
Drivers should beware of traffic tie-ups across the region as athletes jump onto bicycles to ride from Jacksonville to Ponte Vedra Beach and back, then tighten their running shoes to speed through Downtown and Riverside.
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The Ironman Group operates participation sports events in over 50 countries worldwide, including multiple triathlons, running events and mountain biking races.
Jacksonville was deemed a perfect spot to inaugurate a new triathalon, Ironman regional director Todd Fitzgerald said.
“As one of the largest cities by land area in the contiguous United States, Jacksonville offers the ideal space to host an event this size,” he said in a news release. “Its urban feel and miles of beautiful roads will provide athletes another unique racing experience in the Sunshine State.”
The weather forcast calls for highs around 88 degrees, light winds and a few afternoon clouds on Saturday,
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Athletes from 37 countries — ages 18 to 81 — will compete. The Ironman is project to have a $5.2 million impact on the city’s hotels, restaurants and attractions, Visit Jacksonville CEO Michael Corrigan said.
“Securing an IRONMAN race, and the internationally recognized IRONMAN brand, for Jacksonville represents a significant milestone for our city,” Corrigan said in a statement. “Hosting these elite athletes is a true testament to Jacksonville’s premiere facilities and renowned hospitality. We are honored to welcome the athletes, along with their families and supporters.”
The Ironman schedule
The Ironman Jacksonville event starts at 7:30 a.m. with a 2.4-mile swim in the St. Johns River, from Metro Park west to Post Street near the Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens. The river between Metropolitan Park and Memorial Park will be blocked from 7 to 11 a.m., police say.
Then, racers will bike 112 miles through San Marco, the Southside, Nocatee and Ponte Vedra Beach –and back.
Part of that route includes Nocatee Parkway, Roscoe and Valley Ridge boulevards, Solana and Mickler roads, and State Road A1A. Expect delays and traffic restrictions from noon to 5 p.m. in St. Johns County, with the Nocatee Parkway Flyover fully closed from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office said.
The primary traffic interruptions in St. Johns County will be from noon to 5 p.m.
The final leg for the competitors is a 26.2-mile run through Downtown and Riverside, including parts of the Northbank Riverwalk, Riverside Avenue and Park Street.
Drivers should expect delays on roads used by bikers, then runners, all day on Saturday. More than 500 officers will be on duty, police said.
The Cummer warns people to expect delays in the Riverside neighborhood in general and Riverside Avenue in particular. That is because northbound Riverside Avenue will be closed all Day Saturday due to the race and preparations. Museum visitors can approach it only from the southbound direction on Riverside Avenue.
For more information, go to ironman.com/races/im-jacksonville.
