Ironman 70.3 Augusta was held Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026; the 2027 date is not set. Swim, bike and run course, road closures and where to watch.

Last checked Oct. 6, 2026. The course and race details come from the Ironman 70.3 Augusta race page and the course page; the 2026 road closures are from WRDW’s report of the organizers’ traffic plan. This page is updated each year at the same address.

Ironman 70.3 Augusta is held each September in downtown Augusta and North Augusta, South Carolina. The 2026 race was Sunday, Sept. 27. The 2027 date has not been announced: Ironman lists it as to be determined, with registration “opening soon.” We will add the date, closures and parking bans here when they are published.

Know before you go

  • When: a Sunday in late September; 2027 date to be announced
  • 2026 traffic impact: 4 a.m. to 6 p.m. race day, with some downtown streets closed from Friday
  • Watch the swim: from the Fifth Street Bridge
  • Organizers: IRONMAN and the Augusta Sports Council
  • Traffic on the day: Google Maps and Waze carry detours, the organizers said in 2026

The race

The triathlon has run since 2009. In September 2025 the Augusta Sports Council and Ironman renewed their contract through 2030, and the council said about 2,500 registered athletes come to race each year. The 2024 race was canceled after Hurricane Helene.

The course has three legs:

  • Swim, 1.2 miles: a point-to-point swim down the Savannah River, starting on the South Carolina side near SRP Park and finishing under the Fifth Street Bridge.
  • Bike, 56 miles: a single loop from the transition lot downtown into the rolling backcountry of south Augusta.
  • Run, 13.1 miles: out along the Riverwalk, across the 13th Street Bridge to the North Augusta Greeneway and back to the finish in downtown Augusta. Ironman says more than 9 miles of the run are shaded.

In 2026 the race started at 7:15 a.m., cyclists were on the roads from about 7:35 a.m., the leaders began the run shortly before 10 a.m. and every runner had to be off the course by 6 p.m. Athletes checked in at the Augusta Convention Center; there is no race-day check-in.

Road closures and parking bans (2026)

These are the 2026 closures, as the organizers set them out. Expect a similar pattern each year, but check the new plan before race weekend.

Downtown Augusta, from Friday

  • Reynolds Street from Burum Lane to Eighth Street closed at 6 p.m. Friday.
  • Eighth Street from Broad Street to Reynolds Street closed at 6 a.m. Friday and stayed closed until about 6 p.m. Sunday.

Downtown Augusta, race day

  • Reynolds Street stayed open eastbound but closed westbound from 13th Street to Fifth Street, with one lane kept for runners. Drivers on 13th Street could expect delays from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
  • Parts of Greene Street and Fourth Street were affected from 4 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The bike course, race day

Roads on the bike course stayed open, with officers controlling the major intersections. Lane closures or restricted turns ran from about 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. on sections of:

  • Gordon Highway and Mike Padgett Highway
  • Old Waynesboro Road and Doug Barnard Parkway
  • 4H Club Road, Hephzibah-McBean Road and Brown Road

North Augusta, race day

Parts of 13th Street, East Clifton Avenue and East Buena Vista Avenue, and the Greeneway crossings and Railroad Avenue, were affected from 4 a.m. to 6 p.m.

No parking, strictly enforced on race day

  • the North Augusta Greeneway lot off Riverside Boulevard
  • Center Street in front of the Sharon Jones Amphitheater
  • the Greeneway trail lot at the rapids by Martintown Road

For city traffic notices through the year, see our road construction and closures page.

Watching the race

  • The swim finish is easiest to see from the Fifth Street Bridge, Ironman says.
  • Transition in 2026 was the Depot lot at Reynolds and Fifth streets, where athletes switch from swim to bike and bike to run, WRDW reported.
  • The finish is on Reynolds Street downtown; in 2026 post-race food and recovery were near Eighth and Reynolds streets.
  • The run passes along the Riverwalk and the North Augusta Greeneway, where much of the course is shaded.

More in Augusta

Frequently asked questions

When is Ironman 70.3 Augusta in 2027?

The date has not been announced; Ironman lists the 2027 race as to be determined. The 2026 race was Sunday, Sept. 27, and the Augusta Sports Council has a contract to host it each September through 2030.

What roads close for Ironman in Augusta?

In 2026 traffic was affected from 4 a.m. to 6 p.m. on race day. Westbound Reynolds Street closed from 13th Street to Fifth Street, Eighth Street closed from Broad to Reynolds from Friday morning, and the bike course slowed traffic on Gordon Highway, Mike Padgett Highway and other south Augusta roads.

Where can I watch the Ironman swim in Augusta?

Ironman says spectators can watch the swim finish from the Fifth Street Bridge. The swim starts near SRP Park in North Augusta and runs downriver to the Fifth Street Marina.

How long is Ironman 70.3 Augusta?

70.3 miles: a 1.2-mile swim in the Savannah River, a 56-mile bike ride through rural Augusta and a 13.1-mile run on the Riverwalk and the North Augusta Greeneway.