The Army 10 Miler 2026: Your DC Race-Day and Getting-There Guide

The Army 10 Miler 2026 runs Sunday, October 11, starting and finishing at the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia. Conducted by the U.S. Army Military District of Washington, the 42nd annual race draws more than 35,000 runners across a flat, USATF-certified course that crosses the Key Bridge into DC, runs the monument-lined waterfront, and returns to Virginia over the 14th Street Bridge. All lanes of Route 110 close from 5:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. If you are running or spectating, how you get to the Pentagon matters as much as your race plan — the roads around the start line shut down hours before the first wave.

At-a-Glance: Army 10 Miler 2026

What Is the Army 10 Miler and When Is It in 2026?

The Army 10 Miler is a 10-mile road race held every October in the Washington, DC region, and the 2026 edition runs Sunday, October 11. Established in 1985 and organized by the U.S. Army Military District of Washington (MDW), it is now in its 42nd year and ranks as the third-largest 10-mile road race in the world. The 2026 race carries added significance as it falls in the U.S. Army's 250th anniversary year. The field includes active-duty military, veterans, civilians, wheelchair athletes, and Wounded Warrior athletes, with more than 35,000 runners and roughly 900 teams expected. All race proceeds benefit U.S. Army Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) programs.

What Is the Army 10 Miler Route in 2026?

The Army 10 Miler route starts at the Pentagon, heads out on Route 110, crosses the Key Bridge into Washington, DC, runs the waterfront and monument corridor, and returns to Virginia over the 14th Street Bridge before finishing back at the Pentagon. The course is flat with no meaningful hills, which is why it draws serious time-goal runners alongside first-timers.

Because the course loops through two jurisdictions — Arlington County and the District of Columbia — road closures are handled by multiple agencies, including the Arlington County Police Department, the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department, the U.S. Park Police, the Virginia State Police, and the Pentagon Force Protection Agency. That is the direct reason getting to the start is harder than for most races: entire bridges and highways go offline for hours.

What Time Does the Army 10 Miler Start?

The Army 10 Miler start times run in waves between 8:00 a.m. and 8:55 a.m. on race morning, with runners seeded into Waves 1–10 based on projected finish time. Wheelchair athletes, Wounded Warriors, and Waves 1–4 get runner wave access beginning at 6:20 a.m., so the start-line area is active well before the first mass wave. Each wave seeding area is marked with a colored balloon arch, and you line up behind the arch matching your bib color — so knowing your wave color before race morning saves you a scramble.

Race-Morning Timeline

How Do You Get to the Army 10 Miler Start Line?

The most reliable way to reach the Army 10 Miler start is the Washington Metro, because Route 110 and the roads immediately around the Pentagon close at 5:30 a.m. and stay closed until 1:30 p.m. The Pentagon Metro station sits directly at the event footprint, and garment check is inside its lower bus terminal. Driving to the Pentagon itself is not an option on race morning — the North Parking Lot and Boundary Channel Drive have no access or egress from 4:00 a.m., and Route 110 is fully closed.

A note on rideshare: Uber, Lyft, and taxi drivers are directed to drop at the intersection of 12th and South Hayes Streets in Arlington, roughly a half-mile walk from the start. On a morning when 35,000 runners are all trying to arrive in the same two-hour window, rideshare surge pricing and driver scarcity are predictable — especially for the return trip when the finish empties out at once. For groups, Bayside’s van transportation or an executive Sprinter can keep everyone together for the trip instead of coordinating multiple rides.

If you are coordinating a team or an out-of-town group flying into BWI, DCA, or Dulles for race weekend, a fixed-rate airport car service can get your whole group from the terminal to the closure perimeter on a set schedule — and pick you up after the finish without the post-race surge-and-scramble when everyone is exiting at the same time.

Where Do Spectators Watch the Army 10 Miler?

Spectators watch the Army 10 Miler from the Pentagon finish-line area, the Hooah Tent Zone, and the reunion area in the Pentagon North Lot, all reachable by the free event shuttle that runs continuously between 4:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. Spectators board the shuttle from the Pentagon South Lot. Strollers and wheelchairs are welcome, but no backpacks are allowed. Expect a 10-to-15-minute wait during peak periods.

Spectators can also position along accessible public points on the DC side — near the Georgetown waterfront, the Lincoln Memorial, or Ohio Drive — though bridge closures make moving between vantage points slow. If you want to see the DC monuments and catch the race, pick one spot and stay put.

Frequently Asked Questions