IRONMAN® 70.3® Washington Tri‑Cities Race Day Set for September 21: What Residents and Visitors Need to Know

Thousands of athletes and visitors will gather in the Tri-Cities this weekend for IRONMAN® 70.3® Washington Tri-Cities on Sunday, September 21, 2025. The event features a 1.2-mile downriver swim in the Columbia River starting from Howard Amon Park, a 56-mile bike course through Richland and West Richland, and a 13.1-mile run along Columbia River trails before finishing at Columbia Point Park.

With athletes on the course from early morning through early afternoon, residents should plan ahead for temporary road closures and detours. Traffic impacts are expected Sunday, September 21, from approximately 6:00 a.m. to 1:10 p.m.

The best resource for planning is at VisitTri-Cities.com/IRONMAN/, where you can find an overview of expected traffic impacts and an interactive IRONMAN® course map which shows road closures, detours, and street by street impacts. Using the map, residents can plan alternative travel routes and times for navigating around the course on race day

Four key areas to be aware of include:

George Washington Way: Heavy bike usage from about 6:55 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.
Queensgate Area/State Route 240 to Duportail: 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.
Spengler/Stevens/Van Giesen: 6:50 a.m. to 1:10 p.m.
West Richland (Belmont/Paradise to Bombing Range/Van Giesen): 8:06 a.m. to 12:35 p.m.

Need help navigating on race day? Call the local traffic hotline at 509-713-2742 for assistance.

IRONMAN® Village opens Friday, September 19, at Columbia Point Marina Park with athlete check-ins, expos, and pre-race briefings. From 5–7 p.m. that evening, a community party will celebrate the volunteers who power the event. Local Kiwanis Clubs will provide a complimentary meal for volunteers, underwritten by Visit Tri-Cities as a thank-you for their time and service. Food trucks will also be available for attendees to purchase food, and residents are encouraged to stop by to enjoy the atmosphere and preview race weekend.

"This is such a meaningful event for our community, said Kevin Lewis, President & CEO of Visit Tri-Cities. “Hosting the IRONMAN® 70.3® requires the entire community to pull together, and the payoff is a globally recognized event that showcases the Tri-Cities at its best. Planning ahead to navigate the short-term road closures will reduce the stress on race day and facilitate long-term benefits that come from hosting a world-class event.”

“We’re thrilled to welcome IRONMAN® 70.3® to West Richland. Hosting an event of this caliber not only brings world-class athletes and visitors to our community but also provides an incredible opportunity to showcase the natural beauty, hospitality, and unique character of our area,” said West Richland Mayor Brent Gerry. “It’s a chance to put West Richland on the map in an exciting way, and we’re proud to be part of it.”

"We are honored to again welcome IRONMAN athletes and fans to Richland. This event celebrates determination, community spirit, and the beauty of our region,” said Richland Mayor Theresa Richardson. “We look forward to cheering on the competitors and sharing all that makes Richland and the Tri-Cities such a vibrant place to be."

Lewis added: “One of the best ways to experience race day is to be there. Find a spot along the course, clap and cheer, lend a hand, and let the athletes know this community is behind them. That simple encouragement will pay huge dividends for years to come.”

For traffic updates, spectator guides, and event details, check out VisitTri-Cities.com.