The Great American River Run 2023
Memorial Day Weekend


The 2023 Great American River Run will take place on Saturday May 27th over Memorial Day weekend in downtown Memphis and along the Mississippi River.
Whether its the half marathon, 10K, or 5K, sign up early for the lowest registration fee of the year. The longer you wait, the more you’ll pay, so register early to save!
Everyone who crosses the finish line will receive a beautiful medal, race shirt and an invitation to our famous post-run after party with plenty of real food … and beer!
Parking on race morning/day is not included. Click here to find option for race day parking.
Follow us on Facebook to stay for all of the latest GARR 2023 news!
Cash Prize Breakdown:
(winners in the men and women divisions receive same amount in cash prize in all races)
- Half Marathon
- 1st place – $1,250
- 2nd place – $750
- 3rd place – $500
- 4th place – $250
- 5th place – $100
- 10K
- 1st place – $500
- 5K
- 1st place – $500
- Queen/King of the Hill
- Best Time- $500
Register Now for the 2023 Great American River Run!
Click the link below to register for the Great American Rive Run Half Marathon, 10k, or 5k.
Registration Fee increases for ALL RACES on race day.
Packet Pickup
There are two ways to pick-up your race packet.
Expo:
The Great American River Run Expo is at the Renasant Convention Center, located at 255 N. Main St., Memphis, TN. Swing by from 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM on Friday, May 26 to pick up your packet, race shirt, and a few extra goodies from our vendors! Parking for the Expo is free. The garage can be accessed from Front St.
Race Day:
If you miss the Expo, you can get your bib Saturday morning at the rally point in Church Park starting at 6:00 a.m. The park is located at 4th and Beale St., next to the FedEx Forum. Look for the registration tent, and please allow extra time for this step.
Start Times
Half Marathon – 7:30 a.m.
10K – 7:30 a.m.
5K – 7: 45 a.m.




Complete Road Closures – May 27, 2023
Road closures from 12:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m.
- All Northbound and Southbound lanes of Riverside Drive from West Carolina Avenue to Union Avenue.
- All Northbound lanes of Mudd Island Dr (6 AM to 10 AM)
- All Southbound Lanes of Front St – Jefferson to MLK
- Eastbound and Westbound lanes closed of Beale Street from South BB King Boulevard to South Fourth Street
- Rufus Thomas Boulevard from Peabody Place to Fed Ex Forum
- South Fourth Street from Peabody Place to Fed Ex Forum from Saturday
Other streets on the course will have partial lane closure with MPD and volunteers directing traffic during the race.
For more detailed course information, click here.
Parking in Downtown Memphis
Premium Parking is Memphis in May’s official partner. Click the buttons below to find a spot throughout downtown Memphis and close to Church Park.
For more information, email us at GARR@memphisinmay.org.
2023 YMCA Training Schedules
Join the YMCA Memphis today using code RIVERRUN23 and only pay $45 for a family membership and $30 for an individual membership. The discount will apply to your April and May membership.
Our Featured Sponsors
If you like to get a jump on training for the 2023 Great American River Run or you like to stay ready, just remember to play it smart when the weather is hot. Here are some safety tips to keep in mind when you run in the summer heat.
1) Keep hydrated. It`s common sense and at the top of the list, and that goes before and after your run.
2) Run during the cooler parts of the day. Try to avoid running between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Mornings are cooler than afternoons, but run at the time of day you feel safest.
3) Don`t stress about pace. You don`t need to keep the same pace as when running in cooler weather. As long as you`re running consistently, you`ll benefit from training.
4) Dress for the occasion. Choose light-colored, loose-fitting clothing to help your body breathe and cool itself naturally.
5) Pay attention. Listen to your body and look for signs of dehydration or heat exhaustion, including dizziness, nausea, weakness, muscle cramps, and headaches.
6) Wear sunscreen. There are many internal benefits to running, but don`t ignore taking care of your skin. Protect it, so it can protect you.