diff --git a/packages/router/src/config.ts b/packages/router/src/config.ts
index f1943e4f6e..fcc9c5af27 100644
--- a/packages/router/src/config.ts
+++ b/packages/router/src/config.ts
@@ -37,8 +37,15 @@ import {UrlSegment, UrlSegmentGroup} from './url_tree';
  * - `resolve` is a map of DI tokens used to look up data resolvers. See `Resolve` for more
  *   info.
  * - `runGuardsAndResolvers` defines when guards and resolvers will be run. By default they run only
- *    when the matrix parameters of the route change. When set to `paramsOrQueryParamsChange` they
- *    will also run when query params change. And when set to `always`, they will run every time.
+ *    when the matrix parameters of the route change. Options include:
+ *    - `paramsChange` (default) - Run guards and resolvers when path or matrix params change. This
+ *      mode ignores query param changes.
+ *    - `paramsOrQueryParamsChange` - Guards and resolvers will run when any parameters change. This
+ *      includes path, matrix, and query params.
+ *    - `pathParamsChange` Run guards and resolvers path or any path params change. This mode is
+ *      useful if you want to ignore changes to all optional parameters such as query *and* matrix
+ *      params.
+ *    - `always` - Run guards and resolvers on every navigation.
  * - `children` is an array of child route definitions.
  * - `loadChildren` is a reference to lazy loaded child routes. See `LoadChildren` for more
  *   info.
@@ -359,7 +366,8 @@ export type QueryParamsHandling = 'merge' | 'preserve' | '';
  * See `Routes` for more details.
  * @publicApi
  */
-export type RunGuardsAndResolvers = 'paramsChange' | 'paramsOrQueryParamsChange' | 'always';
+export type RunGuardsAndResolvers =
+    'pathParamsChange' | 'paramsChange' | 'paramsOrQueryParamsChange' | 'always';
 
 /**
  * See `Routes` for more details.
diff --git a/packages/router/src/utils/preactivation.ts b/packages/router/src/utils/preactivation.ts
index 3b3dd31d6a..e8324b8402 100644
--- a/packages/router/src/utils/preactivation.ts
+++ b/packages/router/src/utils/preactivation.ts
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ import {Injector} from '@angular/core';
 import {LoadedRouterConfig, RunGuardsAndResolvers} from '../config';
 import {ChildrenOutletContexts, OutletContext} from '../router_outlet_context';
 import {ActivatedRouteSnapshot, RouterStateSnapshot, equalParamsAndUrlSegments} from '../router_state';
+import {equalPath} from '../url_tree';
 import {forEach, shallowEqual} from '../utils/collection';
 import {TreeNode, nodeChildrenAsMap} from '../utils/tree';
 
@@ -147,6 +148,9 @@ function shouldRunGuardsAndResolvers(
     curr: ActivatedRouteSnapshot, future: ActivatedRouteSnapshot,
     mode: RunGuardsAndResolvers | undefined): boolean {
   switch (mode) {
+    case 'pathParamsChange':
+      return !equalPath(curr.url, future.url);
+
     case 'always':
       return true;
 
diff --git a/packages/router/test/integration.spec.ts b/packages/router/test/integration.spec.ts
index 32559d1fbf..4fc5d82993 100644
--- a/packages/router/test/integration.spec.ts
+++ b/packages/router/test/integration.spec.ts
@@ -2138,7 +2138,13 @@ describe('Integration', () => {
               canActivate: ['guard'],
               resolve: {data: 'resolver'}
             },
-            {path: 'b', component: SimpleCmp, outlet: 'right'}
+            {path: 'b', component: SimpleCmp, outlet: 'right'}, {
+              path: 'c/:param',
+              runGuardsAndResolvers,
+              component: RouteCmp,
+              canActivate: ['guard'],
+              resolve: {data: 'resolver'}
+            }
           ]);
 
           router.navigateByUrl('/a');
@@ -2236,6 +2242,55 @@ describe('Integration', () => {
              expect(guardRunCount).toEqual(5);
              expect(recordedData).toEqual([{data: 0}, {data: 1}, {data: 2}, {data: 3}, {data: 4}]);
            })));
+
+        it('should not rerun guards and resolvers', fakeAsync(inject([Router], (router: Router) => {
+             const fixture = configureRouter(router, 'pathParamsChange');
+
+             const cmp: RouteCmp = fixture.debugElement.children[1].componentInstance;
+             const recordedData: any[] = [];
+             cmp.route.data.subscribe((data: any) => recordedData.push(data));
+
+             // First navigation has already run
+             expect(guardRunCount).toEqual(1);
+             expect(recordedData).toEqual([{data: 0}]);
+
+             // Changing any optional params will not result in running guards or resolvers
+             router.navigateByUrl('/a;p=1');
+             advance(fixture);
+             expect(guardRunCount).toEqual(1);
+             expect(recordedData).toEqual([{data: 0}]);
+
+             router.navigateByUrl('/a;p=2');
+             advance(fixture);
+             expect(guardRunCount).toEqual(1);
+             expect(recordedData).toEqual([{data: 0}]);
+
+             router.navigateByUrl('/a;p=2?q=1');
+             advance(fixture);
+             expect(guardRunCount).toEqual(1);
+             expect(recordedData).toEqual([{data: 0}]);
+
+             router.navigateByUrl('/a;p=2(right:b)?q=1');
+             advance(fixture);
+             expect(guardRunCount).toEqual(1);
+             expect(recordedData).toEqual([{data: 0}]);
+
+             // Change to new route with path param should run guards and resolvers
+             router.navigateByUrl('/c/paramValue');
+             advance(fixture);
+
+             expect(guardRunCount).toEqual(2);
+
+             // Modifying a path param should run guards and resolvers
+             router.navigateByUrl('/c/paramValueChanged');
+             advance(fixture);
+             expect(guardRunCount).toEqual(3);
+
+             // Adding optional params should not cause guards/resolvers to run
+             router.navigateByUrl('/c/paramValueChanged;p=1?q=2');
+             advance(fixture);
+             expect(guardRunCount).toEqual(3);
+           })));
       });
 
       describe('should wait for parent to complete', () => {
diff --git a/tools/public_api_guard/router/router.d.ts b/tools/public_api_guard/router/router.d.ts
index c62e9f97e1..10ef4c557d 100644
--- a/tools/public_api_guard/router/router.d.ts
+++ b/tools/public_api_guard/router/router.d.ts
@@ -451,7 +451,7 @@ export declare class RoutesRecognized extends RouterEvent {
     toString(): string;
 }
 
-export declare type RunGuardsAndResolvers = 'paramsChange' | 'paramsOrQueryParamsChange' | 'always';
+export declare type RunGuardsAndResolvers = 'pathParamsChange' | 'paramsChange' | 'paramsOrQueryParamsChange' | 'always';
 
 export declare class Scroll {
     readonly anchor: string | null;