New York City changes on marathon Sunday. Honestly, it’s like the city breathes differently. You’ve got over 50,000 runners—from elite stick-thin athletes to people dressed as giant bananas—taking over the asphalt. But if you're not running, you're probably worrying about one thing: nyc marathon street closures.
It’s a logistical beast. One minute you're trying to grab a bagel in Bay Ridge, and the next, you’re trapped behind a blue line and a wall of cheering fans. If you’ve lived here long enough, you know the drill, but the timing shifts just enough every year to catch you off guard. Basically, the race turns the city into a series of islands within islands.
The Bridge Shutdowns That Actually Matter
Let’s talk about the big ones first because if you miss these, you’re stuck. The Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge is the first to go. It doesn't just close on Sunday morning; the upper level actually shuts down on Saturday night—usually around 11:00 p.m. If you’re trying to get from Staten Island to Brooklyn for a late-night hang, forget it.
The bridge stays fully closed until about 4:00 p.m. on Sunday. That is a massive chunk of the day.
Then you have the Queensboro Bridge. This is where the race gets real for the runners, but for drivers, it’s a total nightmare. The lower level is generally closed from about 6:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. or later. People always think they can sneak across the upper level, but remember: trucks are banned there, and traffic becomes a literal parking lot.
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Here are the heavy hitters you need to watch:
- Pulaski Bridge: Closes early morning, usually around 7:00 a.m. This cuts off Greenpoint from Long Island City.
- Willis Avenue Bridge: The gateway to the Bronx. Closed from about 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
- Madison Avenue Bridge: Expect this to be out of commission until at least 6:30 p.m. as runners head back into Manhattan for the final leg.
Manhattan's First Avenue Gauntlet
If you live on the East Side, I'm sorry. First Avenue becomes a river of humanity. Starting around 59th Street and going all the way up to the Willis Avenue Bridge, the street is completely walled off.
It starts closing around 7:00 a.m. and doesn't fully breathe again until 10:30 p.m. in some sections. That’s nearly the whole day. You can’t drive across it. You can barely walk across it unless you find one of the designated "crossover" points, and even then, you’ll be waiting for a gap in the runners like you’re playing a high-stakes game of Frogger.
The Central Park Lockdown
The finish line is at West 67th Street, but the impact spreads like a spill. Central Park West is essentially a "no-go" zone from 59th Street up to 86th Street.
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Most of the park’s transverse roads—the 65th, 79th, and 96th street cuts—close at midnight or early Sunday morning. If you need to get from the Upper East Side to the Upper West Side, your best bet is the 86th Street Transverse, which often stays open, but expect it to be backed up for miles. Honestly, just take the subway. The 1, 2, 3, A, B, C, and D lines are your best friends on marathon Sunday, even if they're a little sweatier than usual.
Rolling Reopenings: Don’t Trust Your GPS
The NYPD and New York Road Runners (NYRR) use what they call "rolling closures." This means as soon as the last "sweep" bus passes a certain mile marker, they start cleaning the streets and moving the barriers.
In Brooklyn, Fourth Avenue usually starts opening back up around 6:30 p.m. But "opening" is a loose term. You’ve still got sanitation trucks picking up thousands of discarded paper cups and orange peels. Don’t expect to zip through.
- Staten Island: Most roads near the start (Fort Wadsworth) start reopening by 2:00 p.m.
- Brooklyn (South): Bay Ridge and Sunset Park usually see cars again by late afternoon.
- Queens: Long Island City often lingers in gridlock until 5:00 p.m.
- Manhattan: The Upper East Side stays messy the longest.
Common Misconceptions About the Route
A lot of people think the FDR Drive closes. It doesn't. Not officially. However, the exits that lead onto the marathon route (like the 42nd Street or 1st Avenue exits) will be blocked or lead you directly into a dead end.
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Another one: "I'll just take an Uber." Good luck. Rideshare prices skyrocket on marathon Sunday. Plus, drivers know the city is a maze, so many just stay home. If you do snag a car, you’ll likely spend $60 to move ten blocks.
Actionable Tips for Navigating the Closures
If you have to be somewhere on race day, here is the expert way to handle it:
- Check the "No Parking" signs 48 hours early. The city starts towing on Saturday. If you see a temporary sign taped to a lamp post on Friday, move your car immediately. They don't give warnings.
- Use the Subway, but check for diversions. The MTA usually runs extra service, but certain entrances (like those near Columbus Circle) might be designated as "Exit Only" to manage the crush of spectators.
- Avoid 5th Avenue entirely. North of 90th Street, 5th Avenue is the race course. South of that, it’s a spectator wall.
- Cross the park at 86th Street. As mentioned, it's usually the only transverse that remains functional for vehicles, but only use it if it's an emergency.
- Watch the "Sweeper" bus. If you're a spectator and you see the bus with the giant clock on it, that’s the end of the race. Once that passes, the street closures will begin to lift within the hour.
The nyc marathon street closures are a headache, sure, but they’re also part of what makes the day special. The city belongs to the people for 26.2 miles. If you can't beat 'em, grab a cowbell and join the sidelines. Just don't try to drive across 4th Avenue at noon.
Next Steps:
Check the official MTA website or the NYRR "Race Day" app for real-time updates on bus diversions and bridge reopening status. If you are parked on the route, move your vehicle no later than Saturday afternoon to avoid the NYPD tow pounds.