The Course

The TCS New York City Marathon course runs 26.2 miles through the five boroughs of NYC and is a model for big-city marathons around the world. On November 3, 2019, it will move you! For detailed information, visit our Help Center. Please note that information will be updated for the 2019 race. 

Useful Information About the Course

Bridge and Road Closures
.

Staging the TCS New York City Marathon necessitates closing many streets and bridges throughout NYC on Sunday, November 3. NYRR thanks all residents and visitors for their patience and understanding as we stage the world's largest marathon in the world's most dynamic city. All information is subject to change.

 

Mile

Route Location

Rolling Street Closure

Anticipated Street Reopening

Start

Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge - Upper Level

Midnight

3:00 p.m.

Start

Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge - Lower Level Staten Island Bound

7:00 a.m.

3:00 p.m.

Start

Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge - Lower Level Brooklyn Bound

7:00 a.m.

3:00 p.m.

1

Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge  - Midpoint

Midnight

3:00 p.m.

2

Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge Exit to 92nd Street

Midnight

3:00 p.m.

3A

4th Avenue and 82nd Street

7:15 a.m.

12:35 p.m.

3B

74th Street, before 6th Avenue

7:15 a.m.

12:35 p.m.

5K

(Orange) 4th Avenue and 80th Street

7:15 a.m.

12:35 p.m.

5K

(Blue) 4th Avenue and 80th Street

7:15 a.m.

12:35 p.m.

5K

(Green) Bay Ridge Pkwy and 6th Avenue

7:15 a.m.

12:35 p.m.

4

4th Avenue and 63rd Street

7:25 a.m.

12:50 p.m.

5

4th Avenue and 43rd Street

7:25 a.m.

1:05 p.m.

6

4th Avenue and 22nd Street

7:25 a.m.

1:20 p.m.

10K

(Orange) 4th Avenue and 18th Street

7:25 a.m.

1:25 p.m.

10K

(Blue / Green) 4th Avenue and 18th Street

7:25 a.m.

1:25 p.m.

7

4th Avenue and 3rd Street

8:00 a.m.

1:35 p.m.

8

Flatbush Ave and Lafayette Ave

8:00 a.m.

1:50 p.m.

9

Lafayette and Classon Avenues

8:00 a.m.

2:05 p.m.

15K

Bedford Avenue and Kosciuszko Street

8:00 a.m.

2:10 p.m.

10

Bedford Avenue between Wallabout Street and Lynch Street

7:35 a.m.

2:20 p.m.

11

Bedford Avenue and South 3rd Street

7:35 a.m.

2:35 p.m.

12

Manhattan Avenue past Bedford Avenue 

7:45 a.m.

2:50 p.m.

20K

Manhattan Avenue before Greenpoint Avenue

7:45 a.m.

2:55 p.m.

13

McGuiness Boulevard, approaching Pulaski Bridge

8:00 a.m.

3:15 p.m.

13.1

McGuiness Boulevard, approaching Pulaski Bridge

8:00 a.m.

3:15 p.m.

14

10th Street and 44th Drive

8:30 a.m.

3:29 p.m.

15

Queensboro Bridge lower level - Queens side

7:00 a.m.

3:15 PM - 3:45 p.m.

25K

Queensboro Bridge lower level - midspan

7:00 a.m.

3:15 PM - 3:45 p.m.

16

Queensboro Bridge - lower level Manhattan side

7:00 a.m.

3:15 PM - 3:45 p.m.

17

1st Avenue and 77th Street

8:45 a.m.

4:17 p.m.

18

1st Avenue and 97th Street

8:45 a.m.

4:33 p.m.

30K

1st Avenue between 109th and 110th Streets

8:45 a.m.

4:42 p.m.

19

1st Avenue and 117th Street

8:45 a.m.

4:49 p.m.

 

Willis Avenue Bridge

8:45 a.m.

5:00 p.m.

20

135th Street just west of Willis Avenue

8:30 a.m.

5:05 p.m.

 

Madison Avenue Bridge

8:30 a.m.

5:00 p.m.

21

Madison Avenue Bridge and West 138th Street

8:30 a.m.

5:20 p.m.

35K

5th Avenue and 125th Street

9:00 a.m.

5:32 p.m.

22

Mt. Morris Parkway and 122nd Street

9:00 a.m.

5:37 p.m.

23

5th Avenue and 103rd Street

9:00 a.m.

5:53 p.m.

24

Central Park East Drive and 84th Street

CLOSED

CLOSED

40K

Central Park East Drive and 68th Street

CLOSED

CLOSED

25

Central Park East Drive and 65th Street

CLOSED

CLOSED

 

Central Park South
(59th Street from 5th Avenue to Columbus Circle)

9:00 a.m.

6:15 p.m.

26

Central Park West Drive and 62nd Street

CLOSED

CLOSED

Finish

Central Park West Drive and 67th Street

CLOSED

CLOSED


In addition, Central Park West will be closed from Columbus Circle (59th Street) to West 85th Street from 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Note: NO buses will be allowed to cross 5th Avenue during the race.

Central Park Transverse Roads

Closes

Opens

96th St. Transverse Rd

9:00 a.m.

7:00 p.m.

86th St. Transverse Rd

Open

Open.

79th St Transverse Rd

9:00 a.m.

7:00 p.m.

65th St. Transverse Rd

Buses only

7:00 p.m.

 

Mile/Kilometer Markers and Clocks
.

  • Mile markers and clocks will be posted at every mile. Before mile 8, clocks marked with color-coded signs correspond to your start corral color. From mile 8 onward, all mile markers will be blue. Yellow kilometer signs will be posted every 5 kilometers. All course clocks will be set to correspond to Wave 1.
  • Timing will be located at the start, every 5K (3.1 miles) to 40K, the half-marathon (13.1 miles), every mile beginning at mile 8, and the finish.
  • There will be video checkpoints and volunteers checking race numbers along the course. Failure to appear at video checkpoints may result in disqualification.

Fluids, Food, and Amenities
.

  • Poland Spring® Brand 100% Natural Spring Water will be available at the start, finish, and at official fluid stations every mile from mile 3 to mile 25.
  • Gatorade® Endurance Formula™ will be available at official fluid stations every mile from mile 3 to mile 25, except at mile 17.
  • Fluids will be dispensed in recyclable cups. There will be tables on both sides of the course. To avoid the bottleneck at the first table, get a cup from a later table. Please keep moving after you pick up your cup.
  • The Poland Spring® Hydration Zone—including water stations, sponges, and music—will be located at mile 17 on First Avenue.
  • Chiquita Bananas will be available at the fluid stations at miles 20–23.
  • The Biofreeze™ Relief Zone will be at mile 20, offering your choice of self-apply spray or gel product. For your safety, do not ingest.

For your safety, take fluids, food, and amenities only at official stations. Please note that all details are subject to change. 

Toilets
.

  • Portable toilets (including wheelchair-accessible ones) will be located at every mile beginning at mile 3.

Medical Aid
.

  • Medical aid stations will be located on the course approximately every mile starting at mile 3 (adjacent to each fluid station) and at the finish. Medical volunteers will be wearing red medical T-shirts.
  • Medical volunteers and supplies will be available at all aid stations. If you incur an injury or feel discomfort, stop at the nearest aid station. Most runners who seek medical attention are able to complete the race safely.
  • The NYRR medical team will be equipped with Philips Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) in ambulances along the course and at post-finish medical tents to provide trained medical professionals with the tools they need in a life-threatening emergency.

Sweep Bus and Street Openings
.

  • The TCS New York City Marathon course is completely closed to vehicular traffic during the race; see the schedule of bridge and road closures.
  • Sweep buses will follow the marathon route at a 6 1/2-hour marathon pace, roughly 15 minutes per mile, after the final wave start. These buses will transport any entrant who wishes to drop out to the post-finish area.
  • After the sweep buses pass by, the city streets will reopen to traffic. Cross-street protection, medical assistance, aid stations, and other services will no longer be available. Runners on the course should move onto the sidewalks. The official end time of the race is 7:25 p.m.

Dropping Out
.

  • If you need to drop out, look for a volunteer ham radio operator wearing an orange hat and report to a medical aid station, where ham radio operators are also stationed. Ham radio operators will take your name and forward the information to the information kiosks at the finisher area and the Runner Information Hotline number: 800.496.6193. Let your family and friends know beforehand that they should check the information kiosks at the finisher area or call the hotline if they are unsure of your whereabouts. Make sure your family knows your race number.
  • If you have not completed the course, do not go through the finish line, or you will be disqualified and barred from future TCS New York City Marathons. Instead, enter Central Park at West 72nd Street 6:00-7:00 p.m. to claim your checked bag. Bags will also be available for pickup Monday near the finish line from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.