New York City Marathon 2025: Route Map, Closures, Start Times, How to Watch

The 2025 New York City Marathon is set to take over the city on Sunday, November 2, bringing together over 50,000 runners from around the world. Starting at Fort Wadsworth in Staten Island and ending in Central Park, the 26.2-mile race will also bring significant road and bridge closures across all five boroughs. Here’s a quick look at the full route, closure details, and how spectators can plan their day.

Date: Sunday, November 2, 2025
Time zone note: Daylight saving time ends at 2:00 a.m. on race morning. Clocks move back one hour to Eastern Standard Time.

Key Points

• Start: Fort Wadsworth, Staten Island
• First gun: 8:00 a.m. EST
• Route: Staten Island to Brooklyn to Queens to Manhattan to the Bronx and back to Manhattan
• Finish: Central Park, West Drive at 67th Street
• Field: More than 50,000 runners
• Expected closures: Rolling closures begin around 7:00 a.m. and lift by about 4:00 p.m. in most areas
• Live coverage in the U.S.: ESPN2 from 8:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., with additional coverage on the ESPN app. WABC-TV provides local programming in the New York market

Exact Start Timeline (EST)

• 8:00 a.m. Men’s wheelchair
• 8:02 a.m. Women’s wheelchair
• 8:22 a.m. Handcycle and select AWD divisions
• 8:35 a.m. Professional women
• 9:05 a.m. Professional men
• 9:10 a.m. Mass start Wave 1
• 9:45 a.m. Mass start Wave 2
• 10:20 a.m. Mass start Wave 3
• 10:55 a.m. Mass start Wave 4
• 11:30 a.m. Mass start Wave 5

Reminder: There is no public viewing at Fort Wadsworth. There is no viewing on any bridge.

Route Map in Plain Language

Mile 0 to 2 — Staten Island to Brooklyn
Start inside Fort Wadsworth. Cross the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge into Bay Ridge.

Miles 2 to 12 — Brooklyn
Run up Fourth Avenue through Bay Ridge, Sunset Park, Park Slope, and Downtown Brooklyn. Turn through Fort Greene on Lafayette Avenue. Continue north via Bedford Avenue through Clinton Hill, Williamsburg, and Greenpoint.

Miles 12 to 15 — Queens
Cross the Pulaski Bridge into Long Island City. Navigate LIC streets to the base of the Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge.

Miles 15 to 19 — Manhattan east side
Emerge off the Queensboro Bridge onto First Avenue. Head north past the 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s, and the 100s with dense, loud crowds.

Miles 19 to 21 — The Bronx
Cross the Willis Avenue Bridge. Loop through the 135th to 138th Street corridors. Return to Manhattan via the Madison Avenue Bridge.

Miles 21 to 26.2 — Manhattan and Central Park
Head south on Fifth Avenue. Climb the late hill along the east side of the park. Enter Central Park around East 90th Street. Follow the park drives to the finish on West Drive at 67th Street.

Road and Bridge Closures

Citywide overview

• Expect extensive, rolling closures along the course from about 7:00 a.m. to about 4:00 p.m.
• Streets reopen in sequence after runners, support vehicles, and cleanup crews clear each segment.

Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge

• Fully closed to non-emergency traffic on race morning.
• Staten Island approaches, ramps, and local streets around Fort Wadsworth close well before the first start for setup.
• Plan alternate routes if you typically cross between Staten Island and Brooklyn during these hours.

Staten Island

• Fort Wadsworth security perimeters are in effect.
• Bay Street and Lily Pond Avenue corridors near the bridge are restricted in the early morning through mid-afternoon.

Brooklyn

• Fourth Avenue from Bay Ridge to Downtown is closed in stages for the early miles.
• Additional closures include segments of Flatbush Avenue, Lafayette Avenue, Bedford Avenue, Nassau Avenue, Manhattan Avenue, Greenpoint Avenue, and McGuinness Boulevard leading to the Pulaski Bridge.

Queens

• The Pulaski Bridge is closed to vehicles during the wave starts passing through.
• Long Island City streets near Vernon Boulevard, 10th Street, 44th Drive, Hunter Street, Crescent Street, and Queens Plaza South are used for the course.
• Vehicle access to the lower level of the Queensboro Bridge is restricted during the race window.

Manhattan

• East 59th Street at the Queensboro Bridge exit area is restricted.
• First Avenue northbound is closed along the course up to the Willis Avenue Bridge.
• Fifth Avenue southbound is closed from the 130s down to the 90s while runners pass through.
• Central Park drives are restricted for the finish zone. Approaches to West Drive and 67th Street are controlled.

The Bronx

• Willis Avenue Bridge and Madison Avenue Bridge are closed to regular traffic when runners cross.
• Segments along East 135th Street to East 140th Street, Alexander Avenue, Third Avenue, Morris Avenue, and Rider Avenue are restricted while the field passes.

Important: All closures are rolling. Reopening times vary by pace of the final starters and course operations. If you must drive on Sunday morning, add 30 to 60 minutes and avoid the course corridors altogether.

Transit and Getting Around

• Use the subway for the most predictable travel.
• Expect bus detours where routes intersect the course. Buses do not cross Fifth Avenue while runners are on the roadway.
• Major viewing hubs like Queensboro Plaza, Lexington Av–59 St, and Columbus Circle may have crowd control. Some stairways may be marked entry only or exit only for safety.
• If you plan to change viewing locations, pick stations on the same side of the course to avoid long crossings.

Best Spectator Spots with Easy Access

• Fourth Avenue in Brooklyn, Miles 2 to 8
  Wide roadway and early race energy. R line is convenient along the corridor with additional options near Downtown Brooklyn.
• Fort Greene and Bedford Avenue, Miles 8 to 12
  Bands, block party atmosphere, easy to reach from multiple subway lines.
• Queensboro Bridge exit to First Avenue, Mile 16
  One of the loudest points on the course. Use N, W, or 7 to Queensboro Plaza on the Queens side, or multiple lines to 59 St on the Manhattan side.
• Bronx loop, Miles 20 to 21
  More room to stand, good sightlines for late race viewing.
• Fifth Avenue climb, Miles 23 to 24
  Key tactical stretch before the park. Q or 4, 5, 6 to 96 St or 103 St.
• Central Park South and Columbus Circle, final mile
  Big screens and atmosphere near the park’s southwest corner. Access is controlled closer to the finish.

Finish access: Grandstand seating near the finish requires tickets. General public viewing is outside the ticketed zone. The family reunion area is on Central Park West outside the park. Build 20 to 30 minutes from your runner’s finish time to meet them.

How to Watch

• ESPN2: Live U.S. coverage from 8:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. EST
• ESPN app: Pre-race window from 7:00 a.m. and additional live coverage after the linear broadcast ends
• Local New York coverage: WABC-TV provides race-day programming for the Tri-State area

International coverage varies by country. Check local listings.

Spectator Do and Do Not

Do

• Set clocks back one hour before bed.
• Pick two viewing points on the same side of the course and ride the subway between them.
• Bring layers, water, snacks, a portable charger, and a simple sign.

Do not

• Do not plan to watch at Fort Wadsworth or on any bridge.
• Do not step into the roadway. Respect NYPD and course marshal instructions.
• Do not rely on buses to cross the course. Use the subway.

FAQs

What time does the marathon start
The first start is 8:00 a.m. EST from the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge.

How many runners will participate
More than 50,000 athletes are expected to take part.

Where does the race finish
Inside Central Park on West Drive at 67th Street.

How long do road closures last
Plan for closures from about 7:00 a.m. to about 4:00 p.m. Most locations reopen on a rolling basis once runners and course crews have cleared.

What channel is broadcasting the marathon
ESPN2 carries the live national broadcast from 8:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. The ESPN app provides pre-race and additional live coverage. WABC-TV carries local race-day programming in New York.

References

• New York Road Runners, “2025 TCS New York City Marathon: Start Times, Course, and Finish Guidance,” October–November 2025.
• NYC Emergency Management and Citywide Event Coordination, “2025 NYC Marathon Street and Bridge Closures Advisory,” October 2025.
• MTA New York City Transit, “Service Changes and Detours for the 2025 TCS New York City Marathon,” October–November 2025.
• ESPN Press Room, “Programming Schedule for the 2025 TCS New York City Marathon,” October 2025.
• WABC-TV New York, “NYC Marathon: Street Closures, Start Times, and How to Watch,” October 2025.
• Time Out New York, “Where to Watch the NYC Marathon,” October 2025.