S.F. Marathon 2024: Full Road Closure Details and Alternative Transit Options for This Weekend
Key keywords: San Francisco Marathon, weekend road closures, SF public transit alternatives, marathon route detours, Muni service adjustments, Caltrain event schedules, Embarcadero temporary closures, Golden Gate Bridge access restrictions, cross-city travel tips, accessible transportation options
The 2024 San Francisco Marathon is scheduled to take place across multiple city neighborhoods this Saturday and Sunday, prompting widespread temporary road closures that will impact private vehicle travel, delivery routes, and regular public transit schedules for both residents and visitors alike. The event features four race categories: a 26.2-mile full marathon, 13.1-mile half marathon, 5K fun run, and kids’ race, with routes stretching from the Embarcadero start line near the Ferry Building, through Fisherman’s Wharf, the Marina District, along the Great Highway, across the southern span of the Golden Gate Bridge, through the Presidio, Haight-Ashbury, and the Mission District before circling back to the finish line at Oracle Park. Full road closures along core route segments will go into effect at 3 a.m. Saturday for pre-race setup, with most restrictions lifted by 4 p.m. Sunday, though some residential side streets near the finish line will remain closed until 6 p.m. Sunday for post-race cleanup.
For travelers looking to navigate the city over the weekend, the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) has announced adjusted Muni routes, with 27 bus lines rerouted around closed marathon segments, and extra light rail service added on the N Judah, T Third, and M Ocean View lines to accommodate both race spectators and regular commuters. Riders are advised to check the SFMTA’s real-time trip planner 24 hours in advance of travel to confirm route changes, as delays of 15 to 30 minutes are expected on lines running near the race route. Caltrain will also add three early morning southbound and northbound trains on both Saturday and Sunday to serve marathon participants traveling from the South Bay, with discounted $5 event tickets available for purchase online in advance.
Private vehicle owners are strongly discouraged from traveling across the northern and eastern neighborhoods of the city over the weekend, as cross-town routes including Lombard Street, Van Ness Avenue near the Marina, and the Embarcadero from Howard Street to Bay Street will be fully closed to non-official vehicles. Residents who live within closed route segments will need to show proof of address to access their homes, and parking garages within the closure zone will be closed to non-permit holders starting at 10 p.m. Friday. Ride-hailing services including Uber and Lyft will have designated pickup and drop-off zones located two blocks away from all closed route segments to avoid congestion, with surge pricing expected to be in effect between 7 a.m. and 2 p.m. both days due to limited access. For pedestrians and cyclists, the Golden Gate Bridge’s east sidewalk will be closed to all non-race participants between 5 a.m. and 10 a.m. Sunday, while the west sidewalk will remain open for public use. The Great Highway will be fully closed to all vehicles and non-race pedestrians between Sloat Boulevard and Lincoln Way from 4 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday, so regular beach visitors are advised to use public transit to access Ocean Beach via the N Judah line during that window.
Featured Comments
I live in the Marina District and got the SFMTA alert earlier this week — I’m glad I planned to take BART to my friend’s birthday party in Oakland on Saturday instead of driving, I would’ve definitely been stuck for hours otherwise. Pro tip for anyone else in the closure zones: stock up on groceries Friday evening so you don’t have to leave the house if you don’t want to!
As someone running the full marathon this year, I really appreciate the city putting out this detailed travel info for both runners and locals. I’m taking the early Caltrain from San Jose so I don’t have to deal with parking near the start line, the discounted event ticket is such a nice perk for out-of-town participants. Can’t wait to run across the Golden Gate Bridge!
I own a coffee shop on the Embarcadero near the Ferry Building, and we’re actually opening an hour early this weekend to serve runners and spectators. The road closures might cut down on drive-up customers, but we’re expecting a huge crowd of foot traffic from the race, so it should balance out. Just wish the city would give small businesses in the closure zone a heads up a little earlier next year, we only found out about the full closure timeline last week.
I’m visiting SF from Toronto this weekend and was planning to rent a car to drive to Muir Woods on Sunday, guess I’ll switch to the ferry to Sausalito and take the Marin Transit bus instead! Good thing I checked the news before I booked the car rental, that would’ve been a huge waste of money. The marathon route sounds so scenic, I might head down to the Embarcadero to cheer on the runners instead of my original plans.