NYC Marathon 2025: today’s route, start times, street closures, and the best places to cheer

Bassyonni

ago 8 hours

NYC Marathon 2025

More than 50,000 runners take on the TCS New York City Marathon today, Sunday, November 2, 2025, tracing 26.2 miles through all five boroughs. Here’s a clear, runner-and-spectator guide to the course, the day’s wave schedule, and how to navigate the city while the race is underway.

When is the NYC Marathon and how the start works

Start window: The start village at Fort Wadsworth, Staten Island begins sending athletes from 8:00 a.m. ET.
Pro fields: Professional women set off shortly after 8:30 a.m.; professional men follow around 9:00 a.m.
Mass waves: Color-coded waves continue late morning in rolling starts roughly every 30–45 minutes.
Tracking: Official runner tracking and leader splits are available in the marathon app; friends and family can follow bibs in real time.

(Note: It’s “fall back” Sunday in the U.S., so clocks moved back one hour overnight.)

NYC Marathon 2025 route at a glance

Staten Island (Miles 0–2): Start at Fort Wadsworth, then the dramatic climb over the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge.
Brooklyn (Miles 2–13): Long, fast stretches along Fourth Ave, then neighborhoods and music through Bay Ridge, Sunset Park, Park Slope, Fort Greene, Bedford-Stuyvesant, Williamsburg, and Greenpoint.
Queens (Miles 13–16): Over the Pulaski Bridge (halfway timing mat) into Long Island City.
Manhattan Part I (Miles 16–19): Quiet, no-spectator ascent on the Queensboro Bridge, exploding into crowds on First Avenue uptown.
Bronx (Miles 19–21): Cross the Willis Avenue Bridge, loop through Mott Haven/Port Morris, return via the Madison Avenue Bridge.
Manhattan Part II & Finish (Miles 21–26.2): South on Fifth Avenue, the testing rise by Central Park, then into the Park for the iconic finish near Tavern on the Green.

Best spectator spots (and why)

Fourth Avenue, Brooklyn (Miles 3–8): Wide roadway, ample space, and early-race smiles.
Lafayette Ave / Fort Greene (Miles 8–9): Bands and block-party energy.
Pulaski Bridge (Halfway) & Vernon Blvd in LIC: Great views as runners tick 13.1.
First Avenue, Manhattan (Miles 16–18): Thunderous—ideal for catching your runner twice if you hop the subway.
Fifth Avenue at 110th–90th Streets (Miles 23–24): The uphill grit zone where cheers matter most.
Central Park South (final mile): Electric atmosphere; arrive early, it packs in.

Pro tip: Pick a landmark (street corner, store sign) and tell your runner exactly which side you’ll stand on. Tracking + a bright sign = fewer missed high-fives.

Street closures and getting around

Bridges affected: Verrazzano-Narrows (upper level closed both directions early), Pulaski, Queensboro (59th Street), Willis Ave, Madison Ave—with rolling traffic holds as the field passes.
Major corridors: Long closures along Fourth Ave (Brooklyn), parts of Bedford/Lafayette/Manhattan Ave, sections of Vernon/Crescent/Queens Plaza (Queens), First Ave (Manhattan), and Fifth Ave/Central Park drives.
Reopening: Streets reopen on a rolling basis once the tail of the race clears and the course is swept. Obey NYPD and course marshal directions—turns can reopen at different times than straightaways.
Transit: Subways run; some lines are your best friend for leapfrogging the course (R/D/N in Brooklyn, 7/E/M in Queens, 4/5/6 and Q along Manhattan’s east side). Buses detour extensively. Avoid rideshare across the course during peak hours; walk or use subway to cross.

Weather & race-day comforts

Typical first-Sunday-in-November feel: Cool morning, milder afternoon. Runners should layer tossable warm-ups; spectators bring a light jacket and comfortable shoes.
Hydration & aid: Water/Gatorade stations are spaced throughout; medical tents appear at regular intervals. Spectators: pack snacks and a portable charger.

For runners: last reminders before you toe the line

Corral discipline: Arrive at your assigned color and wave; do not jump corrals—it complicates flows on the Verrazzano and early aid stations.
Pacing on the bridge: Mile 1 is uphill and windy; let the pack clear, save your legs for Brooklyn.
Queensboro quiet, First Ave loud: Expect an emotional whiplash—keep effort even.
Fifth Ave climb: It’s longer than you remember; shorten the stride, lift cadence, and feed off the crowd.
Finish logistics: After the line, follow signs for bag reclaim or post-race poncho; reunite with family at prearranged meet-up streets outside the park footprint.

Safety and etiquette

Course crossing: Never step into the roadway between barricades—runners move fast and densely.
Headphones & awareness: Runners using earbuds should keep volume low near medical/aid areas.
Trash zones: Toss cups toward the curb past aid tables; volunteers and other runners will thank you.
Respect the neighbors: Many areas are residential—keep stoops clear and pack out your signs and snacks.

Key times to remember (today, ET)

8:00 a.m.: Wheelchairs/handcycles and first waves begin.
~8:30–9:05 a.m.: Professional women, then professional men.
Morning–noon: Rolling mass starts.
Late morning to mid-afternoon: Most finishers arrive; Central Park stays crowded through early evening.

The NYC Marathon 2025 is live across all five boroughs today. If you’re running, trust your plan and the crowd will carry you home. If you’re cheering, pick smart spots, ride the subway, and bring your loudest voice—New York’s biggest block party is under way.