Getting to the Start

Official Transportation Information

Click here to review subway information for race morning.

NYRR strongly recommends that you use our official marathon transportation to ensure on-time arrival at the start. Our official buses are the only vehicles allowed into the race staging area on Staten Island. Private vehicles, including charter buses, are not guaranteed for on-time arrival.

Official transportation will be provided from New York and New Jersey. If you are taking official transportation, you must choose one of these two options on your Entrant Login page by August 1. Using this information and your previous best and/or projected finish time, NYRR will assign you to a departure time and location.

In September, your departure time and location will appear on your profile on the Entrant Login page. (You can update your profile here.) If you miss the August 1 deadline, you will be assigned transportation based on availability. You will need to plan to arrive at your assigned departure location at least 15 minutes prior to your scheduled departure time.

If you select New York, you will probably be assigned to the Staten Island Ferry and shuttle bus. This is the easiest and most scenic way to reach the start.

Special buses will be provided for all Athletes With Disabilities (AWDs), leaving from Fifth Avenue between 37th and 39th Streets, between 5:00-6:30 a.m. Instructions regarding these buses will be provided at a later date. NYRR strongly recommends that all AWDs use these buses.

New York: Staten Island Ferry* and Shuttle Bus

Departure Times: 5:30-8:00 a.m.

Location: Whitehall Terminal (1 Whitehall Street at South Street) near Battery Park

On Staten Island, shuttle buses will transport you from the ferry terminal to the race start.

A small percentage of runners who select New York will be assigned to the Midtown Manhattan Bus.

New York: Midtown Manhattan Bus

Departure Times: 5:00-6:30 a.m.

Location: New York Public Library, at 42nd Street and Fifth Avenue, between Times Square and Grand Central Terminal

If you select New Jersey, you will travel to the race start on the New Jersey bus.

New Jersey: Meadowlands Parking Lot
UPDATE: NEW DROP-OFF SPOT FOR MARATHONERS USING NEW JERSEY TRANSPORTATION.

Official marathon transportation from New Jersey will depart from the Meadowlands Parking Lot located off Route 120 South. Please note that this is a change from last year; we will NO LONGER be using the Izod Center Parking Lot.

THERE WILL BE NO PARKING AVAILABLE in the Meadowlands lot; only drop-offs will be permitted.

Directions to the Meadowlands Parking Lot: Follow the New Jersey Turnpike north (Western Spur) to Sports Complex to Exit 16W. Follow the ramp onto Route 3 West. Continue on Route 3 West and exit onto Route 17 North toward Rutherford. Continue on Route 17 North to the Route 120 South/Paterson Plank Rd/Sports Complex exit. Follow Route 120 South (about a mile) to the parking lot on the right. To view the PDF, click here.

Departure Times: 5:00-6:30 a.m. (running continuously)

Boarding Procedures

Please arrive early to ensure that you get to the start with time to spare.

Parking is not available at any of the bus locations.

Restrooms will be available at the loading areas but not on the buses.

Restrooms will be available on the Staten Island Ferry.

The buses are for official entrants only. To board the bus, you must show your race number, which will include your official transportation information.

For security reasons, your belongings must be visible inside the clear bag given to you at the expo. Affix your baggage sticker to this bag.

If you bring additional bags, even within the clear bag, they will be confiscated.
All bags are subject to search.

Wheelchair and handcycle entrants may bring both a racing chair/cycle and an everyday chair.

Public Transportation
By ferry from Manhattan: See Staten Island Ferry information above.
By bus from Brooklyn: Take the S53 bus from 86th Street at Fourth Avenue in Bay Ridge to the first stop on Staten Island, at the intersection of Fingerboard Road and the Staten Island Expressway. Follow the signs along School Road and enter Fort Wadsworth at Bay Street. Check www.mta.info for service advisories affecting your plans.

Private Vehicles

The Verrazano-Narrows Bridge will close to all traffic promptly at 7:00 a.m.

Private vehicles, including charter buses, are not guaranteed arrival in time for the race start.

Private vehicles are allowed for participant drop-offs only. There is no public parking near the start.

The walk from the drop-off area to the staging area is approximately one half-mile.

Private vehicles will be directed to Lily Pond Avenue (outside Fort Wadsworth) and may not drive into the staging area or discharge passengers on the bridge plaza.

If you arrive in a private vehicle, you will have to show your race number and chip in order to be permitted to walk to Fort Wadsworth. Your belongings must be visible inside your clear baggage bag. No other bags will be allowed.

Directions from Brooklyn: If you travel by private vehicle via Brooklyn, NYRR recommends that you arrive at the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge no later than 5:30 a.m. in order to cross and return by the 7:00 a.m. bridge closure. After crossing the bridge, take the Staten Island Expressway (I-278) to the South Beach exit. Note that the bridge allows vehicular traffic only.

Directions from New Jersey and Staten Island: Take I-278 to the Clove Road exit and follow the service road to Lily Pond Road.

*Please review the following public transportation options for getting to the Staten Island Ferry.

From Manhattan, the Bronx and Queens:

Take the "1" train to South Ferry.

Take the "4" to Bowling Green. Please note that “5” service will operate between Eastchester/Dyer Avenue and 42nd St/ Grand Central. There will be no “5” service below Grand Central. “4” service will be normal to take Marathoners to Bowling Green for SI Ferry service.

Take the "7" to Grand Central/42nd St and transfer to the southbound "4" to Bowling Green.

Take the "E" train to Lexington Avenue and transfer to the southbound "6" to Grand Central, and then take the "4" to Bowling Green.

Take the "J" train to Chambers Street and transfer to the southbound "4" to Bowling Green.

Take the "A" via West 4th Street to Broadway/Lafayette Street and transfer to the southbound "6" to Brooklyn Bridge, and then take the "4" to Bowling Green.

Take the "R" to Whitehall Street or the "N" (last "N" train through Whitehall is 5:48 a.m.).

From Brooklyn:

Take the "R" "N" "Q" to Pacific Street/Atlantic Avenue and transfer to the northbound "4."

Take the "4" to Bowling Green.

Take the "L" train to 14thSt/Union Square and transfer to the southbound "4" to Bowling Green.

For further travel information visit http://www.mta.info/ or call 718-330-1234.

For customized travel directions try: http://www.tripplanner.mta.info/