Whether you are a costumed runner, a dedicated spectator, or a resident trying to cross town, navigating the city requires careful planning as the race essentially cuts San Francisco in half.
Here is the ultimate breakdown of everything you need to know:
Starting Line Area
Start Time: 8 a.m.
The race starts downtown near the Embarcadero waterfront, completely taking over the Financial District early Sunday morning.
The starting line is at the intersection of Howard Street and Main/Fremont streets.
Race Route
- Howard Street: Runners head southwest along Howard Street from the waterfront down to 9th Street.
- 9th Street: The route turns north for a brief block to cross Market Street.
- Hayes Street/Hayes Street Hill: Participants turn west onto Hayes Street, passing through Hayes Valley. Between Fillmore and Steiner streets, runners tackle the infamous Hayes Street Hill, a grueling steep climb featuring an 11.15% grade.
- Divisadero/Fell Street: The course runs briefly along Divisadero Street before turning west onto Fell Street, bordering the north side of the Panhandle.
- Golden Gate Park: Runners enter the park at Kezar Drive and cruise west all the way down John F. Kennedy (JFK) Drive, passing iconic sights like the Conservatory of Flowers.
- The Finish Line: The race wraps up on the Great Highway at Ocean Beach, where participants join the Finish Line Festival.
Finish Line Festival Area
Once you survive the 12K, the massive end-of-race party kicks off. Expect live music stages, local food trucks, and a giant beer garden. Registered participants can show their official race bib for a complimentary drink.
- Location: The official Finish Line Festival takes place at 1000 Great Highway/2100 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive inside Golden Gate Park.
- Hours: 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sunday.
Public Transportation Changes
Early BART Trains
BART will run four special early-morning trains with limited stops to get runners downtown.
These limited trains will arrive at Embarcadero Station around 7 a.m.
You can only catch these special early trains at 16th St. Mission, Bay Fair, Daly City, El Cerrito del Norte, Dublin/Pleasanton, MacArthur, Millbrae, Pleasant Hill, and West Oakland.
Visit the BART website here for more information.
Muni Service Changes
Muni routes will be heavily impacted across the city. Visit the SFMTA website here for more details.
Street Closures
Saturday
Crews will begin locking down the Financial District starting Saturday evening to build out the starting line corrals and security checkpoints
- Timeline: Saturday, 7 p.m. to Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Impact Zone: Howard Street (Embarcadero to Beale), Steuart Street (south of Mission), Spear Street (Mission to Folsom), and Main Street (Mission to Folsom)
- The Takeaway: Avoid the immediate area around the Embarcadero and Salesforce Tower starting Saturday dinner time. Tow trucks will be highly active.
Sunday - Downtown
By early Sunday morning, the entire lower end of Market and Howard streets will transform into a pedestrian-only zone for registered runners.
- Timeline: Sunday, 3 a.m.to 11 a.m.
- Impact Zone: Beale, Fremont, First, and Second streets (all between Mission and Folsom), New Montgomery (Mission to Howard), and Howard Street stretching all the way up to Ninth Street
- The Takeaway: No vehicles will be allowed to cross Howard Street between the Embarcadero and Civic Center. Use the structures further south or the Embarcadero flyovers if you must move east-west.
Sunday - Hayes Valley and the Panhandle
As the race moves west, Hayes Street Hill and the roads flanking the Panhandle will shut down to accommodate the peak crowds, costumed revelers, and centipede runners
- Timeline: Sunday, 5 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- Impact Zone: Hayes Street (Market to Divisadero), Divisadero Street (Grove to Oak), Fell Street (Divisadero to Stanyan), and Baker Street (Oak to Fell)
- The Takeaway: North-south vehicle travel through the center of the city is effectively blocked. Divisadero and Fell will be completely impassable during brunch hours.
Sunday - Ocean Beach finish
The final bottleneck occurs at the Western edge of the city where the race concludes at the Great Highway with the Finish Line Festival.
- Timeline: Sunday, 3 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Impact Zone: Westbound lanes of Fulton Street (46th to Great Highway), westbound Lincoln Way (45th to Great Highway), La Playa Street, Balboa Street, and Cabrillo Street near the coast.
- The Takeaway: The Pacific coastline near Golden Gate Park will be entirely closed to vehicle traffic until late Sunday afternoon.