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History of the NYC Marathon
SINCE its inaugural event in 1970, the NYC Marathon has grown to become the largest marathon globally.
In this article, we will explore the route that both professional athletes and tens of thousands of amateur runners will follow, as well as the streets that will be closed to traffic.
The race begins in Fort Wadsworth, Staten Island, as runners cross the Verrazzano-Narrows BridgeCredit: Corbis – Getty
The clocks will be set back one hour early on race dayCredit: Alamy
When is the NYC Marathon?
The 2025 New York City (NYC) Marathon is set to occur on Sunday, November 2, 2025.
The race kicks off early in the morning, with the first competitors starting at 8 AM EST (1 PM GMT).
This event unites over 50,000 runners from around the world, spanning all five boroughs of NYC, from Staten Island to Manhattan’s Central Park.
The start times are staggered by categories, beginning with the men’s professional wheelchair division at 8 AM.
Start times include:
- 8 AM – Men’s Professional Wheelchair Division
- 8:02 AM – Women’s Professional Wheelchair Division
- 8:22 AM – Handcycle Category and Selected Athletes with Disabilities
- 8:35 AM – Professional Women’s Open Division
- 9:05 AM – Professional Men’s Open Division
- 9:10 AM – Wave 1
- 9:45 AM – Wave 2
- 10:20 AM – Wave 3
- 10:55 AM – Wave 4
- 11:30 AM – Wave 5
On race day, the clocks will be set back one hour due to the end of daylight saving time, providing runners with an extra hour of rest before the marathon begins.
What is the NYC route and what streets are closed?
The marathon covers a total distance of 26.2 miles.
It begins at Fort Wadsworth, Staten Island, and runners will cross the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge.
Upon entering Brooklyn, the route follows Fourth Avenue, Lafayette Avenue, and Bedford Avenue.
The course then crosses the Pulaski Bridge into Queens, followed by the Queensboro Bridge into Manhattan’s East Side.
Runners will cross the Madison Avenue Bridge into the Bronx before returning to Manhattan via the Willis Avenue Bridge.
The final stretch takes participants through Harlem and up Fifth Avenue, leading to a challenging finish with rolling hills.
The New York City Department of Transit has announced the following road closures:
Staten Island (Main Route):
- Staten Island Expressway
- Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge
Additional Embargo Locations in Staten Island:
- Jersey Street between Richmond Terrace and Victory Boulevard
- Victory Boulevard between Jersey Street and Bay Street
- Wall Street/St. George Station between Richmond Terrace and Bank Street
- Richmond Terrace between Jersey Street and Bay Street
- Bay Street between Richmond Terrace and School Road
- Hylan Boulevard between Bay Street and Olga Place
- West Fingerboard Road between Steuben Street and Hylan Boulevard
- Steuben Street between West Fingerboard Road and Olga Place / Hyland Boulevard
- Fingerboard Road between Bay Street and Tompkins Avenue
- Tompkins Avenue between Fingerboard Road and School Road
- School Road between Bay Street and Lily Pond Avenue
- Lily Pond Avenue between School Road and Father Capodanno Boulevard
- McClean Avenue/Battery Road between Lily Pond Avenue and New York Avenue
- Father Capodanno Boulevard between Sand Lane and Lily Pond Avenue
- Sand Lane between Hylan Boulevard / West Fingerboard Road and Father Capodanno Boulevard
Brooklyn (Main Route):
- Dahlgren Place between Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge and 92nd Street (Northbound)
- 92nd Street between Dahlgren Place and 4th Avenue
- 4th Avenue between 92nd Street and Flatbush Avenue
- Flatbush Avenue between 4th Avenue and Lafayette Avenue
- Lafayette Avenue between Flatbush Avenue and Bedford Avenue
- Bedford Avenue between Lafayette Avenue and Nassau Avenue
- Nassau Avenue between Bedford Avenue/Lorimer Street and Manhattan Avenue
