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New York City Marathon, Transportation
The dates below are for 2024. They will be updated when the 2025 dates have been published. All details are not confirmed yet for 2025.
You will be given the option to select the transportation. Selecting transportation to the start for individual entrants starts on August 13 at 12:00pm. It is open until September 10 at 11:59pm. You select it from your NYRR Dashboard. If you don't select, you will be given transportation based upon availability. You could change transportation to any avaiable option until the end date, but most popular options will be gone. You can also change it by contacting the Runner Support Center at the Expo, but you can only change to an option that still have availability!
NYRR provides 3 alternatives for transportation to the start. They are all free for registered runners, and they are for runners only:
Staten Island Ferry. Departure location: Whitehall Terminal, Manhattan.
Midtown Manhattan Bus. Departure location: New York Public Library, Fifth Avenue at 42nd Street.
New Jersey Bus. Departure location: Meadowlands Arena, Parking Lot 28, by the IZOD Center. No parking available, only drop-off!
I recommend the Staten Island ferry over the Midtown bus for most runners staying in Manhattan. Nothing wrong with the bus, it may work fine for many people. What I can say for sure is: You will be fine with both options. It's not like one is Perfect and one is Terrible.
Bus: If you stay very close to the buses (42nd St. / 5th. Ave) it's easy to walk there. But the last bus leaves very early. You also have the possibility of getting stuck in traffic. That has happened to me a couple of times, and the bus ride took more than 2 hours. The main advantage is that you board the bus and get off at the start. That's it. Very simple. The negative things are that several buses have no toilets. That can be a problem when the ride takes long. Also, you can't move around like you can on the ferry. At some times it's heavy and slow moving traffic. Often runners ask to get off on the Verrazzano Bridge and walk the last miles, but that's not allowed, so the driver will not let you off.
Ferry: The ferries are large, they take several thousand runners each. They leave each 15 minutes. The ferry ride is great in the morning with excellent views of Manhattan. It also passes quite close to the Statue of Liberty. They have very good leg space, and you are able to walk around. They have many toilets. Several subways run right to the ferry terminal.
The problem that some experience is the 3 mile bus ride from the Staten Island ferry terminal to the start. The streets are narrow and there are a lot of buses, so for some the bus ride takes long. Some also have to wait for quite a time to board the bus after getting off the ferry. In 2019 this was much better than previous years after NYRR changed the routines!
Some are afraid to get sea sick on the ferry. But it's no reason to worry. It's VERY stable. Even in 2014 when it was blowing extreme winds, so hard that they talked about canceling the Marathon, it was no problem on the ferry.
It's easy to get to the ferry (Whitehall Ferry Terminal - south end of Manhattan) from most of Manhattan by subway. Subway from Times Square area takes less than 20 min. Check out the 1, 2, 4, 5 and R subways if you are close to them. You can also take bus or taxi. The ferries run each 15 minute, they have plenty of space and many toilets. The ferry takes about 30 minutes and it's a beautiful trip passing the Statue of Liberty.
Here is a map showing the subway lines that takes you to the ferry without changing lines. 1, 2 and R stops right by the ferry terminal. 4, 5 stops at Bowling Green, about 200 yards from the ferry terminal.
It is no longer necessary to buy a Metrocard in advance. Most stations now accept contactless payment, you just tap and enter. You can use most debet- and credit-cards, and also Apple Pay and Google Pay on your phone. I do NOT recommend to pay using cash since the lines to buy a ticket can be long.
I recommend to download the new app from MTA: MyMTA. It displays schedules, live delays, work on the tracks etc.
Many runners, especially those who have never been to New York, are more afraid of the transportation to the start than the Marathon itself. To make it easier, my Facebook group (https://www.facebook.com/groups/1961009064148850) organize two groups to go together to the start from Midtown Manhattan, taking the subway and ferry. One group is suitable for the first start waves and one for the last start waves.
Then to the question that all first-timers ask: Will I get my start information before I have to select transportation time? No, that has never been published until October. But you will find a good estimate on my NYCM webside under "The Start".
Here are two picture from the ferry ride right before sunrise. As you see, the security is really good!
From the ferry - Security
From the ferry - Statue of Liberty
I advise you to take the ferry at least 3 hours before your start.
I advise you to leave your mid-Manhattan hotel at least 3.5 hours before your start.
If you are local and want to have somebody to drive you to the start, that is possible. The Verrazzano Narrows Bridge will close early to the public. You can drive via New Jersey, and the drop-off point is the intersection of Ocean Avenue and McClean Avenue, close to the start.
Here is an animated video of the transportation to the start from Midtown Manhattan done by my NYCM Facebook group.
Total hits to my NYCM site since 04/28/2008:
Where are the visitors coming from? (Since 03/25/2018)
