Transportation to the Start
Planned MTA Service Changes & Delays
We strongly recommend looking up planned service changes that may affect your travel when taking the subway, bus, Long Island Railroad, and Metro-North Railroad. Check mta.info before you travel. You can also message the MTA on WhatsApp.
Runners must take the transportation option and time they selected for race day
- Taking a transportation option you did not select will result in overcrowding, longer lines, and can delay the start of the race for yourself and others. If you take a transportation option other than the one you had selected, you risk not making it to the start line in time for your wave start.
Transportation Timeline
The table below is a sample timeline to help you understand how the transportation options available to you in your dashboard were determined. All pace ranges are estimated and are subject to change.
Your wave start assignment is be available in your confirmation form and is determined by your Best Pace, which you can find on your dashboard in your NYRR account.
Scroll on mobile to view full chart
| Wave | Wave Start | Pace Start | Pace End | Transportation Options - Ferry | Transportation Options - Bus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 9:10 a.m. | 4:00 | 7:17 | 5:30 -6:00 a.m. | 5:00-5:30 a.m. |
| 2 | 9:45 a.m. | 7:18 | 8:07 | 6:15-6:45 a.m. | 5:00-5:30 a.m. |
| 3 | 10:20 a.m. | 8:08 | 8:51 | 6:15-7:30 a.m. | 5:00-6:15 a.m. |
| 4 | 10:55 a.m. | 8:52 | 9:58 | 6:15-8:15 a.m. | 5:00-6:15 a.m. |
| 5 | 11:30 a.m. | 9:59 | 25:00 | 8:15-9:00 a.m. | 5:00-6:15 a.m. |
Official Transportation Options
Staten Island Ferry
Departure Location: Whitehall Terminal, Manhattan
Estimated Travel Time: 90 minutes
Whitehall Terminal is accessible by the 1 train (at South Ferry) and the R and W trains (at Whitehall Street–South Ferry), in addition to buses on the the M15, M20, and M55 routes. The ferry is free and transports runners to St. George Terminal on Staten Island, from which free buses transport runners to Fort Wadsworth.
Midtown Manhattan Bus
Departure Location: New York Public Library, Fifth Avenue at 42nd Street
Estimated Travel Time: 90 minutes
Buses transport runners directly to Fort Wadsworth. The New York Public Library is centrally located and accessible by many subway and bus routes.
New Jersey Bus
Departure Location: MetLife Stadium Parking Lot K, near the Quest Diagnostics Training Center
Estimated Travel Time: 60 minutes
Buses transport runners from MetLife Stadium Parking Lot K directly to Fort Wadsworth. There is no parking at this location.
Private Vehicles to the Start
We strongly encourage all runners to take TCS New York City Marathon official transportation to the start. If you choose to take your own private transportation, please realize that means:
- You must find your own way to the start, which will be challenging as there are many road closures.
- You must arrive at the start before the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge closes to all traffic at 7:00 a.m.
Private Car/Taxi/Rideshare Drop-Off Location: McClean Ave and Ocean Ave
Private Bus Drop-Off Location: McClean Avenue and Lily Pond Avenue
Drop-off locations are outside Fort Wadsworth on Staten Island. There is no parking at the start.
Please note the following about private vehicles, including private buses:
- The walk from the drop-off area to the Start Villages is approximately a half-mile.
- Private vehicles arriving from New Jersey must drop off runners and clear the Staten Island Expressway by 7:00 a.m. when the expressway will close to vehicles.
For Runners Who Registered with an International Tour Operator (ITO)
If you registered for the marathon through an official International Tour Operator (ITO), please contact your ITO’s Trip Manager to discuss your transportation options. Some ITOs have elected to use official NYRR transportation, while some ITOs have selected to charter coach buses from your hotel to Fort Wadsworth.
For Runners Who Registered with Team for Kids (TFK)
TFK's exclusive transportation option is the East River Ferry departing from East 35th Street and FDR Drive. In addition to the general transportation options, TFK runners can also choose to ride the TFK ferry. The ferry is free and only available to active 2023 TCS New York City Marathon TFK team members. However, friends and family cannot ride with you. It will transport runners to St. George Terminal on Staten Island, from which free, private TFK buses will transport runners to Fort Wadsworth.
Please note: Transportation is for race participants only. Spectators are not allowed at the start.
For Runners Who Registered with a Gold or Silver Level Official Charity Partner
If you registered for the TCS New York City Marathon through a Silver or Gold Level Official Charity Partner, you are entitled to take the dedicated bus associated with your charity partner.
- Runners registered with Fred’s Team may take the Fred’s Team buses, which depart from 48th Street and Broadway at 6:00 a.m.
- Runners registered with a Silver Level Charity Partner may take the Silver Level Charity buses, which depart from 59th Street and 7th Avenue at 5:45 a.m.
Eligible runners will see the appropriate buses listed as transportation options in their NYRR dashboard in addition to the available options based on their estimated pace range.
If you registered for the TCS New York City Marathon with a Bronze or Community Level Charity, you may select from the available options based on your estimated pace as described above.