With 25,000 runners running 26.2 miles in a city that is on 7 miles x 7 miles, that means that city streets will be affected! We apologize for any inconvenience, and we thank all residents of San Francisco for enabling us to stage this race in our great city! We encourage you to come out and cheer on the runners as they achieve an amazing accomplishment by running a marathon, half marathon or 5K!
To help you with planning, whether you are a runner trying to get to the start line, or a San Francisco resident trying to get around the city on race day, here is information on traffic impact.
Impact on San Francisco Neighborhoods
Listed by Area of City
Golden Gate Bridge Roadway Lanes (1:00am to 10:00 am)
From 1 am to 6 am, the roadway lane configuration on the Bridge and Doyle Drive will be transitioned to accommodate the Marathon runners.
From 6 am to 9 am, the Marathon course will occupy 2 northbound lanes, with a third “buffer” lane between the runners and traffic. There will be 2 southbound traffic lanes and 1 northbound traffic lane.
By 10 am, the roadway will be returned to 3 northbound lanes and 3 southbound lanes.
Golden Gate Bridge Exit and Parking Area – NO DROP OFFS ALLOWED (12:00 am – 10:00 am)
Last northbound San Francisco exit, off Doyle Drive just before the toll plaza will be closed from midnight to 10 am.
The southeast parking lot will also be closed from midnight to 10 am.
First southbound exit after the toll plaza onto Merchant Road will have no access beyond the toll plaza itself and no access into the Presidio from Midnight -10 am.
Vista Point exit (northeast side) and the Vista Point parking lot will be closed midnight to 10 am.
Northwest side parking lot (off Conzelman Rd.) will be closed from 3 am to 10 am.
Presidio/GGNRA (12:00 am to 10:00 am)
From midnight to 10 am, there will be no access to the Bridge through the Presidio.
From 4:30 am to 10 am, Lincoln Blvd. and all intersections onto Lincoln Blvd. from the 25th Ave. gate to Lendrum Ct. will be closed.
Baker Beach residents may enter the housing areas via the service road from Battery Caulfield. Intermittent traffic will be allowed access and egress from Baker Ct. and Brooks Ct. via Lincoln Blvd.
From 4:30 am – 10:00 am, Mason Street and all intersections onto Mason Street will be closed from the Marina Gate to Crissy Field Avenue.
From 4:30 am – 10:00 am, Crissy Field Avenue will be closed.
Richmond District (6:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.)
Eastbound and Westbound Vehicle Traffic
26th and 27th Avenues from Fulton Street to Lake Street closed to through traffic. Cross on Clement, Geary, Anza or Balboa – expect significant delays.
Sunset/Richmond Districts (6:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.)
Northbound and Southbound Vehicle Traffic
North and south access through Golden Gate Park should use Great Highway, Kezar, or 19th Avenue/Park Presidio – expect significant delays.
Upper Haight Street (6:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.)
North and south access across Upper Haight Street should use Kezar Drive (from or to Lincoln off Oak and Fell) – expect significant delays.
Lower Haight Street (6:30 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.)
North and south access across Lower Haight Street should use Steiner or Fillmore – expect significant delays.
Market Street (6:30 a.m. to 12Noon)
West-East and East-West travel on, and access to, Market Street at Guerrero Street should expect significant delays.
Mission and Potrero Districts: 15th, 16th, and 17th Streets (6:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.)
North and southbound traffic needing to cross over 15th, 16th, and 17th streets should use Highway 280 or Highway 101 whenever possible. Crossovers are also available at some city streets where significant delays should be expected – Valencia, South Van Ness, Folsom, Bryant, or Potrero Street.
Third Street Detour (7:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.)
Impacted between 20th and 23rd Streets.
Southbound traffic should use 20th Street overpass to Pennsylvania Street to 23rd Street to Third Street. Northbound traffic should use 23rd Street to Pennsylvania Street to 20th Street to Third Street.
Fisherman’s Wharf Closures (5:00 a.m. to 7:30 a.m.)
On westbound Jefferson Street between Northpoint and Hyde, no vehicles will be allowed.
Embarcadero Closures
Although a section of the Embarcadero is closed, Fisherman’s Wharf is still accessible through other city streets.
Southbound Embarcadero
- Between Broadway and Harrison (12:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.) Street will be closed to vehicles. Use southbound Battery St.
- Between Harrison and 3rd Street (7:00 a.m. to 9:45 a.m.) Street will be closed to traffic.
Northbound Embarcadero (and King)
- Between 3rd Street and Harrison (7:00 a.m. to 9:45 a.m.) Street will be closed to traffic.
- Between Harrison and Broadway (12:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.) Street will be closed to traffic.
- Between Broadway and Northpoint (5:00 a.m. to 7:30 a.m.) Street will be closed to traffic.
2012 SF Marathon Street Closures on Sunday
Traffic Advisories are posted on our Media and News page.
