Travel & Lodging Information

The Biofreeze San Francisco Marathon has partnered with San Francisco hotel and transportation authorities to help you plan an outstanding race weekend, stress-free, whether you’re traveling across the city or across the globe.

Race Start Times and Locations

Runners are encouraged to review their race start info below and then plan transportation options to make sure they get there on time.

Visit our Race Course overview page for more detailed information.

Race Morning Runner Shuttles in San Francisco

2nd Half Marathon: Shuttles are provided for 2nd Half Marathon runners from the Main Start Line near the Embarcadero to the 2nd Half Marathon Start Line located in Golden Gate Park. Shuttles will pick up from Howard St. and Spear St. between 5:00am to 5:45am and drop off at Fulton St. and the Golden Gate Park Rose Garden, a quarter mile from the 2nd Half Start Line.

1st Half Marathon: Shuttles are provided for 1st Half Marathon runners from the finish line in Golden Gate Park back to the Main Finish Line Festival on the Embarcadero. Shuttles leave from Fulton St. and the Golden Gate Park Rose Garden periodically between 8:00am to 11:00am.

Race Morning BART Busing

BART doesn’t run early enough to get you to The Biofreeze San Francisco Marathon Embarcadero Start Line, but don’t fret! The Biofreeze San Francisco Marathon offers early morning bus service from six Bay Area BART stations, so you can forget the hassle of driving and focus on the race.

• Buses transport runners from the Walnut Creek, El Cerrito Plaza, MacArthur, Bay Fair, Daly City and Millbrae BART stations on Race Morning and arrive by 4:45am at the Main Start Line on the Embarcadero.
• Bus drivers will have a list of names for those who have purchased and will check them in on race morning – you do not need a physical ticket with you to board the bus.
• Bus Schedule Options: Bay Fair (San Leandro) at 4:05am; Daly City at 4:20am; El Cerrito Plaza at 4:20am; MacArthur at 4:20am; Millbrae at 4:15am; Walnut Creek at 4:10am. Buses to arrive by 4:45am at the Embarcadeo.
• Plenty of free parking is available at each location.
• 2nd Half Marathon runners may use the BART Buses to get to the 2nd Half Start Line – please stay on the bus when it arrives at the Embarcadero. The buses will load those waiting at the Embarcadero, and then shuttle everyone to the start of the 2nd half.

BART will be running normally after you cross the Finish line, so just buy a BART ticket, hop on, and head home. The BART Station Bus Ticket does not include return BART Ticket Fare.

Purchase Bart Bus Tickets here! 

• BART Bus FAQs
  • Do I need anything to get on the bus? Wrist band, proof of purchase?
    All you need is your ID. Bus drivers will have a list of names for those who have purchased and will check them in on race morning – you do not need a physical ticket with you to board the bus.
  • What is the parking situation like?
    Plenty of free parking is available at each location.
  • How will I know where to go once I’ve parked?
    It’s going to be dark, and BART won’t be running yet, so you should be able to easily locate the bus in the parking lot (it will have its lights on and park in an easy-to-spot location).
  • Is this the ticket to get to the start line for the second half, or to the finish line festival for the first half?
    No, those shuttles are complimentary. Pick up locations can be found on our Hotel and Travel page.
  • Will my BART bus ticket get me home after the race?
    No, this is a one-way ticket to the event.

Rideshare with Lyft

Booking a ride with Lyft, our Official Rideshare Partner this year, is an easy, affordable way to get around the city race weekend. The Lyft app matches you with local drivers at the tap of a button. Just set your pickup location, request a ride and get going within minutes. You can even schedule your trip in advance.

New to Lyft? New users enjoy $10 off their first Lyft ride with code SFMARATHON18. Click here to download the Lyft app.

• How to Download Lyft App

  To get started, enter your phone number here and click ‘Get Download Link’.

  1. Download the Lyft app from the Apple or Google Play store
  2. Enter your phone number and wait for a text with your verification code
  3. After signing up and entering your details, click on the image icon in
  the top left corner and choose “Add payment”
  4. Book a ride whenever you need it

• How to Request or Preschedule a Ride

  Request a Ride: To request a Lyft ride, just open the Lyft app, select your ride type, set your pickup and destination locations, and then request a ride. Learn more on Lyft’s support page.

  Scheduled Rides: Use Lyft’s Scheduled Rides to plan your trip in advance. When selecting your pickup location, tap the clock icon on the right, set the desired time, and Lyft will schedule your ride. A ride will arrive within the 10-minute pick-up window you selected. You can schedule up to seven days in advance and update or cancel up to 30 minutes before. Learn more on the Lyft Blog and Lyft’s support page.

• Drop Off and Pick Up Locations
  • The Lyft drop off and pick up for the Health & Fitness Expo will be at Marina Green Triangle by the first set of boat slips.
  • The pre- and post-race drop off zone for the Embarcadero Center will be at Clay St @ Drumm St.
  • The Lyft drop off and pick up for the Golden Gate Park 2nd Half start line/1st Half finish line will be at 10th Ave @ Fulton St. near Golden Gate Park

Reserved Parking with SpotHero

Parking
We recommend booking convenient and affordable parking in advance through SpotHero, the nation’s leading parking reservation app.

To reserve your parking spot, visit The San Francisco Marathon SpotHero Parking Page and book a spot with rates up to 50% off drive-up.

New to SpotHero? Click here to download the SpotHero app.

Bike Valet

We encourage locals to bike to the Expo and to the Start Line on Race Day and enjoy our complimentary bike valet service. The Expo Bike Valet will be open outside the Expo at Fort Mason Festival Pavilion on Friday, July 26th from 11:30am to 7pm and Saturday, July 27th 8:30am to 5pm. The Race Day Bike Valet will be open at Market St. and Embarcadero from 4:30am to 1:00pm on Sunday, July 28th. Bikes that remain in the bike valet after close will be transported to the vendor’s office at the owner’s expense.

Public Transportation

We encourage all runners to drive or carpool, have a friend or family member drop them off, or taxi in to make it to the start on time. Please note: the taxi drop off and pick up for the Golden Gate Park 2nd Half start line/1st Half finish line will be on northbound Funston at Fulton.

Alternatively, expand the tabs below to learn more about your public transportation options or plan your trip here. Click Muni below to learn more.

• MUNI • Travel in and to San Francisco
  Plan your trip with The San Francisco Trip Planner – an easy to use site that allows you to put in your starting point and destination and then gives you the easiest option to arrive at your destination using public transportation. 
• AC Transit • Travel between the East Bay and San Francisco
  AC Transit operates service between San Francisco and the East Bay along the Richmond and Fremont BART lines.
  From the East Bay: Route 800 West, AC Transit, runs from Richmond BART Station to Market and Van Ness in San Francisco, making stops along the way in Berkeley and Oakland. Transfers from Routes 801, 802, 805, 820, 840, and 851 to Route 800 can be made at 14th Street and Broadway. A Sunday/Holiday timetable for Route 800 West can be found HERE.
• BART • Travel between San Francisco and the East Bay
  Plan your trip with the BART Trip Planner by inputing your start and end destination. Important: BART does not operate early enough to get you to the Start Line on time on Race Day. We recommend using our BART Buses instead. See our Race Morning BART Busing section above to learn more. 
• SamTrans • Travel between the Peninsula and San Francisco
  From the Peninsula: SamTrans 397 North OWL services the South Bay to San Francisco, beginning at the Palo Alto CalTrain Station and ending at Mission and Transbay in San Francisco, making stops in Redwood City, San Carlos, Belmont, San Mateo, Burlingame, South San Francisco, and San Francisco International Airport. A Sunday timetable for can be found here.

Our Partner Hotels

We proudly partner with a variety of hotels in San Francisco to make race weekend planning seamless. You can make reservations online by clicking or by calling your choice directly.