Transportation to the Start
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.
Transportation, baggage, and Expo selections are now closed. The deadline to choose your transportation was Tuesday, September 10 at 11:59 p.m. ET.
Pick Your Transportation, Bag Check, and Expo Time
Key Dates
| Selection Period Opens | Selection Period Closes | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Transportation | Aug 13 | CLOSED | Learn More Below |
| Bag Check | Aug 13 | CLOSED | Learn More |
| Expo Time Slot (to pick up your race number) | Aug 13 | CLOSED | Learn More |
Official Transportation to the Start
- Pick your transportation, tell us if you plan to check a bag, and choose an Expo time slot starting Tuesday, August 13 by signing into your NYRR dashboard.
- You must pick a transportation option and it is first come, first served.
- We strongly encourage you to pick your option early. Options fill quickly and will no longer be available for selection once full.
- The transportation options shown in your dashboard are based on your estimated pace range and are subject to change, based on availability.
- If you have run a New York Road Runners race in the last two years, your Best Pace is based on your best 10K pace.
- We use a formula—one that's used at many other races across the country—to predict your pace and make your corral assignment. The formula converts race paces to a 10K race pace. We use your best race in the past two years.
- If you haven’t run a race with New York Road Runners in the last two years, your estimated Best Pace is based on the estimated finish time you submitted at time of registration.
- If you have a special request regarding transportation, please contact us here by Tuesday, September 10.
- The deadline to pick your transportation is Tuesday, September 10 at 11:59 p.m. ET.
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.
- If you fail to select transportation by the Tuesday, September 10 deadline, you will have very limited options and will not be able to switch.
How to Select Your Race-Day Transportation
To select your transportation to the start, sign in to your NYRR account, navigate to your dashboard, and click on "Registered Events" (at the top).
In the listing for the 2024 TCS New York City Marathon, you'll see a heading labeled Transportation; below that heading, click "Add" and you should see a pop-up window that presents you with your transportation options.
You will only see transportation options that will get you to the start area in time for your assigned wave start. Your transportation will be printed on your race number.
Please Note: All TCS New York City Marathon official transportation options use New York City public transportation.
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 available in your confirmation form and is determined by your Best Pace, which you can find on your dashboard in your NYRR account. If you haven’t run a race with New York Road Runners in the last two years, your estimated Best Pace is based on the estimated finish time you submitted at time of registration.
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 | 7:14 | 5:30 -6:00 a.m. | 5:00-5:30 a.m. |
| 2 | 9:45 a.m. | 7:15 | 7:57 | 6:00-7:00 a.m. | 5:00-5:30 a.m. |
| 3 | 10:20 a.m. | 7:58 | 8:39 | 6:15-7:30 a.m. | 5:30-6:00 a.m. |
| 4 | 10:55 a.m. | 8:40 | 9:43 | 7:15-8:30 a.m. | 5:30-6:15 a.m. |
| 5 | 11:30 a.m. | 9:44 | 25:00 | 7:30-9:00 a.m. | 5:30-6:15 a.m. |
Official Transportation Options
Staten Island Ferry
Departure Location: Whitehall Terminal, Manhattan
Estimated Total 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 Total Travel Time: 90 minutes (Please arrive 15 minutes prior to your scheduled departure time)
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 Total Travel Time: 60 minutes (Please arrive 15 minutes prior to your scheduled departure time)
Buses transport runners from MetLife Stadium Parking Lot K directly to Fort Wadsworth.
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.
The below drop-off locations are subject to change.
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.
If you choose to take a private car, taxi or rideshare, the ONLY drop-off location will be outside Fort Wadsworth on Staten Island at the intersection of McClean Ave and Ocean Ave. For private buses, the drop-off location is near the intersection of Lily Pond Avenue and McClean Avenue.
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, which includes the exclusive ITO Midtown Ferry, 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 2024 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.
For Runners Who Registered with NYRR Team for Climate (TFC)
All NYRR Team for Climate runners will automatically be assigned to the 6:15 a.m. Staten Island Ferry transportation option. It is encouraged that TFC runners take the assigned ferry as it is the most sustainable transportation option, and they can travel with their teammates. However, TFC runners are free to change their transportation in their dashboard during the transportation selection window or they may make their own way to the start if they choose.
For Athletes with Disabilities (AWD) Runners, Guides and Support Runners
AWD Athletes
Transportation and baggage will be preselected for AWD athletes. The NYRR AWD Team will communicate with all AWD athletes about selections. Contact us at nyrrawdteam@nyrr.org with any questions or changes.
Guide and Support Runners
The same pre-selections will apply to the Guides and Support Runners who are identified to assist AWD athletes.
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 Level Charity, you may select from the available options based on your estimated pace as described above.