Transportation to the Start
We strongly recommend looking up planned service changes that may affect your travel when taking the subway, bus, Long Island Rail Road, and Metro-North Railroad. Check mta.info before you travel. You can also message the MTA using the chat feature on the MTA app.
Transportation to the start and bag pre-check selections opens on Tuesday, August 25 at 12:00 p.m. ET and closes on Tuesday, September 8 at 11:59 p.m. ET.
Expo time slot selection opens on Tuesday, August 25 at 12:00 p.m. ET and closes on Saturday, October 31 at 4:00 p.m.
Pick Your Transportation, Bag Check, and Expo Time
Key Dates
| Selection Period Opens | Selection Period Closes | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Transportation | Aug 25 | Sep 8 | Learn More Below |
| Bag Check | Aug 25 | Sep 8 | Learn More |
| Expo Time Slot (to pick up your race number) | Aug 25 | Oct 31 at 4:00 p.m. ET | Learn More |
Official Transportation to the Start
- New in 2026: You will select your mode of Transportation (Ferry, NYPL bus, NJ Meadowlands Bus) and NYRR will assign your departure time based on your registered/best pace.
- You must select your mode of transportation, tell us if you plan to check a bag, and choose an Expo time slot. You can update your selections starting Tuesday, August 25 by signing into your NYRR Dashboard and accessing your event registration.
- 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.
- The deadline to pick your transportation is Tuesday, September 8 at 11:59 p.m. ET.
Runners must take the transportation option 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 mode you had selected and time you've been assigned, you risk not making it to the start line in time for your wave start and may be subject to a warning or appropriate penalties at NYRR's sole discretion. Learn more about the Transportation Non-Compliance Policy here.
- If you fail to select transportation by the Tuesday, September 8 deadline, you can be assigned transportation at the expo, but will have very limited options and will not be able to switch.
How to Select Your Race-Day Mode of Transportation
To select your mode of transportation, sign in to your NYRR account, navigate to your dashboard, and click on "Your Events." Registration to select your mode of transportation will remain open until Tuesday, September 8 at 11:59 p.m. ET.
Next to the listing for the 2026 TCS New York City Marathon, click the "View Registration" button.
Then, click on the "Transportation" section.
If you would like to change your selection, you may do so in this same section of your dashboard at any time until Tuesday, September 8 at 11:59 p.m. ET.
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 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
Entrance Location: New York Public Library, 6th Avenue at 39th Street
Estimated Total Travel Time: 90 minutes (Please arrive 30 minutes prior to your scheduled departure time)
Enter on 6th Avenue at West 39th Street to board the buses that will transport runners directly to Fort Wadsworth. The bus-loading area, which is near Bryant Park and the 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 drop-off locations below are subject to change.
Private Car/Taxi/Rideshare Drop-Off Location: McClean Avenue and Ocean Avenue
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.
- Before 7:00 a.m., private vehicles arriving from New Jersey and traveling to the start via the Staten Island Expressway may use Exit 14 – Narrows Road North / Hylan Boulevard.
- Due to road closures, after 7:00 a.m. vehicles must exit via the Clove Road exit.
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 Westside Midtown Ferry, while some ITOs have selected charter coach buses from your hotel to Fort Wadsworth.
Runners Who Registered with Team for Kids (TFK)
Dedicated TFK exclusive ferry transportation will be available for the following tiers: TFK Premium Experience, TFK Premium Experience Plus, TFK Community Champion, and TFK Experience Altruist. TFK General Entry tier runners will only be able to select from the general official transportation options offered by NYRR. If you have any questions about your tier or TFK transportation, please contact Team for Kids at teamforkids@nyrr.org.
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, in line with their team's starting Wave and Corral assignment. TFC runners are encouraged to take the assigned ferry as it is the most sustainable transportation option, and they can travel with their teammates. However, TFC runners may change their transportation in their dashboard during the transportation selection window or may make their own way to the start if they choose.
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.
Runners Who Registered with a Gold or Silver Level Official Charity Partner
If you registered for the TCS New York City Marathon through a Gold or Silver 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 West 48th Street and Broadway at 5:45 a.m.
- Runners registered with a Silver Level Charity Partner may take the Silver Level Charity buses, which depart from 59th Street/Central Park South 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 general transportation options.
If you registered for the TCS New York City Marathon with a Bronze Level Charity, you may select from the general transportation options as described above.