Where to watch

Read the geography first

This is a point-to-point course: the finish is about 15.1 miles from the start as the crow flies. Pick one mid-course anchor and the finish; trying to leapfrog repeatedly is usually the trap.

Landmarks that make useful anchors

Moving around race morning

Two things govern race morning: the buses are mandatory and the streets are shut. The Mesa Marathon travel page requires marathon and 10K runners to ride race buses to the start from the Sloan Park corners, and the City of Mesa says race-day road closures are in effect from 4 a.m. to 2 p.m., reopening in stages as runners pass. The race's own travel page words it differently, saying closures begin at 4:00 a.m. on February 13 with all streets reopened by 1:30 p.m. (that page reads as the 2027 edition), while the City's 2026 notice puts race day on February 14 with a 2 p.m. end; treat both as live and check the year you are running. A car can still reach the Riverview hotels and lots if you approach from outside the course loop and arrive before your 4:30 a.m. or 5:15 a.m. deadline, and Mesa runs a personalized barricade help line for exactly this. Getting back to your room after finishing is the easy half: if you slept at the Sheraton or Courtyard you walk, and if you drove, your car is already at the finish.

Check final access guidance on the official site →