Where to watch

Read the geography first

This is a point-to-point course: the finish is about 7.9 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

Metro Transit is the spine of this weekend and the race pays for it: every Marathon Weekend participant gets free bus and light rail on race day, redeemable through an online pass or simply by showing your bib. The Green Line is the single most useful piece of infrastructure in the whole logistics puzzle, because it touches both ends of the course, U.S. Bank Stadium Station at the start and Capitol/Rice Street Station at the finish, which means one train line solves the point-to-point problem for spectators and for runners who miss the bus. Driving is the option that goes wrong. The start-line box closes at 4:00 a.m., the course itself shuts to traffic at 6:30 a.m. for the 10 Mile and 7:30 a.m. for the marathon, and roads are closed a block on either side of the route as the field passes. If you must drive across the metro on Sunday, use the freeways: I-94, I-35W and I-35E. One specific trap: the Marion Street exit from eastbound I-94 closes Saturday morning and Sunday, so use Dale Street to reach the Capitol area.

Check final access guidance on the official site →