Credit: New York Road Runners
The annual United Airlines New York City Half Marathon returns on Sunday, March 15. The 13.1 mile race will feature 27,000 participants with a route that starts near the Brooklyn Museum, moves through Prospect Park, across the East River, along the FDR Drive, up Times Square, and finishing in Central Park. This year also marks the debut of the Half Expo, presented by New Balance at the Jacob K. Javits Center from March 12 to 14, where participants can pick up bibs, attend course strategy sessions, and enjoy sponsor activations. Ahead, here’s everything you need to know about this year’s event, from the route and start times to the best ways to watch (or avoid) the race.
Where is the route?
The 13.1-mile race kicks off at 7 a.m. on Washington Avenue near the Brooklyn Museum, entering Prospect Park through Battle Pass Hill before exiting and looping around Grand Army Plaza. The route continues along Flatbush Avenue, passing landmarks like the Barclays Center, before crossing the Brooklyn Bridge into Manhattan.
Runners will then head up the FDR Drive, turn onto East 42nd Street, continue along West 42nd Street onto Seventh Avenue, and move through Times Square, which closes to traffic just twice a year. The course then turns right onto Central Park South, left at Grand Army Plaza, crosses the 72nd Street Transverse, and finishes on West Drive in Central Park.
This year marks the second time the race will cross the Brooklyn Bridge, a change that race organizers, the New York Road Runners, plan to keep in place for the “foreseeable future.”
You can learn more about the route and the many sights along the way here.
Which roads will be closed?
Many roads will be closed across Brooklyn and Manhattan to make way for the runners:
12:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.:
- Eastern Pkwy. (south service road) from Washington Ave. to Franklin Ave.
- Eastern Pkwy. (north service road) from Underhill Ave. to Bedford Ave.
- Eastern Pkwy. from Grand Army Plaza to Bedford Ave.
12:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.:
- Union St. from Classon Ave. to Franklin Ave.
- President St. from Classon Ave. to Franklin Ave.
- Carroll St. from Washington Ave. to Franklin Ave.
- Crown St. from Washington Ave. to Franklin Ave.
- Montgomery St. from Washington Ave. to Franklin Ave.
- Sullivan Pl. from Washington Ave. to Franklin Ave.
12:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.:
- Washington Ave. from Eastern Pkwy. to Carroll St.
12:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.:
- Classon Ave. from Eastern Pkwy. to President St.
- President St. from Classon Ave. to Franklin Ave.
4:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.:
- Empire Blvd. from Flatbush Ave. to Bedford Ave.
5:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.:
- Flatbush Ave. (south side) from Eastern Pkwy. to Ocean Ave./Empire Blvd.
- Flatbush Ave. (north side) from Grand Army Plaza to Atlantic Ave.
- Park Ave. (westbound) from Navy St. to Tillary St.
- Tillary St. from Adams St./Brooklyn Bridge Blvd. to Gold St.
- Tillary St. (eastbound) from Cadman Plaza to Adams St.
- Adams St./Brooklyn Bridge Blvd. (northbound) from Fulton St. to Brooklyn Bridge
- Jay St. (northbound) from Willoughby St. to Tillary St.
- Jay St. (southbound) from Sands St. to Tillary St.
- Manhattan Bridge/Flatbush Ave. Extension (southbound) from Flatbush Ave. to Tillary St.
- Pearl St. (southbound) from Prospect St. to Sands St.
- Jay St. and Sands St. (westbound) to Brooklyn Bridge
- Westbound BQE at Tillary St. (exit 29) – entrance/exit ramps
- Eastbound BQE at Tillary St. (exit 29B) – entrance/exit ramps
- Eastbound BQE at Cadman Plaza (both sides) (exit 28A)
- Eastbound BQE at Brooklyn Bridge (exit 28B)
5:30 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.:
- Flatbush Ave. from Atlantic Ave. to Tillary St.
6:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.:
- Washington Ave. from Carroll St. to Empire Blvd.
- Empire Blvd. from Washington Ave. to Flatbush Ave.
- Flatbush Ave. from Empire Blvd. to Grand Army Plaza
12:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.:
- Flatbush Ave. from Grand Army Plaza to Ocean Ave./Empire Blvd.
- Flatbush Ave. from Grand Army Plaza to Tillary St.
FDR Drive Closures (5:40 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.):
- Brooklyn Bridge Exit to Northbound FDR Drive
- Northbound FDR Drive at Exit 2 (Brooklyn Bridge/Manhattan Civic Center)
- Northbound FDR Drive at Montgomery St.
- Northbound FDR Drive at Houston St.
- Northbound FDR Drive at East 20th St./23rd St. (Exit 7)
- Northbound FDR Drive at East 34th St. (Exit 8)
- Northbound FDR Drive at 42nd St.
- Pearl Street ramps and service roads
Manhattan Street Closures:
- 4:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.: 7th Ave. from 42nd St. to 56th St.
- 3:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.: 43rd St. – 46th St. between 7th Ave. and 6th Ave.
- 6:00 a.m. – 2:15 p.m.: Central Park West from 59th St. to 72nd St.; West 61st–64th St. between Broadway and Central Park West
- 7:00 a.m. – 12:45 p.m.: 42nd St. from 1st Ave. to 7th Ave.
- 7:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.: 7th Ave. from 56th St. to Central Park South
- 7:15 a.m. – 1:15 p.m.: Central Park South between Columbus Circle and Grand Army Plaza
You can learn more about road closures here.
Where are the best spots to watch?
Prime viewing spots to cheer on runners include Flatbush Avenue, Times Square, and near the finish line in Central Park. For those unable to attend in person, the race will be broadcast locally on ABC New York and streamed live starting at 7 a.m. on ESPN+, ABC, and NYRR’s YouTube channel.
Other events
The Times Square Kids Run will also take place, featuring 1,500 children ages 2 to 18 racing on a closed course through Times Square. The event includes three stages: the first stage consists of non-competitive short dashes for children ages 2 to 11; the second stage is an untimed, non-competitive one-mile run for ages 8 to 18; and the third stage features a timed, competitive one-mile race for ages 12 to 18.
Returning for its fourth year, the Commissioner’s Cup will feature teams from seven city government agencies and the mayor’s office competing for the title. Participants include three-time defending champions from the NYPD, alongside runners representing the FDNY, Parks, Transportation, Sanitation, Environmental Protection, and the Department of Education.
“The United Airlines NYC Half is one of the most special days of the year at New York Road Runners and in New York City,” Rob Simmelkjaer, CEO of NYRR, said.
“From first-time runners to Olympians and Paralympians, we’re proud to welcome more than 30,000 athletes to experience our iconic streets, drive economic impact to the city, and inspire the next generation to believe in every step.“
Editor’s Note 3/11/26: This article was updated with information for the 2026 Half Marathon.
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