By Gus Saltonstall
The New York City Marathon will happen on Sunday, which means there will be lots of street closures on the Upper West Side.
Marathon Sunday is a day to celebrate athletic achievement, but it is also a day not to travel more than you need, especially if you’re trying to get across town.
The race begins at 8 a.m. with the Men’s Wheelchair Division. Since the marathon ends in Central Park, the Upper West Side is also where the “Family Reunion” areas are set up, which help runners find their loved ones after the race is over. This means our neighborhood has a few more street closures than most.
Here are the Upper West Side street closures related to the New York City Marathon to know about, including in Central Park.
- Central Park South from Fifth to Eighth Avenue: Saturday, October 31 from 8 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
- Central Park East Drive: Saturday, October 31 through Sunday, November 1
- Central Park West Drive: Saturday, October 31 through Sunday, November 1
- Central Park Center Drive: Saturday, October 31 through Sunday, November 1
- 65th Street Traverse: Sunday, November 1 from midnight through 9:30 p.m.
- 79th Street Traverse: Sunday, November 1 from midnight through 9:30 p.m.
- 96th Street Traverse: Sunday, November 1 from 9 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.
- Central Park West from Columbus Circle to 81st Street: Sunday, November 1 from midnight through 10:30 p.m.
- Central Park West from 77th to 86th streets: Sunday, November 1 from 5 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.
- Broadway from 59th to 65th streets: Sunday, November 1 from 9:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.
- Central Park West from 59th to 77th streets: Sunday, November 1 from 5 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.
- Columbus Avenue from 59th to 77th streets: Sunday, November 1 from 6 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.
- Broadway from 59th to 77th streets: Sunday, November 1 from 6 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.
- Central Park South from Fifth Avenue to Columbus Circle: Sunday, November 1 from 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Family Reunion Zone
- West 69th through 71st streets between Columbus and Central Park West from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday.
And here is where you can’t park on the Upper West Side in the lead-up and on the day of the New York City Marathon.
- Central Park West from 60th to 66th streets: Saturday, October 31 through Sunday, November 1.
- Central Park West from 74th to 96th streets: Saturday, October 31 through Sunday, November 1.
- Central Park West to Broadway from 61st to 77th streets: Saturday, October 31 through Sunday, November 1.
Subscribe to West Side Rag’s FREE email newsletter here. And you can Support the Rag here.
Marathon weekend is the best weekend of the year! It’s always so fun to have all the runners and their families celebrating on Columbus, way better than having the street clogged with cars.