NYC Marathon Closures: Bridges, Streets, and Airport Tips

New York City will impose extensive road and bridge restrictions for the TCS New York City Marathon on Sunday, November 2. The headline change is the full closure of the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge to all non-emergency traffic from 700 a.m. to 400 p.m., with its upper level closing in both directions at 11:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 1, for race preparation. Travelers should expect rolling street closures across Staten Island, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Manhattan, plus tight restrictions around Central Park through the evening.

Where and when the big closures happen

Staten Island to Brooklyn, Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge. The bridge is fully closed to non-emergency traffic 700 a.m.-400 p.m. Sunday, with the upper level shut from 1100 p.m. Saturday; Bay Street and Lily Pond Avenue exits close early Sunday and reopen around 400 p.m.

Brooklyn and Queens course streets. Expect closures along 4th Avenue, Lafayette Avenue, Bedford Avenue, McGuinness Boulevard, and adjacent connectors, with the Pulaski Bridge between Greenpoint and Long Island City closed 700 a.m.-630 p.m. on Sunday. The Brooklyn-Queens Expressway segment approaching the bridge and several local ramps also face restrictions during race hours.

Queens to Manhattan crossings. The Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge lower level closes 630 a.m.-530 p.m.; the upper level has truck restrictions during that window. 59th Street approaches into Manhattan are controlled, impacting crosstown traffic near the bridge plaza.

Bronx connectors. The Willis Avenue and Madison Avenue bridges close 730 a.m.-630 p.m., with targeted controls on the Major Deegan Expressway near the Willis Avenue Bridge.

Manhattan, Fifth Avenue and Central Park. Fifth Avenue is restricted from 138th Street to 90th Street during the afternoon and early evening. In and around the park, Central Park West is closed from Columbus Circle up to at least 81st Street for much of the day, and the 65th, 79th, and 96th Street Transverse Roads are closed for extended periods. The MTA also warns that buses will not be permitted to cross Fifth Avenue during the race, and numerous additional bus diversions will occur as the day progresses.

River-drive ramps and exits. Intermittent closures will affect FDR Drive exits at 63rd, 71st, 79th, 96th, 106th, 116th, and 125th Streets, and Harlem River Drive exits at 135th and 142nd Streets during the thick of the race. Build in detours if you rely on these access points.

Spectator strategy, by transit

The surest way to move around on race day is the subway. The MTA is staging platform controllers at finish-area stations and key viewing nodes like Queensboro Plaza and Lexington Av-59 St to manage crowd flow and designate some stairways as entrance or exit only. Check the MTA app for live diversions before you set out.

For the finish area in Central Park, NYRR directs spectators to specific entry points near Columbus Circle and Broadway at West 61st Street, or via paths east of the park; expect screening and dense crowds late afternoon. If you want less congestion, aim earlier and consider uptown vantage points where the course feeds onto Fifth Avenue before entering the park.

If you prefer to see your runner twice without long transfers, a classic move is First Avenue in the 90s for Mile 16-17, then walk west to Fifth Avenue around the low 100s to catch the southbound return toward the park. Subways on the Q or 6 lines help you position quickly.

Getting to, and between, airports during peak hours

John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK). Use LIRR or the subway to Jamaica, then AirTrain JFK. Road approaches from Brooklyn can be slow when the Belt Parkway backs up with detours cascading from the Verrazzano closure and course restrictions; rail avoids cross-borough choke points during the late morning and afternoon waves.

LaGuardia Airport (LGA). Take the subway to Jackson Heights-Roosevelt Av or 74 St-Broadway, then the Q70 LaGuardia Link SBS. Rideshare pick-ups from Midtown that try to snake around Queensboro Bridge controls often lose time; transit plus the Q70 is more predictable while the lower level of the bridge is closed.

Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR). From Midtown, take NJ Transit from New York Penn Station to Newark Liberty International Airport Station, then AirTrain. PATH to Newark Penn plus NJ Transit rail is a solid alternative. Road routes from the west side and tunnels may face episodic delays as crosstown streets near Central Park and Midtown are managed for the finish.

What to watch the rest of the day

The city treats the marathon as a rolling operation. As later corrals move north, NYPD and NYC DOT progressively reopen streets behind the field. However, Manhattan restrictions into Central Park west and south of the finish remain well into the evening for teardown and pedestrian management. Keep checking MTA and NYC DOT advisories for updates, especially if you depend on crosstown buses that would normally use the park transverse roads or cross Fifth Avenue.

Final thoughts

The TCS New York City Marathon is one of the city's most logistically complex days of the year. If you are driving, assume closures will be enforced precisely and plan alternates that do not require the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge, Pulaski Bridge, or the lower level of the Queensboro Bridge during the posted windows. If you are spectating or catching a flight at JFK, LaGuardia, or Newark, commit to the subway, commuter rail, and AirTrain to sidestep the heaviest surface disruptions.

Sources

• MTA press release, service details and Verrazzano closure (updated Oct. 28, 2025)
• NYC Mayor's Office, Street Closures & No Parking List, Nov. 2, 2025 (PDF)
• NYRR spectator entry guidance for Central Park and finish area