Top Five Tips for the Los Angeles Marathon

March 21, 2019 9:38 AM
by Miranda Iglesias

The Los Angeles Marathon is this Sunday, March 24 and with road closures, traffic impacts, parking and public transit, we want to make sure you have all the essential information to make your marathon experience safe and fun.

Below are our top five tips for your L.A. Marathon experience in Santa Monica:

1. Keep the Marathon Safe

Please help the City by remaining vigilant of your surroundings during the Los Angeles Marathon. If you see a suspicious person, object or vehicle along or near the race course, report the sighting immediately to 9-1-1 or to law enforcement personnel nearby.  

2. Plan Your Trip to the L.A. Marathon

To make taking transit to/from Santa Monica easier on race day, Big Blue Bus and Metro will offer all transit service from a single Bus Hub at the Metro Expo Line 17th St./SMC Station. All BBB service operating in Santa Monica on Sundays will stop here. See map below and at santamonica.gov/marathon for more details. 

Getting to and from the Bus Hub:

3. Know What’s Closed Before You Go

Whether you are running in the marathon or cheering runners on, be sure to review the full list of road closures at santamonica.gov/marathon.

Major roads that will be closed before and during the marathon:

Ocean Ave. between Montana Ave. and Wilshire Blvd. will be closed to both northbound and southbound traffic beginning at 9:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 23. Eastbound San Vicente Blvd. will close starting at midnight on Saturday, March 23 with most other downtown street closures happening at 6 a.m. on Sunday, March 24.

4. Try to Bike, Scoot or Walk

Due to heavy traffic and congestion, we encourage you to take various transportation modes to get to the L.A. Marathon, including walking, biking or riding shared mobility devices.

It is important to keep in mind that for the safety of all race participants and spectators, only marathon participants will be allowed on the route. All non-permitted bicyclists, e-scooter riders, skateboarders, skaters, and pedestrians will be strictly prohibited. Bikes are not allowed anywhere on the race route, reunion area or at the intersection of Ocean Ave. at Colorado Ave. Bikes (but not cars) are allowed on Main St. between Pico Blvd. and Colorado Ave. Shared Mobility Devices are not allowed anywhere on the race route, reunion area or within road closure areas. There are seven designated shared mobility drop zones at the intersections of Washington Ave., California Ave., Wilshire Blvd., Arizona Ave., Santa Monica Blvd., and Broadway at 2nd St.

5. Park Smart: Use Santa Monica’s Real-Time Parking App

If you do decide to drive, find available parking in structures and beach lots at www.smgov.net/parking. Parking is expected to be very limited in the City's public parking spaces as well as private lots that choose to open to the public that day. Parking restrictions along the course and adjacent to the course will be installed before the event and will be strictly enforced. Vehicles in violation of the restrictions will be cited and towed at the owner’s expense. 

Have more questions? Check our FAQ page. On race day, find the latest info by following the City of Santa Monica on Twitter at @SantaMonicaCity. 

Authored By

Miranda Iglesias
Public Information Coordinator