The L.A. Marathon route
The L.A. Marathon map looks a little bit like Waze’s rush hour directions.
Every year, thousands of L.A. Marathon runners train for the 26.2-mile race that winds through the city from Dodger Stadium to Century City (formerly Santa Monica—more on that in a minute). But the L.A. Marathon is way more than just the miles—it’s about knowing where to train, having a solid playlist of running songs and having the support of spectators and the city behind you. Whether you’re a runner or a spectator, here’s our guide to SoCal’s other parade (this one has way more Lycra than roses).
When is the L.A. Marathon?
This year’s edition will be held on Sunday, March 17, 2024.
Where does the L.A. Marathon start and end? What does the route look like?
Runners start near Dodger Stadium and head down Sunset Boulevard to do a loop through Downtown L.A., back toward Echo Park and then once again onto Sunset, this time heading west. The route follows a combination of Hollywood, Sunset and Santa Monica before veering onto San Vicente in Westwood and then circling back to Century City. Find more course map info here, plus more of our insight into the Los Angeles Marathon route.
Wait, didn’t the L.A. Marathon used to go all the way to the beach?
Yep, that’s right, the old stadium-to-the-sea route used to wrap up right on Ocean Avenue in Santa Monica. But that changed in 2021 with the switch to the “Stadium to Stars” route; marathon organizers cited “dramatically increased costs quoted by the City of Santa Monica,” hence why the route now just makes a U-turn when it approaches the wealthy coastal city.
What time does the L.A. Marathon start?
Early. Wheelchair racers are the first to cross the starting line at 6:30 am, followed by pro women at 6:40am and pro men and the full field at 7am. For runners, parking lots and security checkpoints open at 3am.
And when does it finish?
Expect the elite winners to cross the finish line just after 9am. The rest of the 20,000-plus finishers should trickle across the line between then and the 6 hour, 30 minute time limit.
Can anyone join the L.A. Marathon?
You can’t just hop off of the sidewalk and onto the course: You need to register in order to participate in the L.A. Marathon. But the good news is that anyone can register to race, as long as you can afford the $250 entry fee.
What are the road closures for the L.A. Marathon?
You’re going to want to avoid driving near some of the city’s busiest areas starting at 4 or 5am and until later in the morning or afternoon: Steer clear of Downtown until a little after 10am, avoid Hollywood (specifically near Hollywood Boulevard) until around noon and Beverly Hills until 1pm. West of there, all of Santa Monica Boulevard from Wilshire Boulevard to Sepulveda Boulevard will stay closed until 6pm, while San Vicente Boulevard in Brentwood will be closed until 5pm. And consider Century City, where you’ll find the finish line and festival, mostly shut down to cars from Saturday morning until 8pm on Sunday night.
