NYC Marathon: The Best Spots to Watch the Race

The New York City Marathon is one of the biggest sporting events in NYC. Every year more than 50,000 runners come from all over the world, along with the family and friends who travel to cheer them on.

Beyond being the race marathoners wait all year for, it's a huge party for New Yorkers. That day hundreds of people pack the streets despite the cold to cheer the runners on.

If you're in New York on the first Sunday in November, I seriously recommend heading out to cheer on the marathon participants. It's incredibly moving, especially when you see someone go by with your flag or watch the athletes with disabilities.

Below I'll walk you through the best places to watch the New York City Marathon live, across the different New York neighborhoods the course runs through.

When Is the New York City Marathon?

The New York City Marathon takes place every year on the first Sunday in November.

The 2025 New York City Marathon falls on Sunday, November 2.

New York City Marathon Course Map

On this New York City Marathon route map, designed by the event organizers, you'll see the course and the closest subway stations in each of the New York neighborhoods the runners pass through.

Best Places to Watch the New York City Marathon

The starting line is on the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge on the Staten Island side. Only runners can get there, so don't even try to go: no spectators allowed.

Once the race starts, participants cross into Bay Ridge in Brooklyn, the borough where most of the New York City Marathon miles are run.

Where to Watch the Marathon in Brooklyn

You can catch the runners in several Brooklyn neighborhoods. For example, along Fourth Avenue in Bay Ridge, Sunset Park or Park Slope.

The closest stop to the start of the marathon is Bay Ridge-95th Street on the R line of the New York subway. Since the R line runs along Fourth Avenue, you can hop on and off at different stations in these three neighborhoods to follow the course 😉.

You can also cheer the runners on in Williamsburg and Greenpoint. Just post up along Bedford Avenue, between Lafayette and Nassau Avenues.

Take the L line to Bedford Avenue, the M or J lines to Marcy Avenue, or the G line to Nassau Avenue or Greenpoint Avenue.

Where to Watch the New York City Marathon in Queens

More than two miles of the race run through the neighborhoods of Queens. The athletes cross from Greenpoint in Brooklyn to Long Island City in Queens over the Pulaski Bridge.

A great spot to applaud the athletes is right where they come off the Pulaski Bridge in Long Island City, which marks the halfway point of the race. At this stage they need plenty of emotional support to get through the second half.

Take the 7 line and get off at Hunters Point Avenue, Vernon Boulevard or Jackson Avenue. The G line to 21st Street works too.

The New York City Marathon route through Queens ends at the Queensboro Bridge, where participants cross into Manhattan over the East River and Roosevelt Island, heading toward the Bronx.

Best Places in the Bronx to Watch the Marathon

The Bronx hosts one of the shortest stretches of the New York City Marathon (from mile 12 to mile 13), but it's one of the best places to cheer the marathoners on.

For example, you can head to around mile 20, at 135th Street and Alexander Avenue. The runners arrive there exhausted, so several local running clubs set up shop to support them. It's a huge street party!

If the Bronx sounds good to you, take the 6 line to Brook Avenue or Third Avenue-138th Street. The 4 or 5 lines to 138th Street-Grand Concourse work too.

Best Places in Manhattan to Watch the NYC Marathon

Manhattan gets two stages of the race. The first is when the runners come in from Queens across the Queensboro Bridge before heading to the Bronx.

Watching them come off the Queensboro Bridge in East Manhattan is one of the best places to cheer on the New York City Marathon runners.

Spectators line First Avenue from 59th Street up to 96th Street, filling the street with energy. The Q line will get you to whichever corner you prefer along First Avenue.

At 96th Street the runners continue north toward East Harlem, then cross into the Bronx over the Willis Avenue Bridge. As I mentioned, this is a good spot to cheer them on, since fewer people show up and it's when the runners need it most. Take the 6 line.

The second Manhattan stretch of the New York City Marathon comes when participants return from the Bronx and run south from Harlem down Fifth Avenue.

You can wait for them at the north end of Central Park, around the Harlem Meer. Take the 2 or 3 lines to Central Park North.

The final leg of the New York City Marathon continues along Fifth Avenue beside Central Park. This part of the course is packed with iconic Manhattan landmarks, like Museum Mile in the Upper East Side. Plenty of subway lines will get you there, including the 4, 5, 6 and Q.

If you want to applaud these tenacious runners right near the finish, head to the south end of Central Park on the A, C, D or 1 lines to Columbus Circle, or the N, Q or R lines to 57th Street and Seventh Avenue.

And if you want to see them cross the finish line, you'll need to buy tickets for the event grandstands, located between West 67th Street and West Drive. Read more on the official site.

Tips for Marathon Spectators

Cheer for every runner! One of the best experiences a marathoner can have is hearing the encouragement and applause from spectators.

Their bibs show the runner's number, country and sometimes their name, so you'll know when a fellow countryman goes by and can cheer even louder.

Another important tip: stay behind the blue line or the barricades so the street stays clear for the athletes.

Make signs and bring flags, but don't use megaphones or amplifiers. New York City authorities don't allow them.

Watching the New York City Marathon on TV

The 2025 New York City Marathon will be broadcast live on ESPN2, and in Spanish on ESPN3, from 8 to 11:30 a.m. New York time.

It will also air on the ABC Network, which will cover the arrival of the best-known runners from the marathon finish line.

Following the New York City Marathon on Apps

You can also follow the New York City Marathon course through the official app, which also lets you track runners in real time if someone you know is racing.

What's the New York City Marathon route?

The race starts on Staten Island and heads straight north through Brooklyn and Queens.

Then runners turn west, crossing the Queensboro Bridge into Manhattan, continuing north into the Bronx before heading back to Manhattan.

The New York City Marathon finish line is in Central Park, near 60th Street on the Upper West Side.

2025 New York City Marathon schedule

The New York City Marathon start usually follows the same order year after year, kicking off at 8 am New York time.

Runners start in waves depending on their category:

🧑🏻‍🦽8:00 am professional wheelchair division start.

🧑🏻‍🦽8:22 am handcycle category and athletes with disabilities start.

🏃🏻‍♀️8:40 am professional women's division start.

🏃🏾 9:05 am professional men's division start.

🚶‍♂️9:10 am non-professional runners start, split into five groups spaced 35 minutes apart.

As the next New York City Marathon gets closer, I'll post any changes to the start order right here.

What time does the race end?

Here are the estimated finish times for each runner category:

🧑🏻‍🦽9:30 am professional men's wheelchair division finish.

👩‍🦽9:40 am professional women's wheelchair division finish.

🏃🏻‍♀️11:05 am professional women's division finish.

🏃🏾 11:15 am professional men's division finish.

🚶‍♂️11:55 am the rest of the participants start crossing the finish line.

🏁 8:30 pm the last runners come in.

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I hope that after reading all this you'll be tempted to cheer the athletes on come marathon day, whether in person, on TV, or through the app. As you've seen, it's a huge celebration for people across New York's 5 boroughs, and one of the biggest things happening during November in New York.