Tens of thousands of runners will hit San Diego streets Sunday for the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon, with the start and finish at two of the region’s signature parks.
Competitors will look to cross the finish line first, but spectators are part of the action too, as they cheer on their favorites or friends and family along the route or celebrate the day at the closing festival.
Those on the roads heading north from Balboa Park, roughly east and west along the San Diego River and south to Waterfront Park, though, will have to make way for many temporary closures and detours.
Here’s the basics:
Weather
Runners and spectators may see early clouds, but they should give way to sun with mild temperatures in the mid-to-high 60s Saturday and Sunday.
5K – A Day Early
First up, there’s the 5K at Balboa Park, starting at 7 a.m. Saturday at Inspiration Point, off President’s Way and Park Boulevard, heading north to Laurel Street to cut west over the Cabrillo Bridge and through the park. Runners and walkers then go south to Marston Point and on to Sixth Avenue before reaching the finish line on Balboa Drive. There’s a one-hour time limit for the race.
Marathon and Half-Marathon
On Sunday, runners in both the full and half marathons kick off the day at Sixth and Quince Street on the west side of Balboa Park at 6:15 a.m. Spectators may line the route – cheering is free! – but road detours continue from early morning until mid-afternoon.
Race routes extend from the park through Hillcrest and north and east to University Heights and Normal Heights. Runners drift into East San Diego before those on the half-marathon route break away, heading from North Park along Pershing Drive to the finish line on Union Street.
The full marathon doubles back through North Park, on to University Avenue and all the way west, approaching SeaWorld San Diego before heading through Linda Vista and Mission Valley. They then jump onto state Route 163 to make their way south past the park to the downtown finish line.
Marathon runners have seven hours to complete the course while those doing the half-marathon have four.
Closures
Many road closures and detours – including parts of SR-163 and Interstate 5 – will be in effect from 5:30 a.m to 3:30 p.m., and some for shorter periods. Police and volunteers will present at barriers along the whole route.
A few of the major affected streets include University, Adams Avenue, 30th Street, Pershing Street, Sea World Drive, Friars Road and North Harbor Drive.
In addition, Sixth and other streets near Balboa Park will close earlier, at 2 a.m., but re-open by 10 a.m, while some Interstate 8, 15 and 805 off-ramps will be affected.
Streets will reopen on a rolling basis once the last runner has passed and volunteers have removed all marathon signage. Watch for temporary no-parking zones too.
Transit
The Metropolitan Transit System has recommended routes for the marathon and associated events, starting at 4:30 a.m., including the Green, Blue and Orange trolley lines. The Green Line in particular has a stop, at County Center/Little Italy, within a few blocks of the finish.
Nearly 20 bus lines, though, must make detours or temporarily shelve stops due to street closures. For a list of additional Sunday service and detours, see the MTS marathon page.
Entertainment
Enjoy performances from a variety of bands and DJ’s at key points on the route. See the marathon list for which mile marker to choose. And head to Waterfront Park for the Finish Line Festival, from 7:30 a.m. to noon, with a beer garden and shows by cover bands No Duh and Saved by the ’90s.
Trivia!
Some fun race facts:
- Rock ‘n’ Roll San Diego has over 30,000 registered participants from 49 states and 48 countries, regions and territories.
- About half of the total participants are women, with 33% are participating in their first half marathon and 48.1% in their first marathon.
- A 21% increase in participants is expected compared to 2023.
