Getting to the start, and getting home from the finish, takes real planning for the LA Marathon. The point-to-point course puts Dodger Stadium and Century City on opposite sides of the city, and race organizers close a wide swath of Los Angeles streets to make the route possible. Here's how to plan around both.

Getting to the start at Dodger Stadium

The most commonly recommended approach is to park near the finish area in Century City, then take one of the free official shuttle buses to the start at Dodger Stadium well before dawn. Additional shuttle pickup points have operated in past years from Downtown LA locations as well, so check the official race information for current pickup points before race weekend. Rideshare drop-off at Dodger Stadium is possible, but keep in mind there's typically no return transportation from the start, so it only works as a one-way option if someone else is handling your finish-line pickup.

Using Metro rail as a spectator

For spectators trying to see a runner at multiple points, Los Angeles Metro rail lines are genuinely useful given how spread out the course is. Metro's B Line is the one that actually serves the Hollywood portion of the route, with stops at Hollywood/Highland, Hollywood/Vine, and Hollywood/Western; the B and D Lines share track for the Downtown stretch between Union Station and Koreatown, but only the B Line continues on into Hollywood. Near the finish, no rail line runs directly into Century City, but Metro's own marathon-day guidance points spectators to the E Line's Westwood/Rancho Park station as the closest rail stop to the Avenue of the Stars finish area. Because road closures affect surface streets on a rolling basis from early morning onward, don't assume you can simply drive between sighting points along the same route the runners are taking — transit is often the more reliable option on race day itself.

Road closures across the city

Because the course crosses so much of Los Angeles, road closures on race day are extensive, affecting segments of Sunset Boulevard, Hollywood Boulevard, and Santa Monica Boulevard, along with freeway ramps connecting to the 101, 110, and 405. Closures typically begin before dawn and most surface streets reopen through the day as the course clears behind the runners, with freeway ramps generally the last to clear. If you're not directly involved in the race, plan alternate routes across town for race morning, especially if your normal path crosses one of the closed corridors.

Planning a multi-stop spectator day

• Pick two or three sighting points, not five. The course is long and closures make crossing between points slower than normal, so an ambitious spectator plan often backfires.
• Hollywood Boulevard is one of the most heavily spectated, and most crowded, viewing spots — arrive well ahead of your runner's expected pace to secure a good spot.
• The finish in Century City is the lowest-risk spectator plan for most people, since it avoids the need to navigate between multiple closure zones during the race.
• Use transit or rideshare drop-offs outside the closure zone rather than trying to drive directly to a viewing point along the course.

Getting home after you finish

Because the finish sits in Century City rather than back near Dodger Stadium, your post-race transportation plan matters as much as your pre-race one. If you parked at the start and took the shuttle out, you'll need a plan to get back to your vehicle, or arrange transportation from Century City directly to wherever you're staying. Runners exploring Los Angeles beyond race weekend should also expect general city traffic, independent of the marathon closures, to factor into any same-day plans elsewhere in the city.

If you're driving and parking near the finish

For runners and spectators who'd rather drive than rely entirely on transit, paid parking is typically available in structures around the Century City shopping and office district near the finish, including garages directly on and near Avenue of the Stars. Arrive with extra time built in — marathon-morning traffic and posted no-parking restrictions in the residential streets surrounding the finish area are worth respecting rather than risking a tow on top of a long race day. Pre-booking a parking spot online where that option exists is generally more reliable than hoping to find one on arrival.

Build in more time than feels necessary

The single most common piece of advice from people who've navigated this race before is to leave earlier than feels reasonable. Both the start and finish areas see meaningful traffic and congestion well before official closures even begin, and once closures are in effect, a route that normally takes fifteen minutes can take considerably longer. Whether you're a runner heading to the start, a spectator planning a multi-stop day, or simply a Los Angeles resident trying to get somewhere else entirely, treat marathon Sunday as a day to build slack into every plan that touches the affected part of the city.