Typical race-weekend conditions
Mild & mixed- High / Low
- 16° / 8°
- Humidity
- 73%
- Rainy days
- 29%
Averages from ~10 years of history around race day.
Know before you go
- Distance
- 42.2 km (26.2 miles)
- ✈️ From London
- ~7h54
- 🕐 Time
- -5h vs UK
- 💷 Money
- £1 ≈ $1.34
- 🗣 Language
- English
- 🌫 Air quality
- Fair
- 🏳️🌈 LGBTQ+
- Welcoming
- 🛡 Safety
- Caution
Country-level indices: LGBTQ+ via Equaldex · safety via Global Peace Index 2025 . Air quality is recent PM2.5; money is indicative.
The route
The New York City Marathon is 42.2 km (26.2 miles) through all five boroughs. The start line is on Staten Island at the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge; the race ends in Central Park at Tavern on the Green. Rolling, with several big bridge climbs.
Start time
Professional wheelchair fields go from 08:00. Mass waves: 09:10, 09:45, 10:20, 10:55 and 11:30. Your bib names the wave and corral — you cannot move earlier. Confirm on the NYRR start page.
Course elevation
Not a flat major. The climbs that count are the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge at the start and the Queensboro Bridge into Manhattan around halfway, plus the other river crossings. Finish in Central Park at Tavern on the Green. GPS files vary; train for bridges, not a Berlin profile.
Entry fee
Indicative entry is £270 per runner. Confirm the current bib price on the official site; ballot, charity, and tour prices can differ. For 2026, Official Charity Partners quoting NYRR fees list about $358 for non-U.S. residents (about £270 on this page’s defaults; card FX often £275–£285), $315 for U.S. non-members, and $255 for NYRR members — confirm the live charge on your NYRR account. Processing may add a little. That is the bib only, not a hotel, flight, ESTA, or charity pledge.
Where to stay
Midtown Manhattan near Central Park suits the finish and bag transfer; the Upper West Side is quieter and equally close to the park.
Getting there
From JFK the AirTrain plus subway reaches Manhattan in around 60 minutes; expect a very early ferry or bus transfer to the Staten Island start on race morning.
That weekend
The huge Expo is at the Javits Center; enjoy a Central Park shakeout, then Top of the Rock, a Broadway show and the High Line.
Sample 4-day trip
Arrive, explore, race, then head home. A proper weekend, not a rushed fly-by.
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Day 1: Arrive
Fly into JFK (or EWR/LGA). From JFK, AirTrain plus subway reaches Manhattan in about 60 minutes. Public transport is the default for most runners. Book a private transfer for late arrivals or heavy kit.
Check into Midtown or the Upper West Side near Central Park and the finish. Keep the evening easy: this is a four-night major.
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Day 2: Shakedown Run and Explore the City
The NYRR expo at the Javits Center is a solid half-day once you factor in travel and queues. Afterwards, jog an easy shakeout in Central Park.
Partners can peel off to Top of the Rock or the High Line . Runners: early dinner, kit laid out, lights out. Staten Island start logistics begin very early tomorrow.
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Day 3: Race Day
Race morning means a very early ferry or bus to Staten Island . Follow NYRR transport instructions exactly. Five boroughs, two million spectators, and several bridge climbs await.
Finish in Central Park. Celebrate nearby and keep walking light. Bag transfer and crowds add time, so agree a meeting point with partners before you start.
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Day 4: Final Day
Recovery day. Brunch, a slow Central Park loop, or a Broadway matinee if legs allow. Four nights gives you a proper buffer before flying home.
If you depart today, subway or AirTrain back to JFK works, but leave generous margin. A private transfer is easier after 26.2 miles.
