Nyc Half Marathon 2026 Road Closures: Thousands Run Today as FDR Drive Restrictions Hit Manhattan
nyc half marathon 2026 road closures are underway Sunday morning as thousands of runners take part in the United Airlines New York City half-marathon. The race began around 7: 00 a. m. ET, with the first wave leaving at 7: 20 a. m. ET, sending runners from Brooklyn into Manhattan before a Central Park finish. The main impact for drivers is concentrated along the FDR Drive, with official closures running from 5: 40 a. m. ET to 1: 30 p. m. ET.
Nyc Half Marathon 2026 Road Closures: What drivers need to know right now
Organizers said street restrictions are in place Sunday in connection with the event, including a defined window for the FDR Drive. The FDR Drive closures run from 5: 40 a. m. ET to 1: 30 p. m. ET, a span that covers the start, the bulk of the field’s passage through Manhattan, and the finish-line closing time.
Race operations also follow a strict schedule of on-course benchmarks. Runners are required to reach the Brooklyn Bridge by 10: 20 a. m. ET, enter the FDR Drive by 11: 40 a. m. ET, exit the FDR Drive by 11: 45 a. m. ET, and cross the finish line before it closes at 1: 30 p. m. ET. That finish closure is listed as roughly four and a half hours after the start time.
Sunday’s forecast is described as mostly cloudy but dry, with highs in the mid to upper 40s, conditions that can keep crowds and runners moving steadily through the morning.
Route and timing: Where runners are moving from Brooklyn to Central Park
The course spans 13. 1 miles and starts on Washington Avenue near the Brooklyn Museum. From there, runners travel through Prospect Park and cross the East River on the Brooklyn Bridge.
Once in Manhattan, the route continues along the FDR Drive and passes through Times Square before finishing in Central Park. With the field spread out by waves and pace, impacts can shift block by block and hour by hour—but the most clearly defined restriction cited by organizers is the FDR Drive closure window.
For New Yorkers trying to plan errands or commutes, the cleanest reference point remains the official end-of-operations marker: the finish line closes at 1: 30 p. m. ET, aligning with the end of the listed FDR Drive closure period.
How to track runners and follow progress during nyc half marathon 2026 road closures
Spectators and families can track participants using the New York Road Runner (NYRR) app during the events, including live, unofficial results. The app is free to download on Apple and Google Play stores, and it includes a course map, a runner checklist, and other race-day information.
The tracking process is straightforward: users can type in a runner’s name to follow their progress as the morning unfolds. With nyc half marathon 2026 road closures affecting travel—particularly near the FDR Drive corridor—organizers and fans are leaning on in-app updates to keep tabs without needing to move from point to point along the course.
What’s next through early afternoon
Through midday, the key operational checkpoints remain the required entry and exit times around the FDR Drive and the hard stop at the finish. The final major timestamp for the public is 1: 30 p. m. ET, when the finish line closes and the stated FDR Drive closure window ends. Drivers should continue to anticipate race-day restrictions until officials lift remaining closures after that time.
