San Francisco is in for an early wake-up call next Sunday as the city’s marquee road race returns, bringing pre-dawn start times, long rolling closures and thousands of runners and spectators. The marathon and its companion events stretch from the Embarcadero up across the Golden Gate Bridge and back through Golden Gate Park and the Mission, touching neighborhoods all over the city. Residents, commuters and delivery drivers are being warned to expect major delays and to budget in some extra travel time.
The city’s emergency management office put out a brief heads-up today, declaring “SF Marathon weekend is here,” and urging people to plan ahead. The advisory reminded residents to allow extra time to get around and to check transit and traffic resources before heading out. The warning was posted on the city’s official X account, according to the San Francisco Department of Emergency Management.
🏃🏿♀️🏃🏼♂️🏃🏻♀️🏃🏻♂️SF Marathon weekend is here! Expect a busy day in the city on Sunday, July 26. Plan ahead, allow extra travel time, and check SFMTA or 511 before you go.
— San Francisco Department of Emergency Management (@SF_emergency) July 24, 2026
Call 911 for emergencies. Call 311 or use the 311 app for non-emergency City services and reports.
Stay informed:… pic.twitter.com/W6AmGjMhKj
What to expect on Sunday
The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency says the marathon starts at The Embarcadero and Howard with staggered waves beginning around 5:15 AM, and race activity will continue into the early afternoon. SFMTA is warning that rolling street closures and thick spectator crowds will affect large stretches of the city, and that dozens of Muni lines may be rerouted, delayed or switched to bus service for parts of the morning. For a full list of which routes are hit and when, see the SFMTA advisory, according to SFMTA.
Road closures and detours
The race organizer’s traffic advisory breaks down neighborhood-by-neighborhood closures and suggests detours. The Embarcadero is scheduled to be closed overnight into the afternoon, streets in Fisherman’s Wharf and the Marina will see morning shutdowns, and access through parts of the Presidio and Golden Gate Park will be limited while runners are on the course. The event site also posts maps, crossover points and neighborhood instructions aimed at residents, delivery drivers and businesses operating along the route. For the complete closure map and detour guidance, see the event traffic advisory, according to the San Francisco Marathon.
Staying informed and alternatives
Officials are encouraging people to check SFMTA or 511 for real-time transit and traffic updates and to plan alternate routes when possible. The city’s AlertSF system provides official emergency notifications (signup is available at AlertSF or by texting your ZIP code to 888-777), and 511 offers interactive Bay Area maps and alerts. The reminder about emergency contacts and non-emergency city services was included in the city’s X advisory, according to the San Francisco Department of Emergency Management.
