San Diego – More than 20,000 runners and 100,000 spectators will hit the streets of San Diego on Sunday, June 1, for the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon. The Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) encourages attendees to ride the Trolley on race day to avoid road closures, traffic delays, and limited parking near the racecourse.
Due to widespread road closures, MTS bus routes will experience significant detours and service delays. Riders in the following neighborhoods should plan accordingly:
- Downtown, Uptown (Hillcrest, Bankers Hill, University Heights), North Park, Normal Heights, Morena, Linda Vista, Bay Park and Mission Valley.
Additionally, baseball fans attending the Padres vs. Pirates game at 2:10 p.m. Sunday should plan ahead as road closures and detours might impact pre-game traffic and parking availability.
Visit the MTS-Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon webpage for a full list of affected bus routes. MTS Information and Trip Planning assistance will be available from 7 a.m.–7 p.m. at (619) 233-3004.
Race Day Transit Tips
The marathon’s start and finish lines are easily accessible by Trolley, making it a convenient option for spectators to get to the action. The start line, located at Sixth Avenue and Quince Street in Balboa Park, is just over a mile from the nearest Trolley station. Transit users can access the start line by walking or biking from the following stations:
- Fifth Street Trolley Station: UC San Diego Blue Line and Orange Line
- Middletown Trolley Station: UC San Diego Blue Line and Green Line
The finish line, located at Ash Street and Union Street in downtown San Diego, is just a short walk from nearby Trolley stations. The most convenient stations are:
- Courthouse: Orange Line
- America Plaza: UC San Diego Blue Line
- Santa Fe Depot: UC San Diego Blue Line and Green Line
- County Center / Little Italy: UC San Diego Blue Line and Green Line
Free Parking Options: Marathon spectators can avoid traffic congestion and high race day parking costs downtown by using MTS’ free Park & Ride lots throughout the Trolley system. The most convenient locations for race day are:
- Old Town Transit Center (UC San Diego Blue Line and Green Line, 400+ free parking spots)
- Grossmont Transit Center (Green Line and Orange Line, 220 free parking spots)
- El Cajon Transit Center (Green Line and Orange Line, 400+ free parking spots)
- Amaya Drive (Green Line and Orange Line, 236 free parking spots)
- Spring Street (Orange Line, 235 free parking spots)
- E Street (UC San Diego Blue Line South, 265 free parking spots)
- Balboa Avenue Transit Center (UC San Diego Blue Line North, 225 free parking spots)
- Tecolote Station (UC San Diego Blue Line North, 275 free parking spots)
PRONTO: Spectators and racers should download the PRONTO app in advance and load at least $5 on your virtual card, which covers a round-trip fare for adult riders. All riders must tap or scan at validators to activate their pass or fare prior to boarding.
Contactless Payment: Riders now have the option to simply tap a credit card or other contactless payment options, such as a smartphone or smartwatch, on a station validator to pay for a one-way ride ($2.50, valid for two hours). This allows attendees to bypass the ticket vending machine and speed up wait times.
Every person needs their own payment option; you cannot buy fares for multiple people on the same account, card or payment method.
Kids Ride Free! Families going to the marathon can save big by taking MTS. On weekends, two children 12 and under ride for free, no pass required, with every paying adult.
About MTS
The Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) operates 92 bus routes and four Trolley lines in 10 cities and unincorporated areas of San Diego. MTS is a leader in advancing initiatives to create a greener, cleaner and better-connected transit system in San Diego. Each weekday more than 238,000 passenger trips are taken throughout the MTS system taking people to work, school, health appointments and other essential trips. In FY 2024, MTS served more than 75 million riders. For service schedule updates, news, alerts and more information on how you can use public transportation, go to www.sdmts.com.
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