Rock Creek Parkway Will Be Closed as early as 7 a.m.: Since the course (see map) uses Rock Creek Parkway, the U.S. Park Police will close this road south of Calvert St. beginning as early as 7 a.m. 

Parking is no longer available at the Pentagon North Parking lot or at the Kennedy Center parking garage.

Via Beach Dr.: Once Rock Creek Pkwy. is closed, cars coming southbound on Beach Dr. past the National Zoo will have to exit at Shoreham Dr./Calvert St. You will be routed right off Beach Dr. just past the tunnel near the National Zoo on to Shoreham Dr. near Calvert St. and the Connecticut Ave. Bridge. Turn right at the traffic light at the top of the hill on Shoreham Dr. on to Calvert St. Then immediately go right again (south) on Connecticut Ave. Proceed about 3/4 mile and go right on Florida Ave. Florida Ave turns into 23rd St. after Massachusetts Ave. Continue on 23rd St., passing through Washington Circle, to Constitution Ave. Turn left and look for parking on the White House side of the Mall.

Via Massachusetts Ave., NW: If you were planning on entering Rock Creek Parkway from Massachusetts Ave. at Waterside Dr. and find that Rock Creek Pkwy. is closed, you will have to continue straight on Massachusetts Ave. to 23rd St. Go right on 23rd and continue to Constitution Ave. as above. 

Via P St., NW: If you were planning on entering Rock Creek Parkway from P St. coming from Georgetown, you will have to continue on P St. across the Rock Creek Parkway overpass. You will turn right at the light at 23rd St. and head toward Constitution Ave. as above.

Approaching from the West (Virginia) and East (NE, SE, and SW Washington): 

Independence Avenue will remain open until approximately 7:20 a.m. However, since there is no parking on Ohio Dr. in West Potomac Park, and Rock Creek Pkwy. will begin being shut down just past 7 a.m., we suggest the following ways to approach the race site and find parking from the east and west sides of Washington, DC.

Via Independence Avenue: If you find yourself on Eastbound Independence Avenue (heading toward the  Capitol) after crossing Memorial Bridge and going right on 23rd St. and left onto Independence Ave., you should follow Independence Ave. across the Tidal Basin to the traffic light at 15th St. Turn left at this light onto 15th Street, cross the Mall, turn left again on Constitution Avenue and look for parking. If you are on Westbound Independence Avenue (heading toward the river), turn right on either 15th or 17th Streets, cross the Mall, turn left on Constitution Avenue and look for parking. After 7 a.m., it is likely that you will have to turn right at 17th St. if you are heading West on Independence Ave. because Rock Creek Parkway will be closed. If you are allowed to pass 17th St. you may have to cross Memorial Bridge into Virginia. To be safe, just plan on turning right on 17th St.

Via Key Bridge or Canal Road: Use the Whitehurst Freeway, keeping left past the I-66 exit, and then and move right to reach Washington Circle. Exit at Washington Circle  (don't go under the Washington Circle underpass); then go about half-way around the circle and take Pennsylvania Avenue for a few blocks. Finally you will go right on one of the numbered streets (22nd, 21st, 20th, etc.) and head toward Constitution Avenue for parking.

Via the Theodore Roosevelt Bridge: Take the Constitution Avenue exit to parking in this area (to your left).  

Via Memorial Bridge: You should bear left off the bridge and head north on 23rd Street to parking along Constitution Avenue. 

From Virginia Via the 14th Street Bridge (I-395 North): Exit I-395 North onto 14th Street and head across the Mall past the Washington Monument to the parking area along Constitution Avenue. 

From Washington, DC, and Virginia via the Southwest Freeway: You will be able to exit onto Maine Avenue and turn right (north) across the Mall on 15th Street to the Constitution Avenue area. 

Via Capitol Hill and points East: Stay on the Constitution Avenue side of the Mall once you get to the numbered streets from 15th Street NW on up. 

Remember, your best bet is to arrive prior to 7:15 a.m. 

Parking is Tight

Be Patient and Park in Areas Designated Below.

Parking is no longer available at the Pentagon North Parking lot or at the Kennedy Center parking garage. 

There is no parking on Ohio Dr. in West Potomac Park or on West Basin Dr. (the road that runs past the FDR Memorial). This means no parking along the Potomac River between 23rd and Independence Ave. and the Inlet Bridge or in the vicinity of the FDR Memorial (this parking is reserved for race officials who are arriving well before daylight). Furthermore, Ohio Drive will be closed to through traffic shortly after 6:30 a.m. 

If you arrive at the race course very early (before 6:30 a.m.) you may be able to find parking in the lots on Hains Point underneath the 14th St. and Metro Bridges. However most of these spaces will be taken by our 500 race volunteers and the shuttle buses which will be arriving between 6:00 a.m. and 6:30 a.m.

There will be plenty of competition for the available on-street parking. Runners are going to have to walk a little further to get to the start from the available parking locations. (It's a good warm-up for the race anyway.)
Allow extra time for parking and walking and follow these instructions. You will avoid arriving at the starting line in an angry mood-or late-because you've been circling around looking for parking. Better yet, consider the metro!

There will be no parking on Ohio Dr. in West Potomac Park or on West Basin Dr. (the road that runs past the FDR Memorial). This means no parking along the Potomac River between 23rd and Independence Ave. and the Inlet Bridge or in the vicinity of the FDR Memorial (this parking is reserved for race officials who are arriving well before daylight). Furthermore, Ohio Drive will be closed to through traffic shortly after 6:30 a.m. 

There are a limited number of parking spaces in lots in East Potomac Park near the 14th St. Bridge and Metro overpasses. Suggested parking areas include Constitution Avenue and surrounding side streets. Parking is no longer available at the Pentagon North Parking lot or at the Kennedy Center parking garage. Cars parked on the grass will be towed. Street closings begin as early as 7:15 am. Please do not plan to show up at the race site after 7:15 am and expect to find parking anywhere in the vicinity of the start/finish line.

Allow extra time for parking  and walking and follow these instructions. You will avoid arriving at the starting line in an angry mood -- or late -- because you've been circling around looking for parking.

  If you are arriving after 7 a.m., do not even attempt to enter the West Potomac Park area. Remember, Independence Avenue, Rock Creek Parkway will begin to close shortly after 7:00 a.m. 

  The closest free parking will be on the Constitution Avenue, NW (north) side of the Reflecting Pool and on the surrounding side streets (23rd St. to 17th St., Virginia Ave., around the State Department, Pan American Union Building, etc.).

  Consider car-pooling to cut down on race day congestion, or take the Metro, which will be opening at 6 a.m. (See below for Metro details). 

  Do not park on grassy, parkland areas or your car may be ticketed and towed. 

Shuttle Bus Service

Shuttle bus service will operate from the Crystal Gateway Marriott (our race headquarters), for guests registered at the hotel (details on that shuttle will provided at check-in). 

Metro Service

We will once again be making arrangements for Metro to open at 6 a.m. on race day. The race lost money on this last year, but we hope enough people will use Metro to enable us to continue to provide this transportation option. We will be providing round trip shuttle bus service between the Metro Center station and West Potomac Park before and after the race. Buses will begin operating at 6 a.m. from the 12th and G St. entrance to Metro Center. The last bus will leave 12th and G St. at 7 a.m. sharp. The shuttle buses are available to participants who wish to drive to this vicinity and park your cars instead of taking Metro. Metro riders who wish to take a short warm-up can use the Arlington Cemetery stop and jog across Memorial Bridge to the staging area. It is about 1.5 miles. 

Metro Ride Times

Click Here for a chart indicating the riding and walking time needed from various Metro stations to the three Metro stops near the race site and to Metro Center, where you can transfer to a shuttle bus to the start. If you want to determine the riding time from a different originating station, visit the Metro website.