Southern California’s near-perpetual sunshine makes it possible to spend much of the year outside, whether that means hitting the beach or hiking a canyon.
And one of the region’s biggest running events is about to take over Long Beach, bringing thousands of runners and a very long list of road closures with it.
When and where are Long Beach Marathon road closures?
The 42nd annual 2XU Long Beach Marathon takes over the coastal city this Sunday, October 11, with the full marathon starting at 5:30 a.m. at Shoreline Drive and Shoreline Village Drive. The 26.2-mile course heads past the Queen Mary and Shoreline Village, follows the coast through Belmont Shore and Marine Stadium, reaches Cal State Long Beach and returns along Ocean Boulevard toward the finish line. The 13.1-mile half marathon starts at 6:30 a.m. from the same location.
For drivers, the biggest thing to know is that most road closures and detours will begin around 4:30–5 a.m. Sunday and reopen on a rolling basis through 2 p.m. The exact timing varies by street, and roads will reopen as runners and race equipment clear each section. Police will also control crossings at major intersections when there are safe gaps in the race.
The closures will affect areas including Downtown Long Beach, Belmont Shore, the Peninsula, Naples, Belmont Heights, Bluff Park, Bluff Heights, Alamitos Beach, Park Estates and Los Altos. Major affected streets include:
Shoreline Drive: Shoreline Village Drive to the 710 Freeway
Pine Avenue: Shoreline Drive to Seaside Way
Queensway Bridge: Shoreline Drive to the 710 Freeway
Ocean Boulevard: Livingston Drive to 54th Street, plus Livingston Drive to Alamitos Avenue
Livingston Drive: Termino Avenue to Broadway
Nieto Avenue: Appian Way to Broadway
Appian Way: Nieto Avenue to East 3rd Street
East 3rd Street: Appian Way to Paoli Way
Marine Stadium: Nieto Avenue to Bayshore Avenue
East Colorado Street: Orlena Avenue to Appian Way
Orlena Avenue: East Colorado Street to 4th Street
4th Street: Monrovia Avenue to Orlena Avenue
Monrovia Avenue: 6th Street to 4th Street
6th Street: Park Avenue to Monrovia Avenue
Park Avenue: Anaheim Street to Appian Way
Anaheim Street: Pacific Coast Highway to Park Avenue
Clark Avenue: northbound from Atherton Street to Anaheim Street
Atherton Street: westbound from Clark Avenue to Bellflower Boulevard, plus both directions from Bellflower Boulevard to Palo Verde Avenue
Palo Verde Avenue: southbound from Atherton Street to Anaheim Street
There are also earlier Shoreline Drive closures on Saturday, October 10. Eastbound Shoreline Drive between Shoreline Village Drive and Ocean Boulevard closes at 7 a.m. Saturday, while both directions on that stretch close at 5 p.m. Saturday. That section is scheduled to remain closed until 5 p.m. Sunday, making it the notable exception to the broader afternoon reopening.
Drivers should also watch for temporary No Parking signs along the racecourse. Vehicles parked in restricted areas will be ticketed and towed at the owner’s expense to the tow yard at 3111 E. Willow St.
Residents in affected neighborhoods can check the official community information and access details before heading out. The race organizers also provide parking information for residents of Belmont Shore, the Peninsula and Naples, including beach-lot parking available Saturday night through Sunday.
Most racecourse roads are scheduled to reopen by 2 p.m. Sunday, although reopening is rolling and subject to traffic conditions. The Shoreline Drive section between Shoreline Village Drive and Ocean Boulevard is scheduled to fully reopen by 5 p.m.