Want to cheer on NYC Marathon runners with the kids? Here are some family-friendly viewing spots around the city.
NYC Marathon is this weekend, Sunday, November 1, and if you want to go cheer on the runners, some viewing spots are better than others, especially with kids. If you know someone who is running the marathon, you’ve likely witnessed the immense training and dedication that goes into it and may be looking for the best way to show up for them with your family.
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Where to Watch the NYC Marathon With Kids
Here are some of the best picks to catch the runners in action!
Best for Younger Children: Fourth Avenue in Brooklyn
Brooklyn is one of the top choices for families. All along Fourth Avenue in Brooklyn, around miles 2-8, is a fun spot that has a lot of energy. Years ago, my youngest was in Brooklyn Guitar School and got to play right outside the school for the runners. In that area, runners come off the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge and travel for miles along Fourth Avenue, so there are a lot of places all along the avenue to get an up-close and personal viewing spot. There are also multiple subway lines around.
Best for Strollers: Long Island City, Queens
If you’re on the Queens side of the Pulaski Bridge and Vernon Boulevard, and have kids in a stroller, Long Island City is ideal. The Pulaski Bridge itself is closed to spectators, but families can watch from the Queens side after runners cross the halfway point. Vernon Boulevard is large and has a lot of breathing room, which is a big plus when you’ve got a stroller or younger kids and want to avoid being shoulder-to-shoulder in a huge crowd.
Best Atmosphere for Older Kids: First Avenue in Manhattan
If your kids are older and looking for the full, loud, and wild marathon experience, head to First Avenue. After crossing the Queensboro Bridge, runners enter Manhattan to crowds lining First Avenue and an ongoing line of cheers and many encouraging handheld signs. It covers miles 16–20 and is typically one of the most exciting stretches of the entire course, but it gets crowded, so not for kids who don’t enjoy crowds and noise.
Best for Smaller Crowds: The Bronx
By the time runners reach this point around 135th Street, they’ve covered about 20 miles and can use all the encouragement they can get. It’s one of the toughest portions of their race and probably where positive cheers are needed the most. It can also be a good alternative if you want to experience the marathon in a quieter way.
Best Place to See Your Runner: Fifth Avenue
If your family is there specifically to cheer on a loved one, you might want to head to Fifth Avenue, anywhere from East 90th to East 105th Streets. At miles 23 and 24, runners are approaching Central Park and the final stretch of the marathon. They’re also pretty tired, so seeing family and friends cheering from the sidewalk can help give them that extra push to keep going. You can also download the free Official New York Road Runners App to track runners throughout the marathon and see their progress along the course
Best for the Finish-Line Fun: Columbus Circle and Central Park
Everyone wants to watch runners cross the NYC Marathon finish line, but honestly, this isn’t the easiest viewing option when you have little kids. There is a free-standing spectator area inside Central Park, beginning around Columbus Circle and extending toward the grandstands, but there can be a few downsides. Access may be limited when the area reaches capacity, and spectators must go through security screening. Also, chairs and seats aren’t allowed in the standing spectator area.
No matter where you can catch it, the NYC Marathon is one of the best fall events around the city and can be a fun, annual tradition to enjoy with your kids. So far, the weather looks good, in the mid-60s, but always bring an extra sweater/blanket because, as we all know, standing still outside can get chilly even when it’s not too cold out.
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