How to Go Car-Free to the Marine Corps Marathon

Editor’s note: The following information is provided by Arlington’s Car-Free Diet.

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Take your mark, get set and go to the 40th Annual Marine Corps Marathon, on Oct. 25, in Arlington and Washington, DC.

In all, 30,000 runners will take part in the historic 40th running of the Marine Corps Marathon, and over 100,000 spectators will line the course to cheer them on. With limited parking and numerous street closures in the area on race day, your best bet to get to and from the Marine Corps Marathon and its associated events is by going car free.

Not participating in the marathon? Here are spectator tips.

To ensure the fastest ride on Metrorail, Metrobus and ART, you’ll need to purchase a SmarTrip card, your all-access pass to regional and local transit in the DC-Metro area.

SmarTrip cards cost $2 and can be purchased online, at any Metro station, and at Metro sales offices, Commuter Stores and select retail locations in DC, Maryland and Virginia.

To get to the Marine Corps Marathon Health and Fitness Expo and Packet Pick-up at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, take Metrorail’s green or yellow line to Mt. Vernon/7th Street/Convention Center Metro station, located right in front of the convention center.

On event day, Metrorail begins running at 5 a.m.

To get to the starting line, ride Metrorail’s blue or yellow line to the Pentagon Metro station, which is a short walk from the Runners Village. Or, from the Crystal City Metro station, you can hop on the free shuttle to the Runners Village. You can also ride or Metrobus 7A, 9A, 10A, 13Y, 16B and K and ART 87 to the Pentagon.

To get to the Crystal City Family Festival, take Metrorail’s blue or yellow line to the Crystal City Metro station. Metrobus 9A, 10A, 23A and the Metroway line all run to Crystal City on event day.

And when it’s time to meet your runner at the finish line, take Metrorail’s Blue, Orange or Silver line to the Rosslyn Metro station, only a short walk from the Finish Festival at the Marine Corps War Memorial. Metrobus 3A, 4A, 5A and 38B all run to Rosslyn.

On event day, some Metrobus and ART buses may be rerouted due to the race. Visit ArlingtonTransit.com and WMATA.com, or sign up for ‘Metro Alerts’ and ‘ART Alert’ for up-to-date schedule and route information.

Feel like bicycling to the marathon and other Marine Corps Marathon weekend festivities? Visit BikeArlington.com, click on ‘Maps and Rides’ and plan your trip. Arlington has over 50 miles of off-street trails that make it incredibly easy to get around by bike. And, Arlington has over 80 Capital Bikeshare stations across the County!

To use the Capital Bikeshare system, buy a single day or multiday pass online or at any Capital Bikeshare station.

When you come out to the Marine Corps Marathon Family Festival in Crystal City, make sure to stop by the Car-Free Diet tent. Spin the Transit Trivia wheel for a chance to win some fun prizes and pick up all the latest info on transit, biking and walking in Arlington.

For more information on the 40th Marine Corps Marathon and Marine Corps Marathon weekend events, visit MarineMarathon.com or download the Marine Corps Marathon app.

And for a complete list of real-time transit options to the Marine Corps Marathon, go to CarFreeDiet.com, click on ‘Partners’ and search for ‘Marine Corps Marathon’.