San Antonio Marathon Insider: Street Closures, Course Maps, and Expo Essentials

SAN ANTONIO – The inaugural San Antonio Marathon weekend is almost here after a year of anticipation.

The 5K will take place on Friday, with the marathon and half-marathon happening on Sunday. The races will start and end in downtown San Antonio.

During a news conference on Monday, organizers said 18,000 participants are expected this weekend.

Watch the news conference below:

While all three events are sold out, people can still get in on the fun by volunteering at the racesattending the expo or cheering on runners along the routes.

>> KSAT invites runners to share their wellness journeys on KSAT Connect ahead of the San Antonio Marathon

Here’s a guide to the San Antonio Marathon weekend:

Health and fitness expo

All participants must pick up their race packets at the San Antonio Marathon Health and Fitness Expo, located at the Henry B. González Convention Center. Runners must pick up their own packets and provide a photo ID.

Packets will include a bib, T-shirt and gear bag.

There will also be vendors with running tech, apparel, nutrition and interactive experiences

The expo is free and open to the public.

• Date: Dec. 5-6, 2025

• Hours:

  • Friday, Dec. 5: Noon – 7 p.m.

  • Saturday, Dec. 6: 9 a.m.– 5 p.m.

There will be no packet pick-up on Sunday.

Routes

The marathon and half-marathon start at 7:15 a.m. Sunday at Main Plaza. Both races end at Hemisfair.

The course time limits for the marathon and half-marathon are seven and four hours, respectively.

The San Antonio Road Runners will provide pacing teams for both races.

Pace Times will be available for:

• Half Marathon: 1:30, 1:45, 1:50, 2:00, 2:15, 2:30, and 3:00

• Marathon: 3:30, 3:40, 3:50, 4:00, 4:15, 4:30, and 5:00

The San Antonio Marathon course is USATF certified and a qualifier for the Boston Marathon.

Route for the marathon on Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025. (San Antonio Sports)

Route for the half-marathon on Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025. (San Antonio Sports)

The 5K will take place at 7 p.m. on Friday.

The race, which has an hour time limit, will start and end at Hemisfair.

Route for the 5K on Friday, Dec. 5, 2025. (San Antonio Sports)

Street closures

The following neighborhoods will experience some type of road closures on Sunday:

• Downtown

• King William

• Pearl/St. Mary’s Strip

• River Road neighborhood

• Central (Trinity, Zoo, Tri-Point)

• Mount Vista

• Olmos Park

• Alamo Heights

• Mahncke Park

• Westfort Alliance

>> Scenic, historic routes await runners in upcoming San Antonio Marathon

Road closures downtown start at 3 a.m. In the other areas, they will close on a rolling basis, starting at 6 a.m.

Parking will not be allowed on the race routes.

VIA bus routes affected

According to San Antonio Sports, VIA Metropolitan Transit routes will have detours in place on Sunday.

Visit viainfo.net for the latest route updates and detour details.

Call 210-362-2020 for assistance.

Rideshare drop-off locations

San Antonio Sports is encouraging runners and spectators to use rideshare apps on Sunday morning.

Those who use rideshare can direct their driver to one of the designated drop-off areas:

• South End Drop-Off: Nueva Street, between Santa Rosa and Flores

• North End Drop-Off: Travis Street, between Santa Rosa and Flores

Free parking at the Alamodome

During Monday’s news conference, City Manager Erik Walsh said free parking on Sunday will be available in lots B and C at the Alamodome, starting at 5 a.m.

Click here for more parking options:

Race day weather forecast

Click here for the latest running forecast in San Antonio from KSAT meteorologists.

Read also:

Copyright 2025 by KSAT – All rights reserved.

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2025 Marathon Date & Swift Facts

• Race day: Sunday, December 13 2025 (official race day announced on sanantonio.org)
• Start/finish: Alamo Plaza, downtown San Antonio
• Distances: Full marathon (26.2 mi), half‑marathon (13.1 mi), 5 K, and kids run
• Registration deadline: October 31 2025
• Official hashtag: #SATMarathon2025

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Street Closures and Traffic Detours

Key closed Roads (Marathon Day & Morning of the Race)

road	Closed From	Reopens	Reason
alamo Plaza (around the Alamo)	5 am	7 pm	Start/finish zone
Houston Street (between San Pedro Ave & Alamo Plaza)	4 am	6 pm	Main race corridor
San Pedro Ave (between Houston St & Matheson St)	5 am	7 pm	Access to River Walk
Broadway (between Basse Rd & Phase 1)	6 am	8 pm	Half‑marathon loop
St. Mary’s Street (near mission entrance)	5 am	6 pm	Support stations

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detour Routes for Drivers & Ride‑Share Users

1. From I‑35 North: Use Crockett St → Luna St → Drew St to re‑enter downtown.
2. From I‑35 South: follow Mistletoe Ave → Basse Rd → Alamo St for the River walk loop.
3. Bus & Shuttle services: the city will operate Shuttle Route A (Downtown Hotel District ↔ Alamo plaza) and route B (University‑Park ↔ Marathon Expo).

Tip: Download the “San Antonio Marathon Traffic Map” (PDF) from the official city portal 48 hours before race day – it includes live‑update QR codes for real‑time closure alerts.

Parking & Public Transit Recommendations

• Free parking zones: Crockett St Lot (12 pm-5 pm) and Basse Rd Parking Deck (all day).
• Paid lots: Alamo Plaza Surface Lot (reserve via app).
• VIA Transit: Route 2 (Alamo Plaza ↔ River Walk) runs on a marathon schedule with extra service every 10 minutes.

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San Antonio Marathon Course Map

Downloadable & Interactive Options

• PDF Course Map (1 MB): Direct download from sanantonio.org/marathon/course-map.pdf.
• Interactive Google Map: Embedded on the race site; toggle layers for “Hydration Stations”, “Cheering Zones”, and “Medical aid”.

Start/Finish Area highlights

• Alamo Plaza: Spectator‑friendly grandstand, timing mats, and post‑race festivity stage.
• Expo Entrance: Located on Luna St, just two blocks west of the start line – perfect for last‑minute gear checks.

Mile‑by‑Mile Route Breakdown (Full Marathon)

Mile	Landmark	Terrain & Elevation	Notable Features
0‑3	Alamo Plaza → River Walk	Flat, paved	Live bands on the River Walk
3‑6	Mission San José	Slight uphill (≈15 ft)	Historical monuments, cheering volunteers
6‑9	Downtown Loop (Broadway)	Gentle rolling	“Alamo City” mural walls
9‑12	Westside Residential	Mostly flat	“Community Café” hydration stops
12‑15	University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA)	Moderate climb (≈30 ft)	“Lightning Bolt” finish line flash
15‑18	Return via San Pedro Ave	Descending	Scenic view of the San Antonio river
18‑21	Southtown Arts District	Flat, artistic installations	“Graffiti Gallery” photo zone
21‑24	Riverwalk Loop	Small undulations	Night‑time lighting for evening runners
24‑26.2	Final stretch to Alamo Plaza	Flat,sprint finish	Medal ceremony and post‑race celebration

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Elevation & Terrain Summary

• Total elevation gain: ~185 ft (average for a city marathon).
• Surface type: 100 % paved asphalt; no gravel sections.
• Accessibility: Wheelchair‑friendly segment from mile 12‑14 (wide streets, curb cuts).

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Marathon Expo Essentials

What to Expect at the San Antonio Marathon Expo

• dates & Hours: Thursday Dec 10 - Saturday Dec 12, 8 am - 6 pm.
• Location: San Antonio Convention Center, Hall B (adjacent to River Walk).
• Key Attractions:

1. Gear Showcase: Nike, ASICS, Brooks, and local boutique “Alamo Run Co.”
2. Nutrition Zone: Gatorade, Clif Bar, local taco‑fuel pop‑up.
3. Tech Hub: Garmin, Polar, and emerging “AI‑coach” wearables.
4. Community Booths: San Antonio Parks & Recreation, local charities (e.g., Make‑A‑Wish TX).

Must‑Bring Items for a Smooth Expo Experience

• Runner’s bib & QR code (pre‑printed from registration).
• Photo ID (for age‑group verification).
• Reusable water bottle (refill stations throughout the Expo).
• Agreeable shoes (for trying on gear before race‑day).

Vendor Highlights & Special Deals (2025)

Vendor	Offer	deadline
Nike	20 % off “zoomx” marathon shoes (expo‑only).	Dec 12 5 pm
ASICS	Free “Gel‑Nimbus” shoe fitting with gait analysis.	Ongoing
Local “Alamo Run Co.”	Custom “San Antonio marathon 2025” shirt (limited 500).	First‑come, first‑served
Garmin	15 % discount on “Forerunner 965” with QR code scan.	Dec 11 close of business

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Sample Expo Schedule (Highlights)

Time	Event	Location
09:00 am	Opening Ceremony – City Mayor & Marathon Director	Main Atrium
10:30 am	Live Stretch Session – Certified PTs	Fitness Zone
12:00 pm	Nutrition Talk – “Carb‑Loading 101” (Speaker: Dr.Maria Ortega, Sports Nutritionist)	Lecture Hall
02:00 pm	Kids’ Run Clinic – Fun‑run registration & helmet fitting	Kids Corner
04:00 pm	Gear Demo – “Smart Socks” trial (Garmin)	Tech Hub
05:30 pm	Evening Mixer – Meet‑and‑greet with past winners in “Alamo Lounge”	Lounge Area

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Practical Runner Tips for Race Day

Hydration & Nutrition Stations

• Total stations: 12 (every 2‑3 mi).
• Offerings per station: Water, electrolyte drink, banana, energy gel.
• Pro tip: Arrive at the 5 mi station (Mission San José) for the first Gatorade and banana-use the early boost before the uphill at mile 12.

Gear Checklist (essential + Nice‑to‑Have)

1. **Race‑day bib &