One of San Francisco’s long-standing traditions is scheduled to close several of the city’s streets this weekend. Bay to Breakers, the 12K race that’s more like a citywide party, is happening Sunday, May 19. Thousands of people, many dressed in wacky costumes, will gather at the Embarcadero early in the morning to start the run, and end the race by the afternoon at Ocean Beach. 

The tradition started in 1912 and draws not only runners, enthusiastic walkers and partiers, but also hundreds of spectators. People traveling within or through San Francisco should expect restricted walking, driving and transit. 

Street closures are planned to start as early as Saturday night at 7 p.m., mostly around the race’s start and finish lines, according to the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency. The race begins at 8 a.m. Sunday, with the rest of the closures on the course beginning several hours before. 

Most streets should reopen by 2 p.m. Sunday, with only a few near the finish line area scheduled to stay closed until 4 p.m., and Main between Mission and Folsom streets being closed until 5 p.m. Multiple entrances to Golden Gate Park will also be closed during the race, SFMTA said. 

The Harvey Milk Day celebration is also scheduled for Sunday at Jane Warner Plaza in the Castro, and SFMTA said 17th Street between Noe and Castro streets will be closed from 1:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.

The following streets are on and along the race course and are scheduled to be closed for the duration of Bay to Breakers: 

Near the starting line:

Saturday, May 18, 7 p.m. to Sunday, May 19, 11 a.m. 
Howard Street between the Embarcadero and Beale Street
Steuart Street south of Mission Street 
Spear Street between Mission and Folsom streets
Howard Street intersections at Steuart, Spear and Main streets

Saturday, May 18, 7 p.m. to Sunday, May 19, 5 p.m. 
Main Street between Mission and Folsom streets

On the race route:

Sunday, May 19, from 3 a.m. to 11 a.m. 
Beale, Fremont and Second streets between Mission and Folsom streets
First Street between Market and Folsom streets
New Montgomery Street between Mission and Howard streets
Howard Street between Beale and Third streets
Howard Street intersections at Beale, Fremont, First, Second and New Montgomery streets 

Sunday, May 19, 5 a.m. to 11 a.m. 
Mission Street between Fremont and Steuart streets
Beale Street and Spear Street between Market and Mission streets
Market Street between Drumm and Steuart streets

Sunday, May 19, from 6 a.m. to 11 a.m. 
Howard Street between Third and Ninth streets
Ninth Street between Howard and Market streets

Sunday, May 19, from 6 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. 
Hayes Street between Market and Divisadero streets

Sunday, May 19, from 5 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. 
Scott Street and Steiner Street between Grove and Hayes streets

Sunday, May 19, from 6 a.m. to 1 p.m. 
Divisadero Street between Grove and Oak streets

Sunday, May 19, from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. 
Fell Street between Divisadero and Stanyan streets

Sunday, May 19, from 5 a.m. to 2 p.m. 
Baker Street between Oak and Fell streets

Near the finish line:

Saturday, May 18, 9 p.m. to Sunday, May 19, 4 p.m. 
La Playa Street between Cabrillo and Fulton streets
Fulton Street (westbound) between the Great Highway and 46th Avenue
Fulton Street (eastbound) between the Great Highway and 48th Avenue
Lincoln Way between the Great Highway and La Playa Street
Lincoln Way intersections at lower Great Highway and La Playa Street
Great Highway between Sloat Boulevard and John F. Kennedy Drive

Sunday, May 19, from 5 a.m. to 4 p.m. 
Cabrillo Street between 46th Avenue and La Playa Street
Balboa Street between 46th Avenue and the Great Highway
Point Lobos Avenue between 48th Avenue and the Great Highway

Transit information

Several Muni bus routes are scheduled to be rerouted on Saturday night for Bay to Breakers setup. This includes the 12 Folsom/Pacific and the 18 46th Avenue routes until the end of service on Saturday. A complete list of the Muni reroutes can be found on SFMTA’s website. 

Expect Muni delays and reroutes Sunday morning, especially on the 18, 28, 29 and 44 routes, which all cross through the park and are expected to still be operating. Other bus routes, including the 30 and 45, may not be operating in the race area or cross the race route.

The Market Street Subway is scheduled to open early Sunday morning to take runners and walkers to the starting line. Between 6 a.m. and 7:40 a.m. the service is scheduled to stop only at West Portal, Forest Hill, Castro, Church, Van Ness and Embarcadero stations. Normal service is expected to begin at 8 a.m. 

BART plans to also provide a special early service for Bay to Breakers, with limited stops on the Peninsula and the East Bay, ending at the Embarcadero. The service is expected to get participants to the area as early as 7 a.m. 

Participants taking Caltrain can also catch an early departure to arrive by 8 a.m.