Thousands of runners will take to the streets in the Sacramento area on Sunday for the 42nd annual California International Marathon.
The race is hosted by the Sacramento Running Association and spans from Folsom to downtown Sacramento.
The 26.2-mile course will result in the temporary closure of several roads and disrupt local bus and light rail service, according to Sacramento Regional Transit.
Here’s what to know:
When is California International Marathon in Sacramento?
The California Internation Marathon starts at 7 a.m. near the Folsom Dam and ends at 7 p.m. at the state Capitol in downtown Sacramento, according to the Sacramento Running Association.
“With a course that has remained unchanged since its inception, the marathon will temporarily close several streets in downtown, midtown and East Sacramento,” the city of Sacramento said in a Thursday, Dec. 4, news release.
Which local roads will close for race?
More than 30 roads are scheduled to close throughout the Sacramento area in connection to Sunday’s race, according to the Sacramento Running Association.
According to the city of Sacramento, here’s which streets will be closed and when:
6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 5, through 7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 7
- Capitol Mall between Seventh and 10th streets
- 10th Street between L and N streets
- Ninth Street between L and N streets
- Eighth Street between L and N streets
8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6, through 7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 7
- Capitol Mall from Fifth to Seventh streets
The racing association said these local streets will also be closed:
- East Natoma Street to Folsom-Auburn Road
- Eureka Road to Overbrook Drive
- Overbrook Drive to Greenback Lane
- Folsom-Auburn Road to Santa Juanita Avenue
- Santa Juanita Avenue to Hazel Avenue
- Hazel Avenue to Kenneth Avenue and Wachtel Way
- Kenneth Avenue and Wachtel Way to Fair Oaks Boulevard
- Oak Avenue to Greenback Lane
- Greenback Lane to Madison Avenue
- Madison Avenue to Winding Way
- Winding Way to Sunrise Boulevard
Which RT light rail lines will be affected?
In addition, the following light rail services will be affected in downtown Sacramento by Sunday’s race, according to Sacramento Regional Transit:
Gold Line: The bus bridge, the shuttle bus between stations, will operate between Sacramento Valley and 13th Street stations.
Blue Line: A bus bridge, shuttle bus between stations, will operate between 13th Street and Cathedral Square stations. This includes 10th and K streets and 11th and K streets.
Eight light rail stations will not operate from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 7:
- Archives Plaza
- Ninth and K Street
- Eighth and O Street
- Eighth and Capitol Street
- Seventh and Capitol Street
- Eighth and K Street
- Seventh and I Street
- Sacramento Valley Station
Competitors run down L Street to the finish line during the California International Marathon in 2024. LEZLIE STERLING Sacramento Bee file
Which bus routes will see detours?
More than a dozen bus routes will be detoured due to road closures along the marathon route, RT said.
Bus routes going through downtown Sacramento — 11, 30, 38, 51, 62, 86, 88 and 142 — intersect with the end of the marathon’s course. In midtown, bus routes 67 and 68 intersect with the last five miles of the course.
Routes 26, 82, 84 and 87 will be rerouted in Arden Arcade to avoid closures. And, in Carmichael, routes 21, 23 and 25 will also be detoured.
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This story was originally published December 5, 2025 at 1:19 PM.
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Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado
The Sacramento Bee
Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado is a service journalism reporter at The Sacramento Bee. She previously worked at the Star Democrat in Annapolis, Maryland. Veronica graduated from Georgetown University with a master’s degree in journalism.
