Bay to Breakers 2023 (Everything You Need to Know)

Submitted by the Event Organizer

Welcome back to “Bay to Breakers,” the crown jewel of San Francisco events since 1912 with 20,000+ people racing (and 100,000+ watching) from the Bay to the Breakers at the western end of Golden Gate Park in a costumed mass of everything we love about San Francisco.

110th Annual Bay to Breakers
Sunday, May 21, 2023 | 8 am to 12:30 pm
From Howard & Main to the Great Highway
– First wave takes off at 8a
– Last wave takes off at 8:45a

COURSE MAP

RACE REGISTRATION
Most people try to just join the course mid-way and run for free, but if you want to be “official” here’s how to do it.
– 12K Individual Runner: $69.99
– The Centipede Team Run: $58.87
– 12K Virtual Runner: $49.99

Add-ons (shows upon checkout)
– 3k Breakers Bonus: $24.99 Includes: An extra 3k to your run (15k total), an EXCLUSIVE bonus medal in addition to the standard finisher medal, and one beer per runner at the Finish Line Festival beer garden

VIP Upgrade: $99.99 Includes: Pre-Race VIP Zone Access (Continental breakfast, private gear check and private restrooms) and Finish Line Festival VIP Zone Access (Catered lunch, private gear check pick-up, private restrooms and a post-race massage)

2023 “PRE-FESTIVAL” RACE EXPO FOR PACKET PICKUP
Friday, May 19, 2023 – Noon to 7pm
Saturday, May 20, 2023 – 11a to 6p
– Embarcadero Plaza, Market & Steuart St., SF
– Live music from David Hardiman’s New Orleans Jazz Band
– Food from Señor Sisig, Curry Up Now, Chairman Bao and American Grilled Cheese Kitchen (for purchase)
– Sponsor Booths and Vendor booths including – Door Dash, Jelly Belly, Kodiak Cakes, Evolve and Official Race Merchandise
– Beer from Michelob Ultra (for purchase)

GETTING TO THE STARTING LINE

Heads up! BART is running special early service tomorrow for Bay to Breakers attendees prior to our usual 8am Sunday opening.

Nine stations will be opened for rider pick-up only. All trains will terminate at Embarcadero around 7am.

Learn full info: https://t.co/s60DpvwYsj pic.twitter.com/tyHARQJ0kl

— BART (@SFBART) May 21, 2023

• Caltrain offers a special train service with two limited-stop pre-race trains to that will arrive before the start. The first train leaves San Jose Diridon at 6:02am and arrives at 4th/King in SF (about 1.4 miles from the the starting point of the race) at 7:30am. A second train starts from Palo Alto at 6:24am and arrives at 4th/King at 7:17am. Regular Caltrain ticket prices apply.
• Muni Express and Extra Service – Before the race, the  5R Fulton Rapid  will operate to Downtown. After the race the 5X Fulton Express  will operate from the finish line area to Civic Center BART.
• Bay to Breakers “Shuttle” Bus – Bay to Breakers offers both a round-trip shuttle bus, or just a post-race bus with express pick up locations. All tickets MUST be purchased online in advance of race Sunday

Round-Trip Shuttle Options
– Millbrae Park & Ride (South Bay) – $30
– Emeryville Park & Ride (East Bay) – $30
– Mill Valley Park & Ride (North Bay) – $30

Please Note: All Pre-Race transfers begin at 6:30am, last shuttle to the start line from all park and ride locations will be at 7:00am. All post race transfers back to park and ride locations from the finish line are between 11:30am – 12:00pm. Shuttles won’t start leaving the finish line area until 11:30am. Parking is not included with the shuttle ticket for any of the park and ride locations.

Post Race Shuttle Options
– Downtown Express (Back To Start Line) – $18
– BART Station Express (Embarcadero Station) – $18

Please Note: All Post-Race transfers for Downtown and Bart will start at 9:00am and will run continuously until 1:00pm. Last shuttle is 1:00pm sharp from the finish line.

IS ALCOHOL ALLOWED ON THE RACE COURSE?
Here’s the official line: “All alcohol and other illicit substances will be removed from the race course immediately when identified. The person with the item will be ejected from the event and is subject to arrest. “

POST RACE BEER GARDEN + FREE BEER
All registered runners who are 21+ are invited to the post-race Beer Garden (according to SFMTA, the festival area is Great Highway btwn Sloat and JFK) with live music and you can receive a complimentary Michelob Ultra or Bud Light Seltzer (8am to 1p)

WHERE CAN I CROSS THE RACE COURSE?
For those who just want to go about their day and aren’t racing, once the race begins, you will only have two options to cross the north/south portion of the race course: The Embarcadero and Crossover Drive (which connects 19th Avenue, south of Golden Gate Park to Park Presidio Boulevard and 25th Avenue, north of Golden Gate Park).  Expect delays due to street closures during the race and crowds of racers and spectators both before and after the race.

STREET CLOSURES

The race starting line is at Main and Howard streets with the course proceeding along Howard to Ninth Street, heading north across Market Street to along Hayes to Divisadero, proceeding along Divisadero to Fell to Golden Gate Park, then along JFK Drive all the way to the finish line in the Ocean Beach parking lot on the Great Highway.

Streets will be closed in the following areas at the times indicated:

Starting Line Area

Street closures beginning Saturday, May 20 from 7 p.m. until Sunday, May 21 at 11 a.m.

• Howard between Embarcadero and Beale
• Steuart south of Mission
• ​Spear between Mission and Folsom
• Intersection closures at Howard:
  • Steuart
  • Spear
  • Main

Street closures beginning Saturday, May 20 from 7 p.m. until Sunday at 5 p.m.

• Main between Mission and Folsom

Race Route

Street closures on Sunday, May 21 from 3 a.m. to 11 a.m.

• Beale between Mission and Folsom
• Fremont between Mission and Folsom
• First St. between Market and Folsom (Muni allowed from Market to Mission)
• Second St. between Mission and Folsom
• New Montgomery between Mission and Howard
• Howard between Beale and Third St
• Intersection closures at Howard:
  • Beale
  • Fremont
  • First
  • Second
  • New Montgomery

Street closures on Sunday, May 21 from 5 a.m. to 11 a.m.

• Mission between Fremont and Steuart (Muni allowed)
• Beale between Market and Mission
• Spear between Market and Mission
• Market between Drumm and Steuart

Street closures on Sunday, May 21 from 6 a.m. to 11 a.m.

• Howard between Third and Ninth streets
• Ninth St. between Howard and Market

Street closures on Sunday, May 21 from 6 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

• Hayes between Market and Divisiadero

Street closures on Sunday, May 21 from 5 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

• ​Steiner between Grove and Hayes
• Scott between Grove and Hayes

Street closures on Sunday, May 21 from 6 a.m. to 1 p.m.

• Divisadero between Grove and Oak

Street closures on Sunday, May 21 from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m.

• Fell between Divisadero and Stanyan

Street closures on Sunday, May 21 from 5 a.m. to 2 p.m.

• Baker between Oak and Fell

Street closures on Sunday, May 21 from 5 a.m. to 4 p.m.

• Cabrillo between 46th Ave. & La Playa
• Balboa between 46th Ave. & Great Highway
• Point Lobos between 48th Ave. & Great Highway

Finish Line Festival Area

Street closures on Saturday, May 20 from 9 p.m. until Sunday, May 21 at 4 p.m.

• La Playa between Cabrillo and Fulton
• Fulton, westbound, between Great Highway and 46th
• Fulton, eastbound, between Great Highway and 48th
• Lincoln Way between Great Highway and La Playa
• Intersection closures at Lincoln Way:
  • Lower Great Highway
  • La Playa

Street closures on Saturday, May 20 from 9 p.m. to Sunday, May 21 at 4 p.m.

• Great Highway between Sloat and JFK
• Multiple entrances to Golden Gate Park for the race period

2023 WATER STATIONS
Hayes & Polk
Fell & Baker
JFK & E. Stow Lake
Great Hwy & Noriega

2023 AID STATIONS
Howard & 4th
Scott & Hayes
Fell & Baker*
JFK & Nancy Pelosi
JFK & 8th Ave
JFK & Transverse Dr.
JFK & Spreckels Lake
JFK & Chain of Lakes
Great Hwy & Noriega
Finish Line*
* Indicate that is station is also a sobering center.

Want to watch?

Best Places to Watch Bay to Breakers 2023
Spectators line the entire course, but some of the best viewing spots are:

• Pre-race: Climb atop a trash can near Embarcadero Station to get an over-the-top view of everyone in costume racing to the starting line.
• Rival house parties with DJs and dancing typically line Hayes Street before the hill and Fell Street near Ashbury across from the Panhandle.
• For 2023, take a break at the unofficial Fell & Divisadero “Booch and Boogie” dance party from 10a to 2p
• Along Alamo Square at the top of Hayes Street Hill: Amazing view of 30,000 people, all climbing Hayes Street.
• Finish Line on the Great Highway
• Check out SFist’s “Bay to Breakers Guide To Drinking and Partying During the Run”

Disclaimer: Please double check event information with the event organizer as events can be canceled, details can change after they are added to our calendar, and errors do occur.