Dec. 8, 2019
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Spectator Information
2018 information below, 2019 information coming soon.
Below is your spectator guide to the California International Marathon. Check below for parking tips, Google maps of key spectator locations, and information and directions about each of the best viewing locations along the course.
The Start - Auburn-Folsom Road Next to Folsom Dam
Spectators are not allowed at the start!
The area is highly congested with runners and volunteers, and there is no non-official vehicle access. The South and West drop off areas are about two miles from the start, and no non-official vehicles will be allowed beyond the drop-off points. Parking north of the start area is very limited and more than 1/2 mile from the start.
Google Map
Mile 6 - Corner of Oak Avenue and Fair Oaks Boulevard: Cheer Zone
Description: Cheer zone with a DJ at the best spot to cheer your runner on early in the race!
Driving Directions: From the runner drop off area NORTH of the start line on Auburn Folsom Blvd., drive back to Douglas Blvd. and turn left (west). Take Douglas Blvd. to Sunrise Blvd. and turn left (south). Take Sunrise to Oak Ave. and turn left onto Oak. Fair Oaks Blvd. is one block up Oak Ave. From the runner drop off area SOUTH of the start line on Folsom Auburn Blvd., drive to Greenback Lane and turn right onto Greenback. Take Greenback Lane to Sunrise Blvd. and turn right (north). Take Sunrise to Oak Ave. and turn right onto Oak. Fair Oaks Blvd. is one block up Oak Ave. Parking Options: Street parking. Google Map
For up to date road closure information and closure avoidance we recommend using the WAZE app who have partnered with the California International Marathon to make your drive on race day more enjoyable.
Mile 10 - Old Town Fair Oaks: Cheer Zone
Description: Cheer zone in beautiful Old Fair Oaks with a Blues Band and the famous Fair Oaks free range chickens!
Driving Directions: If coming from SOUTH of start line on Auburn-Folsom Rd. go south to Greenback Lane; turn right onto Greenback. Bear left to Madison Ave. Turn left (south) on Sunrise Blvd. Go to Winding Way and turn left into Old Fair Oaks. You must do this quickly (within 25 minutes) due to intersection closures subsequently occurring throughout the rest of the course. If you are coming from NORTH of start line on Auburn-Folsom Rd., take Auburn-Folsom Rd. north to Douglas Blvd. Turn west (left) on Douglas Blvd. and go to Sunrise Blvd. Turn south (left) on Sunrise and proceed to Winding Way. Turn left onto Winding Way, park, and then walk to center of town. Google Map
For up to date road closure information and closure avoidance we recommend using the WAZE app who have partnered with the California International Marathon to make your drive on race day more enjoyable.
Mile 13.5 - Fair Oaks Blvd at Manzanita Ave: Relay Exchange and Cheer Zone
Description: Cheer zone with a DJ where you can celebrate with relay runners who have just finished and marathoners who have just passed the halfway point!
Driving Directions: Coming from Old Fair Oaks, exit Winding Way. Turn right (north) onto Sunrise Blvd. Turn left (west) onto Madison. Turn left (south) onto Manzanita Ave., go down to Fair Oaks Blvd. and park in the supermarket parking lot. If you are coming from Mile 6, take Sunrise Blvd. to Madison Ave. and turn right (west) onto Madison. Turn left (south) onto Manzanita Ave., go down to Fair Oaks Blvd. and park in the supermarket parking lot. Parking Options: Supermarket lot and street parking. Google Map
For up to date road closure information and closure avoidance we recommend using the WAZE app who have partnered with the California International Marathon to make your drive on race day more enjoyable.
Mile 20.5 - The Wall: Relay Exchange and Cheer Zone
Description: The Wall will be set-up in front of Loehmann’s Plaza near Fair Oaks Blvd. Come cheer on the runners as they reach (and run through) “The Wall.”
Driving Directions: Coming from the half-marathon point, go north to Winding Way. Turn left on Winding Way and follow to Walnut Ave. Turn left on Walnut and go down to El Camino Ave. Turn right onto El Camino Ave. and continue to Fulton Ave. Turn left on Fulton Ave. Loehmann's Plaza is located immediately before you reach Fair Oaks Blvd. Park in Plaza on north side of Fair Oaks Blvd. Coming from Old Town Fair Oaks, Take Winding Way to Walnut Ave. Turn left (south) onto Walnut. Take Walnut to El Camino and turn left (west) onto El Camino. Take El Camino to Fulton and turn right (south) onto Fulton. Take Fulton to Loehmann's Plaza. Parking Options: Plaza and street parking. Google Map
For up to date road closure information and closure avoidance we recommend using the WAZE app who have partnered with the California International Marathon to make your drive on race day more enjoyable.
Mile 24.2 - Sutter Middle School: Cheer Zone
Description: Turn out and cheer alongside the future marathoners of Sutter Middle School and support our runners as they enter the final two miles! Google Map
For up to date road closure information and closure avoidance we recommend using the WAZE app who have partnered with the California International Marathon to make your drive on race day more enjoyable.
Mile 25.7-26.2 - “Wall of Sound” Cheer Zone
Description: Get down to the finish and cheer your runner home along with bands, DJs, and the divine intervention of a gospel choir!
Driving DIrections: Coming from Loehmann's Plaza, go north on Fulton Ave. to Arden Way; turn left on Arden. Take Arden Way to Hwy.160 downtown Sacramento and the "letter" streets (Highway 160 becomes 12th Street). Get as close to "L" St. as you can and park. Walk to the finish at 9th and Capitol. Google Map
For up to date road closure information and closure avoidance we recommend using the WAZE app who have partnered with the California International Marathon to make your drive on race day more enjoyable.
Enhanced Finish Line Security Procedures
CIM has implemented new security procedures requiring all Finish Festival attendees to pass through one of eleven designated security checkpoints. For a map that includes all eleven of those locations, click here. For more information on complete CIM security procedures, click here.
Parking Information
In addition to the parking lots listed below, there is metered street parking (Friday and Saturday) near the marathon and Saturday 5k's finish line. On Sunday street parking near the finish line area and hotel is not metered and plentiful.
Sheraton Grand Hotel Lot
(13th & J)
Alley Public Parking Lot
(Between J & I and 13th & 14th)
Public Parking Lot
(14th between H & I)
Lot H
(10th & L)
Lot I
(I St. between 10th & 11th)
Road Closure Schedule
For up to date road closure information and closure avoidance we recommend using the WAZE app who have partnered with the California International Marathon to make your drive on race day more enjoyable.
The road closure grid below is based on a 3:00 min/mile pace for the first racers (hand crank wheelchair) and approximately a 13:44 min/mile pace for the slowest runners. Important notes:
- After the first, very fast handcrank wheelchair racer, there will be large gaps between other racers, and intersections staffed by law enforcement may very carefully wave through traffic, when possible.
- Slower runners might fall behind the reopen times shown below. In such cases, the runners are pedestrians responsible for heeding normal traffic laws.
- Regular traffic will be allowed on the course by the CHPs reopening the course according to the times in the table below.
- Folsom-Auburn Road to the north of the start area is closed to through traffic at the intersection of Eureka Road beginning at 3:00am and reopening at 9:30am. Only vehicles taking runners to the start will be allowed past the Eureka Road intersection.
- The Capitol Mall between 8th St and 9th St will be closed beginning at 8:00am on Friday, 12/6 until 5:00pm on Sunday, 12/8.
- 8th St and 9th St between N St and L St will be closed beginning at 2:00pm on Friday, 12/6 until 5:00pm on Sunday, 12/8.
- 10th St between N St and L St will be closed beginning at 6:00pm on Friday, 12/6 until 5:00pm un Sunday, 12/8.
- The California Highway Patrol mandates the road closures and has ultimate authority on executing the closing and opening of the roads during CIM.
- The road closure schedule below is subject to change on race day.
2019 CIM Street Closure Times | |||
| Mile | Close | Open | Cross Street |
| 1 | 5:20 | 7:50 | Oak Ave. |
| 2 | 5:20 | 8:05 | American River Canyon |
| 5:20 | 8:05 | Santa Juanita and Oak | |
| 3 | 6:55 | 8:20 | April and Oak |
| 4 | 6:55 | 8:30 | Beach and Oak |
| 5 | 6:55 | 8:45 | Wachtel |
| 6 | 6:55 | 9:00 | Oak and FOB |
| 7 | 6:55 | 9:15 | Woodlake Oaks and FOB |
| 6:55 | 9:30 | Greenback Lane | |
| 8 | 7:15 | 9:30 | Niessen and FOB |
| 7:15 | 9:40 | Madison Ave. | |
| 9 | 7:15 | 9:50 | Dorian and FOB |
| 10 | 7:15 | 10:00 | Main and FOB |
| 7:15 | 10:05 | Sunrise Blvd. | |
| 11 | 7:15 | 10:15 | New York and FOB |
| 12 | 7:15 | 10:30 | Hollister and FOB |
| 13 | 7:15 | 10:45 | California and FOB |
| 7:15 | 11:00 | Manzanita Ave. | |
| 14 | 7:30 | 11:00 | Grant and FOB |
| 15 | 7:30 | 11:15 | Kenneth and FOB |
| 16 | 7:30 | 11:30 | Garfield and FOB |
| 17 | 7:30 | 11:45 | Paloma and FOB |
| 18 | 7:30 | 12:00 | Saverien and FOB |
| 19 | 7:30 | 12:15 | Coronado and FOB |
| 7:30 | 12:30 | Watt Ave. | |
| 20 | 7:30 | 12:30 | Hawthorn and FOB |
| 21 | 7:30 | 12:45 | University and FOB |
| 8:00 | 12:45 | Howe Ave. | |
| 22 | 8:00 | 1:00 | Carlson and J Street |
| 23 | 8:00 | 1:15 | Bear Flag and J Street |
| 24 | 8:00 | 1:30 | 33rd and J Street |
| 8:00 | 1:30 | Alhambra Blvd. | |
| 8:00 | 1:45 | L Street | |
| 25 | 8:00 | 1:50 | 22nd and L Street |
| 26 | 8:00 | 2:00 | 8th and L Street |