Los Angeles Marathon: Stadium to the Stars
Follow thousands of athletes from Dodger Stadium to Century City
Full field at the Los Angeles Marathon Start Line
The 39th annual Los Angeles Marathon presented by ASICS will welcome 22,000 participants on Sunday, March 19. Runners will complete 26.2 miles for the third time on the Stadium to the Stars course. Starting at Dodger Stadium, runners will pass many of LA's world-famous landmarks, including Chinatown, El Pueblo de Los Angeles State Historic Park, City Hall, Little Tokyo, Walt Disney Concert Hall, Pantages Theatre, Dolby Theatre, Historic Route 66 and Rodeo Drive.
Weekend activities include the Lifestyle Expo (March 15-16) and the family-friendly LA Big 5K on March 16.
The Charity Half Marathon takes place within the LA Marathon - participants raise funds for the McCourt Foundation or one of 90+ official LA Marathon Nonprofit Partners. The Charity Half Marathon course starts and finishes at the same official Start and Finish Lines as the Stadium to the Stars course, but cuts about five miles just after Mile 1 and reconnects just past Mile 6.
Read on for highlights of the Los Angeles Marathon, which is one of the five largest marathons in the U.S. and one of the top marathons in the world.
Stadium to the Stars
START LINE: DODGER STADIUM
The LA Marathon starts at Dodger Stadium, the home field of the Los Angeles Dodgers and one of the true cathedrals of Major League Baseball. Since opening its gates in April 1962, the storied ballpark has hosted ten World Series and the Dodgers have won five World Championships. Dodger Stadium has also hosted the MLB All-Star Game twice, most recently in July 2022 during its 60th anniversary season. Through the decades, Dodger Stadium has seen Hall of Famers, World Champions, no-hitters, MVPs and Cy Young Award winners.
MILE 3: CHINATOWN
Runners enter historic Chinatown under the Twin Dragon Towers Gateway, then pass City Hall and Grand Park. Along with its traditional Chinese restaurants and the beloved Philippe the Original, Chinatown is experiencing a renaissance with new eateries, bustling nightlife and art galleries.
MILE 5: WALT DISNEY CONCERT HALL & MUSIC CENTER
The course climbs 1st Street and turns right at Grand Avenue, where runners pass Walt Disney Concert Hall. Designed by Frank Gehry, the stunning venue is the home of the LA Phil and celebrated its 20th anniversary in October 2023.
Runners continue on Grand past the Performing Arts Center of Los Angeles, best known as the Music Center. The renowned cultural complex includes Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, the Ahmanson Theatre and Mark Taper Forum.
MILE 6: ECHO PARK LAKE
After crossing the Hollywood Freeway and leaving Downtown LA, the course passes the 16-acre Echo Park Lake. Originally a reservoir, it was converted into a park and lake from 1892 to 1895. Highlights include the popular swan pedal boats and the Lady of the Lake statue.
MILE 8: HOLLYWOOD SIGN & GRIFFITH OBSERVATORY
Now on Sunset Boulevard, the course heads into the Silver Lake neighborhood. At Sunset Junction, runners can look to the Hollywood Hills on their right and see two LA icons: the Hollywood Sign and Griffith Observatory.
Designated a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument in 1973, the Hollywood Sign was originally created as a promotion for the "Hollywoodland" real estate development. In October 2022, the Hollywood Sign received a deep cleaning and new coat of paint to celebrate its centennial in 2023.
MILE 11: CAPITOL RECORDS & PANTAGES THEATRE
The course transitions onto Hollywood Boulevard and travels through Tinseltown starting at Gower Street, where the Hollywood Walk of Fame begins and continues west to La Brea Avenue. Just north of Hollywood and Vine is the Capitol Records Building, the world's first circular office building. Further west on Hollywood is the Pantages Theatre, which hosted the Oscars from 1950 to 1960 and today presents blockbuster Broadway productions.
MILE 12: HOLLYWOOD
Runners will pass numerous landmarks in the heart of Hollywood, starting with Musso & Frank Grill. Opened in 1919, the landmark restaurant is famous for its Martinis and its Golden Age Hollywood clientele. A star in its own right, Musso's has appeared in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Bosch, Mad Men and more.
More landmarks include the Egyptian Theatre, which reopened in November 2023 after a multi-million dollar renovation; and the El Capitan Theatre, which is owned and operated by the Walt Disney Company.
Formerly known as Hollywood & Highland, the massive Ovation Hollywood retail and entertainment center is the home of the Dolby Theatre, which has hosted the Academy Awards since 2002.
Opened in 1927, the TCL Chinese Theatre boasts the largest IMAX auditorium in the world. Besides its Chinese pagoda design, the theatre’s most distinct feature is the Forecourt of the Stars, with 200+ celebrity handprints, footprints, and autographs immortalized in the concrete.
The course heads south at Orange Drive, where runners pass the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, which hosted the first-ever Oscar ceremony.
MILE 14 & 15: SUNSET STRIP
At the halfway point, runners will pass the Laugh Factory and the infamous Chateau Marmont. As the course continues on the famed Sunset Strip, highlights include Carney's, the restaurant inside a train car; the Comedy Store, and the Andaz West Hollywood, aka the "Riot House" for its rock n' roll history.
At San Vicente Boulevard, runners will arrive at one of LA's most storied music venues, the Whisky A Go Go. The Whisky has launched the careers of generations of music legends - in the '60s, the club's house bands included The Doors, Buffalo Springfield and the Chicago Transit Authority (later known as Chicago).
Runners then head south on San Vicente and pass the Pacific Design Center before turning right on Santa Monica Boulevard (aka Historic Route 66).
MILE 16: THE TROUBADOUR
Continuing on Santa Monica, the course takes runners past celeb hangout Dan Tana's and The Troubadour, where Elton John performed his first U.S. show in 1970; Cheech & Chong and Steve Martin were discovered; and Guns N' Roses played their first show.
MILE 17: RODEO DRIVE
The course turns south on Rodeo Drive, a runner favorite that's synonymous with luxury shopping. Runners turn right onto Wilshire Boulevard and pass the Beverly Wilshire, best known for its appearance in Pretty Woman.
MILE 19: WESTFIELD CENTURY CITY
Back on Santa Monica Boulevard, runners pass the flagship Westfield Century City, a 1.3 million square-foot showcase for more than 200 luxury, contemporary and international designer brands. Dining options include the West Coast’s first Eataly and the acclaimed Taiwanese soup dumpling chain, Din Tai Fung.
MILE 22: BRENTWOOD
After reconnecting with Wilshire Boulevard, the course heads into the upscale neighborhood of Brentwood along San Vicente Boulevard, widely regarded as one of LA's best running trails. The course takes a U-turn and heads back to Century City and the official finish line.
Street Closures
Streets along the course will be closed throughout the marathon. For more info about street closures, visit the LA Marathon website.
