The annual Los Angeles Marathon returns this Sunday, March 24, with the “Stadium to the Sea” course from Dodger Stadium to Santa Monica.

For those planning to attend or participate in the race, we recommend Metro Rail as the best way to reach all marathon festivities and avoid lengthy bus detours and street closures.

The marathon is offering shuttle service to Dodger Stadium from Union Station and Santa Monica. More information is here. Shuttle reservations are required. Please note: there is no shuttle from the finish line to Union Station after the race.

Participants looking to take public transit back to Union Station should catch the Expo Line at Downtown Santa Monica Station (4th St. & Colorado Ave.) then transfer to the Red or Purple Line at 7th/Metro to complete the trip to Union Station. Be sure to load $3.50 of stored value on your TAP card ahead of time.

The following Metro Rail stations are within walking distance of the route:

• Gold Line: Chinatown Station, Union Station
• Red and Purple Line: Union Station, Civic Center/Grand Park Station
• Red Line: Vermont/Sunset Station, Hollywood/Western Station, Hollywood/Vine Station and Hollywood/Highland Station
• Expo Line: Downtown Santa Monica Station

Metro will provide enhanced Expo Line service with three-car trains running every nine minutes from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. to help with the larger crowds. Please use the full platform to board. If riding with a bicycle or stroller, place them in the designated area on each train car.

During the marathon, several Metro bus lines will be disrupted along the marathon route. Customers planning to travel via bus in the area should allow extra time in their commute. Check the service advisories page for detours.

For more details on getting to the race via Metro, call (323) GO-METRO or visit metro.net/lamarathon.