Rose Bowl Half Marathon to Bring Major Street Closures, Transit Detours Across Pasadena on Sunday

The Rose Bowl Half Marathon & 5K will bring widespread street closures, transit detours and parking restrictions across Pasadena on Sunday, Jan. 18, as more than an estimated 10,000 runners take part in the sold-out event marking its 10th anniversary.

The race, organized by The McCourt Foundation, will close portions of major corridors including Colorado Boulevard, Orange Grove Boulevard, Green Street, Lake Avenue and streets surrounding the Rose Bowl Stadium from as early as 4 a.m. through 12:30 p.m.

According to official information from the City of Pasadena and The McCourt Foundation, the half marathon and 5K begin at 7 a.m., with the Kids Run starting at 10:45 a.m. Streets will reopen on a rolling basis at an 18-minute-per-mile pace after the last runners pass, with the latest closures extending to 12:30 p.m.

A map which may be clicked an enlarged appears online here:  https://www.mccourtfoundation.org/rose-bowl-road-closures/

Street Closures and Affected Areas

Pasadena has divided the race impact zone into seven areas — A, B, C, D, E1, E2 and F — each with specific closure windows and alternate access routes published by the City:

• Area A: South of Colorado Boulevard and north of California Boulevard between Arroyo Boulevard and Orange Grove Boulevard, closed 6–9:15 a.m.

• Residents may enter/exit via Orange Grove & Green from 6–7:30 a.m.; via Grand & California from 6–9 a.m.; and via Arroyo (north or south) after 8:30 a.m. Orange Grove fully reopens at 9:15 a.m.

• Area B: South of Colorado Boulevard between Orange Grove Boulevard and Arroyo Parkway, closed 6–11:30 a.m.

• Northbound travel on Orange Grove to Green remains open. Local access to Old Pasadena is maintained within one block of the route via Del Mar & Fair Oaks. Motorists may use Pasadena Avenue and St. John Avenue to reach the 134/210 freeways.

• Area C: South of Green Street between Arroyo Parkway and Lake Avenue, closed 6–11 a.m.

• Primary east–west access is Cordova Street; north–south access via Arroyo Parkway and Oak Knoll. Local access to South Lake is maintained via Hudson.

• Area D: South of Green Street between Lake Avenue and Wilson Avenue, closed 6–11 a.m.

• Local access to South Lake/Shopper’s Lane is maintained via Catalina or Lake. Residents may exit via Catalina to California.

• Areas E1 & E2: North of Colorado Boulevard and Green Street, closed 6–11:30 a.m.

• Use Walnut and/or Colorado (east of Marengo) to circulate north of the route. Local access to businesses and churches along Colorado and Green is maintained.

• Area F: Areas adjacent to Linda Vista Avenue between Seco Street and the 134 Freeway, closed 6–11:30 a.m.

• Northbound Linda Vista is closed from San Rafael to Seco, not the entire corridor. Residents may exit using southbound Linda Vista. To enter, motorists must use I-210/Windsor Ave – Oak Grove – Linda Vista, as directed on the official map.

Limited access points for intermittent crossings operate 6–9:15 a.m. Only emergency vehicles may cross the route except at these designated points.

Recommended detours include Walnut Street (north), California Boulevard (south), Hill Avenue (east) and the 710 Freeway extension (west).

Transit Detours

Five Pasadena Transit routes — 10, 20, 33, 40 and 51s — will operate on detours. Most detours end between 11:30 a.m. and noon, with Route 51s continuing until 12:30 p.m.

Route-specific details from Pasadena Transit include:

Route 10: Avoids Lake Avenue by using Hill and avoids Old Pasadena by using Marengo and Walnut; does not serve Lake between Del Mar and Colorado or Colorado west of Marengo.

• Temporary stops include Walnut/Fair Oaks, Walnut/Raymond, WB Walnut/Marengo, NB Marengo/Holly, EB Colorado/Lake, Colorado/Catalina, Colorado/Hill.

Route 20: Avoids Lake Avenue by using California, Hill, and Colorado; terminates at Raymond/Holly (northbound) and Raymond/Del Mar Station (southbound).

• Temporary stops include California/Lake, California/Wilson, California/Hill, Colorado/Catalina, EB Colorado/Lake.

Route 33: Avoids the Colorado Street Bridge by using the 134 Freeway and Walnut between Fair Oaks and Marengo.

• Temporary stops include EB Walnut/Fair Oaks and WB Walnut/Raymond.
• Route 40: Minor detour to avoid Old Pasadena; terminates at Raymond/Holly.
• Route 51s: Will not travel into the Rose Bowl; temporary stops include EB Walnut/Fair Oaks and EB Walnut/Raymond.

Metro A Line:

• Rail service affected 6–8:30 a.m.
• Pasadena stations affected 6–9 a.m.

Metro and Foothill Transit buses in downtown Pasadena will also detour; riders are directed to agency websites for specifics.

Parking Restrictions and Towing

Tow-away zones along the course take effect at 1 a.m. Sunday. Any vehicle parked on the route after that time will be towed at the owner’s expense. Areas are marked NO PARKING – Tow Away Zones.

Overnight parking permits are not required between 2–6 a.m. within approximately ¼ mile of the course, though all other restrictions — including temporary tow-away zones and red curbs — remain in effect.

Towed vehicle information is available at (213) 542-3000.

Rose Bowl Access and Parking

Parking at the Rose Bowl Stadium is free but limited and must be accessed before 6 a.m. Drivers arriving after 6 a.m. will be redirected to the Parson’s Complex at 284 N. Pasadena Ave., where parking is $10 and free shuttles begin at 4 a.m. and run until 90 minutes after the race.

The McCourt Foundation warns that with nearly 15,000 people arriving within a few hours, traffic delays may begin as early as 5 a.m. Drivers are advised to follow the green access routes on the official map, as GPS may direct them toward closed roads.

Additional parking is available near the Memorial Park Metro Station, with some lots offering rates as low as $5.

Race Details

Half Marathon (13.1 miles)

The race begins and ends at the Rose Bowl Stadium, finishing on the 50-yard line. The course passes historic residential neighborhoods, Orange Grove Boulevard, the Colorado Street Bridge, Old Pasadena, Caltech, and the Brookside Golf Course during the final 5 kilometers.

Elevation profile:

• Gradual hill to mile 1
• “California Climb” at mile 2
• Mostly flat along Orange Grove
• Steady decline from mile 9 back toward the Rose Bowl
• Final descent through the stadium tunnel

Cutoff:

Participants who have not made the turn south onto Wilson Street just before mile 6 by 9:30 a.m. will be redirected along Green Street to finish without completing the out-and-back section.

5K

Starts at 7 a.m., shares the start line with the half marathon, and loops around the Rose Bowl and Brookside Golf Course. The course includes minor rolling hills and is fully paved.

Kids Run

Begins at 10:45 a.m., covers ½ kilometer, and is open to children ages 3–8. Parents of children under 6 are encouraged to run with their child. A Parent Escort departs at 10:25 a.m. for family members who prefer to spectate at the finish.