Half Marathon Start Line

This is required for all half marathon participants unless you have purchased a Parking Pass (Sold out).

The 2026 Bayshore Half Marathon starts at 7:30AM. Buses for the Half Marathon start will be loading from the Traverse City Central High School Parking lot between the Gym entrance and the tennis courts. The parking lot is located off of Eastern Ave. For 2026 you will required to select your shuttle time during registration. Buses waves begin at 5:00 a.m. and end at 6:30am. It is a 30 minute ride to the drop area and a short walk to the start.  Runners should plan accordingly to allow themselves plenty of time for warm-up, bagging clothing, and last-minute bathroom breaks at the start area.  Only registered runners in the Half Marathon will be allowed to board the buses (see below for spectator buses).

If you forgot your bus time, please see the FAQ page on how to view (or maybe change) it.

On race morning:

• PLEASE PLAN TO ARRIVE 30 MINUTES BEFORE YOUR BUS' SCHEDULED DEPARTURE TIME

• PARTICIPANTS MUST PRESENT THEIR ASSIGNED WRIST BAND IN ORDER TO BOARD THEIR SHUTTLE BUS (Available at packet pickup)

• You will not be permitted to ride a different shuttle fleet than what you are registered for
  
  *Those who have purchased Premium Half Marathon Start Area Parking Passes must arrive at the Half Marathon start before 6:45am on race day. There will be return shuttle buses provided to take runners back to the parking area at Devils’ Dive. Return buses will run on a revolving route from Central High School beginning at 9:30 am and ending at Noon.

Spectator Course Viewing

We have shuttle buses available for the Blue Water Rd. and Grey Rd. spectator viewing areas. Buses will depart from Traverse City Central High School and return to the high school/finish area after spectator viewing.

Please note that shuttle routes operate only between the high school and each individual viewing area. There is no shuttle service between Blue Water Rd. and Grey Rd.

Blue Water Rd. (Miles 11.8 & 14.3 for Full Marathon Racers)

The Blue Water route begins at 7am from Traverse City Central High School and will make multiple trips to Blue Water Rd until 9:30am. These same buses will also take multiple trips back to the high school. The last trip back to the high school will be at 11am.

Grey Rd. (Mile 6 for Half Marathon Racers, Miles 7.4 & 18.7 for Full Marathon Racers)

The Grey Rd. route begins at 6:45am from Traverse City Central High School and will make multiple trips to Grey Road until 9:30am. These same buses will also take multiple trips back to the high school. The last trip back to the high school will be at 11am.

Getting To The Race

BATA Bayline Route - Many local hotels and “Park n Ride” Options

BATA’s free Bayline Route will offer transportation to the race beginning at 4:00 am. The buses will operate approximately every 15 minutes all day between Meijer (park-n-ride near the garden center/Tesla EV chargers) on US 31 in Traverse City to the True North Urgent Care on US 31 (park-n-ride) in the East Bay Beach District.  All BATA buses are free to the public (spectators, participants, etc)

Park-n-Ride: There will not be a direct shuttle bus at the Grand Traverse Resort, Sleep Inn, & Holiday Inn Express. Participants may park-n-ride from the True North Urgent Care (formerly Woodland Creek) stop and take the shuttle to the NMC Dennos Museum starting at 4:00am. There will also not be a direct shuttle bus at the Baymont Inn, Fairfield Inn & Suites, Tru by Hilton, or Great Wolf Lodge. Participants may park-n-ride from the meijer and take the shuttle to the NMC Dennos Museum starting at 4:00am.

Riders can board the Bayline bus at numerous signed bus stops near your East Bay or West bay hotels along US 31 with a full schedule of stops found at www.bata.net/bayline. Note that construction on US 31 @ 3-Mile Rd this year has the stops at the State Park and on Parsons Road closed.  Bayshore Marathon Ambassadors will be at the NMC Dennos Museum to assist riders from the morning Bayline bus terminus to the race start/half marathon shuttle bus and to give return directions. 

Bayline buses will run on their normal Saturday schedule with buses every 15 minutes all day long.  After the race, runners returning to East Bay (Urgent care parking lot & beach hotels) should cross at Fair St. traffic light to board at the signed bus shelter near the orange building in the county park (E Front St. @ Fair St). Runners returning to the west side (downtown TC & Meijer) should board at the bus shelter on the school-side of E. Front Street near the Northwestern Michigan College sign (E Front St. @ Milliken Dr.) and will have to transfer Bayline buses at BATA’s Hall St. Transfer Station to continue to Meijer. A live feed for bus locations can be found at batabustracker.com.

Park n’ Ride