SAN LUIS OBISPO, CALIFORNIA | Sunday, October 18, 2026. Drivers leaving San Luis Obispo this morning should plan around ramp closures on US Highway 101 while runners participate in the City to the Sea Half Marathon. The race runs from San Luis Obispo toward Avila Beach. Caltrans published the official affected-ramp list on October 16, identifying staged closures between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m. today.

These are published Sunday morning closure windows, not a claim that a specific ramp is already closed at the moment this story appears. Police, event marshals or transportation authorities may adjust the schedule for safety; check signs and follow officers on scene.

US-101 ramps scheduled to close 6–9 a.m.

  • Marsh Street: northbound and southbound US-101 on-ramps.
  • Madonna Road: northbound off-ramp.
  • Prado Road: northbound on- and off-ramps.
  • South Higuera Street: northbound off-ramp.

US-101 ramps scheduled to close 6:30–9:30 a.m.

  • San Luis Bay Drive: northbound off-ramp and southbound on-ramp.

US-101 ramps scheduled to close 7–10 a.m.

  • Monte Road: northbound on-ramp.
  • Avila Beach Drive: southbound off-ramp.

Caltrans says motorists may face delays of approximately five minutes and should be alert for race participants, spectators and directional message signs. That is the agency’s published expectation, not a guaranteed maximum delay for every car.

Why there are several different time windows

The race route moves from the city toward Avila Beach, so organizers need traffic control at different crossings and access points as participants pass. An on-ramp that reopens at 9 a.m. should not be assumed to have the same restriction as one scheduled until 10 a.m.

Residents headed to work, the airport, morning medical appointments or destinations along the Central Coast should check the individual ramps they usually use instead of assuming the entire interstate is fully closed. Caltrans did not announce a continuous full mainline shutdown on US-101 for the marathon in this release.

Separate Highway 1 repair is also underway

The same county has a longer-running project south of California Men’s Colony. Read California58’s separate report on the southbound Highway 1 lane reduction before traveling. The six-week Highway 1 repair is not related to the Sunday morning half-marathon event, even though a driver may encounter both in one trip.

Where to check live conditions

For the exact ramp schedule, use Caltrans’ October 16 advisory. For current agency traffic incidents and lane closures, use Caltrans QuickMap. If an actual closure conflicts with a posted schedule, the direction of highway personnel on scene controls.

California58 local transportation coverage | Published October 18, 2026. The event and ramp windows are sourced to Caltrans District 5; this is not a live claim that a ramp is closed or that the race is underway at publication time.

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