2026 marathon: should we place porta potties at the start, finish, or both?

Place portable toilets at both the start and finish areas for a 5k marathon. A cluster at the start addresses the pre-race rush, and a cluster at the finish accommodates runners who linger after finishing. Since your start and finish are only 100 yards apart, a single large cluster in the middle might seem logical, but runners will naturally gravitate toward the start before the race and the finish afterward, so splitting the units prevents congestion at either end.

For 300 runners at a three-hour event with no alcohol, the industry units per person guideline suggests starting with a total of about six to eight standard portable toilet units. Remember to include at least one ADA-compliant portable toilet in a cluster to comply with the ADA 5 percent cluster rule. You will also need a handwash station at each cluster. Your budget is tight, so stick with standard units instead of deluxe or a restroom trailer, which require power and water and cost more. Since the event is short, you will not need a service visit during the day; the units are delivered clean and serviced after. Confirm with the rental company that the placement spots you choose have level ground and truck access for delivery and pickup.

Place portable toilets at both the start and finish, but allocate more units to the start area for a 300-runner 5k. The pre-race concentration of all participants creates a predictable peak demand that a finish-line cluster cannot handle efficiently. Your event's three-hour duration is short, so weekly service after the event is sufficient. The rental company will confirm your placement spots have level ground and truck access for the vacuum truck. Brooke's advice on the ADA-compliant portable toilet is correct; the permit office will check for compliance with the ADA 5 percent cluster rule.