Marathons in the USA

Every US marathon for 2026 & 2027, sorted by date — the three World Marathon Majors plus flat BQ courses and scenic destination races. Jump by month or filter by course profile below.

Updated 2026-07-09 Sorted by race date. Field sizes and course data are checked against each race's official source.

Editor’s Picks

Boston

2027 Boston Marathon

The only Major you must qualify for. A net-downhill route that's no free PR, with Heartbreak Hill waiting where your legs are already shredded.

2027-04-19 30,000 BQ-only
New York

2026 NYC Marathon

Not a PR course, a spectacle. Five boroughs, bridge after bridge, and the First Avenue roar. You run it for the city, not the clock.

2026-11-01 59,000
Chicago

2026 Chicago Marathon

Flat, fast, and built for personal bests. The men's world record has fallen here repeatedly; wide streets and pacing groups make honest, even splits.

2026-10-11 54,000
Big Sur

2027 Big Sur International Marathon

A bucket-list coastline on a traffic-closed Highway 1, with Hurricane Point and Bixby Bridge. Trade the clock for one of America's most beautiful courses.

2027-04-25 3,300
Washington DC

2026 Marine Corps Marathon

The People's Marathon: no prize money, run by the Marines, past D.C.'s monuments to the Iwo Jima memorial. The meaning outweighs the medal.

2026-10-25 30,000

Explore U.S. marathons by state

Tap a state to see its races. Hold Ctrl / Cmd and scroll, or pinch, to zoom in.

Races per state one race

Browse by state

California 14 Ohio 5 Texas 5 Colorado 4 Hawaii 4 New York 4 Pennsylvania 4 Utah 4 Michigan 3 North Carolina 3 Virginia 3 Wisconsin 3

July 2026 3 marathons

August 2026 1 marathons

September 2026 10 marathons

October 2026 23 marathons

November 2026 14 marathons

December 2026 9 marathons

January 2027 6 marathons

February 2027 4 marathons

March 2027 9 marathons

April 2027 15 marathons

May 2027 15 marathons

June 2027 1 marathons

May 2026 1 marathons Race Completed

June 2026 3 marathons Race Completed

About marathons in the USA

The US marathon calendar runs year-round but peaks twice: a deep fall block from October into December — Chicago, Marine Corps, New York City, Philadelphia, CIM and Honolulu land within ten weeks of each other — and a spring season from March to May anchored by Boston. Use the month chips above to jump straight to your racing window, or filter the grid by course profile and BQ status.

Entry works differently at each tier. Boston is the only race on this calendar that requires a qualifying time; Chicago and New York fill most of their fields by lottery, and nearly everything else is first-come, first-served — though fast fields like CIM sell out months ahead. Chasing a Boston Qualifier? The flattest courses here are Houston (about 20 m of total climb) and Chicago (about 35 m), while net-downhill point-to-point races like CIM, Grandma's and Mt. Charleston trade quad fatigue for free speed — see the BQ race guide and check your target with the Boston Qualifying calculator.

Running your first marathon? Honolulu has no time limit at all, and big-energy races like New York and Chicago carry you on crowd support — the beginner guide ranks the friendliest options. Each card above shows a live countdown, field size and course profile, all checked against official race sources.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which US marathons are World Marathon Majors?

Three Abbott World Marathon Majors are in the United States: the Boston Marathon (April 19, 2027), the Chicago Marathon (October 11, 2026) and the New York City Marathon (November 1, 2026). All three appear on this page with a live countdown.

When are the major US marathons in 2026?

The headline 2026 dates are Grandma's June 20, Chicago October 11, Marine Corps October 25, New York City November 1, Philadelphia November 22, CIM December 6 and Honolulu December 13. The list above is always sorted by date, and Houston, Mesa, LA and Big Sur follow in early 2027 — Boston ran April 20, 2026 and returns April 19, 2027.

What are the biggest US marathons by field size?

By field size the largest are the New York City Marathon (around 59,000 finishers) and the Chicago Marathon (around 54,000), followed by Boston, the Marine Corps Marathon and Honolulu at roughly 30,000 each.

Which US marathon is best for a Boston qualifier?

The fastest, coolest-weather courses are the strongest BQ bets: the California International Marathon (net downhill, early December), Grandma's Marathon (point-to-point downhill in June), and the flat, fast Chicago and Houston courses. The Boston Marathon itself requires a qualifying time just to enter.

Which US marathons are good for beginners or first-timers?

For a forgiving first marathon, look at Honolulu (no time limit at all), the New York City Marathon (a generous cutoff plus huge crowd support), and Chicago (flat and exceptionally well organized).

How do you enter a US marathon — lottery or first-come?

It varies by race. Boston requires a qualifying time; Chicago and New York City use a lottery (with charity and time-qualifier entry as alternatives); and most others — CIM, Grandma's and Columbus — are first-come and can sell out months ahead. International runners need an ESTA or a B1/B2 visa to travel to the U.S.

Which months have the most US marathons?

October is the deepest month on the US calendar, headlined by Chicago and Marine Corps, and the fall block keeps rolling through New York and Philadelphia in November into CIM and Honolulu in December. Spring (March–May) is the second peak, anchored by Boston, LA and Big Sur; midsummer is the quietest stretch, with exceptions like Grandma's in June.

What is the flattest US marathon?

Among the biggest races, Houston is the flattest at roughly 20 m of total elevation gain, with Chicago close behind at about 35 m — both BQ-eligible. If pure speed matters more than a flat profile, net-downhill courses like CIM, Mt. Charleston and Big Cottonwood drop far more than they climb — fast, but harder on the quads.