Marathons hold a special place in the heart for many reasons: Your first one, the time you hit the wall but powered through, the best supporters, or the worst weather. I’m never going to be able to rank them for everyone on experience as that’s very personal.
However, I can use the collective hive mind and define ‘best’ as the most popular for my list of the best marathons in the US.
What are the Best Marathons in the US?
Here are the best marathons in the US, ordered in the number of runners the last time it ran, starting with the most. I’ve picked marathons by extensively reviewing runners’ reports, how well they are organized, their prestige, and their size.
New York City Marathon
Date: Sun, 3 Nov 2024
Location: New York
Applicants: 165,000
Runners: 51,402
Cost: $295 entrance fee
Years Established: 54
Website: https://www.nyrr.org/tcsnycmarathon
In 2023, this was the largest marathon in the world, and for good reason. It takes you through all 5 boroughs of New York City, and you get to run past some of the most iconic landmarks in the country. You start at Staten Island’s Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge, one of the largest suspension bridges in the world, where you can gaze down at New York Habour. You work your way through Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Manhattan, and finish in the incredible Central Park. Race reviews consistently praise the crowds for their electric support, and I can see why, as over 1 million of them come out every year.
Chicago Marathon
Date: Sun, 13 Oct 2024
Location: Chicago
Applicants: 123,000
Runners: 48,574
Cost: $240 for United States residents, and $250 for international residents.
Years Established: 47
Website: https://www.chicagomarathon.com
This is one of the fastest marathons in the world. The Chicago Marathon is renowned for being flat, making it the perfect choice if you’re trying to beat your personal best or if it’s your first marathon and you want to make the whole experience as manageable as possible. You finish and end in Grant Park, and the course takes you through downtown Chicago giving you plenty of time to admire Lake Michigan and the stunning skyline that participants say gives it an urban charm. The pre-race communication from the organizers is really great, and it’s incredibly well-planned.
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Houston Marathon
Date: Sat, Jan 18, 2025
Location: Houston
Runners: 34,000
Cost: $195 entrance fee
Years Established: 52
Website: https://www.chevronhoustonmarathon.com
This is the marathon for you if you’re really weather-conscious. It is held in January, so benefits from Houston’s mild winter, with average temperatures ranging from 40-60 Fahrenheit (4-18 degrees Celsius). This means you don’t have to worry as much about overheating or extreme cold, so runners reckon if you want to do a marathon in the winter and have a more enjoyable experience, consider Houston.
Marine Corps Marathon
Date: Sun, 27 Oct, 2024
Location: Washington D.C.
Runners: 30,000
Cost: $200 early bird entrance fee
Years Established: 49
Website: https://www.marinemarathon.com
Also known as the “The People’s Marathon”, the Marine Corps Marathon holds a special place in the hearts of service men and women and their loved ones and carries with it the tradition of honor, courage, and commitment. Those who have run the marathon often mention how special it is throughout with tributes to fallen heroes and admiration for the military as a whole.
Being in the capital city, it takes you past landmarks of significant importance to the country, including the Washington Monument, the Lincoln Memorial, the US Capital building, and Arlington National Cemetery. It has a significant charitable impact by raising funds and awareness for various veteran causes.
Philadelphia Marathon
Date: Sun, 24 Nov 2024
Location: Philadelphia
Runners: 30,000
Cost: $120 entrance fee
Years Established: 70
Website: https://www.philadelphiamarathon.com
This course is steeped in American history perfect for any patriot. It gives you the unique opportunity to run in the footsteps of the Founding Fathers and experience the rich cultural side of the City of Brotherly Love. On the route, you’ll get to pass by Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, and the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
Finishers I’ve spoken with often praise the course for its friendly layout and well-maintained roads. If a marathon is feeling a little far for you, they also hold a half marathon and 8K over the same weekend, and there are plenty of other health and wellness activities going on in the city to get stuck in with.
San Francisco Marathon
Date: Sun, 28 Jul, 2024
Location: San Francisco
Runners: 29,000
Cost: $317 early bird entrance fee
Years Established: 47
Website: https://www.thesfmarathon.com
Fancy a challenge? This is the marathon for you. This course is practically hilly so you’ll want to make sure to get some evaluation and strength training in before taking part. I personally know San Francisco to be a really inclusive city, and this allows you to immerse yourself in the rich makeup of the city as you’re cheered on by a wide range of cultures as you work your way through the Mission District and Chinatown and the vibrant LGBTQ+ community of the Castro.
The committee is very environmentally conscious and has implemented various sustainable practices (like compostable cups) to help reduce the marathon’s carbon footprint.
Boston Marathon
Date: Mon, 21 Apr 2025
Location: Boston
Applicants: 33,058
Runners: 25,230
Cost: $230 for United States residents and $235 for international residents.
Years Established: 126
Website: https://www.baa.org/races/boston-marathon
Holding the title of the oldest annual marathon in the world (dating back to 1897), the Boston Marathon is seen as one of the most prestigious events in running. Not just anybody can apply, you have to have recently run a very quick marathon (for 2023 males aged 18-34 that was sub 3 hours) and even then that is no guarantee you’ll be accepted.
The course follows a “point-to-point” route from Hopkinton to Boston, and takes you through 8 cities along the way. If you speak to any runner who’s tackled to epic event, they’ll definitely mention the legendary “Heartbreak Hill”. This steep incline around the 20-mile mark is the real test of the course, but if you make it through that, you get to join a finishers list alongside historical and modern legends of the sport.
Los Angeles Marathon
Date: Sun, 16 Mar, 2025
Location: Los Angeles
Runners: 25,000
Cost: $189.00 entrance fee
Years Established: 35
Website: https://www.mccourtfoundation.org/event/los-angeles-marathon
LA is known for its stars, and its marathon gives you the chance to be one for the day. The route is lined with enthusiastic spectators (fans), live entertainment, and cheer stations. It follows a “Stadium to the Sea” course, with its startline at Dodger Stadium, taking you through downtown, Hollywood, Beverly Hills, and Santa Monica, before finally finishing by the Santa Monica Pier. It’s held in March, the weather is usually mild and pleasant ranging from the 50s to the 70s Fahrenheit (10-25 degrees Celsius).
Miami Marathon
Date: Sun, 2 Feb, 2025
Location: Miami
Runners: 18,000
Cost: $155-$170 entrance fee
Years Established: 21
Website: https://www.themiamimarathon.com/marathon
One for Latin music lovers, the Maimi marathon is known for its festive atmosphere. As you go around you can dance along to the salsa and reggaeton beats pulsing through the city. This is definitely one to make sure you are staying in town the evening after the marathon to soak up the atmosphere and get your boogie on. If you love the beach like me, the section where you run alongside the iconic Miami beach will fly by.
Walt Disney World Marathon
Date: Sun, Jan 12, 2025
Location: Orlando, Florida
Runners: 14,116
Cost: $236 entrance fee
Years Established: 30
Website: https://www.rundisney.com/events/disneyworld/disneyworld-marathon-weekend
This one really is a unique experience like no other. Board of running on the pavement? Why not take a dip into the magical world of Disney. You get to run through the parks and attractions, with the best bit being the character meet-and-greets which make for marathon selfie keepsakes like no other.The entertainment is a one-of-a-kind experience, and there are lots of magical surprises along the way (that you’ll have to discover for yourself). The race weekend is also really inclusive, as they hold a half marathon, 10k, 5k, and kids race.
Row Brown is the founder of Refresh Row. He is a keen marathon runner, his favorite being the London Marathon. He’s now set himself the mission of Running the Entire Length of Spain, which is scheduled for late 2024.
