From Myrtle Beach to Kiawah Island to Greer to Daufuskie Island, and more.
South Carolina isn’t the kind of place that throws a marathon just to tick a box. Here, races have personality.
The landscapes change quickly, from salt marshes and live oak tunnels to boardwalk stretches and sleepy inland neighborhoods.
Winter mornings start cool enough to keep the sweat in check, afternoons warm just enough to loosen the legs, and the air smells faintly of the ocean if you’re anywhere near the coast.
The state’s courses range from lightning-fast asphalt to dirt paths sprinkled with oyster shells, with just enough quirks to keep things interesting.
Whether you’re chasing a PR, hunting for a Boston qualifier, or just want a race that feels rooted in its setting, South Carolina’s marathon scene delivers in its own laid-back but memorable way.
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What are the Best Marathons in South Carolina?
Myrtle Beach Marathon
Myrtle Beach | Mar 7, 2026
Course Type: Very Flat
Elevation Gain: 283 feet (86m)
Participants: 1,167 Finishers (2025)
Price: $89-$134
If you’re chasing personal bests or just want miles that practically invite fast splits, Myrtle Beach delivers. Held every first Saturday in March, this is the biggest marathon in South Carolina and attracts between 5,500 and 7,500 runners. The course sticks to the roads with no tricky trails and stays flatter than most folks expect, with a maximum elevation around 20 feet and total ascent just over 110 feet.
You start near Robert M. Grissom Parkway, loop through Market Common, then run north along Ocean Boulevard for nearly nine miles of beachfront views including skyline, boardwalk, SkyWheel, and beachside resorts. Temperatures usually sit in the high 40s to low 60s Fahrenheit which makes it a cool-weather marathon by South Carolina standards. The breeze off the ocean can stay gentle for much of the race, but in the last few miles it can flip into a headwind strong enough to keep you honest.
Aid stations come roughly every 1.5 to 2 miles, well stocked and supported by volunteers who keep traffic moving smoothly through the corrals and onto the looped course. Finishers pass through a stadium chute at Pelicans Ballpark into a full post-race festival complete with live music, local food vendors, massage areas, and free beer for those who want one. It is flat, fast, well supported, and filled with Atlantic air which makes it a cool-weather marathon with just enough quirks to keep it memorable.
Kiawah Island Marathon
Kiawah Island | Dec 13, 2025
Course Type: Very Flat
Elevation Gain: 129 feet (39m)
Participants: 1,328 Finishers (2025)
Price: $225-$300
This marathon brings salt marsh serenity and flat, fast roads under whispering live oaks, perfect for runners chasing efficient miles. It kicks off each year, with 2025’s event set for Saturday, December 13 at 8 AM, starting at the West Beach Conference Center in West Beach Village. Both start and finish share that scenic spot.
The course winds through maritime forests, stretches of marsh, and past grand island homes on paved roads, with barely 19 to 20 feet of elevation gain over the full distance. It is USATF certified and counts as a Boston qualifier, making it ideal for serious goals. Temperatures in December usually hover in the low 50s to low 60s Fahrenheit and the air can be humid, so smart pacing and hydration help. Aid stations are plentiful and well stocked with water, electrolyte drinks, and snacks.
Parking logistics are island specific. Most runners park near Freshfields Village and use shuttles that run early and frequently. Those staying on the island can reach the start via free shuttles or a quick drop off at the shuttle stop.
At the finish there is a holiday season atmosphere, with post race music under a big white tent, awards around 1 PM, and real food, beer, plus an Expo and Vendor Market held in the Conference Center earlier in the weekend. It is flat, beautiful, low fuss yet festive, and feels like a cozy coastal marathon escape with enough substance for serious runners aiming for a BQ or PR.
2Slow4Boston Marathon
Greer | Apr 26, 2026
Course Type: Rolling Hills
Participants: 55 Finishers (2025)
Price: $75
This Greer, South Carolina marathon is built around one simple, delightfully quirky idea: the last person across the finish line is the real winner. It’s run on a 1.31-mile loop through a quiet neighborhood (mostly flat with gentle rollers) repeated 20 times for the full 26.2 miles and 10 times for the half.
Registration caps are tiny (think 75 marathoners max and about 25 in the half), which keeps things cozy and low-stress. The race starts promptly at 7:30 AM, with packet pick-up the day before or early on race morning. There’s only one aid station at the start/finish area, stocked generously all day with water, Tailwind, sodas, cookies, chips, PB&J sandwiches, wraps, trail mix and by noon a pizza delivery shows up (and yes, there’s usually enough for everyone).
Some folks even set up chairs or a wagon with their own treats right alongside the aid station. Best part? No timing, no clock pressure.
In the marathon, the last three finishers split a prize pot made up of $20 from every registration, while in the half the slowest trio get trophies or gift cards instead of cash.
There are rules, like you can’t be a first-time marathoner or Boston Marathon finisher and still collect the prize, but nothing kills the mood. Everything feels friendly, playful, and straight-up fun.
Daufuskie Island Marathon
Daufuskie Island | Jan 17, 2026
Course Type: Mostly Flat
Elevation Gain: 288 feet (87m)
Participants: 146 Finishers (2025)
Price: $165-$180
This marathon starts with a ferry ride from Hilton Head Island, taking you to a quiet stretch of South Carolina’s Lowcountry lined with moss-covered live oaks. The race begins at Haig Point, where coffee and cinnamon rolls are served under a heated canopy before you head to the start.
The USATF certified course is a double loop that is about 60 to 70 percent paved, with the rest on hard-packed dirt or oyster-shell trails. Elevation gain is minimal at roughly 288 feet, and the highest point sits around 40 feet, making it an easy course to keep a steady pace. The scenery includes marsh views, stretches along the beach, historic sites like the Haig Point Lighthouse, and forested trails where you might spot wildlife such as fox squirrels or dolphins.
After finishing, participants are treated to a catered picnic lunch, drinks, live music, and an easygoing island festival atmosphere. Field sizes are small, usually in the low hundreds, which means minimal congestion on the course. The ferry ride back to the mainland serves as a built-in cool down, giving you one last look at the island before returning to reality.
Why South Carolina’s Winter and Early Spring Race Calendar Works in Your Favor
From January to early April, South Carolina offers race conditions that hit the sweet spot between brisk and comfortable. Coastal events like Daufuskie Island or Myrtle Beach might start in the low 40s and wrap up in the mid-50s, while inland races such as 2Slow4Boston tend to stay in the 50 to 60 range. It’s cool enough to keep you from overheating, yet mild enough that you’re not freezing on the start line.
Humidity is lower than in summer, so breathing feels easier and sweat actually does its job. Snow and ice aren’t a concern, so there’s no last-minute scramble to find a treadmill or crampons. Wind can pop up on the coast, but it’s more of a variable to manage than a day-ruining factor. The timing also makes these marathons ideal for early-season goals, a chance to bank a Boston qualifier, set a new PR, or treat it as a long-run milestone before bigger spring races.
How Local Traditions Sneak Into the Running Experience
Marathons here come with quirks you won’t find everywhere else. Aid stations sometimes go beyond the standard gels and sports drinks, slipping in boiled peanuts, sweet tea, or even homemade snacks from local volunteers. Post-race food might mean barbecue, shrimp and grits, or peach cobbler instead of a plain bagel.
Starting lines can feature a school marching band, a gospel choir, or the blare of a shrimp boat horn. Awards aren’t always stock medals, you might walk away with hand-carved wood plaques, artisan pottery, or other keepsakes that feel tied to the place you just ran through. These details aren’t just window dressing. They’re part of the DNA of racing in South Carolina, blending the miles with the culture so that the event feels less like just another marathon and more like a snapshot of the state’s personality.
Concluesion
Marathons in South Carolina have a way of sticking with you, and not just because of the medal around your neck. Maybe it’s the scenery that shifts from beach to marsh to forest in a single race. Maybe it’s the weather that lets you push without feeling drained. Or maybe it’s the way every event, no matter the size, folds in a piece of local life – the food, the people, the music, the small but telling details that make you feel like you’ve actually been somewhere. These races don’t just give you 26.2 miles. They give you a little slice of South Carolina you can carry home with you.
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.
