From Elizabeth City to Raleigh to Asheville to Cary, and more.
North Carolina has a bit of everything when it comes to marathons.
One weekend you’re on a greenway in the woods, the next you’re dodging art murals in downtown Asheville.
It’s not just variety for variety’s sake. Each race has its own character, quirks, and crowd.
In this post, I’m digging into four that stood out, plus a few thoughts on how local terrain and spring weather can quietly shape your race day.
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What are the Best Marathons in North Carolina?
Coast Guard Marathon
Elizabeth City, NC | Apr 11, 2026
Course Type: Very Flat
Elevation Gain: 88 feet (26m)
Participants: 486 Finishers
Price: $139-$195
There’s something about running on an active military base that sticks with you, even if you’re mostly in it for the PR. The Coast Guard Marathon starts in downtown Elizabeth City, winds past the Pasquotank River, and then takes you right onto the U.S. Coast Guard Base and Air Station, complete with speed humps, planes, and sometimes a helicopter hovering overhead. One of the standout (and slightly surreal) moments is running past a 20-story WWII blimp hangar, a hulking dome you spot way off in the distance and slowly, slowly reel in. By the time you circle it, you’re deep into the back half of the course, and honestly, probably deep in your own head too.
This course is flat and certified fast, with more than a few runners clocking Boston Qualifiers here. But it’s not necessarily easy. The long, exposed stretches along rural roads can feel endless, especially if the wind picks up. Shade is minimal.
Crowd support? Sparse. There are aid stations every two miles, which is great, but don’t expect a party on the sidelines. Some years, the course has been open to traffic, and runners have had to stay alert dodging the occasional car. You might not see many of those “Touch here for power” signs. What you will get is an extremely straightforward course, some logistical weirdness (hello, daylight saving time change in 2025), and a weekend steeped in military pride. It’s not a race built around spectacle. It’s more like a quiet, slightly odd, well-oiled event that knows exactly what it is—and leans into it.
One more thing: that finish line stretch through the heart of downtown and past Elizabeth City State University (the only four-year aviation program at a historically Black college) feels meaningful, even if your legs are shot. The vibe here is humble, welcoming, and surprisingly intimate. You might come for the flat course, but don’t be surprised if you leave thinking about everything else.
City of Oaks Marathon
Raleigh, NC | Nov 2, 2025
Course Type: Hilly
Elevation Gain: 1223 feet (372m)
Participants: 828 Finishers
Price: $70-$144
The City of Oaks Marathon kicks off with a city tour: Fayetteville Street, the State Capitol, NC State’s campus, tree-lined neighborhoods. Early on, it feels festive, mostly thanks to the crowd of half marathoners and 10K runners sharing the course. But things shift fast. Around mile 9, you drop into Raleigh’s greenway system, and it gets quiet. Paved paths wind through the woods, the crowd disappears, and the hills start to show up.
There’s over 1,200 feet of elevation gain here, and most of it waits for you in the back half. Mile 22 to 24 is especially rough, a long, gradual climb that doesn’t look like much on the map but hits hard when you’re already spent. Aid stations are spaced well, but once you’re deep in the greenway, it’s mostly just you, your thoughts, and the occasional squirrel.
Finish line vibes vary. Show up early and you get music, beer, maybe even pizza. Later? Could be crickets. But either way, this isn’t a race built to flatter you. It’s Raleigh, unfiltered. Solid, hilly, and just a little bit humbling.
Logistics are solid if you plan ahead. There’s no race-day packet pickup, so you either show up early to the expo or pay to have your bib mailed. Gear check is available, but light on frills. And there’s a hard cutoff for every distance—if you’re not across the line before time’s up, they shut down support and move you to the sidewalk. Parking can be kind of a mess, especially near the start, so showing up early is worth it unless you want a pre-race jog from your car.
Asheville Marathon
Asheville, NC | Mar 21, 2026
Course Type: Rolling Hills
Elevation Gain: 1009 feet (307m)
Participants: 516 Finishers
Price: $120.25-$163.25
Starting in Pack Square Park, right in downtown Asheville, this marathon feels like a love letter to the city’s mix of historic charm and artsy energy.
The first five miles loop through neighborhood hills—unexpectedly steep ones—which catch a lot of runners off guard, especially given the “flat and fast” claim that shows up in the promo banners. Once you reach the French Broad River, the course flattens out, mostly on paved greenways. But things get weird in the second half. Narrow out-and-backs, some trail sections with roots and mud, and a couple of moments where marathoners get stuck weaving through a sea of half runners. There’s even a point where you pass the finish line… with eight miles still to go. That part stings.
Finishers cross the line at the Wedge at Foundation in the River Arts District, a vibrant spot to catch your breath and celebrate. Free shuttles back to downtown and the DoubleTree Hotel make logistics easy.
If you’re after a race that shows you Asheville’s character, both its beauty and its grit, this marathon delivers. Just don’t expect a smooth, perfectly flat PR course. Instead, expect a day full of ups, downs, and surprising moments in a city that’s tough and welcoming all at once.
Tobacco Road Marathon
Cary, NC | Mar 15, 2026
Course Type: Rolling Hills
Elevation Gain: 974 feet (296m)
Participants: 546 Finishers
Price: $60
The Tobacco Road Marathon starts in Cary, North Carolina, but you’ll spend most of the race on the American Tobacco Trail – a former rail corridor now converted into a crushed-stone greenway that winds through rural Wake and Chatham Counties. After a short stretch on roads, the course enters the trail around mile 2 and doesn’t return to pavement until mile 25. It’s quiet, soft underfoot, and shaded by pine trees nearly the entire way.
The course has a simple out-and-back layout, with a full marathon route that includes two spurs off the main trail: one heading north to White Oak Church Road and the other south to Olive Chapel Road. Elevation gain is minimal – about 240 feet total – with only a slight incline on the return trip north between miles 20 and 22. It’s the kind of profile that draws Boston hopefuls, and you’ll find pace groups dialed in to those qualifying times.
There’s not much crowd support once you’re on the trail – a few families on bikes, maybe a cow or two behind a fence – but aid stations are spaced about every two miles and stocked with everything from water and sports drink to gels and basic first aid. You’re never far from help, even if it feels like you’re running through the middle of nowhere.
The surface is compacted gravel for most of the route, which some runners love for the reduced impact, though it can feel sluggish late in the race. If you’re used to roads, your calves might notice the difference. But if you’re here to run your own race, settle into a rhythm, and maybe chase a PR without too much visual noise, Tobacco Road makes a solid case.
Bonus: Weather quirks that shape your race-day experience
North Carolina races in spring can be a bit of a gamble. March and early April are popular marathon months here, but they come with their own set of curveballs. Morning temps often dip into the 30s or low 40s—ideal for performance if you’re layered properly, but a shock to the system during those long waits at the starting line. By midday, though, the sun can push temperatures into the 60s or 70s, especially at lower elevations or on exposed stretches of course like those in Raleigh or on the Tobacco Road trail.
Humidity is another wildcard. Even on cooler days, you might find yourself drenched by mile 10 thanks to moisture in the air—particularly if you’re running near rivers, like on the Asheville or City of Oaks courses. In the mountains, like Asheville, don’t rule out wind gusts or light drizzle rolling in unannounced. Basically, pack for options and keep an eye on the forecast until the night before. A cheap throwaway hoodie or rain poncho might just save your warmup.
Bonus: Training tips for tackling varied terrain in-state
North Carolina’s marathon terrain is anything but one-note. If you’re planning to run more than one race here—or if you’re eyeing a hilly course like Asheville after a flatter one like Tobacco Road—it’s worth tailoring your long runs accordingly. For mountain towns like Asheville or Boone, add some rolling hills or even trail sections into your weekly mileage to get your legs used to climbing and descending. It doesn’t have to be a full trail run—just enough to mimic the uneven terrain and shifting effort.
On the flip side, for flatter events like the Tobacco Road or Coast Guard marathons, spend time dialing in your rhythm on long, uninterrupted stretches. Try to simulate race conditions by running on greenways or rail trails without stoplights or sharp turns. That kind of steady pacing can make or break a PR attempt on a course where the biggest challenge is staying mentally engaged.
Wherever you’re running in-state, you’ll find the terrain itself can be a training tool. And with so many diverse routes across North Carolina, your prep doesn’t have to look the same from race to race.
Concluesion
No two races in North Carolina feel quite the same. Some roll gently through pine forests.
Others test your patience with switchbacks and surprise trail sections.
But that’s part of the appeal, each course asks something different from you.
If you’ve got a sense of what kind of effort you’re looking for, and you don’t mind adapting to the terrain and weather a little, there’s probably a race here that’ll stick 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.
