From Newport to Providence to Warwick, and more.
Rhode Island might be the smallest state, but when it comes to marathons, it doesn’t run small.
The courses here weave together ocean views, historic neighborhoods, and stretches of road where the wind off the water can change your day in an instant.
Spring or fall, city or coastline, these races have a knack for packing a lot of variety into not a lot of space. Let’s check them out!
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What are the Best Marathons in Rhode Island?
Amica Newport Marathon
Newport | Oct 12, 2025
Course Type: Rolling Hills
Participants: 889 Finishers (2024)
Price: $110-$160
The Amica Newport Marathon starts and ends at Easton’s Beach in October, a time when Rhode Island weather can swing between perfect running temps and wind that feels like it’s pushing you backwards. The course mixes a loop and an out-and-back, covering roads that cut along the coastline and roll through historic neighborhoods.
The first stretch follows Ocean Drive, where the Atlantic is in plain view and the road bends with the shoreline. Then it moves inland toward Bellevue Avenue, lined with Gilded Age mansions. There’s no crushing climb here, but the elevation is gently rolling, enough to keep your legs honest over 26.2 miles.
There is roughly 4,000 participants between the full and half marathon. Aid stations are spaced every couple of miles, stocked with water and electrolytes. October in Newport can mean cool, dry air in the low 50s, but wind off the water can add a layer of difficulty on exposed sections.
The finish brings you back to Easton’s Beach, where the salt air mixes with post-race fatigue. Over the years, the event has raised more than $650,000 for local nonprofits, so the miles do more than just get you to the line.
Providence Rhode Races
Providence | May 4, 2025
Course Type: Rolling Hills
Price: $89.95
The Providence Rhode Races Marathon starts and finishes at Bold Point Park in early May, taking runners through a mix of riverfront paths, historic neighborhoods, and stretches of open road. The course crosses the Linear Park Bridge into the city, skirts India Point Park, rolls down Blackstone Boulevard, and works its way over the Henderson Bridge before joining the East Bay Bike Path toward Barrington. It’s a certified Boston Qualifier with a marathon elevation profile of steady rollers – enough to test pacing but never punishing.
Hydration can make or break this race. Aid stations are spaced every couple of miles, but on warmer days the cups and fluids have been known to run low. Carrying a handheld bottle or having your own hydration plan is smart, especially since parts of the course are exposed and can heat up quickly under the May sun. The open-road format means sharing space with light traffic at times, but course management keeps it organized enough to focus on your running.
The finish back at Bold Point Park has a no-nonsense vibe: live music, free photos, a beer garden for those 21 and over. It’s not about spectacle, but about ending a challenging and scenic route with the essentials taken care of. Add in the event’s Green Certification and charity partnerships, and it’s a race that leaves its mark well beyond the 26.2 miles.
Newport Rhode Races
Newport | Apr 18, 2026
Course Type: Rolling Hills
Elevation Gain: 891 feet (271m)
Participants: 1,097 Finishers (2025)
Price: $70-$100
April in Newport means blooming daffodils, cool ocean air, and a start line at Easton’s Beach. Parking happens first, shuttles run runners in, and bib pickup is quick but can bottleneck if you hit tourist traffic downtown. Once you’re at the line, it’s straight into a course that’s USATF-certified, a Boston Qualifier, and built on steady rollers.
The early miles skirt the Atlantic along Ocean Drive, cut through mansion-lined Bellevue Avenue, and work out toward Second Beach, Purgatory Rock, and the Norman Bird Sanctuary. A short but punchy climb around mile 18 is the toughest single rise, with exposed stretches where wind can take the edge off your pace. Aid stations cover the basics, but a handheld bottle is worth considering.
Finishing back at Easton’s Beach drops you right beside the Atlantic, where the mix of sea breeze, salt on your skin, and the sound of waves is hard to miss after 26 miles. The last stretch flattens out enough to let you push, but if the wind’s coming in off the water, you’ll feel it in your quads. Cross the line and you’re a few steps from the sand, medal in hand, with the smell of fried seafood drifting in from nearby stands, a reminder you’re running in a working seaside town, not just a postcard backdrop.
Red Island State Marathon
Warwick | May 12, 2025
Course Type: Mostly Flat
Participants: 18 Finishers (2025)
Price: $130
The Red Island State Marathon is as low-key as it gets (just 18 finishers in 2025) but that’s part of its pull. Held in Warwick City Park, the race covers nine laps of a 2.7-mile loop, plus a short out-and-back at the start and finish. The course is flat to gently rolling, closed to traffic, and lined with trees and glimpses of Narragansett Bay. It’s the fastest marathon course in Rhode Island, with top PR rates and a Boston Qualifier tag to prove it.
What makes it unique is the format: aid every lap, always in the same spot, stocked with water, Gatorade, gels, and snacks you’d expect at a trail race. The repetition means you can settle into a rhythm, see the same volunteers cheering every time, and never worry about missing support. With its small field, quiet setting, and fast layout, it’s a race where focus comes easy and distractions are few.
Why Rhode Island’s Coastal Courses Challenge More Than Your Legs
Running 26.2 miles in Rhode Island isn’t just about distance. It’s about the constant push and pull between the course and the elements. The state’s coastline isn’t long, but it’s full of curves, inlets, and exposed stretches where the Atlantic has a say in your pace. Even on calm days, the breeze off the water can sap energy in a way hills can’t. On gusty mornings, it can feel like you’re running into resistance training you never signed up for.
Then there’s the mental game. Coastal routes here rarely give you a long, steady stretch to switch off your brain. You’re always adjusting. Rounding a bend into the wind, shifting your stride on uneven pavement weathered by salt air, or recalibrating when the temperature shifts ten degrees between shaded inland miles and open shoreline. The scenery helps, but it’s not just a backdrop; it’s part of the challenge, shaping how you run every mile.
Big Races in a Small State
One of the strangest and best things about running in Rhode Island is how quickly the landscape changes. In some states, 26 miles barely scratches the surface of a single setting. Here, a marathon can start by the water, wind through colonial-era streets, and finish under a canopy of trees, all without ever feeling disjointed.
The compact geography means you’re never far from the start line, the finish line, or your hotel bed, but it also means the scenery packs in more variety than you’d expect from the smallest state in the country. It’s the rare place where you can run from oceanfront to city blocks to quiet parkland without crossing a county line.
Conclusion
Marathoning in Rhode Island isn’t about chasing the biggest crowds or the most elaborate race expos. It’s about courses shaped by the coast, by weather that refuses to sit still, and by the kind of variety you only get when everything is close together.
Whether it’s the steady rollers of Newport, the mixed city-and-shore route in Providence, or the quiet loops in Warwick, the races here feel personal without being predictable. In a state this small, 26.2 miles covers more than just ground. It covers character.
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.
