Marathons in Tennessee stretch from the honky-tonk chaos of Nashville to the stately riverbanks of Memphis, across seven bridges in Chattanooga, and into the spring hills of Knoxville.
You’ll find courses that ride rolling elevation, finish under iconic city landmarks like the Sunsphere, or weave right through world-famous institutions.
If you want running that lands somewhere between character and real challenge, Tennessee has your number.
Choose another State:
Rock ‘n’ Roll Nashville Marathon
Nashville, TN | Apr 25, 2026
Course Type: Rolling Hills
Elevation Gain: 922 feet (281m)
Participants: 2,733 Finishers (2025)
Price: $134.99
The Rock ‘n’ Roll Nashville Marathon is a noisy, sweaty, and wonderfully chaotic introduction to marathoning in Tennessee. The course starts on Broadway, where the neon lights and honky-tonks set a strange but fitting backdrop for an early-morning start.
From there, it winds past landmarks like the Country Music Hall of Fame, Vanderbilt and Belmont, then heads toward the Cumberland River before ending at Nissan Stadium.
The route isn’t forgiving, there’s close to 900 feet of climbing, with rollers almost the whole way and a couple of sharp hills in the final miles that can feel like a wall. Live bands dot the course, sometimes boosting the energy, sometimes fading into the background as you focus on the grind. Congestion is common where the full and half marathon overlap, which makes holding pace more of a challenge than usual.
If other Tennessee marathons lean toward quiet river views or mountain solitude, Nashville is like sharing pavement with a city that refuses to turn the volume down.
St. Jude Memphis Marathon
Memphis | Dec 6, 2025
Course Type: Rolling Hills
Elevation Gain: 703 feet (214m)
Participants: 1,846 Finishers (2024)
Price: $125
The St. Jude Memphis Marathon takes over downtown each December, starting near Beale Street and sending runners past the Mississippi River, Midtown neighborhoods, and through Overton Park before finishing inside AutoZone Park.
The highlight comes around miles five to ten, when the course runs directly through the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital campus. Patients and families line the streets, turning that stretch into one of the most memorable miles you’ll find anywhere.
The course has around 700 feet of elevation gain, mostly gentle rollers that keep things interesting without ever turning punishing. The weather can be chilly but usually manageable, with average highs in the 50s.
Frequent aid stations and big crowds make the miles feel busy, and the ballpark finish provides a lively backdrop at the end. It’s not necessarily a course for chasing PRs, but the atmosphere and cause give it a distinct identity among Tennessee marathons.
7 Bridges Marathon
Chattanooga | Oct 19, 2025
Course Type: Rolling Hills
Elevation Gain: 783 feet (238m)
Participants: 622 Finishers (2024)
Price: $105
The 7 Bridges Marathon in Chattanooga is one of those races you can’t mistake. The goal is simple: cross seven of the city’s iconic bridges while cruising along mostly flat, road-pavement terrain.
The course starts in Coolidge Park near that big blue rhino, snakes over four downtown bridges, slips onto the North Chickamauga Greenway for three more, passes landmarks like the Tennessee Aquarium and Art District, and finishes by the carousel at Coolidge Park. It racks up about 780 feet of elevation gain (and a matching loss), with rolling hills that keep things interesting without grinding you to a halt.
Aid stations and portapotties pop up nearly every mile, and DJs, snacks, and volunteers help keep the mood lighter than your legs might want. Course marking has had its off days, with a confusing U-turn under Veterans Bridge and a tricky stairway turn near the finish, but nothing a quick glance at your GPS or course map couldn’t fix.
The timing tends to land in perfect late October fall weather, with mid-70s highs and lows dipping to the mid 40s, and the river views, bridges, and city greenspace make it feel like Chattanooga’s giving you a whole city tour on foot. It’s definitely one that stands out for vibe, views, and quirky local charm.
Knoxville Marathon
Knoxville | Apr 12, 2026
Course Type: Rolling Hills
Elevation Gain: 1248 feet (380m)
Participants: 710 Finishers (2025)
Price: $95-$145
Finishing in World’s Fair Park under the shadow of the Sunsphere gives the Knoxville Marathon its signature ending, but the miles leading there have plenty to say.
The course begins on the Clinch Avenue Bridge and loops through neighborhoods, with stretches along the Tennessee River and a pass by Neyland Stadium to remind you where you are. Hills are part of the deal here, adding up to about 1,248 feet of climbing, though they tend to roll rather than punish.
The field is relatively small, with roughly 700 marathon finishers in recent years, which keeps the race day atmosphere relaxed and easy to navigate. Spring weather in Knoxville usually means cool mornings in the 40s and afternoons in the 60s, so conditions line up well for distance running. Along the way, aid stations are well stocked and the quirks stand out—like on-course bacon or cookies that break up the miles with a little levity.
Race Logistics in Tennessee
Marathon logistics vary wildly across the state, and it’s worth learning the local rhythm before race day. In Knoxville, packet pickup happens at the Clayton Health & Fitness Expo on the Saturday before the race, with bag check opening at 6:30 a.m. near Clinch Avenue Bridge and closing at 7:25 a.m. It’s worth noting because only the official “goody bag” works, and it’s the only bag allowed for check-in.
There are five start corrals, A through E, assigned based on projected finish times, so lining up in the right one helps avoid early bottlenecks. Knoxville’s also USATF-certified and Boston-qualifier-friendly, complete with timing chips, pace groups, medical aid at regular points, photographers along the course, and even a post-race party with live music, beer for 21+, and plenty of snacks.
Across Tennessee, the setup changes with the vibe. The 7 Bridges Marathon in Chattanooga, for instance, threads through downtown and a greenway network, crossing seven bridges. The course has had its confusing moments, like a tricky U-turn or stairway jog near the end, so checking that map matters. Nashville leans festival-ready with epic start zones and tight downtown logistics. Memphis is more spaced out, with downtown loops and park finishes, making parking, crowd flow, and packet pick-up feel manageable even for first-timers.
Tips for Running a Tennessee Marathon
Tennessee’s races share a few traits worth planning for, no matter which city you pick. Hills are part of almost every course, so adding rolling terrain to training runs pays off when the race day elevation starts stacking up. Weather can be unpredictable, with spring events swinging from crisp mornings to humid finishes, and fall races occasionally heating up more than expected, so having a pacing plan that accounts for temperature changes is smart. Hydration stations are usually frequent, but carry your own if you like consistency. Aid tables can get crowded in the bigger races.
Travel logistics also matter: Nashville and Memphis bring heavy downtown traffic, so arrive early or use shuttles if offered, while Knoxville and Chattanooga are easier to navigate but have more limited parking close to the start. And one small but useful tip: most Tennessee marathons stage their expos the day before, so plan your travel to hit packet pickup without feeling rushed. A little preparation goes a long way here, letting you focus on the miles instead of the stress around them.
Conclusion
Tennessee’s marathons don’t pretend to be identical and that’s part of their charm. Here, a race isn’t just measured by your chip time, but by finish lines under stadium lights, emotional stretches through hospital campuses, and counting bridges until your legs agree it’s over.
Whether you’re threading through musical neighborhoods, sliding into a Sunsphere-framed finish, or chasing cooler miles in the fall, each course carries its own profile and spirit. Run smart, pack for weather swings, check your map one more time before the race and enjoy that Tennessee marathon feeling, raw and unlike any other.
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.
