Half Marathon · Location guide

California Half Marathons

California offers half marathons across coastal cities, inland communities, wine country, and mountain destinations. The calendar spans much of the year, so runners can weigh course profile and travel appeal against seasonal heat and weather patterns.

Showing all 42 races in this collection. Updated August 2026.

Notable race guides: Monterey Bay Half Marathon, Surf City Half Marathon, Malibu Moves Half Marathon, and The San Francisco Marathon 1st Half.

  1. 01Hell of a Half MarathonSaturday, August 8, 2026Exeter, CaliforniaHeat is the opponent at this August San Joaquin Valley half, where 11 aid stations carry ice and the biggest fields in the Run The Valley series show up.GuideResults
  2. 02Noyo Headlands Half MarathonSaturday, August 8, 2026Fort Bragg, CaliforniaA flat oceanfront half on the Noyo Headlands coastal trail in Fort Bragg, run each August to support Mendocino Land Trust conservation work.Guide
  4. 04Santa Rosa Half MarathonSunday, August 23, 2026Santa Rosa, CaliforniaSanta Rosa Half Marathon follows paved creek paths and the Prince Memorial Greenway on a flat, certified course through Sonoma County in late summer.Guide
  5. 05Vibha Bay Area Dream Mile Half MarathonSunday, September 6, 2026Sunnyvale, CaliforniaVibha's Bay Area fundraiser runs a chip timed half with pacers for seven target times, drawing around 200 finishers alongside similar 10K and 5K fields.Guide
  6. 06Alameda Island Half MarathonSunday, September 20, 2026Alameda, CaliforniaA flat September half looping Alameda's island streets and shoreline from Alameda Point, with entry fees supporting the Alameda Education Foundation.Guide
  7. 07Auburn Half MarathonSunday, September 27, 2026Auburn, CaliforniaGold Country trail half that measures nearer 13.6 miles than 13.1, climbs about 2,465 feet, and crosses No Hands Bridge on the Western States Trail.Guide
  8. 08Judgment Day Half MarathonSunday, October 4, 2026Bakersfield, CaliforniaThe closing leg of a Central Valley half marathon series, run on Bakersfield's paved river trail from the infield of a 1940s minor league ballpark.Guide
  9. 09Peace Officer Memorial Run Half MarathonSunday, October 4, 2026Modesto, CaliforniaEvery mile of this Modesto half is dedicated to a fallen Stanislaus County officer, and sworn runners can take the same course on in full duty gear.Guide
  10. 10Rock 'n' Roll San Jose Half MarathonSunday, October 4, 2026San Jose, CaliforniaRock 'n' Roll San Jose Half Marathon is a flat downtown race built around live music, generous pacing support and Speed City tradition in early October.GuideResults
  11. 112XU Long Beach Half MarathonSunday, October 11, 2026Long Beach, CaliforniaLong Beach Half Marathon keeps the Pacific nearby for most of a flat, certified route through waterfront landmarks and coastal paths in October.GuideResults
  12. 12Champion Mine Trail Race Half MarathonSunday, October 11, 2026Nevada City, CaliforniaA Sierra foothills trail half that leaves Nevada City's Broad Street and mixes pavement, gravel, and singletrack with a steady set of Gold Country climbs.Guide
  13. 13City to the Sea Half MarathonSunday, October 18, 2026San Luis Obispo, CaliforniaA point-to-point run from downtown San Luis Obispo to the Pacific at Avila Beach, finishing on the Bob Jones Trail after miles of coastal backroads.Guide
  14. 14Mission Inn Run Half MarathonSunday, October 18, 2026Riverside, CaliforniaRiverside's Mission Inn Run has nearly five decades of history, and its half marathon tours downtown landmarks to benefit the Mission Inn Foundation.Guide
  15. 15Malibu Moves Half MarathonSunday, October 25, 2026Malibu, CaliforniaMalibu's half marathon runs entirely on Pacific Coast Highway, an out-and-back from Zuma Beach up to Nicholas Canyon and back over coastal rollers.Guide
  16. 16Clarksburg Country Run Half MarathonSunday, November 1, 2026Clarksburg, CaliforniaThe half at the Clarksburg Country Run doubles as the Pacific Association USATF championship, run on flat Delta farm roads just south of Sacramento.Guide
  17. 17Golden Gate Half MarathonSunday, November 1, 2026San Francisco, CaliforniaTwo Golden Gate Bridge crossings make this San Francisco half a scenic but exposed test, with fog, wind, climbs, and three strict cutoffs to manage.GuideResults
  18. 18Two Cities Half MarathonSunday, November 1, 2026Fresno, CaliforniaTwo Cities Half Marathon is a separately entered 13.1-mile Fresno road race with a 6:30 a.m. start and extensive marathon-weekend support each fall.Guide
  19. 19Monterey Bay Half MarathonSunday, November 8, 2026Monterey, CaliforniaMonterey Bay’s fast coastal half runs past Cannery Row, Pacific Grove, and open ocean views before a Custom House Plaza finish beside the bay.GuideResults
  20. 20Silver Strand Half MarathonSunday, November 8, 2026Coronado, CaliforniaSilver Strand Half Marathon follows San Diego Bay and the Pacific coast from Coronado, offering a flat seaside route with broad water views.GuideResults
  21. 21Temecula Half MarathonSunday, November 8, 2026Temecula, CaliforniaWine country climbing defines this Temecula half, which starts and finishes at Wilson Creek Winery and gains most of its elevation in the opening miles.Guide
  22. 22Thrive San Diego Half MarathonSaturday, November 14, 2026San Diego, CaliforniaFlat Mission Bay loop racing in San Diego, starting on Ingraham Street and finishing at Ski Beach, with bay views and a mid-November calendar slot.Guide
  23. 23Berkeley Half MarathonSunday, November 15, 2026Berkeley, CaliforniaBerkeley Half Marathon tours university streets, lively neighborhoods and East Bay landmarks on a distinct, rolling 13.1-mile urban road course.GuideResults
  24. 24Quarry Turkey Half MarathonSaturday, November 28, 2026Fremont, CaliforniaBrazen Racing's Thanksgiving weekend half runs the lakes at Quarry Lakes and out along the Alameda Creek Trail on flat dirt, with almost no climbing at all.Guide
  25. 25Summit Rock Half MarathonSaturday, December 12, 2026Saratoga, CaliforniaRedwood singletrack above Silicon Valley, this December trail half climbs to the top of Sanborn County Park and rewards runners who walk the steep parts.Guide
  26. 26Santa Hustle Roseville Half MarathonSunday, December 13, 2026Roseville, CaliforniaA flat looped half out of downtown Roseville's Vernon Street Town Square, on a Sacramento Valley date that is often cool and sometimes properly wet.Guide
  27. 27Santa to the Sea Half MarathonSunday, December 13, 2026Oxnard, CaliforniaPan-flat point-to-point from the roadside Santa statue on Highway 101 through Oxnard strawberry fields and Candy Cane Lane to the Channel Islands Harbor.Guide
  28. 28San Diego Holiday Half MarathonSaturday, December 19, 2026San Diego, CaliforniaA December half with a 711-foot net drop along a San Diego bike path, a single real climb near mile 1.5, and a field that sells out most years.Guide
  29. 29Brazen New Year's Day Half MarathonFriday, January 1, 2027Castro Valley, CaliforniaBrazen's January 1 trail half at Lake Chabot climbs about 2,100 feet on mostly dirt trails and pairs with the New Year's Eve race for a double medal.Guide
  30. 30Griffith Park Resolution Run Half MarathonSunday, January 3, 2027Los Angeles, CaliforniaA New Year trail half inside Griffith Park, roughly 90 percent dirt, that front loads its climbing and hands runners a long downhill finish.Guide
  31. 31Citrus Heritage Run Half MarathonSaturday, January 9, 2027Riverside, CaliforniaRun through working orange groves at California Citrus State Historic Park, this January half sells out and finishes with fresh squeezed juice and mimosas.Guide
  32. 32Griffith Park Run Half MarathonSaturday, February 6, 2027Los Angeles, CaliforniaAn all-dirt half marathon on the main Griffith Park trails, run in February with posted prize money and a bonus for the first runner to the last hilltop.Guide
  33. 33Surf City Half MarathonSunday, February 7, 2027Huntington Beach, CaliforniaA flat Pacific Coast Highway half passes Huntington Beach Pier and Bolsa Chica, offering ocean views, a roomy cutoff, and real wind exposure.GuideResults
  34. 34Palm Desert Half MarathonSunday, February 14, 2027Palm Desert, CaliforniaA flat, fast winter half marathon in Palm Desert that uses mid-February desert conditions for early-season speed, with 10K and 5K races alongside.Guide
  35. 35San Diego Beach & Bay Half MarathonSaturday, April 10, 2027San Diego, CaliforniaOne of California's flattest half marathons, this Mission Bay loop holds total climb near 165 feet and brings a few thousand runners to the San Diego coast.Guide
  36. 36Mountains 2 Beach Half MarathonSunday, April 18, 2027Ventura, CaliforniaMountains 2 Beach Half Marathon runs from the Ojai Valley toward coastal Ventura, using a net-downhill route with mountain and ocean scenery.GuideResults
  37. 37Nail the Rail Half MarathonSaturday, April 24, 2027Shasta Lake, CaliforniaA converted Southern Pacific rail grade at the base of Shasta Dam gives this north state half an even surface, a capped field, and a 3:15 cutoff.Guide
  38. 38La Jolla Half MarathonSaturday, May 15, 2027La Jolla, CaliforniaCoastal views come with real climbing as La Jolla runs from Del Mar through Torrey Pines before descending toward La Jolla Shores in San Diego.Guide
  39. 39Sugar Daddy Half MarathonSaturday, June 19, 2027Santa Clarita, CaliforniaSanta Clarita runs its Father's Day weekend half on the valley's separated paseo trails, finishing across the 130-year-old Iron Horse bridge.Guide
  40. 40The San Francisco Marathon 1st HalfSunday, July 25, 2027San Francisco, CaliforniaSan Francisco's first half crosses the Golden Gate Bridge on a certified point-to-point route from the Embarcadero to a scenic Presidio finish.GuideResults
  41. 41The San Francisco Marathon 2nd HalfSunday, July 25, 2027San Francisco, CaliforniaSan Francisco's second half starts in Golden Gate Park, drops through city neighborhoods and finishes fast along the Embarcadero waterfront.GuideResults
  42. 42Napa to Sonoma Half MarathonLatest tracked: Sunday, July 26, 2026Sonoma, CaliforniaNapa to Sonoma runs point to point through vineyard roads and rolling wine-country terrain before finishing in Sonoma Plaza with a wine festival.GuideResults