Marathon · Location guide

California Marathons

California is a full-season marathon menu: fast December roads, coastal spring weekends, big-city race days, and scenic courses that can be as much trip as time trial. Use it to separate fast-course hunts from race weekends where the place is the point.

Showing all 44 races in this collection. Updated August 2026.

Notable race guides: California International Marathon (CIM), Big Sur International Marathon, ASICS Los Angeles Marathon, and The San Francisco Marathon.

  1. Diablo Trail Run MarathonSunday, September 6, 2026Clayton, CaliforniaDiablo Trail Run Marathon tackles steep East Bay terrain near Mount Diablo, offering technical California climbing at the full distance without requiring a 50K.
  2. Surfers Point MarathonSunday, September 6, 2026Ventura, CaliforniaBQSurfers Point Marathon repeats a flat beachfront bike-path loop in Ventura, offering ocean views and a certified California Boston qualifier.
  3. 2XU Long Beach MarathonSunday, October 11, 2026Long Beach, CaliforniaBQLong Beach Marathon gives runners a certified Southern California course with waterfront miles, fall timing, and accessible qualifier appeal.Results
  4. Bizz Johnson MarathonSunday, October 11, 2026Susanville, CaliforniaBQBizz Johnson follows a converted rail trail through Lassen National Forest, dropping toward Susanville through tunnels, bridges, and canyon miles.Results
  5. Humboldt Redwoods MarathonSunday, October 11, 2026Weott, CaliforniaBQHumboldt Redwoods Marathon runs beneath towering old-growth trees on the Avenue of the Giants, pairing cool forest conditions with a fast certified course.Results
  6. Lake Tahoe Lakeside MarathonFriday, October 16, 2026South Lake Tahoe, CaliforniaLake Tahoe Lakeside Marathon traces the lake's east shore from South Lake Tahoe to Incline Village on Friday of the three-marathon Tahoe weekend.
  7. Cal-Neva MarathonSaturday, October 17, 2026Tahoe City, CaliforniaCal-Neva Marathon drops point to point from Spooner Summit to Tahoe City's Commons Beach, with a small field and expansive Lake Tahoe views.
  8. Lake Tahoe MarathonSunday, October 18, 2026South Lake Tahoe, CaliforniaLake Tahoe Marathon follows the lake's west and south shores at altitude, serving dramatic Emerald Bay views, major climbs, and a beach finish in one race.Results
  9. Two Cities MarathonSunday, November 1, 2026Fresno, CaliforniaBQTwo Cities Marathon connects Fresno and Clovis on a fast fall road course, with broad paved paths, Woodward Park staging, and strong BQ appeal.Results
  10. REVEL Big Bear MarathonSaturday, November 7, 2026Redlands, CaliforniaBQA point-to-point plunge off the San Bernardino Mountains into Redlands, with just over 5,000 feet of net drop and a Boston adjustment to match.Results
  11. Saddleback MarathonSaturday, November 7, 2026Silverado, CaliforniaSaddleback Marathon climbs from Black Star Canyon toward Skyline Drive on a rugged Silverado trail route with about 4,244 feet of vertical gain.
  12. Santa Clarita MarathonSunday, November 15, 2026Santa Clarita, CaliforniaBQSanta Clarita Marathon follows a traffic-light bike-path network through parks and neighborhoods, offering gentle rollers and a generous support window.Results
  13. Death Valley Trail MarathonSaturday, December 5, 2026Death Valley National Park, CaliforniaDeath Valley Trail Marathon crosses remote canyon roads and climbs to Red Pass, trading road-race speed for desert scale, dirt, and exposure.Results
  14. California International Marathon (CIM)Sunday, December 6, 2026Sacramento, CaliforniaBQNet-downhill, point-to-point from Folsom Dam to the State Capitol. Cool December temps and a flat final 10K make CIM a PR-friendly, Boston-qualifying race.Results
  15. Carlsbad MarathonSunday, January 17, 2027Carlsbad, CaliforniaBQCarlsbad Marathon gives January runners a certified coastal course with oceanfront miles, a six-hour limit, pace groups, and a Boston-qualifying setup.Results
  16. Redding MarathonSunday, January 17, 2027Redding, CaliforniaBQRedding Marathon follows the Sacramento River toward the Sundial Bridge, using a net-downhill route that still includes a few late trail rollers.Results
  17. Golden Gate Trail Run MarathonSaturday, February 6, 2027Sausalito, CaliforniaGolden Gate Trail Run Marathon crosses the Marin Headlands above Sausalito, combining sustained trail climbing with broad views of the bay and bridge.Results
  18. Surf City MarathonSunday, February 7, 2027Huntington Beach, CaliforniaBQSurf City Marathon gives runners a flat Huntington Beach qualifier with Pacific Coast Highway miles, ocean views, February timing, and beach-town energy.Results
  19. Ventura MarathonSunday, February 21, 2027Ventura, CaliforniaBQVentura Marathon descends about 900 feet from Ojai to the Pacific, using paved valley trails for a fast point-to-point finish downtown by the sea.
  20. SOCAL River MarathonSaturday, February 27, 2027Huntington Beach, CaliforniaBQA point-to-point winter marathon down the Santa Ana River Trail from Yorba Linda to Huntington Beach, with about 365 feet of net drop to the ocean.
  21. ASICS Los Angeles MarathonSunday, March 7, 2027Los Angeles, CaliforniaBQLos Angeles Marathon gives runners a huge point-to-point city race from Dodger Stadium toward Century City, with crowds, hills, and heat risk.Results
  22. Kaiser Permanente Napa Valley MarathonSunday, March 7, 2027Napa, CaliforniaBQNapa Valley Marathon follows Silverado Trail from Calistoga to Napa, pairing vineyard scenery with a fast, Boston-qualifying point-to-point course.Results
  23. Catalina Island MarathonSaturday, March 13, 2027Avalon, CaliforniaCatalina Island Marathon is California's oldest trail marathon, with rugged climbs, ocean views, and a historic point-to-point finish into Avalon.Results
  24. Redwood (Spring) Trail Run MarathonSaturday, March 20, 2027Oakland, CaliforniaRedwood (Spring) Trail Run Marathon climbs through Oakland's redwood forest on a demanding Bay Area route shared with several shorter and longer trail races.Results
  25. Oakland MarathonSunday, March 21, 2027Oakland, CaliforniaBQOakland Marathon is a one-loop urban road marathon with Bay Bridge miles, East Bay crowd energy, and a certified course that can still punish pacing.Results
  26. Bakersfield MarathonSunday, April 4, 2027Bakersfield, CaliforniaBQBakersfield Marathon is a Kern County road race with a Kern County Museum start, Bakersfield neighborhood miles, and a hometown Boston-qualifier feel.Results
  27. Modesto MarathonSunday, April 4, 2027Modesto, CaliforniaBQModesto Marathon is a flat Central Valley road marathon built for fast times, Boston qualifying, and a straightforward spring morning downtown.Results
  28. Mountains to Beach MarathonSunday, April 18, 2027Ojai, CaliforniaBQMountains 2 Beach is a downhill point-to-point California marathon from Ojai to Ventura, built for fast times, net-drop pacing, and quick sellouts.Results
  29. Big Sur International MarathonSunday, April 25, 2027Carmel, CaliforniaBQBig Sur is a bucket-list point-to-point on Highway 1, where ocean views, Bixby Bridge, and Hurricane Point matter more than easy splits or PR math.Results
  30. Avenue of the Giants MarathonSunday, May 2, 2027Weott, CaliforniaBQAvenue of the Giants Marathon is a redwood-road classic with old-growth scenery, shaded park miles, and one of road running's most distinctive settings.Results
  31. OC MarathonSunday, May 2, 2027Costa Mesa, CaliforniaBQOC Marathon sells the Orange County tour angle, blending a Newport Beach start, coastal flavor, and a big-festival weekend anchored in Costa Mesa.Results
  32. Rock 'n' Roll San Diego MarathonSunday, June 6, 2027San Diego, CaliforniaBQRock 'n' Roll San Diego Marathon is a large destination race built around entertainment, city sightseeing, and a late-spring coastal calendar slot.Results
  33. The San Francisco MarathonSunday, July 25, 2027San Francisco, CaliforniaBQThe San Francisco Marathon crosses the Golden Gate Bridge and city neighborhoods on a USATF-certified Boston qualifier with a six-hour course limit.Results
  34. Santa Rosa MarathonLatest tracked: Sunday, August 23, 2026Santa Rosa, CaliforniaBQSanta Rosa Marathon gives Northern California runners a late-August wine-country qualifier with a city finish and manageable race-weekend scale.Results
  35. Humboldt Bay MarathonLatest tracked: Sunday, August 9, 2026Eureka, CaliforniaBQHumboldt Bay Marathon links Eureka's waterfront, the bay trail and Arcata Marsh on a flat certified course shaped by Northern California's cool coast.Results
  36. Camarillo MarathonLatest tracked: Sunday, August 2, 2026Camarillo, CaliforniaBQCamarillo Marathon follows mostly flat paved bike paths in Ventura County, offering a certified Southern California course for Boston attempts.Results
  37. Point Mariah Trail MarathonLatest tracked: Saturday, August 1, 2026Soda Springs, CaliforniaPoint Mariah Trail Marathon explores high-country Sierra terrain near Soda Springs, with solo, partner and team formats for a flexible trail full.Results
  38. Shoreline MarathonLatest tracked: Sunday, July 12, 2026Ventura, CaliforniaBQShoreline Marathon uses a compact Ventura beachfront loop to create an oceanfront Boston qualifier with frequent support and easy spectator access.Results
  39. Wicked Fast Marathon San DiegoLatest tracked: Saturday, June 13, 2026El Cajon, CaliforniaBQWicked Fast Marathon San Diego is a certified net-downhill speed course from Alpine toward Sycuan Casino Resort, built for East County BQ attempts.Results
  40. Stinson Beach/Muir Woods MarathonLatest tracked: Saturday, May 9, 2026Stinson Beach, CaliforniaMuir Woods gives trail marathoners a small-field Marin course with Dipsea climbs, Steep Ravine stairs, redwoods, coastal views, and a 300-runner cap.Results
  41. Wild Wild West MarathonLatest tracked: Saturday, May 2, 2026Lone Pine, CaliforniaWild Wild West Marathon crosses high-desert trail beneath the eastern Sierra, delivering a rugged Lone Pine race with Alabama Hills scenery.Results
  42. Golden Gate Headlands MarathonLatest tracked: Saturday, April 4, 2026Mill Valley, CaliforniaGolden Gate Headlands Marathon is a Marin Headlands trail marathon with steep coastal views, fire roads, and single track above the Golden Gate.Results
  43. Buzz MarathonLatest tracked: Saturday, March 21, 2026San Miguel, CaliforniaBQBuzz Marathon is a small certified race at Camp Roberts near San Miguel, giving Central Coast runners a no-frills winter route and Boston qualifying chance.Results
  44. Napa Valley Trail MarathonLatest tracked: Saturday, March 21, 2026Calistoga, CaliforniaNapa Valley Trail Marathon is a Bothe-Napa state park trail race with hills, rocky footing, creek crossings, and a smaller-field Northern California feel.Results