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 21 races in this collection. Updated July 2026.

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

  1. 01The San Francisco MarathonSunday, July 26, 2026San 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.GuideResults
  2. 02Santa Rosa MarathonSunday, 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.GuideResults
  3. 032XU 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.GuideResults
  4. 04California 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.GuideResults
  5. 05Carlsbad 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.GuideResults
  6. 06Surf 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.GuideResults
  7. 07ASICS 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.GuideResults
  9. 09Catalina 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.GuideResults
  10. 10Bakersfield 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.GuideResults
  11. 11Modesto 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.GuideResults
  12. 12Mountains 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.GuideResults
  13. 13Big 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.GuideResults
  14. 14Avenue 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.GuideResults
  15. 15OC MarathonSunday, May 2, 2027Costa Mesa, CaliforniaOC Marathon sells the Orange County tour angle, blending a Newport Beach start, coastal flavor, and a big-festival weekend anchored in Costa Mesa.GuideResults
  16. 16Rock 'n' Roll San Diego MarathonSunday, June 6, 2027San Diego, CaliforniaRock 'n' Roll San Diego Marathon is a large destination race built around entertainment, city sightseeing, and a late-spring coastal calendar slot.GuideResults
  17. 17Wicked 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.GuideResults
  18. 18Stinson 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.GuideResults
  19. 19Golden 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.GuideResults
  20. 20Oakland MarathonLatest tracked: Sunday, March 22, 2026Oakland, 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.GuideResults
  21. 21Napa 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.GuideResults