Coastal Half Marathon
Thanksgiving weekend race on the paved Backcountry Trail through Gulf State Park, flat and traffic free before a final stretch along the Gulf highway.
Quick facts
- Flat paved course built around the Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trail in Gulf State Park.
- Staging, parking, and the start are all at the Orange Beach Sportsplex off Canal Road.
- Mild Gulf conditions make it a realistic late season target for a fast time.
- Long running coastal Alabama race with published results going back well over a decade.
About the Coastal Half Marathon
Gulf State Park's paved trail network is the draw here. The race has run on the Alabama coast since the late 2000s under a handful of sponsor names, and its Thanksgiving weekend slot catches the beach towns quiet and the summer humidity finally gone. Magic Sports USA, a regional triathlon promoter, produces it alongside a 5K and a one mile run.
Course
Runners leave the Orange Beach Sportsplex and spend most of the race on the Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trail, a paved path winding through pine and coastal scrub, then pick up a traffic free Gulf State Park road before a stretch on the beachfront highway. It is genuinely flat. The early trail sections are narrow, so getting out clean matters more than it does on a wide road course.
Race-day weather
Late November on the Alabama coast usually means a start in the 50s and a finish in the 60s, with a breeze coming off the Gulf. The trail miles are shaded, but the highway stretch near the end has no cover at all.
Past Coastal Half Marathon dates and results
| Year | Date | Status | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Saturday, November 28, 2026 | Upcoming | — |
Coastal Half Marathon FAQ
When is the Coastal Half Marathon?
The 2026 Coastal Half Marathon is on Saturday, November 28, 2026.
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