Summit2Summit Half Marathon
Two mountain summits inside Hot Springs National Park give this Arkansas half about 1,000 feet of climbing on paved park roads, plus a four hour limit.
Quick facts
- Two summits inside Hot Springs National Park, roughly 1,000 feet of total gain.
- Fully paved on park roads and downtown streets, no trail sections.
- Four hour limit, about an 18:18 per mile pace.
- Returns past Bathhouse Row and the Quapaw Historic District to a downtown finish.
About the Summit2Summit Half Marathon
The Spa Running Festival is one of the longest-running road races in Arkansas, and the half marathon is the hardest thing on its schedule. It climbs both mountains inside Hot Springs National Park and drops back into the city past Bathhouse Row, which is a rare course profile for a Southern half.
Course
From a downtown start on Convention Boulevard the course climbs Hot Springs Mountain Drive to the North Mountain loop, descends back through town, then climbs West Mountain to Summit Drive before returning. Each summit is roughly 500 feet of gain, all on paved park road, and the descents are steep enough to wreck quads that were not trained for them.
Race-day weather
Mid-November in central Arkansas usually brings a 40s start warming into the 60s. Tree cover on the mountain roads is thin by then, so the second climb often feels warmer and more exposed than the first.
Past Summit2Summit Half Marathon dates and results
| Year | Date | Status | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Saturday, November 14, 2026 | Upcoming | — |
Summit2Summit Half Marathon FAQ
When is the Summit2Summit Half Marathon?
The 2026 Summit2Summit Half Marathon is on Saturday, November 14, 2026.
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