Flagship ranking · updated October 30, 2026

Best Marathons in the US

These marathons are ranked by a score out of 100, built from four things we can measure: field size, history, credentials and course character. Each race's breakdown is printed on its row, so you can see why it sits where it does. We wrote the notes after the scores came out, and a few of the results surprised us.

The scores favor races that have proven themselves at scale and over time, which is why the majors sit at the top. Field size is counted on a log scale, though, so past a few thousand runners a bigger field adds very little, and history and the course carry the rest. That's how Vermont City, with about 1,500 finishers and a history going back to 1989, outscores Philadelphia and its nearly 12,600. Big Sur, with about 3,200, does too. If you're after a fast time, the notes point out the flat courses. If you're after the experience, start at the top.

The full formula and weights are on the methodology page. If a listing has a fact wrong, the race director can claim it for free and fix it.

Composite /100 · FLD field · HST history · CRD credentials · CHR character

1 New York City Marathon New York City, NY Nov 2026 Major BQ USATF 100.0/100

The only race in our index that maxes out all four components. Five boroughs, the largest marathon field in the world, and crowds most of the way. The noise on First Avenue is the most famous moment in the sport. The bridges make it neither flat nor fast, and nobody runs New York for the splits.

2 Boston Marathon Boston, MA Apr 2027 Major BQ USATF 93.2/100

The oldest annual marathon in the world, and the only one here you have to qualify for. Its scores undersell it, because no field-size number captures what the unicorn medal means to the people chasing it. Know the course before you go: the point-to-point from Hopkinton runs downhill early and takes it back in the Newton hills, with Heartbreak Hill at mile 20.

3 Grandma's Marathon Duluth, MN Jun 2027 BQ USATF 87.3/100

Duluth is a fraction of the size of the cities above it, and this race is why field size is counted on a log scale. A point-to-point course along Lake Superior, a June date that owns the early-summer calendar and half a century of history earn it a top-five score. The whole town turns out. If you travel for one small-city marathon, make it this one.

4 Big Sur International Marathon Big Sur, CA Apr 2027 BQ USATF 80.7/100

The most beautiful road marathon in America: Highway 1, the surf below, and a grand piano at Bixby Bridge. A small, capped field and a hard hill profile hold its score down, and that's fair. It's a race for the views, not a fast time. Run it the same year as Boston if you can get into both.

5 Richmond Marathon Richmond, VA Nov 2026 BQ USATF 80.1/100

It bills itself as America's friendliest marathon and backs that up with junk-food stations and wet washcloths in the late miles. Under the charm is a good November course, rolling but fair, with a downhill finish to the river. Nearly fifty years of history does a lot of work in its score.

6 Houston Marathon Houston, TX Jan 2027 BQ USATF 77.6/100

The January pick for a PR. Flat, fast, well run and usually cool, and it shares the morning with a half, which makes it one of the biggest race weekends of the winter. Its character score is modest. That's the trade: the course is built for fast times, and it delivers them.

7 Vermont City Marathon Burlington, VT May 2027 BQ USATF 77.3/100

The surprise near the top. Burlington's Memorial Day weekend race pairs Lake Champlain views with small-city charm and more than three decades of history. It scores on character and history rather than size, which is also why you can still get in.

8 Philadelphia Marathon Philadelphia, PA Nov 2026 BQ USATF 76.2/100

A strong November option through the historic districts and along the Schuylkill River, finishing by the Art Museum. It's solid on every component without leading any, a dependable big-city marathon that's easier to get into than the majors.

9 California International Marathon Sacramento, CA Dec 2026 BQ USATF 74.5/100

Where people go to qualify for Boston and the Olympic Trials. The net-downhill point-to-point from Folsom to the state capitol is set up for fast December times, and the field is full of runners chasing a number. It scores lower than flashier races on character. If you're here for a qualifier, ignore that and sign up.

10 Missoula Marathon Missoula, MT Jun 2027 BQ USATF 69.7/100

A summer point-to-point into downtown Missoula that runners rate among their favorites anywhere. Small field, big-sky scenery and western hospitality. Its size and relative youth hold its score down.

11 Eugene Marathon Eugene, OR Apr 2027 BQ USATF 68.2/100

TrackTown USA's marathon finishes on the track at Hayward Field, the best finish in the sport. Flat, green and in the spring. It's young by this list's standards, and the history score reflects that.

12 Mesa Marathon Mesa, AZ Feb 2027 BQ USATF 59.7/100

A February desert race built for speed, with a gentle net-downhill course that has made it a regular on BQ chasers' calendars. It was first run in 2013, so it's young for this list, and its score should climb as its history grows.

13 Buffalo Marathon Weekend Buffalo, NY Nov 2026 USATF 52.6/100
14 Coastal Delaware Running Festival Rehoboth Beach, DE Apr 2027 USATF 50.7/100
15 Carmel Marathon Weekend Carmel, IN Apr 2027 USATF 50.5/100
16 Delaware Running Festival Wilmington, DE Apr 2027 USATF 50.3/100
17 Bakersfield Marathon Bakersfield, CA Apr 2027 USATF 49.6/100
18 Big Beach Marathon, Half Marathon & Safari 5K Gulf Shores, AL Jan 2027 USATF 49.3/100
19 Bend Marathon and Half Bend, OR Mar 2027 USATF 49.0/100
20 2027 Zeigler Kalamazoo Marathon Kalamazoo, MI Apr 2027 USATF 49.0/100
21 Epic Marathon and Running Festival Green Bay, WI May 2027 USATF 49.0/100
22 Combos(R) Marathon and Half Marathon Albany, GA Mar 2027 USATF 47.8/100
23 27th Annual Pocatello Marathon Pocatello, ID Sep 2027 USATF 47.5/100
24 Athens Ohio Marathon Athens, OH Apr 2027 USATF 47.4/100
25 "Loop The Lake" The Great New York State Marathon Weekend Syracuse, NY Oct 2027 USATF 47.2/100
26 25th Annual Little Rock Marathon Weekend Little Rock, AR Mar 2027 USATF 46.7/100
27 2027 Zydeco Marathon - 26.2 Full | 13.1 Half | Team Relay | 5k | 1 Mile Lafayette, LA Mar 2027 USATF 46.7/100
28 AdventHealth Presents the Central Florida Legends Marathon, Half Marathon and 5K DeBary, FL Nov 2026 USATF 46.6/100
29 Back Your Badge Marathon Plainfield, IN Sep 2027 USATF 45.3/100
30 2026 San Antonio Marathon San Antonio, TX Dec 2026 USATF 45.2/100
31 Conquer The Canal Delaware City, DE May 2027 USATF 44.5/100
32 Ocean City Running Festival Ocean City, MD Nov 2026 42.4/100
33 Bound for Boston Marathon & Half Marathon - Sarasota Sarasota, FL Dec 2026 USATF 41.3/100
34 14th Annual Springfield Marathon & Harvest Wind Half Marathon & 10K New Berlin, IL Nov 2026 USATF 40.9/100
35 Bound for Boston Marathon & Half Marathon - Denver Denver, CO Aug 2027 USATF 39.1/100
36 7th Annual Mangum Marathon & 1/2 Marathon Ellerbe, NC Jan 2027 38.0/100

Longest-running races

2 races we can date but haven't measured enough of to score. Oldest first. What we measure →

Also listed, not yet ranked

51 races we list but haven't measured enough of to score. By date. What we measure →

Best Marathons in the US

Races worth traveling for

Longest-running races

Also listed, not yet ranked