The best marathons in America for European runners (2026-2027)

An American marathon is more than a race: it is a trip you will still be talking about years from now. But which one suits your pace, your knees and your odds of getting a bib? Here is our guide to the best US marathons from October 2026 through June 2027.

The big three: New York, Chicago and Boston

New York City Marathon, 1 November 2026

The world's largest marathon, through all five boroughs, with crowds that carry you through the final miles in Central Park. The hard part is getting in. The 2026 drawing drew more than 240,000 applications, a record, so your odds there are slim. For international runners the realistic route is a package from one of organiser NYRR's official international tour operators (entry plus hotel, often flights), or a place with one of the official charities.

A small bonus if you already have a bib for this year: US clocks go back the night before the race. Europe changed a week earlier, on 25 October.

Chicago Marathon, 11 October 2026

Flat, fast and superbly run: Chicago is the Major where many runners set their personal best. You are too late for 2026, but the application for 2027 opens on 8 October and closes on 29 October, with results on 8 December. Applying is free.

What few runners know: Chicago also offers guaranteed entry on time. A man aged 50 to 54 needs 3:15:00, a woman 3:50:00, run on a certified marathon between 1 January 2025 and 29 October 2026. A charity place requires at least 2,500 dollars in fundraising.

Boston Marathon, 19 April 2027

The world's oldest annual marathon, and the only Major where you essentially have to earn your place. Qualifier registration closed on 18 September 2026. The age standards stay the same for 2027 and 2028:

Age	Men	Women
40-44	3:05:00	3:35:00
45-49	3:15:00	3:45:00
50-54	3:20:00	3:50:00
55-59	3:30:00	4:00:00
60-64	3:50:00	4:20:00

Meeting the standard is not enough. With more qualifiers than places, there is a cutoff. In 2026 you had to be 4 minutes 34 seconds under your standard, and 8,887 runners with a valid qualifying time missed out. A 52-year-old man therefore needed not 3:20 but 3:15:26 or faster. The 2027 cutoff is due in early October.

New from 2027: about 1,000 places are drawn at random among qualifiers who met their standard but fell short of the cutoff. And if you qualify on a steeply downhill course, time is now added: five minutes for a net drop of 1,500 to 2,999 feet (roughly 457 to 914 metres).

So Boston 2027 is out of reach unless you go through a charity or a tour operator. But the qualifying window for 2028 already opened on 19 September 2026, so a fast spring marathon counts.

Beyond the Majors

Big Sur, 25 April 2027

From Big Sur to Carmel along Highway 1, with the Pacific beside you, the climb to Hurricane Point and the crossing of Bixby Bridge. The organisers call it the largest rural marathon in the world. The course rolls, so this is not a PB race. There is a six-hour limit (about 8:33 per kilometre). Too much? Choose the 21-miler (33.8 km, with 6.5 hours) or the 11-miler (17.7 km). Average temperatures: 10 to 16 degrees Celsius.

Honolulu, 13 December 2026

A 5 a.m. start in the dark, a finish in Hawaiian morning sun. Honolulu is the friendliest big marathon for anyone taking it easy: there is no time limit and walkers are explicitly welcome. You do have to keep moving.

There is no cut-off time!

JAL Honolulu Marathon, official FAQ

Marine Corps Marathon, 25 October 2026

"The People's Marathon" in Washington and Arlington, run by the US Marines. It is the largest marathon in the world without prize money, and the organisers pitch it squarely at beginners. You need to hold 14 minutes per mile (about 8:42 per kilometre). Registration is open at a standard price of 240 dollars.

Los Angeles, 7 March 2027

The course is called "Stadium to the Stars" and takes in the city's best-known neighbourhoods and landmarks. A good choice if you want to pair a marathon with a spring trip to California. Registration for 2027 is open.

Grandma's Marathon, 19 June 2027

In Duluth, Minnesota, along Lake Superior. The organisers describe a relatively flat and fast course, with more than 20,000 participants from over 50 countries. Registration opens on 1 October at 7 p.m. local time, which is 2 a.m. on 2 October in Central Europe.

California International Marathon, 6 December 2026

From Folsom to the State Capitol in Sacramento, point to point with a net drop of 111.5 metres. That stays well below Boston's new threshold, so no time penalty. CIM calls itself the number one Boston qualifier in the US. If you are chasing a qualifying time for 2028, this is the obvious December race.

Philadelphia, 22 November 2026

A historic city, more than 30,000 athletes across race weekend and a Boston qualifier. The 2026 marathon, half marathon and challenges are sold out; only an official charity can still get you in. Put it on your list for 2027.

At a glance

Marathon	Date	Why	Way in
Chicago	11 Oct 2026	Flat, fast, Major	2027: draw 8-29 Oct, time qualifier, tour partner, charity
Marine Corps	25 Oct 2026	Beginner-friendly, no prize money	Registration open
New York	1 Nov 2026	World's largest, five boroughs	Drawing, tour partner, charity
Philadelphia	22 Nov 2026	History, Boston qualifier	Sold out, charity only
CIM	6 Dec 2026	Downhill, fast, BQ hunting	Via runcim.org
Honolulu	13 Dec 2026	No time limit, walkers welcome	Registration open
Los Angeles	7 Mar 2027	City and landmarks	Registration open
Boston	19 Apr 2027	The oldest, qualifier-only	Time qualifier (closed), charity, tour partner
Big Sur	25 Apr 2027	Coast road, 11 and 21 miles too	Registration open
Grandma's	19 Jun 2027	Flat, lakeside	Opens 1 Oct, 7 p.m. local

How Europeans get in

• Lotteries. Free or cheap, but at the Majors your odds are small. Enter anyway, just don't build your trip around it.
• International tour operators. Most big races work with official operators that bundle a bib with a hotel and sometimes flights. Pricier, but certain. Always check that an operator is on the race's official list.
• Charities. A guaranteed place in return for fundraising. Expect thousands of dollars: Chicago asks for at least 2,500.
• Qualifying times. All of Boston, part of Chicago. For fast runners over 50, often the cheapest route.
• Just sign up. Marine Corps, Honolulu, Big Sur, LA and Grandma's can (still) be booked directly. Be early.

Travel and race week

ESTA. Most EU citizens travel under the Visa Waiver Program and need an ESTA and an e-passport. US Customs and Border Protection recommends applying before you buy your airline ticket. An ESTA is valid for up to two years. Apply only via the official CBP route: third-party sites often charge extra.

Jet lag. From Central Europe the difference is six hours to the East Coast, seven to Chicago and Duluth, nine to California and eleven to Hawaii in December. Arrive at least three to five days early, especially for a West Coast race. Most people find flying west easier than flying home, so plan some recovery after you get back too.

Race week. Collect your bib at the expo, usually in person with photo ID. Every marker is in miles: set your watch to miles or convert your splits in advance. For point-to-point races such as Big Sur and CIM you travel to the start early, so bring warm layers you can leave behind. Try nothing new on race day, including an unfamiliar sports drink from an American supermarket. And check that your travel insurance covers US medical costs and sporting events.

Which one suits you?

• Your first marathon: Marine Corps. Big, festive, tightly organised and explicitly aimed at beginners.
• Slower than 4:30, or a walker: Honolulu, with no time limit. Or Big Sur as a 21- or 11-miler: the same coast road with less time pressure.
• Chasing a Boston qualifier: CIM in December, or Chicago in October 2027 if the draw goes your way. Allow a margin of five minutes or more under your standard.
• For the views: Big Sur, no contest. If you prefer city to nature, pick New York or Los Angeles.

Whichever you choose, start training in good time, build your long runs gradually and give your body a few days after the race before you get back on a plane.