California · Marathon

2026-2027 Marathons in California

Every upcoming Marathon in California, all 27 of them, sorted by date. Dates, entry fees, finish-time stats from past results, and start-line maps.

27 upcoming marathons · 20 with finish-time stats

5K Races 65610K Races 400Half Marathons 284Ultramarathons 31
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By the numbers

The Biggest and Longest-Running

The California races that stand out on the numbers: the biggest field, and the longest unbroken run of editions.

Largest field1,588 finishersVentura Marathonin the Half Marathon

California Marathons by City

Oakland 3Castro Valley 2Ventura 2San Jose 1Fresno 1Fort Irwin 1Escondido 1Redding 1Woodside 1Sausalito 1Pacifica 1Huntington Beach 1Avalon 1Hemet 1Bakersfield 1Modesto 1Corona 1Los Gatos 1Costa Mesa 1Arcata 1Berkeley 1Clayton 1Santa Cruz 1

Marathons in California by Month

April 2027 7May 2027 5

The Next Marathons in California

27 total
Sat, Oct 31, 2026ZombieRunner Halloween (Sold Out!) San Jose, CA5K10KHalf MarathonMarathonFrom $80Details Sun, Nov 1, 2026Two Cities Marathon Fresno, CAMarathonHalf Marathon10K5KFrom $160Details Sat, Nov 7, 2026Lake Chabot Trail Run Castro Valley, CA4.8 MilesHalf Marathon30KMarathonFrom $80Details Fri, Dec 11, 2026The Blackhorse Marathon in Honor of MG(R) Sunell Fort Irwin, CA18.6 MilesMarathonHalf Marathon5KFrom $35Details Sat, Jan 9, 2027San Diego 50 & Trail Runs Escondido, CA50 MilesMarathonHalf Marathon10 MilesFrom $130Details Sun, Jan 17, 2027The Redding Marathon Events Redding, CAMarathon5KFrom $85Details Sun, Jan 17, 2027SPASM Crystal Springs Trail Run Woodside, CA5 MilesHalf Marathon22 MilesMarathonFrom $80Details Sat, Feb 6, 2027Golden Gate Trail Run Sausalito, CA8KHalf Marathon30KMarathonFrom $80Details Sat, Feb 20, 2027Montara Mountain Trail Run Pacifica, CA10KHalf Marathon20.7 MilesMarathonFrom $80Details Sun, Feb 21, 2027Ventura Marathon Ventura, CAMarathonHalf MarathonFrom $190Details Sat, Feb 27, 2027SOCAL River Marathon - 26.2 - 13.1 - 10K - 5K Huntington Beach, CA5K10KHalf MarathonMarathonFrom $100Details Sat, Mar 13, 2027Catalina Island Marathon, 10K, 5K Avalon, CAMarathon10K5K1KFrom $175Details

How we calculate these stats: RunSesh calculates these figures from the most recent published results of past editions, sourced from RunSignup. We show aggregates only: field size, winning and median times, and the cutoff. We never publish individual finisher tables. Last updated Oct 25, 2026.

Common Questions About Running a Marathon in California

Which California cities have the most marathons?

Oakland (3), Castro Valley (2), Ventura (2), San Jose (1) lead the state for Marathon races. Those give you the most dates to choose from if your schedule is tight.

When are most marathons held in California?

April is the busiest month for Marathon races in California, with 7 of the 27, followed by May with 5. If you are flexible on the date, that is the quickest way to narrow things down.

Are California Marathon races beginner-friendly?

Yes, for the most part. Across the 20 Marathon races in California with published results, the typical median finish is around 5:36:20, which means half of every one of those fields came in slower than that. Recreational runners and walk-runners are the bulk of these fields, not the exception.

Are there trail Marathon races in California?

Yes, 12 races around California get you off the pavement: 12 are trail races.