Is April a good month for an Ultra?
It is the fullest month of the year for the Ultra. April carries 37 of them, more than any other month, so you get the widest choice of dates, locations and course types without having to travel far for one.
Race calendar · April 2027
Ultramarathons in April 2027
37 ultramarathons across the US in April 2027, sorted by date. Which weekends are busiest, what the fields actually run, entry fees, and where each one starts.
April ultra racing in the United States is a shoulder-season gamble in the best way. Northern and mountain courses shake off winter with cool mornings and long daylight hours, while the South and Southwest can already serve up serious heat by midday on a fifty-mile effort. Knowing your region is half the battle.
The calendar is spread across all four weekends, so you are unlikely to face a scheduling wall, but the total field of options is modest enough that the race you want may fill before you expect. Many events here sit inside a longer build toward a summer or fall hundred, making April a strategic rather than peak racing month for most participants.
First-time ultra runners find April appealing because conditions are rarely extreme in the middle latitudes, but the same variability that makes the month interesting also makes gear decisions genuinely hard. A morning that starts cold and muddy can finish warm and dusty. Plan layers, carry more hydration than you think you need, and read each course's elevation profile before race day.
What the field actually runs
April Ultramarathons, By the Numbers
6:23:40Median finish time
4:25:26Median winning time
28Median field size
13April ultramarathons with published results
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 Nov 12, 2026.
When in April
The April Race Weekends
Ultramarathons are not spread evenly across April. Here is how the calendar actually falls, weekend by weekend, which is the part worth knowing before you book a trip or plan a taper around one.
By the numbers
The Biggest Field
The largest field of any April Ultra, from the most recent published results.
April Ultramarathons by State
Ultra Marathons by City in April
The Next Ultra Marathons in April
37 total Sat, Apr 3, 2027Two Rivers Marathon Race Festival: Marathon, Half Marathon, 10K and 5K Lackawaxen, PAFrom $165Details Sat, Apr 3, 2027UltraTrax Bear Creek Macungie, PAFrom $126Details Sat, Apr 3, 2027Orlando 50K, Marathon, Half, 10K & 5K Orlando, FLFrom $90Details Sat, Apr 3, 2027Release the Kraken 5K. 10K. 18 Miler & 50K Long Beach, CAFrom $85Details Sat, Apr 3, 2027Déjà Vu Las Vegas, NVFrom $80Details Sun, Apr 4, 2027Coast Guard Marathon Elizabeth City, NCFrom $180Details Sat, Apr 10, 2027Heartland 39.3 Series Kansas City, MOFrom $249Details Sat, Apr 10, 2027Kal-Haven Trail Run Kalamazoo, MIFrom $50Details Sat, Apr 10, 2027Covenant Health Knoxville Marathon, Half Marathon, Relays, 5K and Kids Run Knoxville, TNFrom $155Details Sat, Apr 10, 2027Weymouth Woods 25K/50K Trail Run Southern Pines, NCFrom $90Details Sat, Apr 10, 2027OAT Run Port Angeles, WAFrom $93Details Sat, Apr 10, 2027MadCity Ultras Madison, WIFrom $120Details
Common Questions About Running an April Ultra
What kind of weather should I expect at an April ultra in the United States?
It depends heavily on where you race. The Northeast and Pacific Northwest can bring cold rain, mud, and single-layer mornings well into April. The Southeast and Southwest trend warm to hot, especially on exposed or low-elevation courses. Mountain races may still encounter snow or ice at elevation. Check the forecast within a week of your race, not a month out.
What should I wear and pack for an April ultra?
Start with a wind-resistant outer layer you can shed and stash, and carry it even on sunny mornings because conditions change over a long effort. Waterproof trail shoes or gaiters make sense anywhere with recent rain. Bring more electrolytes than a cool start suggests you need, because an afternoon finish in the South or Southwest can be significantly warmer than your pre-race planning assumed.
Is April a reasonable month for a first ultra?
It can be, especially at mid-latitude venues where spring temperatures are moderate and courses are well-marked from the start of the season. The moderate field sizes at most April events mean more volunteer and aid-station attention per runner, which suits a newcomer. Avoid debut efforts in the South or at high elevation in the Rockies until you have a feel for how your body handles extended heat or altitude stress.
How far in advance should I start training to race an April ultra?
A full winter of base building is the standard approach. Most coaches target sixteen to twenty-four weeks of structured training for a first ultra, which puts a January or even late-November start on the table for an April race. If you are already running consistent weekly mileage, you can compress slightly, but spring ultras reward runners who built through the cold months rather than those who crammed.
When in April are most ultramarathons held?
The busiest weekend is April 10 and April 11, with 12 of them, 10 of those on Saturday, April 10. Another 3 fall on a weekday, which is worth knowing if you are traveling for one.
What is a good Ultra time?
Across the 13 of these April ultramarathons with published results from past editions, the median finisher ran 6:23:40, and the median winning time was 4:25:26. So anything under 6:23:40 puts you in the faster half of a typical field. That is the middle of these RunSignup fields, walkers and charity entrants included, not a national average.
How big is a typical April Ultra field?
The median one finished 28 runners, across the 13 of these April ultramarathons with published results from past editions. Most are far smaller than the big-city events people picture, which means less crowding at the start and a friendlier field, with a last recorded finisher at 8:33:53.
Which states have the most April ultramarathons?
California has 6, Pennsylvania has 4, North Carolina has 3, Florida has 2, New York has 2. If you are willing to travel, those are the states where an April weekend gives you the most to choose from.
Are there trail ultramarathons in April?
Yes, 10 races around the United States get you off the pavement: 10 are trail races.