Phoenix, Arizona, United States
The Phoenix Marathon draws approximately 2,372 finishers each December on a desert urban road in Phoenix, United States. Organizers of the Mesa Marathon launched this December sibling race, which exceeded 2,300 marathon finishers in its first edition. The course runs from South Mountain through the Salt River trail corridor, downtown past the Arizona State Capitol and ASU Downtown, Hance Park, and midtown streets. South Mountain descents, Salt River trails, and downtown streets past the Arizona Capitol carry December's desert marathon through Phoenix on a largely flat route.
Phoenix Marathon is a certified 42.195 km (26.2 mile) marathon — the standard World Athletics marathon distance.
The next Phoenix Marathon is scheduled for Sunday, 6 December 2026 with a 7:00 am start. The certified course covers 42.195 km (26.2 miles) with 100 m of climbing on a mostly flat with gentle undulations layout.
The Phoenix Marathon is a largely flat desert urban road course suited to steady pacing. Starts and finishes in the Phoenix metro area on a certified desert road loop. The course runs through Greater Phoenix suburbs and desert boulevards with views toward the surrounding mountain ranges. Mostly flat with gentle undulations.
The Phoenix Marathon course is mostly flat with gentle undulations over 42.195 km (26.2 miles). Runners cover 100 metres of climbing and 95 metres of descent, with a net climb of 5 metres from start to finish.
Phoenix Marathon is typically held in December. Registration opens through https://phxmarathon.com/ and may use a lottery or tiered entry when demand exceeds capacity.
Last updated 18 July 2026. Edition dates and course details are reviewed regularly.
Other races closest to Phoenix.
The Rock 'n' Roll Arizona Marathon draws approximately 3,500 finishers each January through the Phoenix-Scottsdale metropolitan area. The course passes Camelback Mountain views, Scottsdale's resort corridors, and Tempe Town Lake on flat desert-city roads with live music stages. January's perfect Arizona desert weather makes it one of the Rock 'n' Roll series' most popular winter events.
Next race: Saturday, 16 January 2027
The Every Woman's Marathon draws approximately 4,300 finishers each November on a desert urban road in Scottsdale, United States. It rotates U.S. host cities annually and was built specifically to celebrate women runners at scale. The course passes downtown streets, local parks, and signature landmarks of the current host city — recent editions have included Savannah and Scottsdale. Downtown streets, local parks, and signature host-city landmarks rotate annually as this women-focused November race celebrates runners at scale on a largely flat course.
Next race: Sunday, 1 November 2026
The Mesa-PHX Marathon draws approximately 3,500 finishers each February through the Phoenix metropolitan area's East Valley. The course passes Usery Mountain views, the Salt River corridor, and Mesa's desert-city boulevards on flat Arizona terrain. February's ideal desert running weather — cool mornings and warm finishes — makes it a popular western US winter marathon.
Next race: Saturday, 13 February 2027
The Tucson Marathon draws approximately 1,800 finishers each December on a desert point-to-point road in Tucson, United States. The race combines dry desert air with a long net drop that keeps it popular for late-year qualifiers. The course passes saguaro-dotted desert roads, Catalina foothill views, and broad urban boulevards into the city. The route is net downhill overall.
Next race: Sunday, 6 December 2026
The Las Vegas Marathon draws approximately 4,800 finishers on an urban road in Las Vegas, United States. The course starts on the Strip and finishes at the Festival Grounds. The route runs the length of Las Vegas Boulevard past the major casinos. Mostly flat along the desert floor.
Next race: Sunday, 8 November 2026
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