Next race
Saturday, 12 December 2026
7:00 am start
Distance
42.195 km / 26.2 mi
Desert urban road
Elevation
Rolling · 100 m gain
100 m climbing
Race profile
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. Gentle undulations are the only breaks on an otherwise flat profile.
Phoenix Marathon is a certified 42.195 km (26.2 mile) marathon — the standard World Athletics marathon distance.
Approximately 2,372 finishers
Course & terrain
The Phoenix Marathon is a largely flat desert urban road course suited to steady pacing. Starts at South Mountain Park and finishes at Steele Indian School Park, entirely within Phoenix city limits. 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. Mostly flat with gentle undulations.
The Phoenix Marathon course is rolling 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.
Rolling · 100 m gain — approx. 331 m above sea level
↑ 100 m · ↓ 95 m · net +5 m
Registration
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.
Getting there
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX)
6 km / 4 mi
Common questions
Official resources
Last updated 11 October 2026. Edition dates and course details are reviewed regularly.
Close to this race
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 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 roughly 1,100 marathon finishers each December on a desert point-to-point from Biosphere 2 to Pima Community College Northwest Campus near Oro Valley. Dry winter air and a long net drop (~1,500 ft) make it popular for late-year Boston qualifiers along Catalina foothill and saguaro desert roads.
Next race: Sunday, 13 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
The REVEL Mt. Charleston Marathon draws approximately 1,707 finishers each April on a point-to-point road in Las Vegas, United States. It is one of the fastest Boston-qualifier courses in the West thanks to a sustained net descent of roughly 5,000 feet. The net-downhill course drops from Mt. Charleston through mountain roads with sweeping views before descending toward the Las Vegas basin. The route is net downhill overall.
Next race: Saturday, 3 April 2027
The St. George Marathon is one of America's fastest marathons, drawing about 5,000 finishers each October on a net-downhill point-to-point from Pine Valley to St. George, Utah. The course drops through striking red-rock desert scenery in southwestern Utah with cool October desert mornings. It is a premier Boston qualifier and destination race for speed-focused runners.
Next race: Saturday, 2 October 2027
Planning guides
Practical guides to help you plan, train for, and run this race.
Which US marathons produce Boston qualifiers in practice — course data, typical BQ rates, and how to match a race to your qualifying window.
What flat, rolling, and hilly really mean — and how to read elevation gain, net change, and altitude on a marathon course.
How major marathons allocate places — open entry, lotteries, charity bibs, tour operators, and what to check before you commit to a trip.
