Next race
Saturday, 31 July 2027
6:30 am start
Distance
42.195 km / 26.2 mi
Urban road
Elevation
Hilly · 396 m gain
396 m climbing
Race profile
The San Francisco Marathon draws approximately 5,000 finishers on an urban road in San Francisco, United States. The course starts and finishes along the Embarcadero. The route crosses the Golden Gate Bridge, passes the Presidio, Golden Gate Park, and the Haight. Hilly throughout, with the steepest climbs in the Presidio and through Golden Gate Park.
San Francisco Marathon is a certified 42.195 km (26.2 mile) marathon — the standard World Athletics marathon distance.
Approximately 5,000 finishers
Course & terrain
The San Francisco Marathon is a city loop starting and finishing along the Embarcadero, crossing the Golden Gate Bridge and passing the Presidio, Golden Gate Park, and the Haight. The Embarcadero and flatter park sections are the easiest once the hills are behind you, while the Presidio climbs, Golden Gate Park rollers, and bridge crossing are the toughest work. Crowds line the Embarcadero, pack the Golden Gate Bridge approaches, and cheer through Golden Gate Park and the Haight.
The San Francisco Marathon course is hilly over 42.195 km (26.2 miles). Runners cover 396 metres of climbing and 396 metres of descent, with minimal net elevation change from start to finish.
Hilly · 396 m gain — approx. 16 m above sea level
↑ 396 m · ↓ 396 m · net 0 m
Registration
The San Francisco Marathon uses open registration at thesfmarathon.com with no ballot or qualifying time. Sign-up for the July race typically opens the previous November and the full marathon can sell out given demand for the Golden Gate Bridge crossing. Tiered pricing rewards early registration.
Getting there
San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
18 km / 11 mi
Oakland (OAK)
Oakland San Francisco Bay Airport
18 km / 11 mi
Race footage
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 San Francisco.
The Oakland Marathon draws approximately 1,700 finishers each March on an urban road in Oakland, United States. Its course showcases Oakland's different districts more fully than most Bay Area races do. The route passes Lake Merritt, Jack London Square, and eclectic East Bay neighborhoods with bay-side views. Rolling terrain with moderate climbs shapes the middle miles.
Next race: Sunday, 21 March 2027
The Santa Rosa Marathon draws approximately 1,600 finishers each August on a wine-country road in Santa Rosa, United States. Its summer date works because the race begins early before Sonoma County heat builds. The route passes vineyard-lined roads, rural bike paths, and shaded stretches along Santa Rosa Creek. Gentle undulations are the only breaks on an otherwise flat profile.
Next race: Sunday, 1 August 2027
The Napa Valley Marathon draws approximately 2,500 finishers each March on a point-to-point road in Calistoga, United States. It is one of the most famous wine-country marathons in the world and stays intentionally low-key despite strong demand. The course passes vineyards, winery estates, and quiet Silverado Trail miles backed by low hills. Gentle undulations are the only breaks on an otherwise flat profile.
Next race: Friday, 5 March 2027
The Sacramento Marathon — universally known as the California International Marathon (CIM) — draws approximately 4,000 finishers each December on a fast point-to-point road from Folsom to downtown Sacramento. The net-downhill course drops roughly 103 metres through the Sierra Nevada foothills before finishing on Capitol Mall in front of the California State Capitol. Cool early-December weather and a USATF-certified profile make it one of the most reliable Boston-qualifier races in the western United States.
Next race: Sunday, 6 December 2026
The Big Sur International Marathon is widely regarded as America's most beautiful marathon, drawing about 4,500 runners each April on a point-to-point along California's Highway 1. The course passes the iconic Bixby Bridge at mile 13, McWay Falls viewpoints, and the rugged Big Sur coastline. It is not a personal-best course — the hills and cliffside scenery are the reward.
Next race: Sunday, 25 April 2027
The Mountains 2 Beach Marathon draws approximately 1,750 finishers each April on a point-to-point road in Ventura, United States. Southern California's premier spring Boston qualifier — a distinct April event from the winter Ventura Marathon, with a spectator-friendly Ojai loop and roughly 700 feet of net descent. The April point-to-point route loops East Ojai at the start, passes Meiners Oaks countryside, the Ventura River basin, the paved Ventura River bike path, downtown Ventura, and a final mile along the Pacific. It is a separate spring race from the February Ventura Marathon (https://www.marathonfocus.com/marathons/ventura-marathon), which uses a shorter Ojai start and the Ojai–Ventura bike path without the opening loop. The route is net downhill overall.
Next race: Friday, 16 April 2027
Planning guides
Practical guides to help you plan, train for, and run this race.
What flat, rolling, and hilly really mean — and how to read elevation gain, net change, and altitude on a marathon course.
How temperature, humidity, wind, and rain affect marathon performance — and how to use typical race-day weather when choosing a start line.
Match a race to your goals — personal bests, sightseeing, atmosphere, or a major milestone — using course data and realistic expectations.
