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California Marathons

California has 57 active marathons this year. Races are most common in March, October, and May. Course terrain for these courses is most often mostly flat or very hilly. Typical race day temperatures range from 45°F to 71°F.

Popular races include the Los Angeles Marathon, California International Marathon, and San Francisco Marathon. There are 2 new marathons in California this year — Jeepers Creepers Marathon and Wicked Fast (CA) Marathon. 37 certified courses can be great Boston qualifier options. Races with the best Boston qualifying percentages include the California International Marathon — 30.2% BQ and Ventura Marathon — 26.7% BQ.

Browse by metro or city:

California Marathons	Course	PR Score	Finishers	BQ%	Reviews	Compare
San Diego Trail Runs Marathon San Diego, CA 01/10/2026	Rolling Hills 81 Finishers	PR Score Course is Not Certified	81 Finishers	Course is Not Certified	Reviews	Compare Races
Carlsbad Marathon Carlsbad, CA 01/18/2026	Rolling Hills 1,186 Finishers	PR Score	1,186 Finishers		Reviews	Compare Races
Crystal Springs Trail Run Marathon Woodside, CA 01/18/2026	Hilly 37 Finishers	PR Score Course is Not Certified	37 Finishers	Course is Not Certified	Reviews	Compare Races
Redding Marathon Redding, CA 01/18/2026	Downhill 239 Finishers	PR Score	239 Finishers		Reviews	Compare Races
Jed Smith Ultra Classic Marathon Sacramento, CA 01/31/2026	Mostly Flat 30 Finishers	PR Score	30 Finishers		Reviews	Compare Races
Death Valley Marathon Death Valley, CA 02/07/2026	Rolling Hills 42 Finishers	PR Score Course is Not Certified	42 Finishers	Course is Not Certified	Reviews	Compare Races
Mt. Umunhum Trail Marathon San Jose, CA 02/07/2026	Very Hilly 7 Finishers	PR Score Course is Not Certified	7 Finishers	Course is Not Certified	Reviews	Compare Races
Surf City Marathon Huntington Beach, CA 02/07/2027	Mostly Flat 1,963 Finishers	PR Score	1,963 Finishers		Reviews	Compare Races
Montara Mountain Marathon Pacifica, CA 02/21/2026	Very Hilly 16 Finishers	PR Score Course is Not Certified	16 Finishers	Course is Not Certified	Reviews	Compare Races
Ventura Marathon Ventura, CA 02/22/2026	Downhill 1,313 Finishers	PR Score	1,313 Finishers		Reviews	Compare Races
SoCal Marathon Huntington Beach, CA 02/28/2026	Downhill 267 Finishers	PR Score	267 Finishers		Reviews	Compare Races
Napa Valley Marathon Napa, CA 03/01/2026	Downhill 1,942 Finishers	PR Score	1,942 Finishers		Reviews	Compare Races
Los Angeles Marathon Los Angeles, CA 03/08/2026	Rolling Hills 21,444 Finishers	PR Score	21,444 Finishers		Reviews	Compare Races
Catalina Marathon Catalina Island, CA 03/14/2026	Very Hilly 437 Finishers	PR Score Course is Not Certified	437 Finishers	Course is Not Certified	Reviews	Compare Races
Buzz Marathon San Miguel, CA 03/21/2026	Hilly 8 Finishers	PR Score	8 Finishers		Reviews	Compare Races
Napa Valley Trail Marathon Calistoga, CA 03/21/2026	Very Hilly 20 Finishers	PR Score Course is Not Certified	20 Finishers	Course is Not Certified	Reviews	Compare Races
Bakersfield Marathon Bakersfield, CA 03/22/2026	Hilly 337 Finishers	PR Score	337 Finishers		Reviews	Compare Races
Modesto Marathon Modesto, CA 03/22/2026	Mostly Flat 325 Finishers	PR Score	325 Finishers		Reviews	Compare Races
Oakland Marathon Oakland, CA 03/22/2026	Rolling Hills 878 Finishers	PR Score	878 Finishers		Reviews	Compare Races
Griffith Park Trail Marathon Los Angeles, CA 03/28/2026	Very Hilly 19 Finishers	PR Score Course is Not Certified	19 Finishers	Course is Not Certified	Reviews	Compare Races
Golden Gate Headlands Marathon Sausalito, CA 04/04/2026	Very Hilly 28 Finishers	PR Score Course is Not Certified	28 Finishers	Course is Not Certified	Reviews	Compare Races
Bedrock Valley Trail Marathon Hemet, CA 04/11/2026	Rolling Hills 33 Finishers	PR Score Course is Not Certified	33 Finishers	Course is Not Certified	Reviews	Compare Races
Horseshoe Lake Trail Run Marathon Palo Alto, CA 04/18/2026	Hilly 21 Finishers	PR Score Course is Not Certified	21 Finishers	Course is Not Certified	Reviews	Compare Races
Mountains 2 Beach Marathon Ventura, CA 04/19/2026	Downhill 1,755 Finishers	PR Score	1,755 Finishers		Reviews	Compare Races
Big Sur International Marathon Carmel, CA 04/26/2026	Hilly 3,318 Finishers	PR Score	3,318 Finishers		Reviews	Compare Races
Wild West Marathon Lone Pine, CA 05/02/2026	Very Hilly 27 Finishers	PR Score Course is Not Certified	27 Finishers	Course is Not Certified	Reviews	Compare Races
Avenue of the Giants Marathon Weott, CA 05/03/2026	Hilly 396 Finishers	PR Score	396 Finishers		Reviews	Compare Races
OC Marathon Costa Mesa, CA 05/03/2026	Mostly Flat 3,021 Finishers	PR Score	3,021 Finishers		Reviews	Compare Races
Sombrero Marathon Santa Clarita, CA 05/03/2026	Mostly Flat 16 Finishers	PR Score	16 Finishers		Reviews	Compare Races
Grizzly Peak Trail Run Marathon Berkeley, CA 05/09/2026	Very Hilly 34 Finishers	PR Score Course is Not Certified	34 Finishers	Course is Not Certified	Reviews	Compare Races
Rock n Roll San Diego Marathon San Diego, CA 05/31/2026	Mostly Flat 5,935 Finishers	PR Score	5,935 Finishers		Reviews	Compare Races
Seaside Marathon Ventura, CA 06/07/2026	Mostly Flat 120 Finishers	PR Score	120 Finishers		Reviews	Compare Races
Wicked Fast (CA) Marathon El Cajon, CA 06/13/2026	Downhill	PR Score			Reviews	Compare Races
Orange Curtain Marathon Cerritos, CA 06/20/2026	Very Flat 38 Finishers	PR Score	38 Finishers		Reviews	Compare Races
San Lorenzo River Marathon Santa Cruz, CA 07/11/2026	Very Hilly 35 Finishers	PR Score Course is Not Certified	35 Finishers	Course is Not Certified	Reviews	Compare Races
Shoreline Marathon Ventura, CA 07/12/2026	Mostly Flat 188 Finishers	PR Score	188 Finishers		Reviews	Compare Races
San Francisco Marathon San Francisco, CA 07/26/2026	Hilly 6,536 Finishers	PR Score	6,536 Finishers		Reviews	Compare Races
Camarillo Marathon Camarillo, CA 08/02/2026	Mostly Flat 107 Finishers	PR Score	107 Finishers		Reviews	Compare Races
Humboldt Bay Marathon Eureka, CA 08/09/2026	Rolling Hills 61 Finishers	PR Score	61 Finishers		Reviews	Compare Races
Santa Rosa Marathon Santa Rosa, CA 08/23/2026	Mostly Flat 1,349 Finishers	PR Score	1,349 Finishers		Reviews	Compare Races
Surfers Point Marathon Ventura, CA 09/06/2026	Mostly Flat 214 Finishers	PR Score	214 Finishers		Reviews	Compare Races
Big Sur Trail Marathon Big Sur, CA 09/26/2026	Very Hilly 41 Finishers	PR Score Course is Not Certified	41 Finishers	Course is Not Certified	Reviews	Compare Races
Bizz Johnson Marathon Susanville, CA 10/11/2026	Downhill 29 Finishers	PR Score	29 Finishers		Reviews	Compare Races
Humboldt Redwoods Marathon Weott, CA 10/11/2026	Rolling Hills 230 Finishers	PR Score	230 Finishers		Reviews	Compare Races
Long Beach Marathon Long Beach, CA 10/11/2026	Mostly Flat 4,722 Finishers	PR Score	4,722 Finishers		Reviews	Compare Races
Cal-Neva Marathon Tahoe City, CA 10/17/2026	Downhill 47 Finishers	PR Score Course is Not Certified	47 Finishers	Course is Not Certified	Reviews	Compare Races
Jeepers Creepers Marathon Santa Clarita, CA 10/18/2026	Mostly Flat	PR Score			Reviews	Compare Races
Lake Tahoe Marathon South Lake Tahoe, CA 10/18/2026	Very Hilly 183 Finishers	PR Score Course is Not Certified	183 Finishers	Course is Not Certified	Reviews	Compare Races
ZombieRunner Halloween Marathon San Jose, CA 10/31/2026	Mostly Flat 68 Finishers	PR Score	68 Finishers		Reviews	Compare Races
Two Cities Marathon Fresno, CA 11/01/2026	Mostly Flat 710 Finishers	PR Score	710 Finishers		Reviews	Compare Races
Lake Chabot Trail Marathon Castro Valley, CA 11/07/2026	Hilly 34 Finishers	PR Score Course is Not Certified	34 Finishers	Course is Not Certified	Reviews	Compare Races
REVEL Big Bear Marathon Redlands, CA 11/07/2026	Downhill 1,837 Finishers	PR Score	1,837 Finishers		Reviews	Compare Races
Saddleback Mountain Goat Marathon Lake Elsinore, CA 11/07/2026	Very Hilly 24 Finishers	PR Score Course is Not Certified	24 Finishers	Course is Not Certified	Reviews	Compare Races
Santa Clarita Marathon Santa Clarita, CA 11/15/2026	Mostly Flat 204 Finishers	PR Score	204 Finishers		Reviews	Compare Races
California International Marathon Sacramento, CA 12/06/2026	Downhill 8,178 Finishers	PR Score	8,178 Finishers		Reviews	Compare Races
Death Valley Trail Marathon Death Valley, CA 12/06/2025	Hilly 67 Finishers	PR Score Course is Not Certified	67 Finishers	Course is Not Certified	Reviews	Compare Races
Holly Jolly Marathon Camarillo, CA 12/20/2026	Mostly Flat 53 Finishers	PR Score	53 Finishers		Reviews	Compare Races

VOTE FOR YOUR FAVORITE MARATHONS

VOTE FOR YOUR FAVORITE MARATHONS

Best Boston Marathon Qualifiers

It's here! Our annual list of the year'sbest marathons to help you qualify for the Boston Marathon.

2026 IS HERE!

Marathon Pace Bands

Run the Right Pace in Your Next Marathon

Nearly 500 marathon courses.Ships same or Next Day

California Marathons

San Diego Trail Runs Marathon

San Diego, CA 01/10/2026

Rolling Hills

81 Finishers

--- PR Score

Course isNot Certified

81 Finishers

Course isNot Certified

Reviews

Compare Races

Carlsbad Marathon

Carlsbad, CA 01/18/2026

Rolling Hills

Elevation Chart

1,186 Finishers

98.24 PR Score

5.7%

Qualified

1,186 Finishers

5.7%

Qualified

Reviews

Compare Races

Crystal Springs Trail Run Marathon

Woodside, CA 01/18/2026

Hilly

37 Finishers

--- PR Score

Course isNot Certified

37 Finishers

Course isNot Certified

Reviews

Compare Races

Redding Marathon

Redding, CA 01/18/2026

Downhill

Elevation Chart

239 Finishers

99.35 PR Score

1.7%

Qualified

239 Finishers

1.7%

Qualified

Reviews

Compare Races

Jed Smith Ultra Classic Marathon

Sacramento, CA 01/31/2026

Mostly Flat

30 Finishers

--- PR Score

6.7%

Qualified

30 Finishers

6.7%

Qualified

Reviews

Compare Races

Death Valley Marathon

Death Valley, CA 02/07/2026

Rolling Hills

Elevation Chart

42 Finishers

98.81 PR Score

Course isNot Certified

42 Finishers

Course isNot Certified

Reviews

Compare Races

Mt. Umunhum Trail Marathon

San Jose, CA 02/07/2026

It's here! Our annual list of the year's
best marathons to help you qualify for the Boston Marathon.

Nearly 500 marathon courses.
Ships same or Next Day

San Diego, CA
01/10/2026

PR Score

Course is
Not Certified

Course is
Not Certified

Carlsbad, CA
01/18/2026

PR Score

Woodside, CA
01/18/2026

PR Score

Course is
Not Certified

Course is
Not Certified

Redding, CA
01/18/2026

PR Score

Sacramento, CA
01/31/2026

PR Score

Death Valley, CA
02/07/2026

PR Score

Course is
Not Certified

Course is
Not Certified

San Jose, CA
02/07/2026

PR Score

Course is
Not Certified

Course is
Not Certified

Huntington Beach, CA
02/07/2027

PR Score

Pacifica, CA
02/21/2026

PR Score

Course is
Not Certified

Course is
Not Certified

Ventura, CA
02/22/2026

PR Score

Huntington Beach, CA
02/28/2026

PR Score

Napa, CA
03/01/2026

PR Score