The results are in for our 2026 Best Marathons poll.
See the best marathons in each state, as voted by runners.
North Carolina has 19 active marathons this year. Races are most common in February, November, and March. Course terrain for these courses is most often rolling hills or hilly. Typical race day temperatures range from 41°F to 62°F.
Popular races include the Charlotte Marathon, Wilmington Marathon, and City of Oaks Marathon. There is 1 new marathon in North Carolina this year — Garmin Durham Marathon. 15 certified courses can be great Boston qualifier options. Races with the best Boston qualifying percentages include the Tobacco Road Marathon — 12.4% BQ and Wilmington Marathon — 11.3% BQ.
| North Carolina Marathons |
Course
|
PR Score
|
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mangum MarathonEllerbe, NC01/16/2027 |  Hilly 54 Finishers |
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Run Oak Island MarathonOak Island, NC02/14/2027 |  Very Flat292 Finishers |
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Valentines Day Massacre MarathonGreensboro, NC02/14/2027 |  Rolling Hills39 Finishers |
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Wilmington MarathonWilmington, NC02/27/2027 |  Mostly Flat1,492 Finishers |
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Ellerbe MarathonEllerbe, NC02/28/2026 | Hilly45 Finishers |
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Umstead MarathonRaleigh, NC03/07/2026 | Hilly118 Finishers |
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Tobacco Road MarathonCary, NC03/14/2027 | Rolling Hills853 Finishers |
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Asheville MarathonAsheville, NC03/20/2027 | Rolling Hills584 Finishers |
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Black Mountain MarathonBlack Mountain, NC04/03/2027 |  Very Hilly257 Finishers |
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New South Trail MarathonCharlotte, NC04/04/2026 | Hilly60 Finishers |
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Coast Guard MarathonElizabeth City, NC04/12/2026 | Very Flat964 Finishers |
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Garmin Durham MarathonDurham, NC05/02/2026 | Rolling Hills
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New River MarathonFleetwood, NC05/16/2026 | Hilly297 Finishers |
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Cannonball MarathonGreensboro, NC10/17/2026 | Rolling Hills154 Finishers |
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Emerald Isle MarathonEmerald Isle, NC10/24/2026 | Very Flat286 Finishers |
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RDC MarathonDurham, NC10/25/2026 | Rolling Hills225 Finishers |
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City of Oaks MarathonRaleigh, NC11/01/2026 | Hilly979 Finishers |
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Outer Banks MarathonManteo, NC11/08/2026 | Mostly Flat327 Finishers |
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Charlotte MarathonCharlotte, NC11/14/2026 | Rolling Hills2,647 Finishers |
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