10 Bucket List Marathons in the United States (2027)

Q: What are the best marathons in the United States?

Pierce Showe's top 10 bucket-list marathons are Boston, New York City, Big Sur, Chicago, Marine Corps, your hometown marathon, Honolulu, Grandma's, LA and Twin Cities.

The short answer

The 10 bucket-list marathons in the US, counting down: 10. Twin Cities, 9. LA, 8. Grandma's, 7. Honolulu, 6. your hometown marathon, 5. Marine Corps, 4. Chicago, 3. Big Sur, 2. New York City and 1. Boston.

My first marathon was the Columbus Marathon in Ohio in 2018. I ran a 3:43. Since then I've run marathons from LA to Jersey City, and a lot of ultras.

Pierce Showe holding up his finisher medal in a space blanket after his first marathon, the 2018 Columbus Marathon — Me (left) after my first marathon, Columbus 2018.

Some marathons are just races. These ones are experiences: the crowds, the views, the history, or the place they take you. Here are 10 to put on your list, counting down to #1.

10. Twin Cities Marathon (Minnesota)

Runners approaching the Twin Cities Marathon finish line in Saint Paul with the Cathedral of Saint Paul behind them — The finish in Saint Paul, with the Cathedral of Saint Paul behind it.

When: October 17, 2027
Where: Minneapolis to Saint Paul, MN
Course: Through the chain of lakes and across the Mississippi River
How to get in: Registration reopens March 2, 2027

The race calls itself "The Most Beautiful Urban Marathon in America," and October in Minnesota is a good time to see it. You start in Minneapolis, run past the lakes, cross the Mississippi and finish in Saint Paul.

See the Twin Cities Marathon →

9. Los Angeles Marathon (California)

Thousands of LA Marathon runners on a palm-lined boulevard in Hollywood with the Hollywood Hills behind them — Runners on a palm-lined boulevard in Hollywood, around mile 12.

When: March 7, 2027
Where: Los Angeles, CA
Course: Starts at Dodger Stadium and runs through Downtown, Hollywood and Rodeo Drive
How to get in: Open registration

I ran LA in March 2020. It was my second marathon, and I ran a 3:23, a 20-minute PR from my first. The beginning was a bit hilly, but the end was amazing: a steady downhill for the last 2 miles to finish by the beach.

Pierce Showe holding up his LA Marathon finisher medal after the 2020 race — Me (right) after the 2020 LA Marathon.

The course has changed since then. Recent races finish in Century City instead of at the ocean, but you still get a tour of LA's most famous neighborhoods.

See the LA Marathon →

8. Grandma's Marathon (Minnesota)

A huge crowd of runners at the start of Grandma's Marathon on a road along the shore of Lake Superior — The start of Grandma's Marathon, along Lake Superior.

When: June 2027 (date TBA; 2026 was June 20)
Where: Two Harbors to Duluth, MN
Course: Point to point along the North Shore of Lake Superior
How to get in: First-come, first-served. 2027 sold out in under three hours.

A point-to-point run along Lake Superior, finishing in Canal Park in Duluth. It's one of the most popular marathons in the Midwest, and registration fills fast.

The 2027 race is already sold out, so set a reminder for when 2028 registration opens.

See Grandma's Marathon →

7. Honolulu Marathon (Hawaii)

Honolulu Marathon runners on a coastal road above the Pacific Ocean at sunrise — Running along the coast at sunrise in Honolulu.

When: December 2027 (date TBA; 2026 is December 13)
Where: Honolulu, HI
Course: Starts on Ala Moana Boulevard, passes Diamond Head and finishes in Kapiolani Park
How to get in: Open registration. No lottery, no qualifying time and no time limit.

Who doesn't want to go to Hawaii? You run past Diamond Head and finish in Kapiolani Park, and there's no cutoff, so everyone who starts gets to finish.

See the Honolulu Marathon →

6. Your hometown marathon (or the closest city)

Pierce Showe smiling while running the 2024 Columbus Marathon with his brother and a friend — Me (in the Jesus is KING shirt) running the 2024 Columbus Marathon with my brother and a friend.

Mine: Columbus Marathon, Columbus, OH
Next race: October 17, 2027
Course: Flat, and it runs past Nationwide Children's Hospital

This one is about nostalgia. Run the marathon in the town you grew up in, or the closest city to it, on the streets you know.

Mine is Columbus. It was my first marathon in 2018, and I went back in 2024 to run it with my brother and a friend. It was Carson's first marathon, and it was a blast.

See the Columbus Marathon →

5. Marine Corps Marathon (Washington, D.C.)

Marines in uniform handing cups of water to runners at the Marine Corps Marathon — Marines handing out water on the course.

When: Late October 2027 (date TBA; 2025 was October 26)
Where: Arlington, VA and Washington, D.C.
Course: Past the national monuments and memorials, finishing at the Marine Corps War Memorial
How to get in: Usually a lottery in the spring

You run past the Washington Monument, the Lincoln Memorial and the Capitol, and finish at the Marine Corps War Memorial. It's put on by the Marines, and it's one of the most patriotic races you'll ever run.

See the Marine Corps Marathon →

4. Chicago Marathon (Illinois)

Thousands of runners at the start of the Bank of America Chicago Marathon with the Chicago skyline behind them — The start of the Chicago Marathon, with the skyline behind it.

When: October 10, 2027
Where: Chicago, IL
Course: Flat and fast, through the city's neighborhoods
How to get in: Drawing (2027 applications closed October 29, 2026; results December 8), qualifying time, charity or tour operator

One of the World Marathon Majors, and one of the flattest, fastest big-city courses there is. If you want a PR with a huge crowd behind you, this is it.

See the Chicago Marathon →

3. Big Sur International Marathon (California)

Big Sur Marathon runners on Highway 1 above the Pacific Ocean, heading toward Bixby Bridge — Runners on Highway 1, heading toward Bixby Bridge.

When: April 25, 2027
Where: Big Sur to Carmel, CA
Course: Point to point on Highway 1 along the Pacific coast, with the big climb up Hurricane Point
How to get in: Random drawing (2027 is closed), charity teams or travel packages

You run Highway 1 along the cliffs of the Pacific coast. After the climb up Hurricane Point, you hear a piano playing as you run down to Bixby Bridge at the halfway point.

It's hilly, so don't come here for a PR. Come for the views.

See the Big Sur Marathon →

2. New York City Marathon

Thousands of New York City Marathon runners crossing the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge — Runners crossing the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge at the start.

When: November 7, 2027
Where: All five boroughs of New York City
Course: Starts on the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge on Staten Island and finishes in Central Park
How to get in: Drawing (usually opens in February), qualifying time, charity or NYRR's 9+1 program

The biggest marathon in the world, through all five boroughs. More than 240,000 people applied for the 2026 drawing, so getting in is the hard part.

See the New York City Marathon →

1. Boston Marathon (Massachusetts)

Boston Marathon runners celebrating as they cross the finish line on Boylston Street in the rain — Finishing on Boylston Street at the 2018 Boston Marathon.

When: April 19, 2027 (Patriots' Day)
Where: Hopkinton to Boston, MA
Course: Point to point, finishing on Boylston Street
How to get in: Run a qualifying time (18–34: 2:55 men, 3:25 women), or run for charity

The one everyone dreams about. You can't just sign up for Boston. You have to earn your spot, and that's what makes it #1.

Registration for 2027 is closed, but the qualifying window for 2028 is already open. Here are the best marathons to qualify for Boston.

See the Boston Marathon →

Summary: bucket-list marathons in the US

#	Race	Where	2027 date	How to get in
10	Twin Cities	Minneapolis–St. Paul, MN	Oct 17	Registration opens Mar 2, 2027
9	Los Angeles	Los Angeles, CA	Mar 7	Open registration
8	Grandma's	Duluth, MN	June (TBA)	First-come; 2027 sold out
7	Honolulu	Honolulu, HI	Dec (TBA)	Open registration, no time limit
6	Your hometown	Mine: Columbus, OH	Oct 17	Varies
5	Marine Corps	Washington, D.C.	Late Oct (TBA)	Usually a spring lottery
4	Chicago	Chicago, IL	Oct 10	Drawing, time qualifier or charity
3	Big Sur	Big Sur to Carmel, CA	Apr 25	Drawing, charity or travel package
2	New York City	New York, NY	Nov 7	Drawing, time qualifier, charity or 9+1
1	Boston	Hopkinton to Boston, MA	Apr 19	Qualifying time or charity

Dates marked TBA had not been announced as of November 2026.

Training for one of these? Here are 12 running tips I wish I knew sooner. Want a different kind of bucket list? Try these national park half marathons.

Want help crossing one off your list?

I coach people to their first marathon and their first 100. I'll build the plan around your life and be in your corner all the way to the finish line.

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Common questions

What are the best marathons in the United States?

My top 10 bucket-list marathons are Boston, New York City, Big Sur, Chicago, Marine Corps, your hometown marathon, Honolulu, Grandma's, LA and Twin Cities.

Which US marathon is hardest to get into?

Boston, because you have to run a qualifying time. New York City is also hard: more than 240,000 people applied for the 2026 drawing.

Which bucket-list marathon has no time limit?

The Honolulu Marathon. There's no qualifying time, no lottery and no cutoff.

What was your first marathon?

The Columbus Marathon in Ohio in 2018. I ran a 3:43.