Charlottesville Marathon

The Charlottesville Marathon is one of Virginia's longest-running destination races, now approaching its 27th year, held each spring in downtown Charlottesville. The Marathon, Half Marathon, 8K, Marathon Relay, and Kids K all start and finish at the east end of the Downtown Mall in front of the Ting Pavilion, sending runners along quiet roads and bike paths beside the Rivanna River and through Charlottesville's historic, tree-lined neighborhoods before returning downtown. The rolling course -- named one of the Top Ten Best New Marathons in the U.S.A. by Runner's World and one of the country's top five destination marathons by The New York Times -- climbs roughly 701 meters over the full 26.2 miles and is a certified Boston Marathon qualifier. Race weekend doubles as a chance to explore nearby Monticello, the University of Virginia, the Blue Ridge Mountains, and local vineyards. The 2026 edition ran on April 11; the next Charlottesville Marathon is projected for Saturday, April 3, 2027, following the event's typical early-April date.