Best full-distance triathlons in the United States
11 rated races, ranked by an overall score built from racer reviews and race reports. How we rate
11 races
By the numbers
Overall score 4.5Excellent#5 of 116Strong evidence · 14 sources
Bike climb 1,260 m (4,130 ft)
1. IRONMAN Wisconsin
Overall score 4.5ExcellentStrong evidence · 14 sourcesTop 4%#5 of 116 overallMadison, United States · IRONMAN · Next race 12 Sep 2027
Racers loveVoted #1 North American Ironman by athletes in 2023
Watch outHilly bike (about 1,260-1,525 m (4,130–5,000 ft) / 4,120-5,000 ft gain) and rough, grooved roads
“The venue was amazing!” AOL / Wisconsin State Journal (Athletes' Choice…
- Air
- 9–18 °C (48–64 °F)
- Bike climb
- 1,260 m (4,130 ft)
- Field
- about 1,500
- Best
- Stay and travel 4.6
- Weakest
- Bike 3.1
Overall score 4.5Excellent#7 of 116Strong evidence · 11 sources
Water 20–22 °C (68–72 °F)
2. IRONMAN Lake Placid
Overall score 4.5ExcellentStrong evidence · 11 sourcesTop 6%#7 of 116 overallLake Placid, United States · IRONMAN · Last race 19 Jul 2026
Racers loveElectric run crowds and big local turnout
Watch outOften wet or cool weather
“We have to be better guests in the communities we visit.” Ryan Heisler, Slowtwitch: The Good, Bad and Ugly
- Water
- 20–22 °C (68–72 °F)
- Air
- 12–27 °C (54–81 °F)
- Bike climb
- 2,164 m (7,100 ft)
- Best
- Swim 4.7
- Weakest
- Stay and travel 2.8
Overall score 3.9Very good#18 of 116Strong evidence · 15 sources
Water 21–24 °C (70–75 °F)
3. IRONMAN Florida
Overall score 3.9Very goodStrong evidence · 15 sourcesTop 16%#18 of 116 overallPanama City Beach, United States · IRONMAN · Next race 7 Nov 2026
Racers loveOne of the fastest full-distance courses in North America (course records 7:34:41 and 8:22:28)
Watch outWeather swings: starts as cold as 5 °C (41 °F); wind and Gulf chop can change the race
“You are an Ironman!” Tyler (Earth Trekkers), Earth Trekkers (Tyler)
- Water
- 21–24 °C (70–75 °F)
- Air
- 16–27 °C (61–81 °F)
- Bike climb
- 440 m (1,440 ft)
- Field
- about 1,575
- Best
- Stay and travel 4.4
- Weakest
- Bike 2.7
Overall score 3.8Very good#27 of 116Strong evidence · 14 sources
4. IRONMAN World Championship (Kona)
Overall score 3.8Very goodStrong evidence · 14 sourcesTop 23%#27 of 116 overallKailua-Kona, United States · IRONMAN · Last race 10 Oct 2026
Racers loveIconic pier swim start in very clear water of about 26-27 °C (79-81 °F)
Watch outBrutal heat and humidity, 24-31 °C (75-88 °F), with no shade on the Queen K
“It was like swimming in an aquarium.” Random Forest Runner
- Air
- 24–31 °C (75–88 °F)
- Field
- about 2,500
- Best
- Race 4.2
- Weakest
- Stay and travel 2.4
Overall score 3.7Very good#28 of 116Moderate evidence · 9 sources
Water 21–23 °C (70–73 °F)
5. IRONMAN Maryland (Cambridge)
Overall score 3.7Very goodModerate evidence · 9 sourcesTop 24%#28 of 116 overallCambridge, United States · IRONMAN · Last race 19 Sep 2026
Racers loveVery flat, fast course with about 152 m (500 ft) of bike gain
Watch outWind builds through the day; tailwind out, headwind home
“I will never do that again” Heike Yates, Hey Life Training
- Water
- 21–23 °C (70–73 °F)
- Air
- 15–27 °C (59–81 °F)
- Bike climb
- 152 m (500 ft)
- Field
- about 1,250
- Best
- Race 4.4
- Weakest
- Swim 3.0
Overall score 3.6Very good#35 of 116Strong evidence · 12 sources
Water 16–18 °C (60–64 °F)
6. IRONMAN California
Overall score 3.6Very goodStrong evidence · 12 sourcesTop 30%#35 of 116 overallSacramento, United States · IRONMAN · Last race 18 Oct 2026
Racers loveDownstream river swim with a strong current assist
Watch outBike wind can reach 24-32 km (14.9–19.9 mi)/h (15-20 mph); a rough 8 km (5 mi) stretch is ridden twice
“there’s no such thing as an “easy Ironman.”” Sean Chin blog
- Water
- 16–18 °C (60–64 °F)
- Bike climb
- 210 m (690 ft)
- Field
- about 4,000
- Best
- Stay and travel 4.0
- Weakest
- Bike 3.0
Overall score 3.4Good#55 of 116Strong evidence · 10 sources
Water 24–26 °C (75–79 °F)
7. IRONMAN Chattanooga
Overall score 3.4GoodStrong evidence · 10 sourcesTop 48%#55 of 116 overallChattanooga, United States · IRONMAN · Last race 27 Sep 2026
Racers loveFast downstream river swim through the city
Watch outSwim cancelled when river flow is high (2018 full)
“IRONMAN is hard! That's my takeaway from this race.” Jared, Cyclizing
- Water
- 24–26 °C (75–79 °F)
- Bike climb
- 1,714 m (5,620 ft)
- Field
- about 1,600
- Best
- Run 3.9
- Weakest
- Swim 3.0
8. Peasantman Steel Distance Triathlon (iron-distance with 116 mi bike)
Penn Yan, United States
Next race 15 Aug 2027
Overall score 3.1Good#75 of 116Moderate evidence · 5 sources
8. Peasantman Steel Distance Triathlon (iron-distance with 116 mi bike)
Overall score 3.1GoodModerate evidence · 5 sourcesBottom 36%#75 of 116 overallPenn Yan, United States · Next race 15 Aug 2027
Racers loveVery low cost: $350-485 for a full
Watch outBike is about 187 km (116 mi), not 180 km (112 mi)
“a hard, long bike course” Jkgoff, Slowtwitch forum (Peasantman Iron Distance Aug…
- Field
- about 40
- Best
- Swim 3.8
- Weakest
- Run 2.7
Overall score 3.1Good#76 of 116Moderate evidence · 6 sources
Water 22–25 °C (72–77 °F)
9. IRONMAN Texas
Overall score 3.1GoodModerate evidence · 6 sourcesBottom 35%#76 of 116 overallThe Woodlands, United States · IRONMAN · Last race 18 Apr 2026
Racers loveElectric three-loop run along the Waterway and Hippie Hollow
Watch outHeat, humidity and exposed wind on the toll road; race-day air 18-30 °C (64-86 °F)
“Heat, humidity, and strong headwind. All the fun.” Sean Chin blog
- Water
- 22–25 °C (72–77 °F)
- Air
- 18–30 °C (64–86 °F)
- Bike climb
- 638 m (2,090 ft)
- Field
- about 2,700
- Best
- Stay and travel 4.2
- Weakest
- Bike 2.5
10. Smith Mountain Lake Ultra Triathlon (Endure Virginia) - single 140.6
Huddleston, United States
Last race 12 Sep 2026
Overall score 2.8Good#104 of 116Thin evidence · 4 sources
10. Smith Mountain Lake Ultra Triathlon (Endure Virginia) - single 140.6
Overall score 2.8GoodThin evidence · 4 sources#104 of 116 overallHuddleston, United States · Last race 12 Sep 2026
Racers loveRare ultra-triathlon weekend (double, aquabike, duathlon variants) with a single 140.6 option.
Watch outNo athlete race reports found; course elevation and laps unpublished.
- Air
- 14–27 °C (57–81 °F)
- Best
- Conditions 3.7
- Weakest
- Race 2.5
Overall score 2.7Good#106 of 116Strong evidence · 14 sources
11. IRONMAN Jacksonville
Overall score 2.7GoodStrong evidence · 14 sourcesBottom 10%#106 of 116 overallJacksonville, United States · IRONMAN · Next race 16 May 2027
Racers loveDowntown river swim with a corral-style start and pro wetsuit peelers
Watch outHeat and humidity: 18 hospitalised in 2026, heat index about 33 °C (91 °F)
“Awesome event” RaceRaves - Chad Cook
- Air
- 24–33 °C (75–91 °F)
- Field
- about 1,950
- Best
- Stay and travel 4.2
- Weakest
- Bike 1.9
About these ratings
Races are ranked by an overall score out of 5, built from racer reviews and race reports, on the race itself, swim, bike, run, conditions and travel. 5 is always the better end. How we rate
Full distance course: 3.8 km (2.4 mi) swim, 180 km (112 mi) bike, 42.2 km (26.2 mi) run.
Reports on full-distance races are scarcer, so 2 of 12 scores are thin evidence: fewer than 5 sources each (dashed score, marked provisional). Show only races with 5+ sources.
1 race is paused or discontinued and hidden until you turn off “Active races only” in All filters.
118 racer reviews and race reports.
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