Atlanta Marathon
Atlanta, United States · March · Independent
Why people love it
- Hosted the 2020 US Olympic Marathon Trials; run by the Atlanta Track Club.
- Open entry, Boston qualifier and a 6.5-hour cutoff.
- Race-day mean of 10 °C (50 °F), with a downtown start reachable by MARTA.
- Strong crowds in the first half and at the finish; runners praise the medals.
Watch out for
- Hilly: 407 m (1,338 ft) of gain, toughest at miles 8 to 18 (13 to 29 km).
- Few runners qualify for Boston here (1.9% in 2026); plan a conservative first half.
- 2025 course measured 168 m (554 ft) short; 2026 runners reported thin aid and loose corrals.
- Warm days happen: about 21 °C (70 °F) in 2026.
- Potholes and rough pavement in places.
Race
How racers feel about it, how well it is run, and how it treats a first timer. Counts for 28% of the overall score.
Toughness: Very tough
- Racer satisfactionLoved3.7
RaceRaves 3.8 from 55 ratings. Crowds, medals and organisation are praised; hills, the short 2025 course and a poor 2026 review pull it down. · Medium confidence
- OrganizationWell run3.5
Production 4.0 on RaceRaves. The 2025 course measured 168 m (554 ft) short; a 2026 runner cited loose corrals and thin aid. · Medium confidence
- First timer friendlyDoable2.7
407 m (1,338 ft) of gain, little flat ground and a hill at mile 23 (37 km) make it hard; the 6.5-hour limit helps. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialSlow1.8
407 m (1,338 ft) of gain; Boston qualifying rate was 1.9% in 2026 and 0% in 2025. · High confidence
Course
Scenery, road surface, closures, and room to run. Counts for 20% of the overall score.
- Course sceneryPleasant3.4
RaceRaves scenery 3.4. Neighbourhoods, Georgia Tech and a downtown skyline panorama at Prospect Park, but one 2026 reviewer found scenery 'nonexistent'. · Medium confidence
- Room to runSome pinch points3.4
Big field spread over loops through neighbourhoods; corrals unenforced in 2026 and confusing finish directions. · Low confidence
- Road surfaceMixed2.8
Potholes and rough roads reported by 2024 and 2026 runners. · Medium confidence
- Road closuresMostly closed3.6
Closures are comprehensive in a big-city event, but 2026 runners complained roads opened early to traffic for the slower finishers. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Course flatnessHilly1.9
407 m (1,338 ft) of gain; runners' watches show up to 550 m (1,800 ft). One runner said there was almost no flat ground. · High confidence
- Net downhillEven3.0
Loop with matching gain and loss of about 400 m (1,320 ft); Boston qualifier. · High confidence
Support
Crowds, aid stations, the start, and pacers. Counts for 20% of the overall score.
- Start logisticsSmooth3.6
MARTA recommended and the finish area is large; corrals unenforced and toilets dirty per 2026 reviewers; expo small. · Low confidence
- Pacers and timingGood4.0
Atlanta Track Club provides pace groups and timing; but the 2025 course error undermined official times. · Low confidence
- Crowd supportStrong3.6
Strong in the first half and near the finish per RaceRaves; the second half has few spectators according to two reviewers. · Medium confidence
- Aid stationsStandard3.3
Water and Powerade every 3 km (2 mi) plus gels at five points. 2025 was praised; 2026 runners reported long gaps and supplies running out. · Medium confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 14% of the overall score.
- WindMostly calm4.0
Wind not a reported issue; starts with about 6 km (3.7 mi)/h (4 mph) NNW. · Low confidence
- Air temperaturePleasant3.9
Race-day mean of 10 °C (50 °F) is good, but 2026 reached 21 °C (70 °F) and 2024 started at 0 °C (32 °F). · Medium confidence
- Weather reliabilityVariable3.0
Mar 6 highs ranged 13 to 28 °C (55 to 82 °F) over 2022 to 2026. · Medium confidence
- Spectator friendlySome viewpoints3.4
Downtown loop near MARTA with a central start and finish; neighbourhood sections are spread out. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeLow4.4
268 to 325 m (880 to 1,067 ft). · High confidence
Stay and travel
Hotels, walkability, getting there, and the town around the race. Counts for 10% of the overall score.
- Hotel availabilityPlentiful4.5
Large hotel stock downtown and in Midtown. · Low confidence
- Hotel valueNormal3.4
Mid-range pricing for a major city; weekend events can lift rates. · Low confidence
- WalkabilityWalkable4.0
MARTA to the start; downtown hotels are within walking distance. · Low confidence
- Travel easeVery easy4.9
ATL is a global hub with a direct train, 17 km (11 mi) to downtown. · High confidence
- LogisticsSimple3.8
Easy bib pickup, though the expo is small with few vendors. · Medium confidence
- Town and foodGreat4.5
Major city with strong food scene, neighbourhoods and attractions. · Medium confidence
Entry
How hard it is to get a place, and what you get for the fee. Counts for 8% of the overall score.
- Getting inOpen entry4.5
Open entry and growing but not a sell-out for the marathon in recent years. · Low confidence
- Value for moneyGood value3.6
Medals and shirts praised in 2024 to 2026 ('favorite medal'); fee not found. · Low confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Atlanta, Fulton County, United States
- Typical month
- March
- Latest or next date
- 7 March 2027
- Organiser
- Independent
- Field size
- About 3,078 athletes
- First held
- 2007
- Distances
- 42.2 km (26.2 mi)
- Course type
- loop
- Climbing
- 407 m (1,340 ft)
- Descent
- 400 m (1,310 ft)
- Start time
- 07:15
- Cutoff
- 6.5 hours
- Boston qualifier
- Yes
- Surface
- City streets, some rough and potholed
- How to get in
- open
- Sells out
- Rarely
- Air temperature
- 5–15 °C (41–59 °F)
- Humidity
- Moderate to humid; 75% at a typical start
- Altitude
- 300 m (985 ft)
- Nearest airport
- Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International (ATL), 17 km (11 mi) away
- Where to stay
- Downtown, Midtown, Centennial Olympic Park
- Booking
- Downtown and Midtown hotels are close to the start; MARTA recommended for race morning.
What racers and reviewers say
- RaceRavesRaced 2026 · aggregator · Mixed
55 ratings, 3.8 overall; difficulty 4.0, scenery 3.4, production 4.0, swag 3.7. Runners agree it is among the hardest city courses (1,000 to 1,800 ft, 300 to 550 m (1,800 ft)), praise crowds and medals, and split on organisation: 'top notch' in 2025, 'poorly organized' in 2026.
“There was no more than 10 feet of flat ground.”
- FindMyMarathonRaced 2025 · aggregator · Mixed
Nine reviews, 3.9 average. Hilly with no flat sections; strong crowds, landmark tour and organisation; several unhappy that 2025 was short with only a future entry as remedy.
- MarathonGuideRaced 2025 · aggregator · Mixed
Four ratings, 3.6 average: cool temperature and good organisation in 2025, hardest climbing one runner had done, no spectators late, rough roads in 2024.
“The course was all hills with no flat portions whatsoever.”
- LetsRun forumRaced 2025 · forum · Mixed
Thread about the 2025 course measuring short by about 168 m (554 ft) after misplaced turnaround cones near Grant Park; other threads describe a U-shaped profile, save energy for the second half, and good ATC organisation.
- BibRaveRaced 2016 · aggregator · Mixed
Older marathoners: downhills gave life, the mile-23 Midtown climb was steep, hills end at Georgia Tech at miles 24 to 25, a Prospect Park skyline view; a few good hills early but mostly in the second half.
Show 1 more
- Atlanta Track ClubRaced 2022 · article · Positive
Recap: 5,435 finishers across distances, overcast and below 16 °C (60 °F), course finishing in Centennial Olympic Park with crowd cheering for the local winner.
Raced Atlanta Marathon? Your notes on the course, conditions and logistics help the next athlete decide.
Sources
Pages we used for facts and ratings. See how we rate.
Training for Atlanta Marathon? Moku Coach builds your plan around race day.