Big Sur International Marathon
Carmel, United States · April · Independent
Why people love it
- Closed Highway 1 from redwoods to ocean cliffs, with Bixby Bridge at halfway.
- Aid every 2 to 3 miles (3 to 5 km), with strawberries near mile 23 (37 km).
- Taiko drummers and a piano at Bixby Bridge entertain on a quiet course.
- Runners rate it near-universally, often 5 of 5, despite the difficulty.
Watch out for
- Buses leave about 3:30 am, then a 90 to 120 minute cold wait at the start.
- Hurricane Point is a 3.2 km (2 mi) climb of about 150 m (500 ft) at mile 10 (16 km).
- Headwinds reached 48 km (29.8 mi)/h (30 mph) in some years and were calm in others.
- Entry is a lottery: 8,000+ entries for about 3,500 spots.
- Cambered road and 665 m (2,180 ft) of gain mean finishing times run 15 to 20 minutes slow.
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 satisfactionBucket list4.8
RaceRaves averages 4.9 of 5 from 764 ratings. Even runners who suffered call it bucket-list; wind, cold and hills are caveats, not regrets. · High confidence
- OrganizationWell run4.2
RaceRaves rates production 4.7 of 5 with good volunteers and markings. Bus reports are mixed and start corrals crowded. · High confidence
- First timer friendlyDemanding1.8
665 m (2,180 ft) of climbing, a 6 hour cutoff and a 3:30 am bus. Reviewers advise against it as a first marathon. · High confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialVery slow1.0
Runners expect to finish 15 to 20 minutes slower than on a normal course and advise saving the PR for another race. · High confidence
Course
Scenery, road surface, closures, and room to run. Counts for 20% of the overall score.
- Course scenerySpectacular4.9
Redwoods, ocean cliffs and Bixby Bridge at halfway, with a piano on the bridge. RaceRaves scenery score is 5.0. · High confidence
- Room to runSome pinch points3.4
Start corrals are cramped, and the field thickens late where relay, shorter-distance runners and walkers merge. · Medium confidence
- Road surfaceMixed3.0
Asphalt, but heavily cambered, which tires legs and feet. Runners recommend training on tilted roads. · Medium confidence
- Road closuresMostly closed4.3
Highway 1 is closed for the race on a remote stretch with little traffic. Runners from other distances merge late. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Course flatnessBig climbs1.2
About 665 m (2,180 ft) of gain, above the 600 m (2,000 ft) mark. · High confidence
- Net downhillEven3.4
Loss of about 770 m (2,530 ft) against 665 m (2,180 ft) of gain, a net drop near 100 m (330 ft). · Medium confidence
Support
Crowds, aid stations, the start, and pacers. Counts for 20% of the overall score.
- Start logisticsFiddly1.8
Buses leave from about 3:30 am for a 50 to 60 minute ride, then runners wait 90 to 120 minutes in the cold. · High confidence
- Pacers and timingGood3.5
Chip timing and mile markers are in place. Reviewers do not describe pace groups. · Low confidence
- Crowd supportSparse1.9
A remote highway with very few spectators. Musicians, Taiko drummers and the Bixby piano fill in, and the finish crowd is large. · High confidence
- Aid stationsGood4.2
Eleven stations about every 2 to 3 miles (3 to 5 km) with water, electrolyte, gels, oranges, bananas and strawberries near mile 23 (37 km). · High confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 14% of the overall score.
- WindWindy1.8
Pacific headwinds above 48 km (29.8 mi)/h (30 mph) were measured in 2016, but 2002 and 2025 were calm or mild. · High confidence
- Air temperatureWarm or cool3.4
Start around 8 to 12 °C (46 to 54 °F), rising to 15 to 17 °C (59 to 63 °F). Some rain. · Medium confidence
- Weather reliabilityVariable2.6
One year was calm, others had 48 km (29.8 mi)/h (30 mph) headwinds, rain or fog hiding the views. · High confidence
- Spectator friendlyTricky1.5
Remote highway; spectators are essentially limited to the finish area. · High confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeSea level4.8
Coastal; the Hurricane Point summit is roughly 150 m (500 ft) above sea level. · High confidence
Stay and travel
Hotels, walkability, getting there, and the town around the race. Counts for 10% of the overall score.
- Hotel availabilitySells out early2.2
Carmel and Monterey fill early for a sold-out race, and one review notes no late checkout. · Medium confidence
- Hotel valuePricey1.9
Carmel prices are high, though sources give no hard figures. · Low confidence
- WalkabilityMostly driving2.0
The start needs a long bus from the Carmel and Monterey area, and the finish is shuttle-linked. · Medium confidence
- Travel easeOne connection3.0
Monterey airport is about 8 km (5 mi) from Carmel. Many fly into San Jose, about 110 km (70 mi) away, or San Francisco. · Medium confidence
- LogisticsFiddly2.4
Pre-dawn buses, long waits, little food at the start and a remote setting. · High confidence
- Town and foodGood4.4
Carmel-by-the-Sea and Monterey offer strong dining, though it is pricey. · 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 inHard1.8
Lottery with over 8,000 entries for about 3,500 spots; the 2027 drawing closed on 2 September 2026. · High confidence
- Value for moneyFair3.0
Fee roughly USD 250 to 325 for a sold-out race. Runners rate the swag from 2 to 5 and praise the views and strawberries. · Low confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Carmel, California, United States
- Typical month
- April
- Latest or next date
- 25 April 2027
- Organiser
- Independent
- Field size
- About 4,500 athletes
- First held
- 1986
- Distances
- 42.2 km (26.2 mi)
- Course type
- point-to-point
- Climbing
- 665 m (2,180 ft)
- Descent
- 770 m (2,530 ft)
- Start time
- 06:45
- Cutoff
- 6 hours
- Boston qualifier
- Yes
- Surface
- asphalt, cambered highway
- How to get in
- lottery
- Sells out
- Yes
- Entry fee
- About $325
- Air temperature
- 8–16 °C (46–61 °F)
- Humidity
- coastal, often fog
- Altitude
- 150 m (490 ft)
- Nearest airport
- Monterey Regional (MRY), 8 km (5 mi) away
- Where to stay
- Carmel-by-the-Sea, Monterey
- Booking
- Book Carmel or Monterey months ahead; buses leave from the Monterey area before 4 am.
What racers and reviewers say
- RaceRavesRaced 2022-2026 · aggregator · Positive
Runners agree the course is spectacular and tough with cambered road, long climb to Hurricane Point and a mixed bus start; crowds are small but spirits high.
“the ragged edge of the western world”
- Team RunRunRaced 2025 · blog · Positive
Gave 5 of 5, a bucket-list race, but hills beat her expectations and she finished with 9 minutes to spare against the 6 hour cutoff; advises against it as a first marathon.
“do not underestimate the hills”
- Team RunRun (John Gregson)Raced 2022 · blog · Positive
5 of 5. Eleven well-staffed aid stations, 2,180 ft (665 m) climbing, 6:30 am start with buses about an hour each way, headwinds, walkers merge late.
“go for the experience and save the PR for another course”
- Stanford SEP (Morgan Brown)Raced 2002 · blog · Positive
Early account: forecast wind did not appear, Hurricane Point climbs about 500 ft (150 m), a steep hill at mile 25 broke his sub-4 plan; big finish crowd.
“Whipped or not, I had finished the thing.”
- Taking the Long Way HomeRaced 2016 · blog · Positive
Boarded buses at 3:45 am; 30+ mph (48 km/h) cold headwind all race; costumed spectators and Taiko drummers; hardest and most beautiful race she has run.
“This was the hardest race I've ever run.”
Show 4 more
- Slowtwitch forumRaced various · forum · Mixed
Posters call it tough but doable, expect 15 to 20 minutes slower than usual, warn of 4 am buses, camber and, in one year, brutal headwinds from mile 8 to 23 (13 to 37 km).
- The Runner BeansRaced 2022 · blog · Positive
Boarded at 3:30 am, 50 minute drive, then waited 90 to 120 minutes in the cold; friendly volunteers, strawberries at mile 23 (37 km); wind stronger than expected; finished 4:49.
“Such a beautiful race and one I won't forget.”
- Marathon IndexRaced 2026 · aggregator · neutral
Lottery with 8,000+ entries for about 3,500 spots, fee USD 250 to 295, 6.5 hour limit per their page, climbing listed as 2,550 m (inconsistent with other sources).
- Big Sur race coverage via BibraveRaced 2025-2026 · aggregator · Mixed
Search summary of Bibrave reviews: one-hour bus, 90 minute wait at low-50s F (11 °C (52 °F)), Hurricane Point about 350 ft (107 m) in miles 10 to 11, gusty 2025 and calm earlier years; page itself not retrievable.
Raced Big Sur International 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.
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