Bismarck Marathon
Bismarck, United States · September · Independent
Why people love it
- Start and finish on the Capitol grounds, with a photo finish under the building
- Mostly flat, fast course along the Missouri River, 500 m (1,640 ft) above sea level
- Small field of about 240 marathoners, with friendly volunteers and frequent aid
- USATF certified Boston qualifier with a state-shaped finisher medal
- Good swag and well-run packet pickup for a small race
Watch out for
- Gradual climb back up Capitol Hill in the last 5 km (3 mi)
- Marathon sells out, so register months ahead
- Thin crowds on trail stretches; some concrete sidewalks are cramped
- September rain has soaked the course in several years
- Remote location: BIS is small and flights are limited
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: Tough
- Racer satisfactionLoved4.0
RaceRaves 4.1 out of 5 from 13 ratings, MarathonGuide 4.4 from 3 reviews. Runners praise the people, swag and Capitol finish. Small sample. · Low confidence
- OrganizationWell run4.2
RaceRaves production score is 4.5 out of 5. Reviewers cite cheerful volunteers, accurate markers and easy parking. One 2022 results error was fixed. · Medium confidence
- First timer friendlyFriendly3.6
Flat to rolling, small, with many aid stops. It sells out, the cutoff was not found, and the last 5 km (3 mi) climb. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialFast3.6
Described as fast and flat, and about 8.3% of the 2025 field ran Boston times. The finish climbs gradually. · Low confidence
Course
Scenery, road surface, closures, and room to run. Counts for 20% of the overall score.
- Course sceneryPleasant3.4
RaceRaves scenery 3.7 out of 5. Missouri River, shaded parks and the Capitol. One reviewer found it unremarkable. · Low confidence
- Room to runSome pinch points3.2
Small field of about 240 marathoners avoids crowding, but some sidewalk sections are cramped and a 2019 runner was briefly unsure of the route. · Low confidence
- Road surfaceGood3.6
Mostly paved roads and trails. A 2024 runner reported cramped concrete sidewalk sections and a 2019 runner reported puddles at the start. · Low confidence
- Road closuresPartly closed2.8
Runners describe paved trails, quiet streets and sidewalks with light traffic except in one neighbourhood. Full closure is not reported. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Course flatnessMostly flat3.9
Reviewers call it fast and flat with rollers, ending with a gradual climb to the Capitol. Gain is not published. · Low confidence
- Net downhillEven3.0
Start and finish are both on Capitol Hill, so the net is zero. Boston qualifier: yes, USATF certified, no net drop. · Medium confidence
Support
Crowds, aid stations, the start, and pacers. Counts for 20% of the overall score.
- Start logisticsSmooth4.0
Plenty of parking and a compact start at the Capitol. A 2024 reviewer noted long portable toilet lines. · Low confidence
- Pacers and timingSome pace groups3.4
A half marathon pacer confirmed accurate markers. Marathon pacers were not confirmed. A timing glitch in one year was corrected. · Low confidence
- Crowd supportDecent2.5
Sparse crowds on the trails, per a 2022 runner. Volunteers are warm, and the Capitol finish draws a crowd. · Low confidence
- Aid stationsGood4.2
Runners praise many aid stations and plenty of volunteers. Park toilets are limited, with long lines for the half in 2024. · Medium confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 14% of the overall score.
- WindSome wind3.0
No wind complaints in the reviews found, though open plains and a river valley are often breezy. Thin evidence. · Low confidence
- Air temperaturePleasant3.9
Mid-September mornings of about 8 °C (46 °F) rising to 20 °C (68 °F) are typical. A 2011 runner had steady rain. · Low confidence
- Weather reliabilityVariable3.0
Rain hit the 2011, 2019 and 2022 editions. Northern plains weather can swing between cool and wet. · Low confidence
- Spectator friendlySome viewpoints3.2
Capitol start and finish is easy to reach. Midcourse spectator access is not described and the trails are lightly watched. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeLow4.3
Bismarck sits at about 500 m (1,640 ft), low enough to have no effect on most runners. · High confidence
Stay and travel
Hotels, walkability, getting there, and the town around the race. Counts for 10% of the overall score.
- Hotel availabilityGood3.5
A state capital with downtown hotels, but runners from 47 states and relay teams fill rooms in September. Little hotel detail found. · Low confidence
- Hotel valueGood3.5
Midwestern rates are likely, but no price data was found. · Low confidence
- WalkabilitySome driving3.4
Start is on the Capitol grounds, near downtown. Whether hotels are walkable is not stated in the reviews. · Low confidence
- Travel easeOne connection3.0
BIS is about 5 km (3 mi) away but is a small airport with limited flights. Most visitors drive long distances. · Medium confidence
- LogisticsSimple4.0
Reviewers praise smooth packet pickup and good communication before the race. · Low confidence
- Town and foodFine3.2
Small capital city. A 2011 runner mentions a local diner and the Capitol and river are the main sights. · Low 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 inRegister early3.0
The marathon and relay reportedly sold out for 2026 and were 95% full in 2025. Register early. · Medium confidence
- Value for moneyGood value3.8
Reviewers praise swag, a state-shaped medal and free post-race stretching. The entry fee was not found. · Low confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Bismarck, Burleigh County, United States
- Typical month
- September
- Latest or next date
- 18 September 2027
- Organiser
- Independent
- Field size
- About 240 athletes
- First held
- 1982
- Distances
- 42.2 km (26.2 mi)
- Course type
- out-and-back
- Start time
- 09:00
- Boston qualifier
- Yes
- Surface
- Paved roads, river-park paths and some concrete sidewalks
- How to get in
- open
- Sells out
- Yes
- Air temperature
- 8–20 °C (46–68 °F)
- Humidity
- Low to moderate; dry plains climate
- Altitude
- 500 m (1,640 ft)
- Nearest airport
- Bismarck Airport (BIS), 5 km (3 mi) away
- Where to stay
- Downtown Bismarck, Near the State Capitol
- Booking
- Hotels fill with 50-states runners and relay teams in September. Book early.
What racers and reviewers say
- RaceRaves (Bismarck Marathon)Raced 2026 · aggregator · Positive
13 runners rate it 4.1 out of 5 (production 4.5, scenery 3.7, difficulty 2.5). Reviewers describe a small but well-produced race with plentiful aid, friendly volunteers and good swag. Complaints are minor: inclines in the last 5 km (3 mi), an uphill finish to the Capitol, long toilet lines for the half, wet starts, and one results error that organisers fixed. Field estimates run from 240 marathoners in 2026 to 550 to 600 half and full runners in 2019.
- MarathonGuide (Bismarck Marathon)Raced 2026 · aggregator · Positive
3 reviews average 4.4 out of 5. A 2026 runner gave 5.0 for the course, volunteers, packet pickup and swag. A 2024 50-states runner liked the flatter course and Capitol start and finish but found some sidewalk sections cramped. A 2022 runner found mostly paved trails and quiet streets, mild weather, light traffic and thin crowds, with rain slowing the day.
- Brad Feld (blog, Kroll's Diner)Raced 2011 · blog · Mixed
A 2011 finisher ran a flood-altered two-loop course in steady rain at about 10 to 15 °C (50s F). He found the route dull, mostly back and forth on a highway, with one 1.6 km (1 mi) hill of roughly 60 m (200 ft). Water stops came about every 1.6 km (1 mi). The route has since changed, but his praise for the people stands.
“The people on the course were incredibly nice and helpful.”
Raced Bismarck 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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