BMW Dallas Marathon
Dallas, United States · December · Independent
Why people love it
- Over 150,000 spectators reported in 2022 along neighbourhood streets and Lower Greenville.
- Boston qualifier; rolling at 186 m (610 ft) gain.
- Finish downtown at City Hall, close to hotels.
- RaceRaves production score of 4.4 of 5 from 222 ratings.
Watch out for
- Corrals are oversized and toilets are far; arrive early.
- Winds on the 15 km (9.3 mi) White Rock Lake loop.
- Hills at mile 11 and past mile 20 (17.7 and 32 km).
- December weather ranges from freezing to 21 °C (71 °F).
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 satisfactionLoved4.1
RaceRaves 4.4 of 5 from 222 ratings and all 17 BibRave reviewers recommend it. Complaints focus on hills, corrals and wind. · High confidence
- OrganizationWell run3.9
RaceRaves production 4.4. Oversized corrals, confusion over placement, no toilets near corrals and one report of cups running out lower it. · Medium confidence
- First timer friendlyDoable3.4
Big support and good production, but cold-to-hot weather, 186 m (610 ft) of gain and a long, windy lake loop. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialAverage3.0
Rolling with hills near mile 11 and past mile 20 (17.7 and 32 km); wind on the lake; Boston qualifier. · Medium confidence
Course
Scenery, road surface, closures, and room to run. Counts for 20% of the overall score.
- Course sceneryBeautiful3.9
Downtown, Turtle Creek, Highland Park, Lower Greenville and a 15 km (9.3 mi) lake loop; RaceRaves scenery 4.0. · Medium confidence
- Room to runSome pinch points3.0
Oversized corrals and congestion in the first miles; half and full share the first 14.5 km (9 mi). · Medium confidence
- Road surfaceGood3.8
City streets and lake roads; no surface complaints found. · Low confidence
- Road closuresMostly closed3.5
One 2024 runner reported angry drivers cursing at runners along the course, suggesting some open crossings. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Course flatnessRolling3.0
About 186 m (610 ft) of gain, up to 275 m (900 ft) per one reviewer; repeated rollers and two named hills. · Medium confidence
- Net downhillEven3.0
Loop from City Hall to City Hall; gain and loss near equal. · High confidence
Support
Crowds, aid stations, the start, and pacers. Counts for 20% of the overall score.
- Start logisticsSome waiting3.0
Corrals too large, confusion about placement, no toilets near corrals. · Medium confidence
- Pacers and timingGood3.5
No pace-group or tracking details found in sources; left near the default for a large event with chip timing. · Low confidence
- Crowd supportStrong4.2
Over 150,000 spectators reported in 2022; neighbourhoods and Lower Greenville strong; the 15 km (9.3 mi) lake section is lonely. · Medium confidence
- Aid stationsGood3.8
Generally good, with one report of long water and toilet lines and cups running out. · Low confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 14% of the overall score.
- WindSome wind2.8
Winds around White Rock Lake are described as strong and 'monstrous'. · Medium confidence
- Air temperaturePleasant3.9
Starts 2 to 4 °C (36 to 40 °F), highs 14 to 22 °C (57 to 71 °F). · Medium confidence
- Weather reliabilityVariable2.8
Freezing in 2025, 21 °C (71 °F) in 2021, ice cancellation in 2013 and a humid year in 2024. · High confidence
- Spectator friendlyEasy3.7
Downtown loop with neighbourhood stretches; the lake loop is hard to follow. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeSea level4.8
About 130 m (430 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 availabilityPlentiful4.6
Large downtown hotel inventory. · Medium confidence
- Hotel valueGood3.8
Typical big-city pricing, less than coastal cities. · Low confidence
- WalkabilityWalkable4.0
Start and finish at City Hall, steps from downtown hotels and DART. · Medium confidence
- Travel easeVery easy4.6
Love Field is 9 km (6 mi) away; DFW 30 km (19 mi). · High confidence
- LogisticsSimple3.8
Praised expo; corral and toilet issues at the start. · Low confidence
- Town and foodGood4.0
Deep Ellum, Uptown and Lower Greenville on course. · 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 inEasy4.3
Open entry; no sell-out noted in sources. · Low confidence
- Value for moneyGood value3.7
Expo and medals praised and the shirt fit drew complaints; fee not found. · Low confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Dallas, North Texas, United States
- Typical month
- December
- Latest or next date
- 13 December 2026
- Organiser
- Independent
- Field size
- About 4,000 athletes
- First held
- 1971
- Distances
- 42.2 km (26.2 mi)
- Course type
- loop
- Climbing
- 186 m (610 ft)
- Descent
- 183 m (600 ft)
- Boston qualifier
- Yes
- Surface
- Road
- How to get in
- open
- Air temperature
- 2–16 °C (36–61 °F)
- Humidity
- Variable: cold and dry to humid
- Altitude
- 130 m (425 ft)
- Nearest airport
- Dallas Love Field (DAL), 9 km (6 mi) away
- Where to stay
- Downtown Dallas, Uptown, Victory Park
- Booking
- Downtown hotels near City Hall are best; book early for race weekend.
What racers and reviewers say
- RaceRaves BMW Dallas Marathon pageRaced 2025 · aggregator · Positive
4.4 of 5 from 222 ratings (91 marathon, 106 half). Runners agree on hills (early and miles 19 to 20, or 30 to 32 km (19.9 mi)), strong neighbourhood crowds, and oversized corrals; weather swings from cold and windy to hot.
“It’s hilly – more challenging than you would expect for Texas”
- BibRave reviews (17)aggregator · Positive
17 reviews, all recommend. Mixed on crowds (some thin, some 'killer'), complaints about swag and corral congestion, nearly 900 ft (275 m) gain per one runner, miles 13 to 20 mostly flat per another.
- CBS News TexasRaced 2022 · article · Mixed
More than 14,000 runners, over 150,000 spectators and 'very nice weather'. Women's winner said the lake felt hard, windy and lonely.
“really hard, windy, and kind of lonely”
- Dallas Observer, 17th-place finisher columnarticle · Mixed
Reports the nine-mile lake stretch as the loneliest part of the race, with spectator energy dropping.
“the loneliest part of the race”
- Dallas Morning News course guideRaced 2018 · article · Mixed
Describes the Dolly Parton hills at mile 11 (17.7 km) and the Winsted Drive climb just past mile 20 (32 km) as the moments that can make or break a race.
Show 2 more
- Lake Highlands Advocate recapRaced 2008 · article · Negative
A 2008 recap notes the winds along White Rock Lake were very strong.
“absolutely monstrous”
- Dallas ExpressRaced 2025 · article · neutral
The 54th edition drew 19,000 runners from all 50 states in freezing temperatures.
Raced BMW Dallas 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 BMW Dallas Marathon? Moku Coach builds your plan around race day.