Champlain Islands Marathon & Half Marathon
South Hero, United States · October · Independent
Why people love it
- Lake Champlain views, orchards and farms on the island roads
- 12 aid stations, about every 3 km (2 mi)
- Boston qualifier with a 6 hour cutoff
- Small, low key club race of 136 marathon finishers
- Start and finish at one school with easy parking
Watch out for
- Roads are open to traffic
- Wind over 32 km (19.9 mi)/h (20 mph) hit the 2025 race
- Two laps add up to about 381 m (1,250 ft) of climbing on one watch
- Cold starts near 1 °C (34 °F); thin swag and no expo
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 satisfactionLoved3.9
RaceRaves 4.2 of 5 from 5 ratings (2 marathon) and BibRave runners call it lovely and low key. Roads, wind and hills temper it. · Low confidence
- OrganizationWell run3.8
Run by a long-standing running club. RaceRaves production 3.8 of 5; aid is well staffed and the course well marked. · Low confidence
- First timer friendlyDoable3.0
6 hour cutoff, but two laps, wind and about 381 m (1,250 ft) of gain on open roads suit experienced runners better. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialAverage2.9
Rolling paved roads, winds over 32 km (19.9 mi)/h (20 mph) in 2025 and starts near 1 °C (34 °F). Boston qualifier. · Low confidence
Course
Scenery, road surface, closures, and room to run. Counts for 20% of the overall score.
- Course sceneryBeautiful4.2
RaceRaves scenery 4.4 of 5. Lake Champlain views, orchards, farms and fall foliage along the island. · Medium confidence
- Room to runSome pinch points3.0
Two out-and-back laps with 136 marathon finishers is uncongested, but the second lap meets half-marathon traffic. · Low confidence
- Road surfaceGood4.0
The whole course is paved per a 2025 reviewer. No complaints. · Low confidence
- Road closuresMostly open1.8
Roads are open to traffic. Reviewers report occasional traffic issues, though drivers were mostly courteous. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Course flatnessRolling3.0
Rolling, with about 381 m (1,250 ft) of gain on one watch. Others say flat to rolling with no big hills. · Low confidence
- Net downhillEven3.0
Two out-and-backs, net zero. Boston qualifier. · Medium confidence
Support
Crowds, aid stations, the start, and pacers. Counts for 20% of the overall score.
- Start logisticsSmooth3.8
Start and finish at one school with parking. Bib pickup in Burlington or on race morning. · Low confidence
- Pacers and timingSome pace groups3.0
Pace groups and timing are not documented. · Low confidence
- Crowd supportSparse2.3
Low key island race. One runner praised fans and community spirit, but spectators are few. · Low confidence
- Aid stationsGood3.9
12 aid stations about every 3 km (2 mi), well staffed per a 2017 runner. Post-race food was praised. · Low confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 14% of the overall score.
- WindWindy2.0
A 2025 runner reported winds over 32 km (19.9 mi)/h (20 mph) at the start, growing through the morning. · Medium confidence
- Air temperaturePleasant3.7
Mid-October runs from 0 to 18 °C (32 to 64 °F). A 2024 start was 1 °C (34 °F). · Medium confidence
- Weather reliabilityVariable3.1
Cold starts near 1 °C (34 °F) and a very windy 2025 day. Lake weather can swing. · Low confidence
- Spectator friendlySome viewpoints2.8
An out-and-back on an island road. Friends can see you at the school at the turn points. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeSea level4.9
Lake Champlain shore, about 30 m (100 ft) above sea level. · Medium confidence
Stay and travel
Hotels, walkability, getting there, and the town around the race. Counts for 10% of the overall score.
- Hotel availabilityBook early3.0
Most visitors stay in Burlington, about 30 km (19 mi) away. South Hero is small. · Low confidence
- Hotel valueNormal2.9
Foliage season pushes Vermont prices up. No price data checked. · Low confidence
- WalkabilitySome driving2.8
The start is at a school on the island. Burlington lodging needs a drive. · Low confidence
- Travel easeOne connection3.4
Burlington airport is about 30 km (19 mi) away. · Medium confidence
- LogisticsSome complexity3.2
Bib pickup in Burlington or race morning. Simple and small, but a car is needed. · Low confidence
- Town and foodGood3.6
Island farms and orchards, with Burlington restaurants close by. · 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 inOpen entry4.6
Open entry with 136 marathon finishers in 2025. · Medium confidence
- Value for moneyGood value3.5
Fee runs about $54 to $96. One reviewer called it inexpensive; swag is a shirt and medal. · Low confidence
Key facts
- Location
- South Hero, Grand Isle County, United States
- Typical month
- October
- Latest or next date
- 17 October 2027
- Organiser
- Independent
- Field size
- About 136 athletes
- Distances
- 42.2 km (26.2 mi)
- Course type
- laps
- Climbing
- 381 m (1,250 ft)
- Start time
- 08:30
- Cutoff
- 6 hours
- Boston qualifier
- Yes
- Surface
- Paved roads
- How to get in
- open
- Sells out
- Rarely
- Entry fee
- About $75
- Air temperature
- 1–15 °C (34–59 °F)
- Humidity
- Moderate
- Altitude
- 30 m (98 ft)
- Nearest airport
- Burlington International (BTV), 30 km (19 mi) away
- Where to stay
- Burlington, South Hero
- Booking
- Most runners stay in Burlington; foliage season is busy.
What racers and reviewers say
- RaceRaves, Champlain Islands Marathon & HalfRaced 2025 · aggregator · Positive
5 ratings, 4.2 of 5; difficulty 3.2, scenery 4.4, production 3.8, swag 3.0. Runners agree on lake views and a low key club vibe, with open roads, wind and little swag.
“held for runners by runners”
- RaceRaves review (2025 marathoner)Raced 2025 · aggregator · Mixed
Tough course with wind and hills, good scenery; 136 marathon finishers, bib pickup in Burlington with no expo, roads open with courteous drivers, about 381 m (1,250 ft) gain.
“a crazy windy day”
- RaceRaves review (2022 half runner)Raced 2022 · aggregator · Positive
Credits GMAA execution, food and community spirit; gripes about the shirt colour.
“Great energy, great food, great location”
- RaceRaves review (2017 marathoner)Raced 2017 · aggregator · Positive
Lovely and low key, aid every 2 miles (3 km), well marked course, small crowd.
“Lovely and low key”
- BibRave reviews (Green Mountain Marathon)blog · Positive
Two reviews: 152 marathoners and 368 half finishers at a tiny elementary school, Lake Champlain rarely out of sight, cool cloudy windy day; the second calls it low key with warm food and no enormous hills.
Raced Champlain Islands Marathon & Half 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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