Greater St. Louis Marathon (GO! St. Louis Marathon)
St. Louis, United States · April · Independent
Why people love it
- Gateway Arch and river views, Busch Stadium and Soulard crowds are the praised stretches.
- Downtown start and finish near CITYPARK keep hotels and the expo close.
- Free pace groups from 3:15 to 6:30, with gels on the course.
- Open entry with a 6.5-hour limit, listed as a Boston qualifier.
- Race-morning air averages 9 to 16 °C (49 to 60 °F).
Watch out for
- Potholes and torn-up pavement were reported in 2024 and 2025.
- About 269 to 305 m (882 to 1,000 ft) of gain, with steep hills near 5 and 27 km (16.8 mi).
- A double loop and out-and-backs crowd the early miles and repeat the Arch area.
- In 2025, too few mile markers, and one runner ran 43.9 km (27.3 mi) after poor course direction.
- Early April highs have reached 28 °C (83 °F); expo and course details change year to year.
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 satisfactionLoved3.5
RaceRaves 3.6 from 59 ratings, MarathonGuide 3.5 from 4. The Arch and neighbourhoods are praised; potholes, hills and repeated loops are the complaints. · Medium confidence
- OrganizationAdequate3.3
RaceRaves production 3.7 and a convenient start. Against that: potholes, too few mile markers, poor course direction in 2025 and a sinkhole reroute. · Medium confidence
- First timer friendlyDoable3.1
A 6.5-hour limit and free pacers to 6:30, but 269 to 305 m (882 to 1,000 ft) of gain and steep hills make it harder. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialAverage2.6
Hilly, with cramping reported after 27 km (mile 17) and a possible headwind near 32 km (19.9 mi). Suited to PR attempts only by strong runners. · Medium confidence
Course
Scenery, road surface, closures, and room to run. Counts for 20% of the overall score.
- Course sceneryPleasant3.3
RaceRaves scenery 3.4. The Gateway Arch, Busch Stadium, Soulard and the river are praised; a 2026 runner found the out-and-backs repetitive. · Medium confidence
- Room to runSome pinch points2.8
A double loop crowded the early miles in 2025, the half and full overlap for the first half, and there are several out-and-backs. · Medium confidence
- Road surfacePatchy2.4
Several 2024 and 2025 reviewers report potholes and torn-up pavement, and a sinkhole forced a 2025 reroute. · Medium confidence
- Road closuresMostly closed3.6
The organiser lists temporary downtown closures. How fully the roads are closed is not documented. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Course flatnessRolling2.8
About 269 to 305 m (882 to 1,000 ft) of gain, at the top of the rolling band. · Medium confidence
- Net downhillEven3.0
Start and finish are a few blocks apart downtown. A loop with no meaningful net drop. · Medium confidence
Support
Crowds, aid stations, the start, and pacers. Counts for 20% of the overall score.
- Start logisticsSmooth3.6
A convenient downtown start praised in 2026, exposed corrals in 2025, a 07:00 start and no race-day marathon pickup. · Medium confidence
- Pacers and timingGood3.7
Free pace groups from 3:15 to 6:30, though one reviewer says the 3:15 group was advertised then removed. Too few mile markers in 2025. · Medium confidence
- Crowd supportDecent3.3
Crowds at the Arch, Soulard, Lafayette Park and the finish area are praised; support is thin elsewhere and in the late miles. · Medium confidence
- Aid stationsGood3.7
Water and Gatorade on all courses, gels and medical on the marathon. Some reviewers report few portable toilets on the course. · Medium confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 14% of the overall score.
- WindSome wind3.2
Average wind is about 14 km (8.7 mi)/h (9 mph), and the out-and-back near 32 km (mile 20) can face a headwind. · Medium confidence
- Air temperaturePleasant4.0
Race-day averages are 9 to 16 °C (49 to 60 °F), but early April highs have reached 28 °C (83 °F) and runners report heat. · Medium confidence
- Weather reliabilityVariable3.2
Early April highs ranged from 8 to 28 °C (46 to 83 °F) across 2022 to 2026, with rain in about 16 percent of years. · Medium confidence
- Spectator friendlyEasy3.6
Viewing at the Arch riverfront, Busch Stadium, Lafayette Park and the finish, and the downtown loop gives repeat views. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeSea level4.8
St. Louis sits at about 140 m (460 ft). · High confidence
Stay and travel
Hotels, walkability, getting there, and the town around the race. Counts for 10% of the overall score.
- Hotel availabilityGood4.0
Downtown hotels sit near the start. The weekend draws over 10,000 participants, so book early. · Low confidence
- Hotel valueGood3.6
No rate data; typical mid-sized US city downtown pricing assumed. · Low confidence
- WalkabilityWalkable4.2
Start and finish are downtown near hotels, and the expo has been at Union Station and Ballpark Village. · Medium confidence
- Travel easeEasy4.0
St. Louis Lambert is about 24 km (15 mi) from downtown, with direct flights to many US cities. · Low confidence
- LogisticsSimple3.5
Packet pickup is required with no race-day marathon pickup. The expo moved between venues across years. · Medium confidence
- Town and foodGood4.0
Reviewers mention Soulard and downtown dining. Little detailed evidence. · 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 inEasy4.2
Open entry, and no sell-out evidence for the marathon. · Medium confidence
- Value for moneyFair3.4
The $115 fee is fair, but reviewers often call the medal plain and the shirt basic. · Medium confidence
Key facts
- Location
- St. Louis, St. Louis City, United States
- Typical month
- April
- Latest or next date
- 3 April 2027
- Organiser
- Independent
- Field size
- About 1,300 athletes
- First held
- 2001
- Distances
- 42.2 km (26.2 mi)
- Course type
- loop
- Climbing
- 269 m (885 ft)
- Start time
- 07:00
- Cutoff
- 6.5 hours
- Boston qualifier
- Yes
- Surface
- City streets, some worn pavement
- How to get in
- open
- Entry fee
- About $115
- Air temperature
- 9–16 °C (48–61 °F)
- Humidity
- About 63 percent average
- Altitude
- 140 m (460 ft)
- Nearest airport
- St. Louis Lambert International (STL), 24 km (15 mi) away
- Where to stay
- Downtown, Soulard, Laclede's Landing
- Booking
- Downtown hotels sit near the start and finish; reviewers mention nearby hotels. Expo at Union Station in 2026 (free, about 50 booths); packet pickup required, no race-day pickup for the marathon.
What racers and reviewers say
- RaceRavesRaced 2026 · aggregator · Mixed
59 ratings, 3.6 overall; difficulty 3.0, scenery 3.4, production 3.7, swag 3.2. Runners agree the race is well run with a convenient downtown start and Arch views; they also agree on rolling to tough hills, potholes and rough pavement, uneven crowds and a plain medal.
“Running around St Louis Arc is an awesome experience.”
- MarathonGuideRaced 2025 · aggregator · Mixed
3.5 average from 4 reviews. The 2025 runners praise crowds in Soulard and Lafayette Park and the finish area, but report potholes, steep hills near 5 and 27 km (16.8 mi), early double-loop crowding and too few mile markers; one runner covered 43.9 km (27.3 mi). A 2023 reviewer said the race had declined.
“They ruined what WAS a great race.”
- Marathon Training AcademyRaced 2013 · blog · Positive
Older recap of the 13th edition (pre-2025 course): the Holy Hill climb at miles 6 to 8 (10 to 13 km), Forest Park and Washington University, lively crowds and a strong finish area. Hills kept coming and warm weather made the second half hard.
“had no shame about walking up hills”
- RacecastRaced 2025 · aggregator · Mixed
Seven race reports: about 75 percent would run it again. Described as hilly, with cramping after 27 km (mile 17), a tough out-and-back near 32 km (mile 20) sometimes into headwind, and heat in warm years.
Raced Greater St. Louis Marathon (GO! St. Louis 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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