Little Rock Marathon
Little Rock, United States · March · Independent
Why people love it
- Production rated 4.7 of 5 on RaceRaves from 238 ratings.
- A very large finisher medal that runners rave about.
- Eight-hour limit with an early-start option for slower runners.
- Aid with fruit, gels, tater tots and beer samples late in the race.
Watch out for
- Steep hills between 23 and 31 km (14 and 19 mi) and another near 39 km (24 mi).
- Half runners turn at 9.7 km (6 mi), so mile markers can mislead.
- Weather swings from 1 to 28 °C (33 to 82 °F) in March.
- Some reviewers find parts of the scenery drab.
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 satisfactionLoved4.4
RaceRaves rates it 4.6 of 5 from 238 ratings, and MarathonGuide 4.7 from 15. Runners love the volunteers, crowds and medal; some criticise the hills. · High confidence
- OrganizationWell run4.4
RaceRaves production is 4.7 of 5. Easy expo and downtown start and finish. Half markers after 9.7 km (6 mi) show marathon distances. · Medium confidence
- First timer friendlyFriendly3.9
An eight-hour limit and early start help, but hills between 23 and 31 km (14 and 19 mi) make some call it the year's toughest. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialAverage2.5
One finisher called it the toughest of six or seven courses a year, and only 4.3% of 2025 finishers qualified for Boston. · Medium confidence
Course
Scenery, road surface, closures, and room to run. Counts for 20% of the overall score.
- Course sceneryPleasant3.4
River, Capitol and Central High stretches. RaceRaves scenery is 3.6 of 5, and one reviewer found parts drab. · Medium confidence
- Room to runSome pinch points3.4
Out-and-back sections and the half marathon split at 9.7 km (6 mi) add some turns. · Low confidence
- Road surfaceMixed3.0
One 2025 review says the road was rough in places, and a long bike-path out-and-back adds a different surface. · Low confidence
- Road closuresMostly closed3.6
Closures are not detailed. Some reviewers describe uneasy back-half areas. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Course flatnessHilly2.4
Elevation runs from 75 to 158 m (246 to 519 ft), with two or three significant hill runs reported. · Low confidence
- Net downhillEven3.0
A single loop with no net drop. Boston qualifying. · High confidence
Support
Crowds, aid stations, the start, and pacers. Counts for 20% of the overall score.
- Start logisticsSmooth4.2
Start and finish behind the Marriott, with smooth expo and packet pickup. The start is 06:00. · Medium confidence
- Pacers and timingGood3.5
Sources do not detail pace groups or timing. · Low confidence
- Crowd supportStrong4.3
Reviewers say the whole town comes out, backed by strong volunteers. · Medium confidence
- Aid stationsAbundant4.5
Frequent stations with fruit, gels, pickles, tater tots and beer samples late in the race. · Medium confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 14% of the overall score.
- WindMostly calm3.8
No wind complaints in any source. · Low confidence
- Air temperatureWarm or cool3.0
Highs ranged from 13 to 28 °C (56 to 82 °F) across five years, with starts from 1 to 21 °C (33 to 69 °F). · Medium confidence
- Weather reliabilityUnsettled2.3
Race-day weather swings from near-freezing lows to 28 °C (82 °F) highs, and 2017 had cold rain. · High confidence
- Spectator friendlyEasy3.8
A downtown loop around the Marriott start and finish, with city-wide support. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeSea level4.8
Elevation is 75 to 158 m (246 to 519 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
Large downtown hotels sit at the start and finish. Book early. · Low confidence
- Hotel valueGood3.7
Mid-size Southern city pricing. No specific figures found. · Low confidence
- WalkabilityWalkable4.4
Start and finish are behind the Marriott, with the expo in the convention center. · Medium confidence
- Travel easeEasy4.0
Little Rock airport is about 6 km (4 mi) from downtown. · Medium confidence
- LogisticsSimple4.4
Reviewers praise the expo and packet pickup, plus an indoor party at the Statehouse Convention Center. · Medium confidence
- Town and foodGood3.8
The River Market district is the draw, and reviewers suggest staying downtown. · 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 inEasy4.0
Open entry. No sell-out noted. · Low confidence
- Value for moneyGood value4.4
A very large medal, a post-race party and a free training program. The fee was not found. · Medium confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Little Rock, Central Arkansas, United States
- Typical month
- March
- Latest or next date
- 6 March 2027
- Organiser
- Independent
- Field size
- About 1,200 athletes
- First held
- 2003
- Distances
- 42.2 km (26.2 mi)
- Course type
- loop
- Start time
- 06:00
- Cutoff
- 8 hours
- Boston qualifier
- Yes
- Surface
- Road, with a long out-and-back on a bike path
- How to get in
- open
- Air temperature
- 4–20 °C (39–68 °F)
- Humidity
- Moderate
- Altitude
- 95 m (310 ft)
- Nearest airport
- Clinton National (LIT), 6 km (4 mi) away
- Where to stay
- Downtown, River Market
- Booking
- Start and finish are behind a large downtown Marriott; staying there makes the weekend very simple. Book early.
What racers and reviewers say
- RaceRaves Little Rock Marathon pageRaced 2026 · aggregator · Positive
4.6 of 5 from 238 ratings (104 marathon). Agreement on hills in miles 15 to 20 (24 to 32 km), whole-town crowd support, well-stocked aid, easy Marriott start and finish, huge medal; scenery rated lower, and half runners saw mismatched mile markers.
“The medal is insane.”
- RaceRaves, Jessica WilsonRaced 2025 · blog · Positive
Rated production 5 of 5 and difficulty 4; very large hills in the final miles; early start welcomed by back-of-pack runners.
“Race course in 2025 had some very large hills in the final miles.”
- Bianca Phillips recapRaced 2017 · blog · Positive
Way hillier than Memphis. Free snacks (oranges, pickles, tater tots) and beer samples, cold rain after a warm forecast, indoor post-race party.
“WAY more hills than Memphis.”
- MarathonGuide reviewsRaced 2026 · aggregator · Positive
4.7 from 15 reviews; visible ones are short and praise the medal.
“Best medals ever!”
- BibRave reviewersaggregator · Mixed
Several reviewers call it the toughest course they have run, hardest hills at miles 16 to 19 (26 to 31 km) and near mile 24 (39 km), a long bike-path out-and-back, and huge medals. A first-timer praised the lack of a tight time limit.
Show 1 more
- Arkansas Democrat-Gazette finishers roundupRaced 2024 · article · Mixed
Finishers call it the toughest of six or seven courses a year; a 6 a.m. start gave a good temperature.
Raced Little Rock 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 Little Rock Marathon? Moku Coach builds your plan around race day.