Milwaukee Marathon
Milwaukee, United States · April · Independent
Why people love it
- Lakefront and skyline course ending in Bay View with food, beer and a hoodie.
- Boston qualifier with 152 m (500 ft) of gain; 8.8 percent of 2026 finishers qualified.
- Staggered starts and fast shuttle buses keep corral waits short.
- Cool April mornings: race-day mean about 6 °C (44 °F).
Watch out for
- Strict 5 hour limit, about 7:07 min/km (11:27 min/mi).
- A 30 m (100 ft) climb at mile 2 (3 km), then a lonely Oak Leaf Trail out-and-back.
- Wind off the lake in the final miles; April highs swing by 18 °C (32 °F).
- Cancelled in 2022 and still rebuilding; the 2026 race sold out.
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 of 5 from 59 ratings, mostly 2026. Lakefront and energetic crowds praised; four older FindMyMarathon reviews average 2.8 and drag it down. · Medium confidence
- OrganizationWell run3.8
RaceRaves production 3.9. Fast buses and staggered starts in 2026, but a medal misprint, beer lines and few toilets; · Medium confidence
- First timer friendlyDoable3.2
Crowds and aid help, but the strict 5 hour limit (7:07 min/km, 11:27 min/mi) is the top complaint. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialAverage3.4
152 m (500 ft) of gain and 8.8 percent of 2026 finishers qualified for Boston; · Medium confidence
Course
Scenery, road surface, closures, and room to run. Counts for 20% of the overall score.
- Course sceneryBeautiful4.0
RaceRaves scenery 4.1. Lakefront, downtown skyline, Third Ward and Bay View neighbourhoods; the Oak Leaf Trail stretch is quieter. · Medium confidence
- Room to runSome pinch points3.4
Staggered corrals and small field avoid crowding, but a 16 km (10 mi) out-and-back on the Oak Leaf Trail and sharp turnarounds were noted. · Medium confidence
- Road surfaceMixed3.4
One reviewer reported potholes and bumpy sections; the course is otherwise all paved. · Low confidence
- Road closuresMostly closed4.0
The city publishes closures for downtown and the lakefront; full closure of the whole route is not confirmed. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Course flatnessMostly flat3.6
152 m (500 ft) of gain per FindMyMarathon; watches read up to 200 m (650 ft), including one 30 m (100 ft) climb. · Medium confidence
- Net downhillEven3.0
Gain of 152 m (500 ft) against loss of 137 m (452 ft): roughly flat. Boston qualifier. · High confidence
Support
Crowds, aid stations, the start, and pacers. Counts for 20% of the overall score.
- Start logisticsSmooth3.9
Bus transfers 'fast and convenient', staggered start shortened corral waits; a parking ticket during bib pickup reported. · Medium confidence
- Pacers and timingGood3.6
Pacers and timing not widely reviewed; 2019 had no timing mats along the course, 2024 to 2026 reviewers report no timing problems. · Low confidence
- Crowd supportStrong3.6
Spectators called super energetic in 2026, thinner at the Oak Leaf Trail turnaround; downtown and Bay View are strong. · Medium confidence
- Aid stationsGood3.6
Water and sports drink at well-spaced stations per 2026 reviewers; one wanted more water and toilets. · Medium confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 14% of the overall score.
- WindSome wind2.8
Several runners noted lakefront wind in the final miles past the Third Ward. · Medium confidence
- Air temperaturePleasant4.2
Average start of 4 °C (40 °F) with highs of 12 °C (54 °F); some years reached 22 °C (71 °F). · Medium confidence
- Weather reliabilityVariable3.0
10 April highs over five years ranged from 4 to 22 °C (39 to 71 °F); spring snow is possible. · Medium confidence
- Spectator friendlySome viewpoints3.2
Point-to-point with shuttles; viewers can catch downtown and the lakefront but the finish is in Bay View, about 6 km (4 mi) from downtown. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeSea level4.7
Lakeshore at 177 to 211 m (581 to 694 ft). · High confidence
Stay and travel
Hotels, walkability, getting there, and the town around the race. Counts for 10% of the overall score.
- Hotel availabilityGood4.2
Large city with many downtown hotels. · Low confidence
- Hotel valueGood3.8
Midwest prices are moderate. · Low confidence
- WalkabilitySome driving3.4
Start near downtown hotels; finish in Bay View needs a shuttle or rideshare. · Low confidence
- Travel easeEasy4.0
MKE 11 km (7 mi) from downtown; Chicago 130 km (80 mi) away. · Medium confidence
- LogisticsSimple3.5
Bib pickup at an expo (crowded in 2024), shuttles from finish to start. · Low confidence
- Town and foodGood4.3
Breweries at the finish, Third Ward and Bay View food scenes. · 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 inRegister early3.3
The 2026 long races sold out at about 1,450 marathon and 3,500 half entrants; register early. · Medium confidence
- Value for moneyGood value3.5
The MKE hoodie was liked, with a post-race party of food and beer; fee not published and swag split opinion. · Low confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Milwaukee, Milwaukee County, United States
- Typical month
- April
- Latest or next date
- 10 April 2027
- Organiser
- Independent
- Field size
- About 1,092 athletes
- Distances
- 42.2 km (26.2 mi)
- Course type
- point-to-point
- Climbing
- 152 m (500 ft)
- Descent
- 137 m (450 ft)
- Start time
- 07:00
- Cutoff
- 5 hours
- Boston qualifier
- Yes
- Surface
- Paved roads and the Oak Leaf Trail
- How to get in
- open
- Sells out
- Yes
- Air temperature
- 1–12 °C (34–54 °F)
- Humidity
- Moderate; 62% at a typical start
- Altitude
- 190 m (625 ft)
- Nearest airport
- Milwaukee Mitchell International (MKE), 11 km (7 mi) away
- Where to stay
- Third Ward, Downtown, Lakefront
- Booking
- Downtown hotels sit near the start; Bay View is the finish. Book early for race weekend.
What racers and reviewers say
- RaceRavesRaced 2026 · aggregator · Positive
59 ratings, 4.1 overall; difficulty 2.9, scenery 4.1, production 3.9, swag 3.6. 2026 runners praise the lakefront, energetic spectators, fast buses and the hoodie; they dislike the strict 5-hour limit, the mile-2 hill, wind near the end and the 'Marthon' medal typo.
“The scenery is amazing.”
- FindMyMarathonRaced 2022 · aggregator · Mixed
Four reviews, 2.8 average, all of the earlier race: one 2022 runner cancelled four weeks out, another loved the lakefront and aid, a 2019 runner cited a mismeasured course, cost and food running out.
- CBS58Raced 2026 · article · Positive
First-time marathoner credits the cheering crowds downtown and camaraderie; coverage describes a great spring day, thousands of spectators and the lakefront to Bay View course.
“It was amazing, seeing people out there cheering us on.”
- FOX6 MilwaukeeRaced 2025 · article · neutral
2025 coverage: lakefront start, Oak Leaf Trail and finish at Humboldt Park, temporary closures only, 5-hour marathon limit and 4-hour half, swag and post-race party included.
- Urban MilwaukeeRaced 2023 · article · neutral
Explains the 2024 comeback after 2019, the new route and the strict five-hour limit; organisers aimed for 3,000 entrants against 8,000 in 2019.
Raced Milwaukee 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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