Revel Mt. Charleston Marathon
Las Vegas, United States · April · Independent
Why people love it
- Net drop of 1,588 m (5,210 ft) from Mount Charleston Lodge to Las Vegas.
- Starts at 2,316 m (7,600 ft) among snow-capped peaks and finishes in the desert.
- Smooth paved highway on a steady 4% grade for about 32 km (20 mi).
- Small field of about 1,500 finishers, so little congestion.
- Las Vegas hotels are cheap and plentiful.
Watch out for
- Start can be -4 °C (25 °F); one 2023 runner waited about 90 minutes without heat.
- Starting at 2,316 m (7,600 ft) hurt one reviewer's pacing, and the downhill wrecks quads.
- Boston Athletic Association rule from 2027 may adjust or void qualifying times on this course.
- Water stations are slow in some reports, with few spectators.
- Remote start needs a pre-dawn bus, and some runners paid extra bus fees.
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 satisfactionLoved3.7
Two 5-of-5 runner reviews from 2016 and 2017, but three 2023 MarathonGuide reviews average 3.1 for cold waits and weak aid. · Low confidence
- OrganizationWell run3.5
2016 and 2017 reviewers praised volunteers and on-time buses, but in 2023 runners cited a 90 minute cold wait, understaffed water stops and bus fees. · Low confidence
- First timer friendlyDemanding2.4
Start at 2,316 m (7,600 ft), a 1,588 m (5,210 ft) descent that punishes legs, a very cold early start and a remote point-to-point. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialAmong the fastest4.6
Net drop of 1,588 m (5,210 ft). Runners report personal bests of 3 to 15 minutes, though one 2023 runner struggled with the altitude start. · Medium confidence
Course
Scenery, road surface, closures, and room to run. Counts for 20% of the overall score.
- Course sceneryBeautiful3.8
Snow-capped mountains and forest give way to desert. The last miles are suburban. · Medium confidence
- Room to runRoomy4.0
A small field of about 1,500 marathoners, though half-marathon walkers crowd water stations. · Low confidence
- Road surfaceGood4.2
Smooth paved highway with no surface complaints. · Low confidence
- Road closuresMostly closed3.6
Law enforcement supports the course, but how far roads are closed is not documented. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Course flatnessPancake flat4.7
Total gain is only 57 m (186 ft) over 42.2 km (26.2 mi) in the organiser's figures, on a steady downhill. · Medium confidence
- Net downhillBig drop5.0
Net drop of 1,588 m (5,210 ft) over 42.2 km (26.2 mi). The Boston Athletic Association's 2027 rule may adjust or void qualifying times. · High confidence
Support
Crowds, aid stations, the start, and pacers. Counts for 20% of the overall score.
- Start logisticsSome waiting3.0
Buses were on time in 2016, but in 2023 runners waited 90 minutes at -4 °C (25 °F) with no heat and paid bus fees. · Medium confidence
- Pacers and timingSome pace groups3.4
Pace groups are likely. Reviews mention printed results at the finish. · Low confidence
- Crowd supportSparse2.2
Remote highway with sparse spectators, according to one reviewer. · Medium confidence
- Aid stationsStandard3.0
Two tables per station, water and sports drink. Stops were slow and understaffed in 2022 and 2023, but well stocked in 2016. · Medium confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 14% of the overall score.
- WindMostly calm3.6
No wind complaints found. · Low confidence
- Air temperatureWarm or cool3.0
Starts near or below freezing, -4 °C (25 °F), with a warm desert finish around 16 °C (60 °F). · Medium confidence
- Weather reliabilityVariable2.6
Snow in 2016 and -4 °C (25 °F) in April 2023 show big swings. · Medium confidence
- Spectator friendlyTricky2.0
Remote canyon highway. Only the finish area is easy for spectators. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeElevated1.8
Starts at 2,316 m (7,600 ft) and finishes near 730 m (2,400 ft), well above where most runners train. · High confidence
Stay and travel
Hotels, walkability, getting there, and the town around the race. Counts for 10% of the overall score.
- Hotel availabilityPlentiful4.8
Las Vegas has abundant rooms. · High confidence
- Hotel valueGood4.4
Las Vegas lodging is plentiful and cheap. · Medium confidence
- WalkabilityMostly driving2.2
The start is about 34 km (21 mi) up Kyle Canyon, so buses are required. · Low confidence
- Travel easeVery easy4.5
Major airport with direct flights from most US hubs. · High confidence
- LogisticsSome complexity2.8
Pre-dawn buses, cold waits and bus fees were reported, plus an expo with sponsor booths. · Medium confidence
- Town and foodGreat4.6
Las Vegas dining, plus Red Rock, Hoover Dam and Valley of Fire day trips. · 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 inEasy4.2
Open entry for about 1,500 runners. No sell-out history found. · Low confidence
- Value for moneyFair3.4
Testimonials praise the swag and finish area, but one 2023 runner objected to extra bus fees. Fee not found. · Low confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Las Vegas, Kyle Canyon to northwest Las Vegas, United States
- Typical month
- April
- Latest or next date
- 3 April 2027
- Organiser
- Independent
- Field size
- About 1,500 athletes
- First held
- 2016
- Distances
- 42.2 km (26.2 mi)
- Course type
- point-to-point
- Climbing
- 57 m (185 ft)
- Descent
- 1,588 m (5,210 ft)
- Start time
- 06:00
- Boston qualifier
- Yes
- Surface
- Paved highway (Kyle Canyon Road)
- How to get in
- open
- Sells out
- Rarely
- Air temperature
- -4–16 °C (25–61 °F)
- Humidity
- Dry, in the 20s percent at the finish
- Altitude
- 2,316 m (7,600 ft)
- Nearest airport
- Harry Reid International (LAS)
- Where to stay
- Las Vegas Strip, Northwest Las Vegas near Centennial Hills
- Booking
- Las Vegas lodging is plentiful and cheap; the start is high on the mountain so a pre-dawn bus is needed.
What racers and reviewers say
- Revel organiser testimonialsarticle · Positive
Curated quotes are uniformly positive about the downhill course, scenery, volunteers, finish area and well-run buses. Promotional.
“one of the fastest courses in the nation”
- Revel review (Luis Garzon)Raced 2017 · blog · Positive
5 of 5. About 21 miles (34 km) of gentle downhill from snowy mountains to desert; altitude not a problem and he PR'd by 3 minutes. Each water station had only two tables and half-marathon walkers clogged them.
- Revel review (Stan Stradling)Raced 2016 · blog · Positive
5 of 5 for the inaugural race: a fast gentle downhill, light snow for the first miles, comfortable at the finish.
“Amazing/fast course”
- Revel debut recapRaced 2016 · article · Positive
Inaugural race: buses on time, toilets and well-stocked water, snow a few minutes into the marathon, a Boston qualifier rate of about 40 percent, over 600 marathoners. Organiser-written.
“fastest courses in the nation”
- MarathonGuideRaced 2023 · aggregator · Negative
Three reviews averaging 3.1. One said a 90 minute wait at 25 °F (-4 °C) with no heat, poor water stops and extra bus fees; another liked the course and organisation but noted weaker aid and sparse spectators; warns the downhill can wreck legs.
Show 2 more
- Another Mother RunnerRaced 2023 · blog · Mixed
A 2023 report says running over 1 mile (1.6 km) higher than her training hurt the cardiovascular system, the easy downhill felt sluggish early and she missed her Boston goal; low-20s °F (about -6 °C (21 °F)) at the start. Seen only in a search summary.
- Front Office SportsRaced 2025 · article · neutral
Reports a Boston Athletic Association change from 2027: 5 to 10 minute adjustments above 1,500 ft (457 m) net drop and ineligibility above 6,000 ft (1,830 m), naming Revel Mt. Charleston.
Raced Revel Mt. Charleston 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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