Salt Lake City Marathon
Salt Lake City, United States · April · Independent
Why people love it
- Wasatch Mountains in view; finish at Library Square with live music.
- Net drop roughly 180 to 210 m (590 to 700 ft), point-to-point.
- Free UTA transit for runners and light rail from the airport.
- Lots of aid stations and decent crowds.
Watch out for
- Start at about 1,460 m (4,800 ft); uphill first 2.5 km (1.5 mi) and thin air.
- A 6 km (4 mi) steep descent after the start climb hammers quads.
- Cracked, potholed roads in places.
- Half and marathon split confused some; expo and parking are crowded.
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 gives 4.4 from 29 ratings; MarathonGuide reviews 3.7 and 4.7. Mountain views and logistics earn praise; early hills, altitude and rough roads dent it. · Medium confidence
- OrganizationWell run4.2
RaceRaves production 4.5, free transit to the start and plentiful aid. Marks off for a crowded expo, parking and a confusing half and full split. · Medium confidence
- First timer friendlyDoable3.0
Hills surprised first-timers, the start is at about 1,460 m (4,800 ft), the cutoff is 6.5 h and the long descent hammers quads. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialAverage3.4
Net drop of 180 to 210 m (590 to 700 ft), but a hard early climb, thin air and a harsh descent. 2.9% qualified. · Medium confidence
Course
Scenery, road surface, closures, and room to run. Counts for 20% of the overall score.
- Course sceneryBeautiful4.3
RaceRaves scenery 4.2 out of 5; Wasatch Mountains throughout, foothill neighbourhoods and parks, finishing at Library Square. · Medium confidence
- Room to runRoomy3.6
Half and marathon split caused confusion for some; wide city streets; field about 1,900 marathoners. · Low confidence
- Road surfaceMixed2.7
Two reviewers (2023, 2026) call the roads cracked and potholed in places. · Medium confidence
- Road closuresMostly closed3.6
City streets closed for the race; no reports of traffic conflicts but little evidence either way. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Course flatnessRolling2.8
Gain 277 m (910 ft) per RunDida (runners logged about 255 m, 841 ft in 2018), rolling 150 to 300 m (500 to 1,000 ft). · Medium confidence
- Net downhillDownhill4.0
Net drop roughly 180 to 210 m (590 to 700 ft); start high on the foothills and ends near downtown, but not a pure downhill. · Medium confidence
Support
Crowds, aid stations, the start, and pacers. Counts for 20% of the overall score.
- Start logisticsSmooth4.3
Trax light rail to the start (reviewers praise it) and runners rode UTA transit free in 2026. Ding: expo parking. · Medium confidence
- Pacers and timingGood4.0
Pace groups and timing reported; details not found. · Low confidence
- Crowd supportStrong3.8
One reviewer reports lots of spectators to the finish and another good support with creative signs. Library Square has live music. · Medium confidence
- Aid stationsGood4.4
'Lots and lots of aid stations' per a 2024 half runner; a 2023 marathoner called them well stocked. · Medium confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 14% of the overall score.
- WindMostly calm3.8
Race-week peak wind about 14 km (8.7 mi)/h (9 mph); no wind complaints. · Low confidence
- Air temperaturePleasant4.3
Start 6 to 7 °C (43 to 45 °F), mid-teens by late morning, dry air; 24 April highs reached 26 °C (78 °F) in 2024. · Medium confidence
- Weather reliabilityVariable3.4
24 April highs 17 to 26 °C (58 to 78 °F) in five years, one reviewer reports snow in 2022; 34% chance of rain. · Medium confidence
- Spectator friendlyEasy3.8
Point-to-point through city and neighbourhoods with transit; the finish area at Library Square has live music; spectators advised to cheer names on shirts. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeElevated2.2
Start about 1,460 m (4,800 ft), finish about 1,300 m (4,260 ft); altitude took breath from several runners. · 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
Downtown hotels, airport and the Trax; not reported scarce. · Low confidence
- Hotel valueGood3.5
No source quotes prices. · Low confidence
- WalkabilityWalkable4.0
Trax light rail and free transit for runners to the start; downtown finish. · Medium confidence
- Travel easeVery easy4.5
One reviewer notes Trax from the airport to downtown costs $2.50. · Medium confidence
- LogisticsSimple4.0
Easy transit; the expo drew complaints about crowds and parking. · Medium confidence
- Town and foodGood4.2
Reviewers call SLC easy to navigate, with good views, plus a 50-state favourite. · 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 inEasy3.8
Open entry and the marathon is not confirmed sold out, though several other distances sold out in 2026. · Low confidence
- Value for moneyGood value3.8
RaceRaves swag 4.1 out of 5; reviewers praise the medal, shirt and free finish engraving, bands, beer and food. · Medium confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County, Utah, United States
- Typical month
- April
- Latest or next date
- 24 April 2027
- Organiser
- Independent
- Field size
- About 1,900 athletes
- First held
- 2004
- Distances
- 42.2 km (26.2 mi)
- Course type
- point-to-point
- Climbing
- 277 m (910 ft)
- Descent
- 455 m (1,490 ft)
- Start time
- 07:00
- Cutoff
- 6.5 hours
- Boston qualifier
- Yes
- Surface
- Paved city roads
- How to get in
- open
- Sells out
- Rarely
- Air temperature
- 6–16 °C (43–61 °F)
- Humidity
- Dry, about 58% race-week average
- Altitude
- 1,380 m (4,530 ft)
- Nearest airport
- Salt Lake City International (SLC), 9 km (6 mi) away
- Where to stay
- Downtown, Sugar House, University area
- Booking
- Downtown hotels near the finish; Trax light rail runs from the airport to downtown for $2.50 and to the start. UTA transit was free for runners in 2026.
What racers and reviewers say
- RaceRaves Salt Lake City MarathonRaced 2026 · aggregator · Positive
29 reviews, 4.4 out of 5 overall, difficulty 3.2, scenery 4.2, production 4.5, swag 4.1. Runners praise crowds, aid stations, Trax access and mountain views; they warn about an uphill start, altitude, a long first-half downhill, rough roads, a crowded expo and a confusing half and full split.
“SPECTACULAR course views”
- MarathonGuide race reviewsRaced 2023 · aggregator · mixed-positive
Two real reviews, 3.7 and 4.7. One 2023 marathoner loved the scenery and the $2.50 Trax ride from the airport but found the early climb and the 6 km (4 mi) downhill hard on quads and the pavement cracked. A 2022 runner called it one of the hardest marathons he had done, with altitude, early hills and snow, but praised views, expo, swag and volunteers.
“one of the hardest marathons”
- BibRave Salt Lake City Marathon reviewsRaced 2018 · aggregator · mixed-positive
Reviewers describe a start that climbs while the altitude has runners gasping, a long downhill after mile 2 to 3 that wrecks quads, cracked and potholed roads, big mountain views, and Trax from the airport. One 2018 runner's watch logged 255 m (841 ft) of climbing.
“after mile 2 or 3, it is about 4 miles all downhill”
- KUTV race-day reportRaced 2026 · article · neutral
2026 report: more than 11,000 runners across events, several distances sold out, free UTA transit for runners and a finish at Library Square with live music. Not a runner review.
“(none)”
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Sources
Pages we used for facts and ratings. See how we rate.
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