The San Francisco Marathon
San Francisco, United States · July · Independent
Why people love it
- Out and back over the Golden Gate Bridge, then Presidio and Golden Gate Park.
- Finish on the Embarcadero under the Bay Bridge.
- Cool, misty 13 to 19 °C (56 to 66 °F) mornings.
- Sea-level race, easy to reach: SFO is 21 km (13 mi) away.
Watch out for
- About 567 m (1,860 ft) of gain; steep early climbs of 76 m (250 ft).
- 5:15 a.m. start, early shuttles and long toilet lines.
- 2024 half measured 20.3 km (12.6 mi); mile-marker gaps reported.
- Entry about $200 to $230 and the marathon sold out in 2025.
- Bridge deck is narrow, slippery and gusty.
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 satisfactionLoved3.9
RaceRaves 4.1 of 5 from 174 ratings; scenery 4.4, production 3.9, swag 3.6. Bridge and city praised; price and course-length errors drew complaints. · Medium confidence
- OrganizationAdequate3.1
The 2024 half measured 20.3 km (12.6 mi), a 2025 aid station ran out of water and markers had gaps. 2026 aid was well run. · Medium confidence
- First timer friendlyDoable2.8
About 567 m (1,860 ft) of climbing, a 5:15 a.m. start, shuttles and long toilet lines. Big field and strong volunteers help. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialSlow1.9
Gain of about 567 m (1,860 ft), congestion on the bridge and a 5:15 a.m. start. 324 runners qualified for Boston in 2018. · Medium confidence
Course
Scenery, road surface, closures, and room to run. Counts for 20% of the overall score.
- Course scenerySpectacular4.6
Golden Gate Bridge, Presidio, Golden Gate Park, Haight and a finish under the Bay Bridge. RaceRaves scenery 4.4; Mission Bay is dull. · High confidence
- Room to runSome pinch points2.6
Narrow bridge deck with runners stopping for photos, bottlenecks in Golden Gate Park, out-and-back on the bridge. · Medium confidence
- Road surfaceMixed3.3
Bridge deck described as slippery, a sharp, bumpy dirt-path underpass, and park switchbacks. · Low confidence
- Road closuresMostly closed3.6
Course uses city streets and the bridge pedestrian deck; one reviewer (2024) cites open traffic crossings. Closure level not confirmed. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Course flatnessHilly1.7
About 567 m (1,860 ft) of gain, close to the 600 m (2,000 ft) end of the scale. · Medium confidence
- Net downhillEven3.0
Loop course starting and finishing on the Embarcadero, no net drop. Boston qualifier. · High confidence
Support
Crowds, aid stations, the start, and pacers. Counts for 20% of the overall score.
- Start logisticsSome waiting2.8
Pre-dawn start, early shuttles and long toilet lines mentioned by reviewers. · Medium confidence
- Pacers and timingGood3.6
Official pacing and timing present; mile-marker gaps and a 2024 mismeasured half hurt split trust. · Low confidence
- Crowd supportStrong3.5
Strong in the city, lively in Haight and the Mission, but thin on the bridge at 5:15 a.m. per reviewers. · Medium confidence
- Aid stationsGood3.6
Stations described as well stocked with encouraging volunteers (2026), but one 2025 station ran out of water. · Medium confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 14% of the overall score.
- WindSome wind2.7
Cold gusts on the bridge and bay breezes later. · Medium confidence
- Air temperaturePleasant4.2
Cool, misty 13 to 19 °C (56 to 66 °F) start, mild 66 to 79 °F (19 to 26 °C (79 °F)) highs. Humidity up to 86%. · Medium confidence
- Weather reliabilityReliable4.2
Five recent race dates all had highs between 66 and 79 °F (19 and 26 °C (79 °F)); foggy start is the norm. · Medium confidence
- Spectator friendlySome viewpoints3.4
Large city, the early start thins crowds; parks and the Embarcadero finish are good viewing spots. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeSea level5.0
Sea level to about 100 m (330 ft); start near the Embarcadero. · 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
Many hotels but they fill and spike in price for race weekend. · Medium confidence
- Hotel valuePricey1.8
San Francisco hotel prices are among the highest in the US. · Medium confidence
- WalkabilityWalkable3.8
Start and finish on the Embarcadero, close to downtown hotels and transit. · Medium confidence
- Travel easeVery easy4.8
SFO is about 21 km (13 mi) away with BART. · High confidence
- LogisticsSome complexity3.4
Expo and bib pickup; mailed bibs cost $20. Shuttles and early starts add steps. · Low confidence
- Town and foodGreat4.9
One of the best food cities in the US. · High 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 early3.2
Open entry but the full sold out for the first time in 2025; register early. · Medium confidence
- Value for moneyPricey2.2
Reviewers say about $200 to $230 for the marathon-weekend entries is steep for modest swag; MarathonGuide headline was 'Expensive with minimum swag'. · Medium confidence
Key facts
- Location
- San Francisco, Bay Area, United States
- Typical month
- July
- Latest or next date
- 26 July 2026
- Organiser
- Independent
- Field size
- About 6,600 athletes
- First held
- 1977
- Distances
- 42.2 km (26.2 mi)
- Course type
- loop
- Climbing
- 567 m (1,860 ft)
- Start time
- 05:15
- Cutoff
- 6 hours
- Boston qualifier
- Yes
- Surface
- Road, with a narrow pedestrian deck on the Golden Gate Bridge and a short dirt-path underpass
- How to get in
- open
- Sells out
- Yes
- Entry fee
- About $230
- Air temperature
- 13–19 °C (55–66 °F)
- Humidity
- High, up to 86% reported in 2023
- Altitude
- 20 m (66 ft)
- Nearest airport
- San Francisco International (SFO), 21 km (13 mi) away
- Where to stay
- Embarcadero, Financial District, Union Square
- Booking
- Race weekend hotels are expensive; book early. Stay near the Embarcadero or Union Square for a short walk or transit ride to the Ferry Building start.
What racers and reviewers say
- RaceRaves San Francisco Marathon pageRaced 2026 · aggregator · Mixed
4.1 of 5 from 174 ratings (89 marathon). Runners agree on the Golden Gate Bridge and bay views, hills that are tough but manageable, a lively crowd, bridge congestion, early starts and shuttles, long toilet lines, and high prices. 2024 and 2026 reviews flag short or long courses and gaps in markers.
“a beautiful run over the iconic bridge, but a bit hilly”
- MarathonGuide reviewsaggregator · Mixed
One review at 3.7: breathtaking course and cool coastal weather, but registration cost has become unreasonable and swag is minimal.
“Expensive with minimum swag”
- Owen AbroadRaced 2005 · blog · Mixed
An older report: start near the Ferry Building at 5:20 a.m., fairly hilly with a steep climb from Crissy Field to the bridge, and the bridge itself has more rises than expected.
“It is fairly hilly”
- Ashley Mateo, half recap (Substack)Raced 2023 · blog · Positive
Second-half runner: two steep climbs over 76 m (250 ft) in the first 2 miles (3 km), then a 67 m (220 ft) descent, hills inside Golden Gate Park, 86% humidity, overcast turning sunny, and crowded corrals at Crissy Field.
“the views of the coastline were absolutely stunning”
- ABC7 NewsRaced 2024 · article · Negative
Reports organisers told about 3,700 half runners the course was 12.6 miles (20.3 km), blaming a wrong certification map, with a $230 fee; runners asked for compensation.
Show 2 more
- San Francisco ChronicleRaced 2022 · article · Positive
The first full race after the pandemic: thick fog, 5:30 a.m. start, runners in hats and gloves, more than 24,000 participants.
- BibRave reviewerblog · Positive
Calls the course incredible: waterfront at sunrise, bridge, Presidio, Golden Gate Park, Haight and Mission, finishing under the Bay Bridge. Praises volunteers and new-runner resources; says the elevation tests everyone.
Raced The San Francisco 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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