Santa Rosa Marathon
Santa Rosa, United States · August · Independent
Why people love it
- Runs through the DeLoach Vineyards barrel room near 16 km (mile 10), with a wine stop.
- Flat: about 127 m (416 ft) of gain; about 16% of finishers qualified for Boston.
- The finish includes two beers and a bottle of wine.
- Start and finish at Old Courthouse Square downtown.
- Aid and volunteers are praised consistently.
Watch out for
- Half and full runners merge on a narrow stretch after 34 km (21 mi), per 2026 reviewers.
- Reported gravel of about 1.6 to 3.2 km (1 to 2 mi), plus potholes and underpass dips.
- Late-August heat: average high 28 °C (82 °F), up to 36 °C (97 °F).
- Narrow trail sections have few spectators.
- Start time and cutoff are not confirmed for 2027.
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: Moderate
- Racer satisfactionLoved4.0
RaceRaves 4.3 from 100 ratings; MarathonGuide 2025 reviews ran from 5.0 to a 1.3 DNF, and 2026 RaceRaves reviews grew more negative. · Medium confidence
- OrganizationWell run3.5
Aid and volunteers are praised and the 2013 start was on time, but 2026 reviewers cite corral enforcement, course changes and the half-full merge. · Medium confidence
- First timer friendlyFriendly3.6
Flat, out-and-back and well supported, but the 2026 merge after 34 km (21 mi), heat and a 6:00 start add difficulty. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialFast4.0
Flat with about 127 m (416 ft) of gain, and about 16% of finishers qualified for Boston, though heat and gravel can cost time. · Medium confidence
Course
Scenery, road surface, closures, and room to run. Counts for 20% of the overall score.
- Course sceneryBeautiful4.0
Vineyards, a creek trail and the DeLoach Vineyards barrel room near 16 km (mile 10). · Medium confidence
- Room to runSome pinch points2.6
2026 reviewers reported congestion and near-collisions where half and full runners merge on a narrow section after 34 km (21 mi). · Medium confidence
- Road surfaceMixed2.8
Reviewers report about 1.6 to 3.2 km (1 to 2 mi) of gravel, potholes and underpass dips. · Medium confidence
- Road closuresPartly closed3.2
Bike path and creek trail sections are shared with the public; closures are not described in detail. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Course flatnessMostly flat3.8
Gain of 127 m (416 ft) per a stats page, with rolling hills near mile 10. · Medium confidence
- Net downhillEven3.0
Out-and-back from the same spot, so no net drop. · High confidence
Support
Crowds, aid stations, the start, and pacers. Counts for 20% of the overall score.
- Start logisticsSmooth3.5
A 6:00 start on 4th Street by Old Courthouse Square; the start ran on time in 2013. · Low confidence
- Pacers and timingGood3.8
Pace groups are mentioned but not described in detail. · Low confidence
- Crowd supportDecent3.2
Enthusiastic spectators through the first half, but quiet overall; narrow trail sections have few supporters. · Low confidence
- Aid stationsGood4.2
Aid and volunteers are praised consistently; MarathonGuide notes plentiful stations, and a wine stop is on course. · Medium confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 14% of the overall score.
- WindMostly calm3.7
No wind complaints found in the reviews. · Low confidence
- Air temperatureWarm or cool3.1
Starts are cool at 11 to 13 °C (52 to 56 °F), but highs average 28 °C (82 °F) and reach 36 °C (97 °F). · Medium confidence
- Weather reliabilityVariable3.3
A dry summer is predictable, but heat varies by year and a wildfire smoke advisory affected one earlier edition. · Low confidence
- Spectator friendlySome viewpoints3.0
Out-and-back creek trail with limited spectator access beyond downtown. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeSea level4.9
The course sits at about 50 m (160 ft). · High confidence
Stay and travel
Hotels, walkability, getting there, and the town around the race. Counts for 10% of the overall score.
- Hotel availabilityGood3.8
Wine country is busy in August; book early. · Low confidence
- Hotel valueNormal3.0
August wine-country demand raises prices; no race-weekend rates were found. · Low confidence
- WalkabilityWalkable4.0
Start and finish are at Old Courthouse Square, close to downtown hotels. · Low confidence
- Travel easeOne connection3.3
Sonoma County airport (STS) is 10 km (6 mi) away; San Francisco is about 100 km (62 mi). · Low confidence
- LogisticsSimple3.7
Compact downtown start and finish; a BibRave reviewer noted a shortage of bags. · Low confidence
- Town and foodGood4.4
A wine-country base: the finish includes two beers and a bottle of wine. · 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 inEasy4.0
Open entry with more than 1,300 marathon entrants in 2025; the half sold out. · Low confidence
- Value for moneyGood value4.0
Fee not found; reviewers liked the big medal, zip pullover and wine. · Low confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, United States
- Typical month
- August
- Latest or next date
- 22 August 2027
- Organiser
- Independent
- Field size
- About 1,345 athletes
- First held
- 2009
- Distances
- 42.2 km (26.2 mi)
- Course type
- out-and-back
- Climbing
- 127 m (415 ft)
- Descent
- 127 m (415 ft)
- Start time
- 06:00
- Boston qualifier
- Yes
- Surface
- Road, paved creek trail and bike path; gravel reported
- How to get in
- open
- Sells out
- Rarely
- Air temperature
- 11–28 °C (52–82 °F)
- Humidity
- Dry, Mediterranean summer
- Altitude
- 50 m (165 ft)
- Nearest airport
- Charles M. Schulz Sonoma County (STS), 10 km (6 mi) away
- Where to stay
- Downtown Santa Rosa, Railroad Square
- Booking
- Wine country in August is busy, so book early.
What racers and reviewers say
- RaceRavesRaced 2026 · aggregator · Mixed
Reviewers praise the flat, scenic course, volunteers and the wine and beer, but 2026 reviewers say the half-full merge after about 34 km (21 mi) caused congestion and near-collisions, and complain about gravel and potholes.
“My biggest gripe was the course merge between the half and full.”
- MarathonGuideRaced 2025 · aggregator · Mixed
Three 2025-dated reviews of 4.3, 1.3 and 5.0. One praised a flat cool course and the post-race party. One DNF noted narrow sections but plentiful aid and enthusiastic spectators in the first half. One loved the vineyards and barrel room. Dates on this page are mixed with the 2013 listing.
“Lots of enthusiastic and supportive spectators throughout the first half.”
- Run Eat RepeatRaced 2013 · blog · Positive
Out-and-back mostly on bike path past vineyards with rolling hills near mile 10 and small underpass climbs. Started on time at 6:00, decent weather but hot near the end. Big medal, jacket and wine.
“Great race! It was well organized.”
- Sonoma NewsRaced 2025 · article · neutral
2025 report: more than 1,300 marathon entrants, a sold-out half of more than 2,000, finish on 4th Street at Old Courthouse Square.
- Sunrise Run Coaggregator · neutral
Stats page: gain and loss 127 m (416 ft), mostly flat out-and-back, average low 12 °C (54 °F) and high 28 °C (82 °F).
Show 1 more
- BibRaveaggregator · Positive
Reviewers mention a nice medal, zip pullover and DeLoach wine, shaded flat running, about 1.6 to 3.2 km (1 to 2 mi) of gravel and only a shortage of bags as a letdown.
Raced Santa Rosa 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 Santa Rosa Marathon? Moku Coach builds your plan around race day.