Sioux Falls Marathon
Sioux Falls, United States · September · Independent
Why people love it
- Passes Falls Park and the downtown waterfalls on the Big Sioux River.
- Finish on the Howard Wood Field track.
- About 400 finishers, open entry, 6.5 hour cutoff.
- Airport about 6 km (4 mi) from town.
- USATF certified Boston qualifier.
Watch out for
- Marathon cancelled in 2024 for heat; 2022 reached 34 °C (94 °F).
- Back half on an unshaded greenway felt like a slog to some runners.
- Aid stations ran out of water in 2022; one 2026 reviewer found water only.
- Expo is very small, about 5 vendors.
- Concrete and sidewalk sections were rough in the first 24 km (15 mi) in 2022.
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 satisfactionLoved3.5
RaceRaves 3.7 from 53 ratings, MarathonGuide 2.7 from 2. Falls Park is praised; the back half and thin swag draw complaints. · Medium confidence
- OrganizationWell run3.6
RaceRaves production 3.7. Several praise simple logistics; complaints include a 2025 bib mix-up, a very small expo and aid stations out of water in 2022. · Medium confidence
- First timer friendlyDoable3.4
Mostly flat to rolling and a 6.5 hour cutoff, but heat risk (marathon cancelled in 2024) and a quiet back half. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialFast3.8
Winner ran 2:40:40 in 2025, and a 2026 reviewer said it suits a solid time. Small early rolling hills, and heat in warm years. · Medium confidence
Course
Scenery, road surface, closures, and room to run. Counts for 20% of the overall score.
- Course sceneryPleasant3.4
RaceRaves scenery 3.6. The Falls are the highlight, but one 2026 reviewer scored scenery 2 out of 5 for the long greenway stretches. · Medium confidence
- Room to runSome pinch points3.2
Greenway path is narrow in places, and the course gets quiet after the half and marathon split. · Medium confidence
- Road surfaceMixed3.0
A 2022 reviewer found concrete and sidewalk rough in the first 24 km (15 mi); the rest is paved path and track. · Low confidence
- Road closuresPartly closed3.0
The route uses city streets and a shared greenway. Closures are not documented, so scored as partial. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Course flatnessMostly flat3.8
RaceRaves difficulty 2.8 and findmymarathon labels it mostly flat, with small rolling hills; no gain figure published. · Low confidence
- Net downhillEven3.0
Point to point but start and finish are close together; no meaningful net drop. · Medium confidence
Support
Crowds, aid stations, the start, and pacers. Counts for 20% of the overall score.
- Start logisticsSmooth3.7
Early 6:45 start, simple race morning for a small field; one 2025 bib mix-up. Finish on a stadium track. · Medium confidence
- Pacers and timingSome pace groups3.3
Pace group range not documented in reviews. · Low confidence
- Crowd supportDecent2.6
Few spectators after the downtown and Falls Park sections; the back half is quiet. · Medium confidence
- Aid stationsStandard3.0
2025 reviewers praised aid support, but a 2026 reviewer disliked water-only stations and a 2022 reviewer saw stations run out of water. · Medium confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 14% of the overall score.
- WindSome wind3.3
Open prairie city; 2025 had no wind, but the greenway is unshaded. Little direct evidence. · Low confidence
- Air temperatureWarm or cool2.8
Starts at 12 to 16 °C (54 to 61 °F), but highs of 18 to 34 °C (64 to 94 °F) cancelled 2024. · Medium confidence
- Weather reliabilityUnsettled2.3
Marathon cancelled in 2024 for heat and humidity; five-year highs ranged from 18 to 34 °C (64 to 94 °F). · High confidence
- Spectator friendlySome viewpoints3.2
Downtown, Falls Park and the stadium finish are good viewing spots; the greenway less so. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeLow4.3
Sioux Falls is about 430 m (1,410 ft) above sea level. · High confidence
Stay and travel
Hotels, walkability, getting there, and the town around the race. Counts for 10% of the overall score.
- Hotel availabilityGood4.0
Mid-size city with ample hotels; no evidence of shortages. · Low confidence
- Hotel valueGood3.8
Reasonable rates for a mid-size Midwest city; little evidence. · Low confidence
- WalkabilitySome driving3.2
Downtown hotels near the start; Falls Park nearby. · Low confidence
- Travel easeEasy3.8
Regional airport about 6 km (4 mi) from downtown. · Medium confidence
- LogisticsSimple3.6
Packet pickup is small (about 5 vendors) but simple; finish at the stadium. · Medium confidence
- Town and foodGood3.7
Falls Park and a revived downtown; brewery and dining scene. Limited evidence. · 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 inOpen entry4.6
Open entry on RunSignUp; about 400 finishers so no sell-out. · High confidence
- Value for moneyFair3.2
RaceRaves swag 3.2; shirt called basic, medal plain, post-race food limited. Fee not found. · Medium confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Sioux Falls, Minnehaha County, United States
- Typical month
- September
- Latest or next date
- 19 September 2027
- Organiser
- Independent
- Field size
- About 400 athletes
- First held
- 2012
- Distances
- 42.2 km (26.2 mi)
- Course type
- point-to-point
- Start time
- 06:45
- Cutoff
- 6.5 hours
- Boston qualifier
- Yes
- Surface
- City streets, sidewalk, paved greenway path, stadium track finish
- How to get in
- open
- Sells out
- Rarely
- Air temperature
- 13–25 °C (55–77 °F)
- Humidity
- Can be high in late summer
- Altitude
- 430 m (1,410 ft)
- Nearest airport
- Sioux Falls Regional Airport (FSD), 6 km (4 mi) away
- Where to stay
- Downtown Sioux Falls, Near Falls Park
- Booking
- Downtown hotels near the Falls and arena. Airport is close to town per a 2022 reviewer.
What racers and reviewers say
- RaceRavesRaced 2026 · aggregator · Mixed
53 ratings, 3.7 overall; difficulty 2.8, scenery 3.6, production 3.7, swag 3.2. Runners like the Falls and simple logistics; complaints are the quiet back half, water-only aid, basic swag and heat risk.
“The most scenic part of the course was the Falls.”
- MarathonGuideRaced 2025 · aggregator · Mixed
Two reviews, average 2.7. One scenic and well supported but with a very small expo and unclear markings; the other found rough concrete in the first 24 km (15 mi) and aid stations out of water.
“The expo was very small”
- RaceRaves (woodschr)Raced 2025 · aggregator · Mixed
Said the back half was a slog on an unshaded greenway.
“the back half was a slog”
- RaceRaves (ArchdukeElliott)Raced 2026 · aggregator · Mixed
Criticised water-only aid stations and wanted sports drink.
- RaceRaves (skim1124)Raced 2026 · aggregator · Mixed
Marathoner of 403 finishers; well organised with good aid and minimal hills for a solid time, but weak communication and swag and scenery rated 2 out of 5.
Show 3 more
- RaceRaves (michelej8473)Raced 2025 · aggregator · Positive
Praised great aid support and a scenic course.
“great aid support and scenic course”
- RaceRaves (seagroves87)Raced 2024 · aggregator · Negative
Warned about heat after the 2024 cancellation and urged caution when signing up for the full.
- Dakota News NowRaced 2025 · article · Positive
2025 return after the 2024 heat cancellation; runners from 48 states, largest field since 2019, marathon won in 2:40:40 on a beautiful morning.
Raced Sioux Falls 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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