Space Coast Marathon
Cocoa, United States · November · Independent
Why people love it
- Space-themed medal, shirt and beach towel are among the most praised swag.
- Indian River course with palm-lined homes and sunrise views; 87 m (286 ft) of gain.
- Themed volunteer aid stations about every mile (1.6 km) and locals handing out drinks.
- Start with a rocket-launch countdown at 06:00; host-hotel shuttles.
- Open entry, USATF certified and Boston qualifying.
Watch out for
- 84% humidity and 24 °C (76 °F) finishes make late November hot; several runners cramped.
- The south half is shared with slower half runners and walkers.
- Parking near Riverfront Park is limited; use shuttles and arrive early.
- The finish hides behind turns and the back half has thin crowds.
- Start time is listed as 06:00, 06:15 or 08:00 on different sites.
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 satisfactionLoved4.3
RaceRaves 4.4 from 44 runners, FindMyMarathon 4.9 from 20, MarathonGuide 4.7. Runners love the river course, the huge medal and the party; heat hurt some. · High confidence
- OrganizationWell run4.2
Volunteer-run aid, shuttles and the finish party are praised. Some years brought a crowded packet pickup, sparse aid and a finish hidden behind turns. · Medium confidence
- First timer friendlyFriendly3.8
Flat with 87 m (286 ft) of gain and a 7 h limit, but humidity and sun drained several runners; one 2025 finish was 6:07. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialFast3.5
Flat and certified, but only 3.7% ran Boston times in 2025. Humidity near 84% at the start and warm second halves slow runners. · Medium confidence
Course
Scenery, road surface, closures, and room to run. Counts for 20% of the overall score.
- Course sceneryBeautiful4.2
RaceRaves scenery 4.3: Indian River water views, palm-lined historic homes, sunrise, space-themed landmarks; 'prettiest course I have run' per a 2025 reviewer. · High confidence
- Room to runSome pinch points3.0
Early miles were crowded in 2014, and marathoners dodge slower half runners and walkers on the south section. · Medium confidence
- Road surfaceGood3.7
Paved; standing puddles at mile 2 (3 km) in 2014 and cobblestones into the finish park. · Low confidence
- Road closuresPartly closed3.1
Reviewers warn of local traffic near the end and residents on the course; the south section is open to walkers and half runners. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Course flatnessMostly flat4.1
87 m (286 ft) of gain by one count, under 30 m (100 ft) by a 2025 runner; 2016 reviewers called it hilly. · Medium confidence
- Net downhillEven3.0
Out-and-back, start and finish at Cocoa Riverfront Park; no net drop. · High confidence
Support
Crowds, aid stations, the start, and pacers. Counts for 20% of the overall score.
- Start logisticsSome waiting3.3
06:00 dark start with space-launch countdown; buses from host hotels, parking difficulty, long portable toilet lines per reviewers. · Medium confidence
- Pacers and timingGood3.5
Pace group signs but no corrals in 2014; the marathon starts after the half some years. · Low confidence
- Crowd supportDecent3.1
Modest; locals serve drinks, mimosas and bacon on the south half, but a 2025 runner and others found the back half thin. · Medium confidence
- Aid stationsGood4.3
Frequent water stops, themed volunteer-run stations, residents' unofficial stops, finish pancakes, pizza, beer and iced coffee; aid about every mile (1.6 km) in 2013. · High confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 14% of the overall score.
- WindMostly calm3.5
Reviewers mention a cooling river breeze; average start wind about 10 km (6.2 mi)/h (6 mph). · Low confidence
- Air temperatureWarm or cool2.6
84% humidity at an 18 °C (64 °F) start and 24 °C (76 °F) at a 2025 finish; runners cite heat and cramping. · High confidence
- Weather reliabilityVariable3.0
Late November lows of 13 °C (55 °F) in good years, highs of 29 °C (84 °F) in bad ones. · Medium confidence
- Spectator friendlySome viewpoints3.2
Out-and-back and the village finish give some viewing, but a 2025 runner and her partner missed each other; thin back half. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeSea level5.0
Sea level, about 3 m (10 ft). · High confidence
Stay and travel
Hotels, walkability, getting there, and the town around the race. Counts for 10% of the overall score.
- Hotel availabilityGood3.6
Host hotels with shuttles in Cocoa; Hilton and Marriott filled; book early. · Low confidence
- Hotel valueGood3.5
No rate data found. · Low confidence
- WalkabilitySome driving3.0
Walk from Cocoa Village hotels if staying there; otherwise shuttle from host hotels or the mall lot. · Medium confidence
- Travel easeOne connection3.2
Orlando airport and rental car, then a drive to Cocoa. · Low confidence
- LogisticsSimple3.8
Bib pickup the day before at a small expo, shuttles and drop options; packet pickup crowding noted in earlier years. · Medium confidence
- Town and foodGood3.9
Cocoa Village dining and beach area close; post-race pancakes and pizza; Brevard Space Coast attractions. · 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 inEasy3.9
The marathon is open entry and not reported sold out; the half sells out within minutes. · Low confidence
- Value for moneyGood value4.4
RaceRaves swag 4.7: very large medal, beach towel, long-sleeve shirt, patch, free iced coffee and pizza; fee unknown. · Medium confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Cocoa, Brevard County, United States
- Typical month
- November
- Latest or next date
- 22 November 2026
- Organiser
- Independent
- Field size
- About 940 athletes
- Distances
- 42.2 km (26.2 mi)
- Course type
- out-and-back
- Climbing
- 87 m (285 ft)
- Descent
- 87 m (285 ft)
- Start time
- 06:00
- Cutoff
- 7 hours
- Boston qualifier
- Yes
- Surface
- Paved roads, some brick or cobbled finish blocks
- How to get in
- open
- Air temperature
- 18–25 °C (64–77 °F)
- Humidity
- High: 84 percent average at the start
- Altitude
- 3 m (10 ft)
- Nearest airport
- Orlando International (MCO)
- Where to stay
- Cocoa Village, Cocoa Beach, Rockledge
- Booking
- Host hotels run buses to the start; a mall lot also has shuttles. Hilton and Marriott are recommended by reviewers; some hotels need a 4 a.m. pickup. Parking near Riverfront Park is limited. Packet pickup the day before.
What racers and reviewers say
- RaceRavesRaced 2025 · aggregator · Positive
44 ratings, 4.4 overall; difficulty 2.4, scenery 4.3, production 4.5, swag 4.7. Runners agree the waterfront course is scenic and flat-ish, the medal and shirt are excellent and the post-race party is lively; heat, humidity, crowding from walkers on the south section and the hidden finish turns are the complaints.
“The prettiest course I have run.”
- FindMyMarathonRaced 2024 · aggregator · Positive
20 reviews, 18 five stars. Flat or gently rolling river course, mostly shaded with 3 km (2 mi) in sun, great volunteers and bling; warnings about parking, host-hotel shuttles and warm second halves; two 2016 reviewers found hills.
- MarathonGuideRaced 2019 · aggregator · Positive
Average 4.7. Text reviews, mostly from 2014 to 2019, praise the flat scenic course, volunteers and a space-themed medal. Complaints cover a crowded packet pickup, sparse aid in some years and slower half runners on the road.
- She Runs by the SeashoreRaced 2025 · blog · Mixed
6:07:51 finish in heat: flat river course, 06:00 start with a rocket-launch countdown, buses from host hotels and a mall lot, frequent water stops, modest crowds, huge medal and beach towel; heat became serious around mile 10 (16 km) and it was 24 °C (76 °F) at the finish.
“Welcome back to Earth.”
- Run DMTRaced 2014 · blog · Mixed
Second Space Coast marathon in 5:03:19: shuttle-launch start on a big screen, no corrals, crowded early miles with puddles, overheating around mile 16 (26 km), a spectator hosing runners and a cobblestone finish; small expo at the Radisson.
“It's all mind over matter.”
Show 1 more
- BibRaveRaced 2024 · aggregator · Positive
Reviewers describe an out-and-back river course with a 06:00 dark start, themed volunteer aid stations, strong medals and shirts, post-race pancakes, pizza and beer, a small expo and limited parking.
Raced Space Coast Marathon? Your notes on the course, conditions and logistics help the next athlete decide.
Sources
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