Steamtown Marathon
Scranton, United States · October · Independent
Why people love it
- Net drop of 291 m (955 ft), and about 28 percent of finishers qualify for Boston.
- Reviewers describe very smooth logistics, excellent volunteers and neighbourhood residents handing out snacks.
- Crowds are strong through Carbondale, Forest City and the neighbourhoods near the finish.
- A naval academy team called it an ideal first marathon.
Watch out for
- Capped at 3,000 runners; it usually sells out and registration opens April 1.
- Most of the drop is in the first 13 km (8 mi), so pace the opening carefully.
- Hills from mile 18 and a climb near 41 km (25.4 mi) make the finish harder than the profile suggests.
- Few large hotels, little transport back to the start, and no deferrals.
- Weather ranges from cold rain to humid heat.
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 satisfactionLoved4.2
Rated 3.9 of 5 on one site, with all member reviews positive. Praise for community support, logistics and the fast course; few reviewers. · Medium confidence
- OrganizationFlawless4.5
Reviewers call the logistics very smooth, with excellent volunteers, a great expo and ambulances along the course. Some of this evidence is old. · Medium confidence
- First timer friendlyFriendly3.8
A naval academy team called it ideal for first marathoners. Cap of 3,000, supportive crowds, 6 hour guidance. Late hills; no deferrals. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialFast4.2
Net drop of 291 m (955 ft); about 28 percent of finishers qualify for Boston. The early descent tempts fast starts. · Medium confidence
Course
Scenery, road surface, closures, and room to run. Counts for 20% of the overall score.
- Course sceneryBeautiful3.6
RaceRaves scenery 3.3 of 5. Small towns, fall foliage, the Lackawanna River path and a downtown Scranton finish. Not a spectacular route. · Medium confidence
- Room to runRoomy4.2
Field capped at 3,000 on a point-to-point course; no congestion reported. Late route change in 2025 removed a busy Main Street section. · Medium confidence
- Road surfaceGood3.5
Mostly pavement with over 6 km (4 mi) of paved rail trail; one 2014 account mentions a dirt stretch. · Low confidence
- Road closuresMostly closed3.6
Monitored intersections and marshalled crossings reported, but evidence on full closures is thin. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Course flatnessRolling2.6
Net downhill but rolling, with late climbs. Gain figure not published; reports of hills at mile 24 to 25 (39 to 40 km). · Medium confidence
- Net downhillDownhill4.3
Net drop of 291 m (955 ft), most of it in the first 13 km (8 mi). It is a Boston qualifier. · High confidence
Support
Crowds, aid stations, the start, and pacers. Counts for 20% of the overall score.
- Start logisticsSmooth3.6
Point-to-point with a bus to Forest City and a small expo. No return transport after the race. · Low confidence
- Pacers and timingGood3.6
Pace groups not documented in the sources; chip results published each year. · Low confidence
- Crowd supportStrong4.2
Townspeople on porches and sidewalks, some serve snacks. Strong in Forest City, Carbondale and Green Ridge; lively at the finish. · Medium confidence
- Aid stationsGood4.0
14 aid stations from 4.7 to 40.7 km (2.9 to 25.3 mi), with toilets at most. One reviewer found gels at one stop only. · Medium confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 14% of the overall score.
- WindMostly calm3.8
Moderate wind in 2016; no other wind complaints. · Low confidence
- Air temperaturePleasant4.1
Averages about 12 °C (53 °F); 2016 started at 7 °C (45 °F) and finished at 13 °C (55 °F). Humid in some years. · Medium confidence
- Weather reliabilityVariable3.0
Rain in about 7 of 26 years (27 percent). Humid in 2002 and 2018, ideal in 2019 and 2025. · Medium confidence
- Spectator friendlySome viewpoints3.4
Point-to-point with spectator points at Carbondale 13 km (8 mi) and Jessup 27 km (17 mi); no return transport. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeLow4.2
Scranton is about 230 m (750 ft) above sea level; start in Forest City is higher. · Low confidence
Stay and travel
Hotels, walkability, getting there, and the town around the race. Counts for 10% of the overall score.
- Hotel availabilityBook early2.8
Few large-chain hotels in Scranton; book early. · Medium confidence
- Hotel valueGood3.6
Smaller city so pricing is moderate; no price data collected. · Low confidence
- WalkabilitySome driving3.0
Finish is downtown but the start is in Forest City, reached by bus. · Low confidence
- Travel easeOne connection2.6
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton airport is small and there is no return transport after the race. · Low confidence
- LogisticsSimple3.9
Race-morning bib pickup option, free parking and clear race director updates. · Medium confidence
- Town and foodFine3.2
Post-race pizza and a nice finishers' dinner mentioned; a smaller city. · 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 inRegister early2.8
Cap of 3,000 and it usually sells out; registration opens April 1. No deferrals. · Medium confidence
- Value for moneyGood value3.6
Good aid, post-race food and organisation; medal described as small. Fee not confirmed. · Low confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Scranton, Pennsylvania, United States
- Typical month
- October
- Latest or next date
- 10 October 2027
- Organiser
- Independent
- Field size
- About 3,000 athletes
- First held
- 1996
- Distances
- 42.2 km (26.2 mi)
- Course type
- point-to-point
- Start time
- 08:00
- Cutoff
- 6 hours
- Boston qualifier
- Yes
- Surface
- Road with over 6 km (4 mi) of paved rail trail
- How to get in
- open
- Sells out
- Yes
- Air temperature
- 7–13 °C (45–55 °F)
- Humidity
- Occasionally humid
- Altitude
- 230 m (755 ft)
- Nearest airport
- Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International (AVP)
- Where to stay
- Downtown Scranton
- Booking
- Few large chain hotels; book early.
What racers and reviewers say
- RaceRaves: Steamtown MarathonRaced 2016 to 2024 · aggregator · Positive
Rated 3.9 of 5. Fast early course and a tough finish. Logistics very smooth, residents hand out snacks, expo small and few big hotels. Mixed on the medal. Note that two reviews were junk or duplicates.
“The logistics of the entire race went so smoothly.”
- MarathonManiacs: Steamtown member reviewsRaced 2016 to 2019 · aggregator · Positive
Mostly downhill with hills late, excellent volunteers, strong crowds, well-spaced aid, great expo and race director updates. Two reviewers found it harder than advertised in humid heat and a couple of big climbs at miles 24 to 25 (39 to 40 km).
“Crowd support is awesome!”
- Jim2's Running Page: Steamtown Marathon 1998Raced 1998 · blog · Positive
Drop of 955 ft (291 m), mostly in the first 8 miles (13 km). Hills at several miles, last 7 miles (11 km) climb. Strong spectators, ambulances every couple of miles and well-trained volunteers. Cap of 2,500 at the time.
“I can't say enough positive about the race itself.”
- Marathon Handbook: Best of Times, Worst of TimesRaced 2002 · article · Mixed
Cold rain then warm humidity, with spectators packing porches despite the downpour. The steepest climb comes near the end. Finished in 5:53 against a 6 hour finish gate.
“Quitting is not an option. Deal with it!”
- Muscle Foods USA: Steamtown Marathon 2014Raced 2014 · blog · Positive
Steep two-block descent at the start, then Carbondale and Forest City crowds, a stretch of dirt rail trail, a loop through Blakely park, and Cooper's hill near mile 25.5 (41 km). A Civil War cannon starts the race.
Show 2 more
- US Naval Academy Marathon Team: Steamtown 2016 reportRaced 2016 · blog · Positive
Start 8:00 at 7 °C (45 °F) with moderate wind. 21 midshipmen: 6 qualified for Boston, 3 finished a first marathon, 8 PBs. Calls it an ideal first marathon but warns not to go out too fast before the late uphills.
- Yahoo News: Steamtown route change for 2025Raced 2025 · article · neutral
From mile 19.5 (31 km) the route skips busy Dickson City Main Street and removes roughly three blocks of uphill near 38 km (23.7 mi). Directors Bill King and Jim Cummings cite safety. Neighbourhood cheering parties continue.
Raced Steamtown 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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