The 16 Best Half Marathons in October in the US
Why October? October is the sweet spot of running, when the weather is perfect in the majority of the country, fall foliage is at its peak, and some places are seeing the wane of the busy summer crowds. Plus, running half marathons in October means that you can take advantage of some early fall training, instead of having to do nearly all of your training in the summer, when some parts of the country are sweltering. Of all the months to race, October half marathon races are my favorite! Here are the 16 best half marathons in October in the US!
Disclosure: Below are some affiliate links-these are all products I highly recommend. I won’t make any recommendations on this page that I haven’t tested or personally used! Enjoy this guide to the 16 best half marathons in October in the US!
Table of Contents
Guide to the 16 Best Half Marathons in October in the US
- Mount Desert Half Marathon (Bar Harbour, Maine)
- Milwaukee Lakefront Half Marathon (Milwaukee, Wisconsin)
- Myrtle Beach Half Marathon (Myrtle Beach, South Carolina)
- St. George Half Marathon (St. George, Utah)
- Urban Bourbon Half Marathon (Louisville, Kentucky)
- Portland Half Marathon (Portland, Oregon)
- Baltimore Half Marathon (Baltimore, Maryland)
- Smuttynose Rockfest Half Marathon (Hampton, New Hampshire)
- Duke City Half Marathon (Albuquerque, New Mexico)
- Amica Newport Half Marathon (Newport, Rhode Island)
- Lake Powell Half Marathon (Page, Arizona)
- Detroit Free Pass Half Marathon (Detroit, Michigan)
- Medtronic Twin Cities (St. Paul / Minneapolis, Minnesota)
- IMT Des Moines Half Marathon (Des Moines, Iowa)
- Garmin Kansas City Half Marathon (Kansas City, Missouri)
- Rock N Roll San Jose Half Marathon (San Jose, California)
*these 17 top October half marathons are listed in no particular order
What to Know About This October Half Marathon List
- All the listed races are in October
- The exact dates in October change from year to year and race to race, so always check the provided website for the race to confirm exact dates
- Some of the events on this list include distances in addition to half marathons, like full marathons and 5k courses
- These 16 October half marathons contain courses from every corner of the country, highlighting the best running destinations from coast to coast!
- You can find BOTH road running and trail running half marathons on this list
- These 16 October half marathons are listed in no particular order
Locations of the 16 Best Half Marathons in October in the US
As you can see, these 16 October half marathon courses hail from every corner of the country!
Locations of the 16 best October half marathons in the US
#1: Mount Desert Half Marathon (Bar Harbour, Maine)
Highlights: run along the rugged coast of Maine, with its mountainous peaks, ocean views, and the only fjord on the Atlantic Coast. Plus take advantage of one of the best small town vibes in host town Bar Harbour.
Get more info on this October half marathon race HERE:
#2: Milwaukee Lakefront Half Marathon (milwaukee, Wisconsin)
Highlights: run along the beautiful shores of Lake Michigan while crossing the iconic Hoan Bridge.
Get more info on this October half marathon race HERE:
#3: Myrtle Beach Half Marathon (Myrtle Beach, S. Carolina)
Highlights: a flat, fast course perfect for PR’s, combined with loads of oceanfront running along one of the most scenic beach areas in the country.
Get more info on this October half marathon race HERE:
#4: St. George Half Marathon (St. George, Utah)
Highlights: surrounded by rich red rock hills, the Virgin River, and a mountainous backdrop, this is a mostly downhill course!
Get more info on this October half marathon race HERE:
#5: Urban Bourbon Half Marathon (Louisville, Kentucky)
Highlights: the name gives this Kentucky half marathon vibe away. Run through charming Louisville, with glimpses of both the urban side and the Ohio River. This race is beloved for its post race party, which is why you must be 21 years old to participate.
Get more info on this October half marathon race HERE:
#6: Portland Half Marathon (Portland, Oregon)
Highlights: run one of the top courses in the Pacific Northwest, through Oregon’s capital along the Willamette River. Don’t miss Mount Hood overlooking you, the tallest peak in the state!
Get more info on this October half marathon race HERE:
#7: Baltimore Half Marathon (Baltimore, Maryland)
Highlights: run past the Baltimore Harbor, historic neighborhoods, Patterson Park, and John Hopkins. Start and finish at Camden Yards, home of the MLB Baltimore Orioles.
Get more info on this October half marathon race HERE:
#8: Smuttynose Rock Fest Half Marathon (Hampton, New Hampshire)
Highlights: run along the quaint coastline of New Hampshire, with characteristic race day flairs like fresh seafood served like clam chowder and lobster rolls.
Get more info on this October half marathon race HERE:
#9: Duke City Half Marathon (Albuquerque, New Mexico)
Highlights: with a name like “Duke City”, you might not expect this race to hail from Albuquerque, New Mexico. This southwest town provides an epic course with views of the Sandia Mountains and an altitude at 5,000 feet in elevation!
Get more info on this October half marathon race HERE:
#10: Amica Newport Half Marathon (Newport, Rhode Island)
Highlights: run through the seaside town of Newport, with its peak fall foliage, grand historic mansions, and beachy views.
Get more info on this October half marathon race HERE:
#11: Lake Powell Half Marathon (Page, Arizona)
Highlights: Enjoy the red rock surroundings of Lake Powell in northern Arizona, combined with other stunning landscapes like the striking Vermillion Cliffs. Organizer Vacation Races specializes in some of the top wilderness courses in the country, including the Grand Teton Half Marathon and the Yellowstone Half Marathon.
Get more info on this October half marathon race HERE:
#12: Detroit Free Press Half Marathon (detroit, Michigan)
Highlights: an international crossing into Canada, allowing runners to run in two countries! Nice mix of city and waterfront views along the Detroit River.
Get more info on this October half marathon race HERE:
#13: Medtronic Twin Cities Half Marathon (Milwaukee / St. Paul, Minnesota)
Highlights: Views of the Mississippi River and a course that winds through the twin cities of Milwaukee and St. Paul.
Get more info on this October half marathon race HERE:
#14: IMT Des Moines Half Marathon (Des Moines, Iowa)
Highlights: an underrated scenic course through the landmarks of Iowa’s capital. Known for being a fast, flat course, that’s also a Boston Qualifier.
Get more info on this October half marathon race HERE:
#15: Garmin Kansas City Half Marathon (Kansas City, Missouri)
Highlights: Nice urban charm with the chance to run in two states as the course crosses over between Kansas and Missouri.
Get more info on this October half marathon race HERE:
#16: Rock N Roll San Jose Half Marathon (San Jose, California)
Highlights: a festive and lively setting in picturesque California. Put on by the race organization Rock N Roll, which specializes in big energy city courses.
Get more info on this October half marathon race HERE:
There you have it, the 16 best half marathons in October in the US!
Got your eye set on one of these top October destination races? Take the 1st step by starting your own 16 week half marathon training plan! Don’t miss the chance to get individualized 1:1 coaching support to develop a customized half marathon training calendar that fits YOU and your needs! Fill out this INTEREST FORM to get started today!
RELATED ARTICLES:
- Best Trail Races in Texas Plus Texas Trail Running Calendar
- Top Trail Running Groups and Organizations in Texas
- 30 Best Trail Races in the US
- What to Expect from the Polar Circle Marathon in Greenland
- The 20 Best Half Marathons in Texas
- Top 12 National Park Marathons and Half Marathons
- 29 Best Marathons in the USA
- 25 Best US Half Marathons
- 21 Most Extreme Racing and Adventure Runs in the World
- Guide to Running the Great Wall Marathon in China
PIN for LATER!
