There’s something magical about going for a run on the beach, the ocean breeze on your face, the rhythmic crash of waves as your soundtrack. Turn that into a race and we have the added excitement of a post-race beach party awaiting at the finish line.
We absolutely love a beach half marathon, whether it’s an actual sand run on the beach, 13.1 miles through small beach towns, or a road race that just ends an epic beach party on the sand.
They’re also in great places to turn a race into a runcation (even one close to home!), and, considering most courses are pancake-flat – also some of our favorite courses to set a PB on. (Not to mention the joy of jumping in the ocean after crossing the finish line).
So pack your sunscreen – here are 23 of our favorite beach half marathons worth training for.
Calendar: Best Beach Half Marathons
- Key West Half Marathon on January 18, 2026
- Surf City Half Marathon in February 2026
- A1A Half Marathon in February 2026
- Shamrock Half Marathon on March 22, 2026
- Mountains 2 Beach Half Marathon on April 18, 2026
- Coastal Delaware Running Festival Half Marathon on April 11, 2026
- San Diego Beach & Bay on April 16, 2026
- Stinson Beach Half Marathon in Spring 2026 (TBD)
- Shoreline Half Marathon on July 13, 2025
- South Shore 3 Beach Minimum Half Marathon on September 27, 2025
- Long Beach Half Marathon on October 5, 2025
- Under the Oaks Half Marathon on October 11, 2025
- Amelia Island Half Marathon on October 11, 2025
- Myrtle Beach Mini Marathon on October 11, 2025
- Southernmost Half Marathon on October 12, 2025
- Run Ocean Isle Beach Half Marathon on October 25, 2025
- Miami Beach Halloween Half Marathon on October 25, 2025
- Cocoa Beach Half Marathon on November 2, 2025
- Monterey Bay Half Marathon on November 9, 2025
- Silver Strand Half Marathon on November 9, 2025
- Space Coast Half Marathon on November 30, 2025
- Sea Island Half Marathon on December 2, 2025
- Palm Beaches Half Marathon on December 14, 2025
Key West Half Marathon
- Where: Key West, FL
- When: January 17-18, 2026
The larger of the two races in Key West, the Key West Half runs around everyone’s favorite Florida Key, following the beach by road and delivering you a sunrise bridge crossing and coastal views. You’ll pass local landmarks, like the Key West lighthouse and Earnest Hemingway’s house. Plus, it’s surprisingly delightful for a January race.
San Diego Beach & Bay
- Where: San Diego, CA
- When: April 11, 2026
A big race with big views, the San Diego Beach & Bay takes you around the waterfront of Mission Bay and alongside the ocean for 13.1 miles of pure blue views. A fast and flat loop with only 161-feet net elevation gain on a USATF Certified Course, set your PR then party at the beer garden.
Surf City Half Marathon
- Where: Huntington Beach, CA
- When: February 2026 (no 2025 date found)
This is one race that delivers on its name: The 13.1 miles are run mostly along the beaches of Southern California’s Pacific Coast Highway, through the surf towns of Huntington Beach, Sunset Beach, and the Bolsa Chica State Beach. This race attracts upwards of 20,000 runners each year, and even has an oceanfront finish to cap off the energy.
Shamrock Half Marathon
- Where: Virginia Beach, VA
- When: March 22, 2026
Nearly 30,000 runners come out to run the streets of Virginia Beach every year around St. Patrick’s Day at this race, which follows a point-to-point route that starts on Pacific Avenue. Finish on the oceanfront in front of Neptune’s Park along the beach.
Sea Island Half Marathon
- Where: Sea Island, GA
- When: December 2, 2025
You’ll get your chance to run through one of the East Coast’s most exclusive (and gorgeously scenic) resorts when you run this race, which unfolds along the famed Sea Island Drive, where live oaks hang over the roads and perfectly manicured lawns lead up to some of the most luxurious beachfront homes anywhere. Score jaw-dropping views of St. Simon’s Sound and fancy beachfront homes, then finish at the Beach Club on Sea Island.
South Shore 3 Beach Minimum Half Marathon
- Where: Hull, MA
- When: September 27, 2025
This race lives up to its name with a gorgeous, scenic run along the South Shore of Massachusetts. It starts at Nantasket Beach and follows the coastline through beautiful Cohasset, providing spectacular scenic views along multiple beaches.
Long Beach Half Marathon
- Where: Long Beach, CA
- When: October 5, 2025
With long stretches of ocean-front views making up much of the route, the Long Beach Half is considered an excellent course for setting a PR (if you don’t stop for too many beachfront pics, of course). After all, there’s never more than a 45-ft-high elevation at any point in the course, of which nearly all is visible from the waters of the Pacific Ocean.
Run Ocean Isle Beach Half Marathon
- Where: Ocean Isle Beach, NC
- When: October 25, 2025
Fall is the best time to run a race in the Southeast – and Ocean Isle is a real hidden gem to do it at. In this race, you’ll run over the bridge that connects Ocean Isle Beach to the mainland and pass stretches with scenic views of the island’s marshes, the intercoastal waterway, and the oceanfront. Don’t worry – it’s a full road race (until you want to hit the water for a victory swim).
Cocoa Beach Half Marathon
- Where: Cocoa Beach, FL
- When: November 2, 2025
Two and a half miles of sand running on Florida’s Cocoa Beach – it may be a fast and flat race, but it’s certainly not for the untrained calves. Don’t worry – this race is also open to walkers. Either way, it’s a chance to race with waves crashing over your shoulder.
Miami Beach Halloween Half Marathon
- Where: Miami Beach, FL
- When: October 25, 2025
Score the beauty of the Miami coast with the fun of a serious costume run in this race. Run across the brilliant blue waters of the Biscayne Bay and along the Miami Beach walkways and boardwalks along the Atlantic Ocean at this race, which runs the Saturday before Halloween.
Mountains 2 Beach Half Marathon
- Where: Ojai/Ventura, CA
- When: April 18, 2026
This point-to-point course takes runners through 13.1 miles of some of Southern California’s most gorgeous terrain as runners wind their way through Ventura’s westside valley towards the ocean. As they make their descent from the mountains, runners go through Pierpont Beach and finish along the Ventura Promenade, just over a mile away from the ocean.
Space Coast Half Marathon
- Where: Cocoa, FL
- When: November 30, 2025
Famous for the local long, sloping, gentle hills and for being Florida’s oldest marathon, this race is run just a few miles from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. Starting at sunrise, the Space Coast Half unfolds entirely along the waters of the Indian River, between Cocoa and Cocoa Beach.
Palm Beaches Half Marathon
- Where: West Palm Beach, FL
- When: December 14, 2025
Winding along the picturesque intra-coastal waterway next to Lake Worth, this race offers no shortage of beautiful vistas for runners, just across the waterway from the coastline on Palm Beach.
Amelia Island Half Marathon
- Where: Fernandina Beach, FL
- When: October 11, 2025
Amelia Island is an incredibly special place, so it’s no surprise it’s half marathon is equally delightful. Run on the beautiful Fernaninda Beach, this race is all pavement and dirt/grass greenway trail, winding you through Old Town and tree-lined roads. But the race starts and finishes at Main Beach Park with an oceanfront post-race party.
Myrtle Beach Mini Marathon
- Where: Myrtle Beach, SC
- When: October 11, 2025
With over 5.5 miles of oceanfront running and only a few turns, this point-to-point, pancake-flat course is almost a loop. Runners not only have a fun finish on the Myrtle Beach Boardwalk, but also finish just steps away from the ocean.
Stinson Beach Half Marathon
- Where: Stinson Beach, CA
- When: Spring 2026 (TBD)
Challenging hills, stunning views of the Stinson Beach coastline, and a dreamy course through the immense, dramatic trees and landscapes of Muir Woods National Monument – this is a true Northern California race. This event is limited to a few hundred entrants for all three distances, so keep your browser on refresh.
Coastal Delaware Running Festival Half Marathon
- Where: Dewey Beach/Rehoboth Beach, DE
- When: April 11, 2026
Part of the Coastal Delaware Running Festival, this out-and-back 13.1-mile race sends runners north for just over five miles that feature views of the Atlantic from the Rehoboth Boardwalk. The second half wanders through seaside towns and finishes at the Hyatt-Lighthouse Cove waterfront complex.
Under the Oaks Half Marathon
- Where: Jekyll Island, GA
- When: October 11, 2025
Take an out-and-back tour of one of Georgia’s most beautiful “Golden Isles” in this half, where moss-draped oak trees tower over grassy lawns and 65% of the island is kept in its natural, undeveloped state. You don’t technically run along the beach in this race, but it’s pure island vibes.
Shoreline Half Marathon
- Where: Ventura, CA
- When: July 13, 2025
Don’t forget sunscreen for this oceanfront race, which features miles and miles of the Pacific Ocean as the backdrop. Though most of the course is run along a bike path at Emma Wood State Beach, there are sections of beachy boardwalk as well. At the finish line, you can cool off by soaking your tired legs in the Pacific while you down street tacos and beer at the post-race party.
A1A Half Marathon
- Where: Fort Lauderdale, FL
- When: February 2026
Starting three miles inland, the Fort Lauderdale A1A Half Marathon course gets better by the mile. Runners head east towards the Atlantic before making a detour through Birch State Park, and after they finish mile 8 they’ll begin their journey home along A1A with the ocean as backdrop just over their left shoulders. Plus, a finish on the beach.
Monterey Bay Half Marathon
- Where: Monterey, CA
- When: November 9, 2025
For sheer natural beauty and dramatic coastal scenery, it’s pretty much impossible to top this race: You get to run past the deep blues and greens of the Pacific Ocean crashing along the coastline, the kelp beds swaying back and forth with the waves, the sea gulls floating along the breeze, and sometimes even seals and sea lions out on the large rocks in the water.
Silver Strand Half Marathon
- Where: Coronado, CA
- When: November 9, 2025
Fast and flat with gorgeous views of both the Pacific Ocean and San Diego Bay, this race takes runners along the highway by the same name – along a point-to-point 13.1-mile course that runs from Coronado to Imperial Beach, which lies about 20 miles south of downtown San Diego. Plus, a finishing beach party on the sand.
Southernmost Half Marathon
- Where: Key West, FL
- When: October 12, 2025
We love a fall half marathon, and this smaller Key West race boasts cool temps as you run along the shoreline of the southernmost point in the United States. Run through Key West and alongside some waterfront views.
