Fall is easily the best season for running — cooler temperatures transform your stride from summer survival mode into a smooth, efficient rhythm, and the changing season make every running route feel like eye candy.
Plus, the timing couldn’t be better as your fitness is peak from months of summer base building.
As an avid runner and author of Marathoner: What to Expect When Training for and Running a Marathon, I’ve logged countless race miles and researched even more events to bring you these standout picks. In my opinion, the best fall half marathons are ones that deliver epic autumn views and/or capitalize on that cool fall breeze across 13.1 miles.
From fast, flat routes perfect for chasing that PR to scenic trails showcasing peak foliage, fall half marathons cater to every running goal. Ready to discover races that deliver all the autumn magic without the big-event stress? Here are 26 exceptional fall half marathons that deserve a spot on your calendar.
Calendar: Best Fall Half Marathons
- Marquette Half Marathon on August 30, 2025
- Kaua’i Half Marathon on August 31, 2025
- Golden Leaf Half Marathon on September 27, 2025
- Boulderthon on September 28, 2025
- Bozeman Half Marathon on September 7, 2025
- Hamptons Half Marathon on September 27, 2025
- Clarence DeMar Half Marathon on September 28, 2025
- Urban Cow Half Marathon on September 28, 2025
- Arches Half Marathon on October 4, 2025
- St. George Mini Marathon on October 4, 2025
- Smuttynose Rockfest Half Marathon on October 5, 2025
- Portland Half Marathon on October 6, 2025
- Women’s Epic Road Half Marathon on October 18, 2025
- Baltimore Half Marathon on October 18, 2025
- Bridge and a Slide Half Marathon on October 19, 2025
- Duke City Half Marathon on October 11, 2025
- Las Vegas Half Marathon on October 26, 2025
- Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon on October 26, 2025
- Griffith Park Trail Half Marathon on November 1, 2025
- Indianapolis Monumental Half Marathon on November 8, 2025
- Raleigh City of Oaks Half Marathon on November 3, 2025
- Monterey Bay Half Marathon on November 9, 2025
- CarMax Richmond Half Marathon on November 15, 2025
- St. Pete Run Fest Half Marathon on November 16, 2025
- Route 66 Half Marathon on November 23, 2025
- Seattle Half Marathon on December 1, 2025
Golden Leaf Half Marathon
- Where: Aspen, CO
- When: September 27, 2025
Most fall half marathons promise decent foliage, but the Golden Leaf Half Marathon may deliver more than you can handle. In September, thousands of aspen trees turn fire gold and it’s truly a sight to behold. Luckily, this course let’s you really focus on the scenery: It does start at 8,000 feet high in Snowmass Village, but you’ll follow a mostly-downhill route and finish in downtown Aspen. You’ll feel the thin air for sure, but the real challenge is keeping your eyes on the road instead of gawking at the iconic Maroon Bells (honestly, it’s worth losing that PR to stop for a photo).
Women’s Epic Road Half Marathon
- When: October 18, 2025
- Where: Ogden, UT
A women-only race in one of the most beautiful cities out West — and in peak fall colors? The Women’s Epic Half Marathon is introducing a road race in 2025, a course that winds you through the streets of Ogden, loops around Big D Sports Park, and back down for a stadium finish. While the trail race (pictured above) has you drop over 2,000 feet, the road race is much more knee friendly with just 500 feet of descent and ascent over 13.1 miles. In October, you’ll have ridiculously beautiful views of the Wasatch mountains coated in yellow Aspens to backdrop every mile. If you’ve never run a women-only race before, know it’s a real treat of an experience. And with this race, you can all celebrate at the finish line with live music, local food vendors, and maybe new running buddies.
Bridge and a Slice Half Marathon
- When: October 19, 2025
- Where: New York, NY
November’s big race may get all the hype in NYC, but the Bridge and a Slice Half Marathon is all fun. You’ll run through iconic New York landscape — Astoria over the Queensboro Bridge and around Central Park — then down a slice of pizza before you head back. Even more fun: Participants can race on whatever mode of transportation they want, be it running, biking, roller blading, even unicycling. The terrain is challenging, the mid-race snack is delicious, and the crowd is fun — one may call it the perfect race.
Arches Half Marathon
- Where: Moab, UT
- When: October 4, 2025
As if running through one of America’s most iconic national parks wasn’t enough of a dream, this race offers you desert dawn views in perfect November weather. The Arches Half starts at 8:00 am and has you running on paved park roads past world-famous formations like Balanced Rock and Fiery Furnace, with red sandstone arches framing every mile. The course is rolling with some challenging climbs, but the scenery makes you forget about your legs burning. Keep in mind the race stays small to protect the park, so registration fills up fast.
Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon
- When: October 26, 2025
- Where: Walt Disney World Resort, FL
The Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon in November is perfect for runners looking to set their record on a fast and flat half marathon — or a beginner who wants the distraction of the Magic Kingdom to get them through 13.1 mile. The course takes you through the Disney World theme parks, where you’ll enjoy running past iconic landmarks like Epcot and Cinderella’s Castle. And while the entertainment, cheering crowds, and Disney characters along the route may seem like the draw, we love the food and wine festival at the Epcot Center finish line.
Griffith Park Trail Half Marathon
- Where: Los Angeles, CA
- When: November 1, 2025
Despite being in LA, the Griffith Park Trail Half delivers legitimate mountain trails just minutes from Hollywood. You’re climbing single track through chaparral with about 1,200 feet of elevation gain, so forget that PR and embrace the hiking breaks everyone else will be taking. The payoff: Views of downtown LA’s skyline to the Pacific Ocean while running trails that feel surprisingly remote for being in the middle of America’s second-largest city. Your quads will hate you the next day, but running past the Hollywood sign? Worth every burning step.
Marquette Half Marathon
- When: August 30, 2025
- Where: Marquette, MI
First off, if you’ve never been to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, then you have failed yourself as a traveler. A magical place wedged between Lake Michigan and Lake Superior, the UP (as Michiganders call it) is a paradise of forests, rivers, waterfalls, and shoreline. Marquette, an old harbor town built to ship iron ore, is the UP’s largest city with a quaint downtown. Runners will start 13.1 miles outside of town and race through the remote natural landscape before finishing along Lake Superior. Cliff dive into the water post-race or cruise around looking at the fall foliage. Just make sure you don’t leave without trying a pasty and a Faygo pop.
Route 66 Half Marathon
- When: November 23, 2025
- Where: Tulsa, OK
Don’t sleep on Tulsa: It’s an understated art haven with the largest concentration of Art Deco architecture outside of Miami. And the weekend before Thanksgiving, you can celebrate one of it’s other major draws: Running the actual historic highway that sparked countless American road trip dreams. In the Route 66 Half, you’ll run through some of Tulsa’s most iconic neighborhoods, including the vibrant Brady Arts District and along the Arkansas River, with plenty of Route 66 memorabilia and vintage car displays to keep things interesting. The course is mostly flat with gentle rolling hills, making it perfect for first-timers or anyone chasing a PR. Plus, the fall timing means you’ll avoid Oklahoma’s brutal summer heat while still getting those perfect running temperatures.
Boulderthon
- When: September 28, 2025
- Where: Boulder, CO
Every year, Boulder ranks as one of the top places to live in the U.S. — and it’s easily one of the best places to run, too. The Boulderthon race begins at the Boulder Reservoir, traverses the iconic and scenic Flatirons, and finishes on the streets of historic Pearl Street Mall. It’s among our top picks for the most beautiful half marathons in the country, and races with the best finish line parties.
The best part: Despite running at high altitude (Boulder sits at over 5,000 feet of elevation), the race is mostly flat.
Kaua’i Half Marathon
- When: August 31, 2025
- Where: Poipu, HI
While Hawaii certainly gets plenty of attention for its races (the Honolulu Marathon is one of the largest in the US), Kauai’s half marathon is often overshadowed by those of Maui, the Big Island, and Honolulu. Perhaps that’s because Kauai’s race is more of a mountain race than a beach race, and is therefore quite a bit more difficult. But if the challenge of running up a volcano doesn’t scare you, the views are well worth it as it’s one of the most scenic half marathons in the US. Plus, you still finish at the beach, so you can tumble into the Pacific to cool off at the end if you need to.
Raleigh City of Oaks Half Marathon
- When: November 3, 2025
- Where: Raleigh, NC
The Carolinas have plenty of fall half marathons on their roster, and many of them involve running along the states’ impressive coastline. Raleigh is delivering something different. The race through North Carolina’s capital winds along the city’s tree-lines streets showcasing what trendy place it is. With local craft breweries sponsoring and plenty of people cheering from their front lawns, the race has a small town feel even though the Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill area is anything but small. Raleigh is jam packed with great brunch locales as well, so get ravenous on your run and then chow down on soul food when you’re done.
Hamptons Half Marathon
- When: September 27, 2025
- Where: Southampton, NY
The New York City races certainly suck up a lot of the oxygen when discussing the best races, but there’s a reason why New Yorkers all flee to the Hamptons in the summer, and that’s because it’s absolutely gorgeous and way more breezy. The Hamptons hosts a fall half marathon that is a nice alternative to the NYC races that require complicated lotteries and qualification standards to get into. Instead, just sign up, take the LIRR out to the beachy resort town, and jog past some of the most impressive mansions in the world. Finish with a glass of rose and some oysters.
Clarence DeMar Half Marathon
- When: September 28, 2025
- Where: Keene, NH
If you’re looking for fall foliage, this New Hampshire half marathon might be a great option for you. Named in honor of Clarence DeMar, seven-time winner of the Boston Marathon, who ran, hiked, and hitchhiked his way from Boston to Keene every week to both keep a job teaching printing and history at a Keene high school as well as finish a master’s degree at Boston College. The race is renown for it’s fall foliage and citywide support of the runners, making it one of the best New England half marathons.
Urban Cow Half Marathon
- When: September 28, 2025
- Where: Sacramento, CA
If you love to mooooooove, and want a California race with low steaks, then why not sign up for this legen-dairy race? (Okay I’m sorry. I’m milking these cow puns to much.) Back in the day, snooty San Fransiscans called the state’s capital a “cow town” and race organizers took the nickname and ran with it (THESE PUNS!) Crowds line the course ringing cow bells (what else?) and the medal is shaped like one as well. Plus, if you sign up with a group of more than 15, you’re registered as a “herd” that gets their own private port-o-john and other special perks. Here’s your opportunity to grab the bull by the horns. (Too much? Sorry if I butchered that.)
Smuttynose Rockfest Half Marathon
- When: October 5, 2025
- Where: Hampton, NH
Smuttynose stands head and feet above when it comes to New England fall half marathons. Hampton is a gorgeously scenic coastal New Hampshire town, the race incorporates New England culture like lobster rolls and clam chowder for race finishers, and the finisher party is thrown alongside local craft beer maker – Smuttynose Brewing.
St. George Mini Marathon
- When: October 4, 2025
- Where: St. George, UT
In the southwest corner of Utah, in between Zion, Las Vegas, and the Grand Canyon sits St. George, Utah. This means that the Mini Marathon (what a fun way to brand a fall half marathons) is the perfect addition to your hiking/gambling vacation. Like the Bozeman Half, it starts in the hills and is almost entirely downhill, making it a nice race for first timers or those who aren’t looking to spend two hours plodding uphill. The desert/mountain views are stunning, and the sunrise is majestic.
Portland Half Marathon
- When: October 6, 2025
- Where: Portland, OR
The 51st annual running of what’s been called “The Best Race in October” by Runner’s World. Mostly flat with a few hilly stretches, the course traverses the neighborhoods surrounding the Willamette River. Runners remark this is one of the best organized races they’ve ever run and offers Oregon’s capital city’s best running tour.
Baltimore Half Marathon
- When: October 18, 2025
- Where: Baltimore, MD
Good morning Baltimore! It’s time to run the half! While I ran this race with a concussion (ill-advised), I would still whole-heartedly recommend it, and the course, which loops the city starting and ending at the famed Inner Harbor, is a fun one. In a unique move, the Baltimore Half also starts at the 13-mile marker of the full marathon, which is sort of hellish for the full runners who now have fresh runners zooming by them, but provides an epic group finish. All finishers receive a medal shaped like a crab, and who doesn’t want one of those?
Duke City Half Marathon
- When: October 11, 2025
- Where: Albuquerque, NM
Albuquerque, New Mexico was named after a Spanish Duke and has since earned the name “Duke City.” The course is flat and fast and showcases New Mexico’s largest city. The course traverses the Sandia Mountains, the Rio Grand, and the University of New Mexico campus. The course is at 5,000 feet above sea level so be prepared to race at elevation.
Las Vegas Half Marathon
- When: October 26, 2025
- Where: Las Vegas, NV
The premier and city-signature road running event in Las Vegas, Nevada. There’s a few landmark events in Nevada – you’re probably thinking about the Rock ‘n’ Roll Series or something in the Red Rock Canyons just outside the city – but in Las Vegas Half Marathons inaugural event, it’s standing out. Las Vegas garners the reputation of being pigeon holed as Sin City, which neglects the creative community and neighborhoods that surround the Strip. The Las Vegas Half Marathon feels more authentic to roots with a course through Downtown Summerlin, Symphony Park, 18b Arts District, Las Vegas Boulevard, and an exciting finish at Fremont Street Experience. For it’s first year, you can get $20 off using code HALF20.
Bozeman Half Marathon
- When: September 7, 2025
- Where: Bozeman, MT
If you’re looking to get off the grid, there’s no place quite like Montana. It’s the 4th largest state in terms of area, but near the bottom of the list based on population. But what Bozeman may lack in crowds, it makes up for in natural splendor. The Bozeman Half starts up in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains and descends 13 miles down into town. That means you not only get some incredible views overlooking Bozeman, but you also get a nice, speedy, downhill race. If you’re looking for a PR, you can’t do much better. You just might have a little trouble booking direct flights there.
Indianapolis Monumental Half Marathon
- When: November 8, 2025
- Where: Indianapolis, IN
If there is a city in America that is underrated, it is Indianapolis. I would defy non-Hoosiers to state a single thing about the city aside from that the Indy 500 happens there. But as it turns out, Indy is lowkey cool. It’s the 15th most populous city in the US (who knew!) and way bigger than Milwaukee, Detroit, and Cleveland. That means they’ve got good food, cool museums, and a great beer scene. Plus Indiana is FLAT FLAT FLAT so the race is ideal for those in search of a PR. Why not visit before everyone catches on?
Monterey Bay Half Marathon
- When: November 9, 2025
- Where: Monterey, CA
For their sheer beauty, the Big Sur Marathon Series is hard to beat. Formerly known as the Big Sur Half Marathon at Monterey Bay, this race course floats along the rocky coastline of the Pacific Ocean with floating sea gulls and an ocean breeze. The race is limited to only 9,000 entrants and it sells out quickly. If you haven’t had any luck with the Big Sur Marathon, and you’re more of a half marathon runner anyway, this should be a priority for you this year.
CarMax Richmond Half Marathon
- When: November 15, 2025
- Where: Richmond, VA
Deemed “America’s Friendliest Marathon,” the Richmond Half Marathon stands as our strong pick for the best east coast fall half marathon when compared against the likes of Philadelphia and New York. The crowds are boisterous, the runners are compassionate, the course is approachable, it’s everything someone could want in a fall racing experience.
St. Pete Run Fest Half Marathon
- When: November 16, 2025
- Where: St. Petersburg, FL
The St. Pete Run Fest has the unenviable pressure of its near proximity to Disney World and its many highly attended halves. But if you’re looking for a race that doesn’t start at 5am, is easier to enter, and includes some shoreline running, than St. Pete is the better choice. Known for being a bit artsier than most of Florida, St. Petersburg has plenty of culture to offer, and its finisher festival puts that on display with local bands, restaurants, and breweries dishing out what they do best. ALSO finishers get bloody marys. I have not seen many other halves passing those out, but maybe they should.
Seattle Half Marathon
- When: December 1, 2025
- Where: Seattle, WA
Sneaking in right before the winter cutoff, the Seattle Half is run each year on Thanksgiving weekend. While on first blush, that might not seem like a great time to run a half, it does mean you won’t have to take off any days from work to make the trip. Plus you can carb load with leftover turkey sandwiches and pumpkin pie. Go to the original Starbucks, take a boat tour of the bay, and get some great finisher pics with your medal and the Space Needle. You can skip out on Grandma’s house for one year and check out this half instead.
