There are 423 National Parks in the United States. That’s quite a lot of National Parks for one human to visit in a lifetime. Even if you tried to visit five national parks per year, it would still take you over 80 years to visit them all. But here’s great news for you – the most spectacular National Parks in the United States are complemented with some of the most spectacular national park half marathons. This way, you can cross off two items of your bucket list for next year by combining running and travel!
I wish all of my 2023 bucket list items worked that way but, unfortunately, my parents declined my invitation for their annual holiday visit to coincide with a freefall out of a plane.
These are the National Park half marathons you can run in 2023.
1. The Great Smoky Mountains (14.1M Visitors)
- Where: Townshend, TN
- The Half Marathon: Great Smoky Mountains Half Marathon & 5K
- When: September 8-9, 2023
- Registration: Link
2. Zion National Park (5M Visitors)
- Where: Springdale, UT
- The Half Marathon: Zion Half Marathon
- When: March 4, 2023
- Registration: Link
3. Yellowstone National Park (4.9M Visitors)
- Where: West Yellowstone, MT
- The Half Marathon: Yellowstone Half Marathon & 5K
- When: June 9-10, 2023
- Registration: Link
4. Grand Canyon National Park (4.5M Visitors)
- Where: Grand Canyon Village, AZ
- The Half Marathon: Grand Canyon Trail Half Marathon & 5K
- When: November 4-5, 2023
- Registration: Link
5. Rocky Mountain National Park (4.4M Visitors)
- Where: Estes Park, CO
- The Half Marathon: Rocky Mountain Half & 5K
- When: July 28-29, 2023
- Registration: Link
6. Acadia National Park (4.1M Visitors)
- Where: Bar Harbor, ME
- The Half Marathon: Acadia Half Marathon & 10K
- When: June 4, 2023
- Registration: Link
- Where: Bar Harbor, ME
- The Half Marathon: Bar Harbor Bank & Trust Half Marathon & 5K
- When: September, 16, 2023
- Registration: Link
7. Grand Teton National Park (3.9M Visitors)
- Where: Jackson, WY
- The Half Marathon: Grand Teton Half Marathon & 5K
- When: June 2-3, 2023
- Registration: Link
8. Yosemite National Park (3.9M Visitors)
- Where: Bass Lake, CA
- The Half Marathon: Yosemite Half Marathon
- When: May 6, 2023
- Registration: Link
9. Indiana Dunes National Park (3.2M Visitors)
- Where: Chesterton, IN
- The Half Marathon: Duneland Half Marathon & 5K
- When: TBD, 2023
- Registration: Link
10. Glacier National Park (3.1M Visitors)
- Where: East Glacier, MT
- The Half Marathon: Glacier Half Marathon
- When: June 24, 2023
- Registration: Link
11. Joshua Tree National Park (3.1M Visitors)
- Where: Joshua Tree, CA
- The Half Marathon: Joshua Tree Half Marathon
- When: November 4, 2023
- Registration: Link
12. Cuyahoga Valley National Park (2.5M Visitors)
- Where: Cleveland, OH
- The Half Marathon: Towpath Marathon, Half Marathon & 10K
- When: TBD, 2023
- Registration: Link
13. Hot Springs National Park (2.2M Visitors)
- Where: Hot Springs, AR
- The Half Marathon: Spa Running Festival
- When: November, 2023
- Registration: Link
14. Bryce Canyon National Park (2.1M Visitors)
- Where: Bryce Canyon City, UT
- The Half Marathon: Bryce Canyon Half Marathon
- When: July, 2023
- Registration: Link
15. Mount Rainier National Park (1.6M Visitors)
- Where: Ashford, WA
- The Half Marathon: Mount Rainier Half Marathon & 5K
- When: July 14-15, 2022
- Registration: Link
16. Shenandoah National Park (1.6M Visitors)
- Where: Ridgeview Park, VA
- The Half Marathon: Park to Park ½ Marathon
- When: April 29, 2023
- Registration: Link
17. Gateway Arch National Park (1.1M Visitors)
- Where: St. Louis, MO
- The Half Marathon: Go! St Louis Marathon Weekend
- When: April 1-2, 2023
- Registration: Link
18. Death Valley National Park (1.1M Visitors)
- Where: Inyo County, CA
- The Half Marathon: Death Valley Marathon, Half Marathon & 10K
- When: February 4, 2023
- Registration: Link
19. Saguaro National Park (1M Visitors)
- Where: Tucson, AZ
- The Half Marathon: Saguaro Half Marathon
- When: February 18, 2023
- Registration: Link
20. Everglades National Park (950K Visitors)
- Where: Homestead, FL
- The Half Marathon: Everglades Half Marathon & 5K
- When: TBD, 2023
- Registration: Link
21. Canyonlands National Park (900K Visitors)
- Where: Moab, UT
- The Half Marathon: Canyonlands Half Marathon & 5-mile
- When: March 18, 2023
- Registration: Link
22. Redwood National Park (435K Visitors)
- Where: Weott, CA
- The Half Marathon: Avenue of the Giants Marathon, Half Marathon & 10K
- When: May 7, 2023
- Registration: Link
