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Big Sur Trail Marathon, Half Marathon & 5 Mile race photo

Big Sur Trail Marathon, Half Marathon & 5 Mile

The city you want to run becomes your next trip.

Big Sur Trail Marathon, Half Marathon & 5 Mile race photo
Big Sur Trail Marathon, Half Marathon & 5 Mile race photo
Big Sur
US
Presidio of Monterey · Public domainIurii, CC BY 3.0ShanMcG213 · flickr (CC BY-SA)
Race date Sep expected
September 2027
City · Distance
Big Sur · 42.195km · 21.1km
Entry fee
$135.73From the 2026 edition
2027Date September 2027 · expected · Soon
2026Date Sep 26, 2026 · Entry fee $92.93 · Start 09:00
Official website ↗D-day as of Oct 15, 2026
Big Sur Trail Marathon, Half Marathon & 5 Mile race photo
Presidio of Monterey · Public domain
Big Sur Trail Marathon, Half Marathon & 5 Mile race photo
Iurii, CC BY 3.0
Big Sur Trail Marathon, Half Marathon & 5 Mile race photo
ShanMcG213 · flickr (CC BY-SA)
About the raceRunner storiesHow to enterCourseRace PrepTravel
Why you dream of this race

THE DREAM

About Big Sur Trail Marathon, Half Marathon & 5 Mile — what makes it special

ABOUT THE RACE

A day you'll remember,
long past the finish line.

Climb Big Sur's Old Coast Road.

California's coast delivers some of its finest scenery along the way.

The hills make it challenging, but all the more rewarding.

Since the start and finish are at a picnic area, bringing a packed lunch is a great idea.

The road to your own record

Picture the course in advance
and find the pace that fits you.

When the city cheers

Streets lined with cheers, runners all around.
You'll be part of that scene.

The trip that follows the run

Take it slow with the finish still in you,
and meet the city all over again.

Big Sur Trail Marathon, Half Marathon & 5 Mile runner reviews and race reports

Stories from runners who've been there.

From the joy of finishing to the tough moments — read what runners wrote themselves.

Race reports: 2
fatozzigFinish time 6h23m
“Unfortunately, the heat took the joy out of the whole thing.”

Patozig suffered intense heat on Big Sur Trail Marathon's unshaded dirt roads and repeated hills. He needed a long rest after the finish, finding even plenty of water and salt insufficient against the heat.

Read the original on FATOZZIG’S PLACE
LisaFinish time 5:40:44
“I passed people on the uphill and ran relaxed on the downhills.”

At the Big Sur Trail Marathon, the runner power-hiked steep climbs and ran downhills and flats despite fading energy. They passed the midrace time limit with 5 minutes to spare and finished in 5 hours 40 minutes 44 seconds.

Read the original on Run Like A Coyote

We translated a short line from each public race report and summarized the experience. Finish times are as stated by the author, and past editions may differ from this year's weather and operations.

See it on video,
feel it through their stories.

Preview the course and read what runners who went before you wrote.

Big Sur Trail Marathon September 27th, 2014

The Treadmill

View on YouTube

This may be from a past edition. Check the organizer for this year's course and operations.

The way in that fits you

YOUR ENTRY

How to enter Big Sur Trail Marathon, Half Marathon & 5 Mile — registration routes

How to reach the start line —
start with what fits you.

Here are the ways to enter and what each requires.
Check the organizer's page for whether entries are open.

From the 2026 edition

Marathon - Adult

Entry cost $135.73

subject to change — verify officially

Organizer's page

Marathon - Youth

Entry cost $135.73

subject to change — verify officially

Organizer's page

Half Marathon - Adult

Entry cost $114.33

subject to change — verify officially

Organizer's page

Half Marathon - Youth

Entry cost $50.14

subject to change — verify officially

Organizer's page
About 5 Mile - Adult · 5 Mile - Youth

5 Mile - Adult

Entry cost $92.93

subject to change — verify officially

Organizer's page

5 Mile - Youth

Entry cost $39.44

subject to change — verify officially

Organizer's page

Registration platform Race Roster

Official race websiteEntry options
From the start line to the finish

RACE WEEK

Big Sur Trail Marathon, Half Marathon & 5 Mile course map and elevation

Your 42.195km

Know the course and time limit, and race day comes into focus.

From the 2026 edition
Runners start · local timeFrom 09:00
Time limit6.5h
EventStartTime limit
2026 Big Sur Trail Marathon, Half Marathon & 5 Mile42.195km09:006.5h
2026 Big Sur Trail Marathon, Half Marathon & 5 Mile21.0975km09:006.5h
Other8.047km09:006.5h
START

Andrew Molera State Park, Big Sur, CA

Start · Google Maps
FINISH

Andrew Molera State Park, Big Sur, CA

Finish · Google Maps

The event is divided into 6 divisions, including Marathon - Adult·Half Marathon - Adult·5 Mile - Adult·Marathon - Youth.

Start line is set in Big Sur, CA, and the start time is 9:00 a.m. local time.

Participant benefits

Not yet confirmed in the official race guide

From the most recent edition

Event T-shirt 2026

Finisher T-shirt 2026

This may change for the next edition.

Where and when to collect your Big Sur Trail Marathon, Half Marathon & 5 Mile race bib

To the start line,
step by step.

Pick up your bib, check your wave.
So on race morning, you can just run.

From the 2026 edition

Pick up your bib at the expo

Bib will be mailed approximately one week before the race.
The field is limited to 300 and sells out every year; carpooling is recommended because parking is limited (a $10 cash vehicle entry fee for the park).
Race-day bib pickup — 9/26(Sat) 08:00~08:50

No on-site pickup

bib mailed in advance / if not received, race-day pickup at the Andrew Molera State Park picnic area

Google Maps

Stations & transport near the venue

  • Getting to the startNo public transit; nearest access is via Highway 1 (Pacific Coast Highway) only
  • Getting to the finishSame picnic grounds at Andrew Molera State Park (start=finish, out-and-back style course)
  • Transit cardBig Sur is a rural stretch of Highway 1 with no public transit or dedicated fare card; race logistics run…

Source · checked Aug 24, 2026

More details

Getting to the start

No public transit; nearest access is via Highway 1 (Pacific Coast Highway) only

Start/finish is at the picnic grounds of Andrew Molera State Park, Big Sur, CA. Race-day check-in/bib pickup at the picnic area 8:00-8:50am for a 9:00am start.

Parking at Andrew Molera State Park is limited; organizers explicitly ask runners to carpool. $10/vehicle park entry fee.

Remote coastal state park with no public transit access — Highway 1 car access only.

Map

Road closures

Andrew Molera State Park limited parking, carpooling encouraged; Park admission $10 cash per vehicle

Transit card

Big Sur is a rural stretch of Highway 1 with no public transit or dedicated fare card; race logistics run on shuttle buses/parking rather than transit. Visitors typically drive in or use organizer-run race-day shuttles; standard car/rideshare rules apply.

Source · checked Aug 24, 2026
READY TO RUN

From race morning to after the finish.

Your start time, fuel and bag drop.
Know them ahead and the run feels easier.

Average 16°C — Big Sur in September offers favorable conditions for runners.

The key is the wait before the start.

Starting with a cold body means spending the first 5km just warming up.

The race venue has no public transportation.

Plans should assume travel by private or rental car.

Registration is handled through the Race Roster platform.

The point where runners break down in full marathon is usually the same: around 30km.

Saving 30 seconds in the first half can save 5 minutes in the second.

Do not skip aid stations; take a little at each one.

The race starts at 09:00.

Times are local to Big Sur. Check the latest official information before the race.

A trip built around the race

STAY A LITTLE

MAKE IT A RUNTRIP

The race is one day,
the trip can be longer.

From a hotel that makes race morning easy,
to the meals and views you'll enjoy with the medal on.

Hotels near the Big Sur Trail Marathon, Half Marathon & 5 Mile start line in

Hotels that make race morning easyHotels to rest in right after the finish

View all →

Distances are straight-line from the start.
Check real travel times and booking terms with each hotel.

Distances are straight-line from the finish.
Check real travel times and booking terms with each hotel.

The start and finish are 1.5km apart.

Swipe sideways to see more hotels.

Trip.comClosest to the start lineView on Trip.com

Time for you, before and after the finish

View all →

Rest a little, wander a little.
Pick what suits you and whoever you're with.

Where runners eat in Big Sur

Eating well is part of the trip

View all →

A meal before the race, a dinner to celebrate the finish.

What to see in Big Sur after the race

Seeing Big Sur with the medal on

View all →

The city you ran — this time, a little slower.

Hotel distances are straight-line from the start. Experiences, food and sights are travel products in Big Sur.

Total cost and budget for Big Sur Trail Marathon, Half Marathon & 5 Mile

TRAVEL ESSENTIALS

Trip prep too,
light and in one place.

ChecklistLocal eSIM · Trip.comFlight delay or cancellation compensation · AirHelpPace calculator

Once saved, you can open this page without an internet connection

Runner stories and questions about Big Sur Trail Marathon, Half Marathon & 5 Mile

RUN TOGETHER

With runners who dream of
the same start line.

Be the first runner
Leave this room's first post

Big Sur runners' room

Frequently asked questions about Big Sur Trail Marathon, Half Marathon & 5 Mile

FAQ
When was Big Sur Trail Marathon, Half Marathon & 5 Mile 2026 held?

It was held on Sat, September 26, 2026. The next race is September 2027.

When does Big Sur Trail Marathon, Half Marathon & 5 Mile 2027 take place?

Not officially announced yet.

It's expected in September 2027;

the 2026 race was held on Sat, September 26, 2026.

How much is the Big Sur Trail Marathon, Half Marathon & 5 Mile 2027 entry fee?

Not announced yet. The 2026 race entry fee was about $92.93.

What is the time limit for Big Sur Trail Marathon, Half Marathon & 5 Mile 2027?

6.5h. (From the 2026 edition)

What distances does Big Sur Trail Marathon, Half Marathon & 5 Mile 2027 offer?

Marathon · Half. (From the 2026 edition)

What time does Big Sur Trail Marathon, Half Marathon & 5 Mile 2027 start?

The race starts at 09:00. (From the 2026 edition)

Where does Big Sur Trail Marathon, Half Marathon & 5 Mile 2027 start?

Andrew Molera State Park, Big Sur, CA. (From the 2026 edition)

What is the Big Sur Trail Marathon, Half Marathon & 5 Mile 2027 course like?

The event is divided into 6 divisions, including Marathon - Adult·Half Marathon - Adult·5 Mile - Adult·Marathon - Youth.

Start line is set in Big Sur, CA, and the start time is 9:00 a.m. local time.

Where does Big Sur Trail Marathon, Half Marathon & 5 Mile 2027 finish?

Andrew Molera State Park, Big Sur, CA. (From the 2026 edition)

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