Races

PACERTRIP CITY EDITIONUS / RACE GUIDE

Long Beach Marathon

The city you want to run becomes your next trip.

Long Beach
US

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Race date in 322 days: Oct 3, 2027 Sun
City · Distance: Long Beach · 42.195km · 21.0975km · 5km
Entry fee: $174Varies by event and entry period
Status: OpenSee how to enter ↗

2027Date Oct 3, 2027 · Open

2026

2026Date Oct 11, 2026

Official website ↗

Instagram YouTube

D-day as of Nov 15, 2026

About the race Runner stories How to enter Course Race Prep Travel

Why you dream of this race

THE DREAM

ABOUT THE RACE

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

This marathon runs along the beach in Long Beach, California, on a flat, sea-level course.

It passes the Queen Mary and Shoreline Village and continues to Belmont Shore.

It is held every year in early October, and the half marathon and 5K take place the same weekend.

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.

Stories from runners who've been there.

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

Race reports: 3

Fueled by LOLZRan in 2026

“There is really no excuse for a race this large to be so crowded on several narrow beach paths.”

A review of the 2026 half marathon finished in 1 h 35 min 51 s (not the marathon). Around mile 4 they caught up with marathoners and the narrow beach path got crowded, and they were disappointed by the headwind in the final stretch and the gel station placement.

Read the original on Fueled by LOLZ

Joshua IzumigawaRan in 2015 · Finish time 3:43:36

“It's flat as a pancake other than 4 small hills”

A first marathon finished in 3 h 43 min. The temperature was 23°C at the start and climbed past 36°C by midday, which was hard, but the crowd support all along the course was big.

Read the original on daizbiz (Blogger)

MonicaRan in 2013 · Finish time 3:46:59

“But the course has some hills when you’re already tired/close to hitting the wall. You have to plan for that.”

The first-half beach bike path was flat and nice, but the climb between miles 17 and 22 near Cal State was hard. This runner suggests running the course in advance with a local running group.

Read the original on Run Eat Repeat

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.

[Long Beach Marathon 2026] Full Course Map
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 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.

First come, first served

Entry cost $174

Register in the official registration app by price tier.

The price goes up each time a tier ends, and the earlier tier closes.

18 years or older

Organizer's page

Charity

Entry cost TBD

The official site links to a fundraising entry for the American Cancer Society.

Check that link for the fundraising requirements and entry perks.

Organizer's page

Official race website Entry options

From the start line to the finish

RACE WEEK

Your 42.195km

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

Runners start · local timeFrom 5:30

Time limit7 hours 30 minutes

7 hours 30 minutes (a 17-minute-per-mile pace)

Event	Start	Time limit	Entry fee	Bib pickup
Marathon42.195km	05:30	7:30:00	$174	2027-10-02 16:00
Half Marathon21.0975km	06:30	6:00:00	$154	2027-10-02 16:00
Aquarium of the Pacific 5K5km	06:50	1:30:00	$66	—

START

Shoreline Drive & Shoreline Village Drive

Start · Google Maps

FINISH

Shoreline Drive & Linden Ave

Finish · Google Maps

Runners start · local time — Marathon 5:30 a.m., half marathon 6:30 a.m., 5K (Saturday, October 2) 6:50 a.m.

The Long Beach Marathon is held every year in early October in Long Beach, the port city south of Los Angeles.

The 2026 edition was the 42nd, so the race has a long history and is an annual ritual for local runners.

The start is on Shoreline Drive downtown, and you pass the Queen Mary and Shoreline Village almost immediately before entering the beach path along the Pacific.

After that, you go through Belmont Shore to Marine Stadium, then loop about 5 km around the Cal State Long Beach campus.

The last 6.2 miles return along Ocean Boulevard to the finish near Linden Ave. The official site describes this course as a fast, flat, sea-level course.

However,

a few race reports mention small hills around the campus between miles 17 and 22. The half marathon has a high point of about 14 m (45 ft) and runs nearly 90% of the distance beside the ocean.

In 2026, part of the beach section was rerouted onto Ocean Boulevard because of high-tide forecasts.

The half marathon is a downhill along the seaside bluff just before the finish.

Besides the marathon, the half marathon and 5K run the same weekend, so many people split events among family or friends.

Typical race-season temperature: around 10°C (51°F): Short sleeves or light long sleeves + arm warmers

Participant benefits

Water stations

Aid stations

Finisher medal

Event T-shirt

Bag drop

Race expo

Hotels601m from the start · ★8.7

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

2027-10-01 – 2027-10-02

Bib pickup

The Packet Pickup and the expo are held in the same place.

Long Beach Convention Center, Hall C

Google Maps Directions

2027-10-01: 13:00~19:00
2027-10-02: 10:00~16:00

Stations & transport near the venue

Getting to the startStart is at Shoreline Dr & Shoreline Village Dr, downtown Long Beach.

Source · checked Nov 11, 2026

More details

Getting to the start

Not published on the official site. Start is at Shoreline Dr & Shoreline Village Dr, downtown Long Beach.

The official marathon page only says there are multiple parking lots downtown within walking distance of the start and finish; no transit or shuttle plan is published (2027 edition).

Getting to the finish

Finish is at Shoreline Dr & Linden Ave.

Source · checked Nov 11, 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.

The start is at 5:30 a.m., so it is best to have your gear and bib ready the night before.

Bib pickup is in Hall C of the Long Beach Convention Center.

In the 2027 edition it is on Friday, October 1, from 1:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. and Saturday,

October 2, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Staying downtown makes things easy, since the start, finish and expo are all within walking distance.

The official site only says there are several downtown parking lots, and gives no public transit information.

Bag check is at Marina Green from 5:00 a.m., and you must collect your bag by 1:30 p.m. They advise against leaving valuables.

The time limit is 7 hours 30 minutes.

You need to keep under 17 minutes per mile, and if you fall behind you may be told to board the Sweep Vehicle.

Water is available at 15 stops between about mile 2 and mile 25. You'll find sports drink at 11 stops,

and gel is at only three: miles 10, 16.5 and 20. It is safer to carry your own gels.

Race reports mention crowding on the narrow beach path and headwinds.

In a 2015 report, the midday temperature reached the high 30s °C.

Bring a hat and sunscreen as well.

Some half marathon runners merge in from behind, so marathon runners are better off starting near the front of the start line.

The 5K is on Saturday, and some runners use it as a shakeout the day before the marathon.

After the finish, the finish festival gives you a beer, so bring ID.

Aquarium admission after the race must be arranged separately online.

Times are local to Long Beach. 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.

Hyatt Centric The Pike Long Beach

Hotel · 601m · 9-minute walk

8.7/10(690)

View on Booking.com

Los Angeles Echo Park Lake Swan Boat Rental

$14

View on Klook

City Cruises Long Beach: Dinner Cruise with Buffet and DJ

$135

Long Beach Marathon

About Long Beach Marathon — what makes it special

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

The road to your own record

When the city cheers

The trip that follows the run