PACERTRIP CITY EDITIONUS / RACE GUIDE

New River Marathon, Half Marathon & 5K race photo

New River Marathon, Half Marathon & 5K

The city you want to run becomes your next trip.

USMay 15, 202742.195km · 21.1km

bobistraveling · CC BY 2.0

Race date in 216 days: May 15, 2027 Sat
City · Distance: Todd · 42.195km · 21.1km
Entry fee: $93Varies by event and entry period
Status: OpenSat, August 1, 2026 ~ Sat, May 15, 2027See how to enter ↗

Official website ↗D-day as of Oct 11, 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.

A marathon held in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina.

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: 1

CraigRan in 2019 · Finish time 5:15:18

“The course quickly turned from a road race to a one-mile cross-country trail run.”

At the New River Marathon, the runner finished in 5 hours, 15 minutes, and 18 seconds after heavy rain, steep hills, and muddy trails. Completing the journey to run a marathon in all 50 US states left a strong impression of the volunteers’ help and rural scenery.

Read the original on Blazing a Path - Surveying the 50 States

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.

Full recap

High Country PPG · Full recap

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.

Marathon

Entry cost $93

until Jan 31, 2027 · subject to change — verify officially

Organizer's page

Half

Entry cost $73

until Jan 31, 2027 · subject to change — verify officially

Organizer's page

5K

Entry cost $28

until Jan 31, 2027 · subject to change — verify officially

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 07:30

Event	Start
Marathon42.195km	07:30
Half21.0975km	08:15
5K5km	18:30

START

Todd, North Carolina, Todd, NC

Start · Google Maps

FINISH

Walter and Anne Cook Memorial Park

Elk Creek

Show more

The New River Marathon and New River Half Marathon are held together.

Start line is located in Todd, North Carolina (Todd, NC), with a local start time of 7:30 a.m.

Course follows an out-and-back course on the same route.

Typical race-season temperature: around 16°C (60°F): Short sleeves or light long sleeves + arm warmers

Participant benefits

Not yet confirmed in the official race guide

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

Stations & transport near the venue

Getting to the startNo train/subway/bus service to venue

Source · checked Aug 23, 2026

More details

Getting to the start

No train/subway/bus service to venue

Marathon starts on Todd Railroad Grade Rd in the small mountain village of Todd, NC (Ashe/Watauga County); the half marathon starts/finishes nearby at the intersection of Cranberry Springs Rd and Todd Railroad Grade Rd in Brownwood, just south of Todd. Despite the "Railroad Grade" name (a former rail bed, now a road/greenway), there is no active passenger rail or bus service in this rural Blue Ridge Mountains area — runners must drive.

the accompanying 5K is on Friday, May 14, 2027, the day before — not a conflict.

Getting to the finish

No train/subway/bus service to venue

Marathon finish is at Walter and Anne Cook Memorial Park on Elk Creek in Todd; half marathon finishes at the same Cranberry Springs Rd/Todd Railroad Grade Rd start point (out-and-back). No public transit access to either.

Source · checked Aug 23, 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 New River Marathon takes place in the western North Carolina village of Todd.

Start line is on Todd Railroad Grade Road (in downtown Todd), while finish is at Walter and Ann Cook Memorial Park along Elk Creek.

Registration is handled through the official RunSignUp page.

Based on the previous year,

the marathon Entry fee followed a tiered early-bird structure: $93 through January 31, $103 through March 14, $113 through April 14, and $128 through May 14, rising to $138 during race week.

A combo registration option is also available to run the 5K together with the marathon or half marathon, with the additional fee reported to be around $20.

The event generally follows a weekend schedule, with registration and an expo on Friday and the main races on Saturday.

Because the exact Entry fee and registration deadlines are adjusted each year,

it is safest to check the current year's fee schedule on the official website before registering.

Times are local to Todd. 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.

Creekside Serenade

Accommodation · 4.3km

8.6/10(5)

View on Booking.com

Charlotte: Uncover the Queen City's Black Legacy Walking Tour

Queen City Black Heritage Walking Tour · $27

View on GetYourGuide

The Queen City Experience: 90-min Historical City Bus Tour

Charlotte Historical Shuttle Bus City Tour · $41

View on GetYourGuide

Bearly Behaving

Accommodation · 2.8km

9.7/10(3)

View on Booking.com

Asheville｜Private Airport Pickup/Drop-off Service at Asheville Airport

$157

Charlotte's Best Historic City Tour (Eco-Friendly Electric Cart Ride)

$43

A Rustic Hideaway

Accommodation · 2.6km

View on Booking.com

Hotels that make race morning easy

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

Creekside Serenade

Accommodation · 4.3km

8.6/10(5)

View on Booking.com

Bearly Behaving

Accommodation · 2.8km

9.7/10(3)

View on Booking.com

A Rustic Hideaway

Accommodation · 2.6km

View on Booking.com

Hike, Ski & More: Blue Ridge Mountain Escape

Accommodation · 2.7km

View on Booking.com

1 Relaxing Place

Accommodation · 2.5km

View on Booking.com

3Bd Log Cabin with Views, Hot Tub, Gas Fireplace, Game Room

Accommodation · 4.0km

View on Booking.com

Bald Mountain Lodge

Lodge · 2.8km

View on Booking.com

Swipe sideways to see more hotels.

Time for you, before and after the finish

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

CARB LOADING1LOCAL TRANSIT2TRAIL & OUTDOOR1EASY WALKING1

Charlotte: Uncover the Queen City's Black Legacy Walking Tour

Queen City Black Heritage Walking Tour · $27

View on GetYourGuide

Asheville｜Private Airport Pickup/Drop-off Service at Asheville Airport

$157

Charlotte｜Private airport pickup/drop-off service at Charlotte Douglas International Airport

$82

Asheville: Colorful Asheville Electric Bike Tour

$53

View on GetYourGuide

Charlotte: Uptown Charlotte Historian-Guided Tour

Uptown Charlotte Historic Guided Tour · $21

View on GetYourGuide

Seeing Todd with the medal on

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

The Queen City Experience: 90-min Historical City Bus Tour

Charlotte Historical Shuttle Bus City Tour · $41

View on GetYourGuide

Charlotte's Best Historic City Tour (Eco-Friendly Electric Cart Ride)

$43

Charlotte: Bus city tour with a comedian (bring your own drinks)

$41

View on GetYourGuide

Eating well is part of the tripA meal before the race, a dinner to celebrate the finish.View on map

TRAVEL ESSENTIALS

Trip prep too,
light and in one place.

Checklist Local eSIM · Trip.com Flight delay or cancellation compensation · AirHelp Pace calculator

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

RUN TOGETHER

With runners who dream of
the same start line.

Be the first runner
Leave this room's first post

Todd runners' room

FAQ

When does New River Marathon, Half Marathon & 5K 2027 take place?

It takes place on Sat, May 15, 2027 in Todd, NC, United States.

How much is the New River Marathon, Half Marathon & 5K 2027 entry fee?

The main event costs $93.

What distances does New River Marathon, Half Marathon & 5K 2027 offer?

Marathon · Half.

What time does New River Marathon, Half Marathon & 5K 2027 start?

The race starts at 07:30.

Where does New River Marathon, Half Marathon & 5K 2027 start?

Todd, North Carolina, Todd, NC.

Where does New River Marathon, Half Marathon & 5K 2027 finish?

Walter and Anne Cook Memorial Park (Elk Creek).

When does registration for New River Marathon, Half Marathon & 5K 2027 open?

Registration runs from Sat, August 1, 2026 to Sat, May 15, 2027.

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