Best Coastal & Island Marathons

There’s something about running along the ocean. The horizon line pulls you forward, the salt air opens your lungs, and the sound of waves provides a natural rhythm that headphones can’t match. This guide picks ten races where the sea is a defining feature of the course, from Honolulu to the cliff-hugging roads of Big Sur, for runners who want salt spray and sea views with their 42.2 kilometers.

Two entries are not standard marathons: Bermuda is a half marathon, and the Great Ocean Road race is 44 km. Course facts, time limits and field sizes come from each race’s page on this site; where a page has no verified figure, we leave the figure out.

The Icons: Big-Name Coastal Marathons

Honolulu Marathon

The Honolulu Marathon (the JAL Honolulu Marathon) is held on the second Sunday of December, with the start on Ala Moana Boulevard and the finish in Kapiolani Park beside Waikiki. The race starts at 5 am with a fireworks display, and the organisers call it the fourth largest marathon in the United States. The route runs through downtown Honolulu, past Iolani Palace and the Christmas lights, and through Waikiki, then climbs up and around Diamond Head.

• When: December (the 2026 race is on 13 December)
• Course: Point-to-point road course, out to Hawaii Kai and back, finishing in Kapiolani Park
• Time limit: None
• Weather: December highs average about 28°C and lows about 21°C, with rain on about nine days of the month
• Tags: Coastal, island, scenic, bucket-list, beginner-friendly

After Diamond Head the course continues through Kahala to Hawaii Kai, turns back toward Kahala and Honolulu, passes Diamond Head again on the ocean side and finishes in Kapiolani Park near the bandstand. The start is in the dark, so the warm part of the day arrives while slower runners are still out; hydrate and pace conservatively.

What sets Honolulu apart is the absence of a time limit. The race has no time limit and no limit on the number of participants, and there is no lottery or qualifying time. The organisers wait for the last finisher to cross the line. For first-timers nervous about time limits, this is a rare gift, and combined with a week in Hawaii it makes a ready-made marathon holiday.

Big Sur Marathon

The Big Sur Marathon (the Big Sur International Marathon) is a point-to-point road marathon on California’s Highway 1 from Big Sur to Carmel, held on the last Sunday of April. The organisers describe it as moderately difficult with rolling hills and call it the largest rural marathon in the world; the course winds through redwoods and alongside ranches, with views of the Pacific Ocean. The halfway point is the Bixby Bridge, where a tuxedo-wearing concert pianist plays a Yamaha piano for runners.

• When: April (the 2027 race is on 25 April)
• Course: Point-to-point on Highway 1, certified by USATF, AIMS and World Athletics
• Elevation: About 665 m of climbing and 770 m of descent (2,182 ft and 2,528 ft), according to the published figures
• Time limit: 6 hours, because the road reopens to traffic at 1 pm
• Field: About 4,500 entrants, chosen by random drawing; 3,214 finishers in 2026
• Weather: April highs average around 20°C and lows around 6°C

This is not a fast course. The climbs include Hurricane Point, and the strength and patience you need are the price of the scenery. The course is an official Boston qualifier, but for most runners it is a destination race. Because entry is a random drawing for a field of about 4,500, apply as soon as the entry window opens.

Nice-Cannes Marathon

The Nice-Cannes Marathon (the Marathon des Alpes-Maritimes Nice-Cannes) is a point-to-point marathon along the Côte d’Azur, from the Promenade des Anglais in Nice to the Boulevard de la Croisette in Cannes. The course follows the coast through Saint-Laurent-du-Var, Cagnes-sur-Mer, Villeneuve-Loubet, Antibes Juan-les-Pins and Vallauris Golfe-Juan before finishing in Cannes.

• When: November (the 18th edition is on Sunday 8 November 2026)
• Course: Coastal point-to-point, one way along the coast
• Time limit: 6 hours, with aid stations every 2.5 km from km 5 to km 25 and then about every 1.5 km
• Field: 8,511 marathon arrivals in 2025, the second-highest number of finishers of any French marathon after Paris, according to the organisers
• Weather: Early November highs average about 17°C and lows about 10°C

Runners are released in five waves, with the elite and preferred runners going first. In 2025 the organisers reported a record 22,000 entrants across all events, nearly 30 percent of them from abroad. Other formats on the same day are a 20 km to Villeneuve-Loubet, a two-person half-marathon Duo and a relay for teams.

Australia & New Zealand: The Southern Coast

Gold Coast Marathon

The Gold Coast Marathon (the ASICS Gold Coast Marathon) is a road marathon on Queensland’s Gold Coast, held on a Sunday in early July, in the Australian winter. It starts at the Broadwater Parklands on Marine Parade in Southport, which is also the finish, and is run as out-and-back legs along the coast and the Broadwater: the route passes The Spit and Main Beach, follows The Esplanade in Surfers Paradise to Kurrawa, continues through Mermaid Beach and turns at Marine Parade in Miami at the halfway point, then heads back north.

• When: July (the 2027 race is on 4 July)
• Course: Flat out-and-back; the organisers count 29 km of beachside running and put the course elevation at 62 metres
• Time limit: 7 hours from the gun, which equals 6 hours 40 minutes from the last wave’s start
• Field: More than 43,000 people took part in the 2026 race weekend, across all distances
• Weather: July highs average around 21°C and lows around 12°C
• Tags: Flat, fast, coastal, beginner-friendly

For runners targeting a personal best in a coastal setting, the race page tags the course as flat and fast, and the cool winter conditions suit running. The weekend also includes a half marathon, a 10 km, a 5 km and a wheelchair marathon.

Great Ocean Road Marathon

The Great Ocean Road Marathon is a 44 km point-to-point road race from Lorne to Apollo Bay on the Victorian coast, and the main event of the Great Ocean Road Running Festival, which is held over a weekend in mid-May. Runners follow the Great Ocean Road through Wye River, Kennett River and Skenes Creek and finish at the Apollo Bay Hotel on the main road in Apollo Bay.

• When: May (the 2027 race is on Sunday 16 May)
• Course: 44 km point-to-point, nearly two kilometres longer than a standard marathon, so times are not directly comparable
• Time limit: 6 hours 30 minutes, with 12 drink stations
• Field: A record 11,198 runners across all events at the 20th edition in 2025
• Weather: Mid-May highs average around 16°C and lows around 10°C
• Tags: Coastal, scenic, point-to-point

Rain falls on roughly half of all days in May on this coast, so a rain layer is worth packing. Buses take runners from Apollo Bay to the Lorne start before the race, and return buses run from Apollo Bay to Lorne afterwards. The festival began in 2005 as a single 44 km marathon, and it now includes a 60 km ultra marathon, a half marathon and shorter runs.

The Islands: Running Surrounded by Ocean

Island marathons have a character all their own. The contained geography creates an intimacy that mainland races can’t replicate — you’re running on a piece of land surrounded by water, and that fact shapes the light, the wind, the humidity, and the atmosphere.

Easter Island Marathon

The Easter Island Marathon (the Volcano Marathon Easter Island Edition, run by Runbuk) is a point-to-point race on Rapa Nui with a half marathon option, held in late June in the Southern Hemisphere winter. On race day runners are bussed to Anakena Beach, follow the coast, climb to the Rano Kau volcano at about the 22-mile mark and then descend to the town of Hanga Roa, finishing at the Nayara Hotel.

• When: June (the 2027 race is on 27 June)
• Course: Point-to-point on natural, unpaved terrain: dirt trails, grassy patches and volcanic rock, with 610 m of elevation gain according to the organiser
• Field: Small — 21 runners registered for the marathon in 2026, and 20 started and finished
• Cost: Sold as a package listed at US$3,300-US$4,300, including four nights’ hotel
• Weather: June highs average about 22°C and lows about 17°C, with rain on about twelve days of the month

The race takes one day but is sold as a four-night, five-day package with hotel and trips to Orongo, Rano Raraku and Ahu Tongariki, and the field is limited and allocated first come, first served. The Easter Island edition began in 2024 as the 10th Volcano Marathon, and the event is run in partnership with the local community, with a share of every entry supporting island initiatives. The small field creates an intimate, expedition-like atmosphere, and the package makes the logistics straightforward, but it also means you need to book early.

Bali Marathon

The Bali Marathon (the Maybank Marathon) is an annual road marathon in Gianyar Regency, organised by Maybank Indonesia since 2012 and held in late August. The 2026 edition, the 15th, took place on Sunday 23 August. The organisers say the race will return to Bali in 2027, with the date to be announced in January 2027.

• When: August (the next date has not been announced)
• Course: Road loop through the Gianyar countryside, starting and finishing at the Bali United Training Center in Sukawati; reports on the 2026 race describe climbs
• Field: 14,100 participants from 46 countries across all distances in 2026; places are allocated by a registration draw
• Weather: August highs average about 29°C and lows about 24°C at Denpasar, with rain on only about two days of the month
• Tags: Scenic, island, community

The marathon starts in the dark before dawn, which helps with the heat. The route begins on the I.B. Mantra bypass and then runs through the countryside of Gianyar. The event is Indonesia’s first World Athletics Elite Label Road Race, a status it has held since 2020. Because the next date has not been announced, check the organisers’ site before you plan travel.

Bermuda Half Marathon

The Bermuda Half Marathon (the PwC Bermuda Half Marathon) is the Sunday half marathon of the Chubb Bermuda Triangle Challenge weekend in Hamilton, held in January. It starts in front of the Hamilton Princess Hotel on Pitts Bay Road and finishes at Barr’s Bay Park, close to where it began. The route heads east towards Front Street and Trimingham Hill, then follows South Shore Road, Devil’s Hole Hill Road, Harrington Sound Road and North Shore Road, and returns via St. John’s Road and Pitts Bay Road.

• When: January (the 2027 race is on 17 January)
• Course: 13.1 rolling miles in a loop
• Time limit: 4 hours; runners must be 16 or older
• Entry: $125–$135 USD plus sign-up fee
• Weather: January highs average about 21°C and lows about 16°C, with rain on around 14 days of the month
• Tags: Coastal, island, beginner-friendly

The Bermuda International Marathon was first held in 1975, and the half marathon joined the race weekend in 1993. The weekend is organised by the Bermuda National Athletics Association, a registered Bermuda charity. The marathon starts earlier the same morning at the Royal Naval Dockyard and joins the half marathon course after mile 14. The Bermuda Triangle Challenge lets runners enter a mile, a 10K and the half marathon on three consecutive days.

Penang Bridge Marathon

The Penang Bridge Marathon (the Penang Bridge International Marathon) is run in December on the Sultan Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah Bridge, the second Penang bridge, which links Batu Kawan on the mainland with Penang Island. It is a night-time marathon that starts in the small hours of the morning at Aspen Vision City in Batu Kawan. Runners cross the bridge, which is about 24 km long, to a turnaround near Batu Maung on the island and return to Aspen Vision City for the finish.

• When: December (the 2026 race is on 13 December)
• Course: Out-and-back across the second Penang bridge; the race page tags it flat
• Time limit: The qualifying time for a finisher medal and tee is 7 hours; runners who miss the cut-off are taken back by sweep buses
• Field: About 16,000 people had registered by mid-May 2026
• Weather: December highs average about 31°C and lows about 25°C, though the marathon is run through the night and early morning

The organisers date the event to 1986, when it was run on the first Penang bridge; the race moved to the second bridge in 2024. It is organised by the Penang State Tourism Development office with the support of the Penang State Government.

The Caribbean and Americas

Havana Marathon

The Havana Marathon (Marabana, the Maratón de La Habana) is Cuba’s main road marathon, held on the third Sunday of November with an early-morning start. The marathon, half marathon, 10K and 5K all start and finish on Avenida Independencia at 19 de Mayo, in front of the Ramón Font sports hall near the Plaza de la Revolución. The marathon is two laps of a single circuit, which the organisers describe as the only Cuban course officially certified by AIMS and World Athletics.

• When: November (the 2026 race, the 40th edition, is on 15 November)
• Course: Two laps of one circuit past Old Havana, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and along the Malecón seafront; the race page tags it flat
• Time limit: 3 hours 30 minutes to complete the first lap and 7 hours for the full distance
• Field: 2,367 Cuban and foreign athletes ran in 2024
• Weather: November highs average around 29°C and lows around 22°C, with rain on about 8 days of the month
• Tags: Flat, fast, coastal, beginner-friendly

The streets listed in the race rules include Salvador Allende, Reina, Prado, the Malecón, Calle 23 and Avenida 26, and only the right-most lane is used on the Malecón, Calzada, Calle 23 and Avenida 26. Drink stations are placed roughly every 2.5 km. Cuba rewards slow exploration, so anchoring a trip around the marathon gives structure to a week of discovering Havana. Check entry requirements, accommodation and how you will pay for things well ahead of time.

Planning a Coastal or Island Marathon Trip

Weather Considerations

Coastal and island marathons come with specific weather patterns that don’t affect inland races:

Wind: Exposed coastal courses face winds that sheltered city courses don’t, and any exposed headland section can mean headwinds or crosswinds. Training on windy routes helps, but expect your pace to fluctuate with exposure.

Humidity: Tropical races such as Havana and Penang combine heat with high humidity, which reduces your body’s ability to cool through evaporation. Several races here start in the dark or before dawn, which helps, but expect noticeably slower times than in cool, dry conditions.

Sun exposure: Coastal courses typically have less shade than urban races. Apply waterproof sunscreen before the start, wear a cap, and consider sunglasses. Sunburn during a marathon adds unnecessary discomfort and impairs thermoregulation.

Practical Tips for Island Racing

Book accommodation early. Island and resort destinations can have limited lodging when a race weekend falls in the tourist season. The Easter Island Marathon is sold as a package that already includes hotel nights, so book that through the organiser.

Arrive 2–3 days early. Islands and coastal destinations often involve time zone changes and climate adjustments. Arriving early lets you acclimate to heat, humidity, and jet lag before race day.

Plan post-race recovery around water. One of the great advantages of coastal and island racing: ocean swimming, beach walks, and waterfront lounging are ideal active recovery. Salt water soothes tired muscles, and the psychological effect of beach recovery beats any ice bath.

Check course logistics. Point-to-point courses (Big Sur, Nice-Cannes, Great Ocean Road, Easter Island) finish somewhere other than where they start. The Great Ocean Road Marathon runs buses from Apollo Bay to the Lorne start and back afterwards, and Easter Island runners are bussed to the Anakena Beach start; check the shuttle arrangements for the others, and what happens if you miss the bus to a remote start.

Combining Races with Beach Vacations

The natural pairing of a coastal marathon with a beach vacation is one of the great travel hacks in running. Use the marathon as the anchor:

• Arrive 2–3 days early: Light shakeout runs, course preview, tourist exploration
• Race day: The main event
• 2–3 days after: Beach recovery, snorkeling, cultural exploration, excellent food
• Total trip: 5–7 days of combined athletic achievement and vacation

This approach works particularly well in destinations like Bermuda, Honolulu, and the Gold Coast, where a beach holiday is easy to build around the race.

More Marathon Guides

Explore our other guides for different perspectives on race selection:

• Bucket List Marathons — bucket-list races from around the world
• Cheapest Marathons — run the world on a budget
• Most Scenic Marathons — scenic courses worldwide
• Best Marathons for Beginners — first-timer friendly
• Best Marathons in Europe — continent-specific picks
• First Marathon Guide — everything you need to know