Course Map
Route based on 2025 course — may differ slightly from this year.
About this Race
The Baltimore Running Festival Marathon is a genuinely hilly course through the Maryland city, climbing and rolling past the Inner Harbor, the historic neighborhoods, and around Lake Montebello. The constant undulation makes it more demanding than a flat course, requiring disciplined early pacing. Held in October, it offers crisp autumn conditions and lively urban crowds. The hills and city tour define the challenge. It suits strong, hill-ready runners who want an honest, characterful East Coast course and accept the climbs over a fast personal best.
Course Insight
Baltimore is a tougher October course than its harbour setting suggests, rolling through hills around the city and Lake Montebello on terrain that never lets you settle. Pace the climbs by effort and bank nothing on the descents. Crisp autumn air helps. The undulation rewards steady strength over fixed splits. Run it as a strength effort and the hills stay an ally rather than an ambush.
Difficulty Breakdown
Mostly due to significant climbing (316m), tough late hills.
Course Details
- Course type
- Loop
- Elevation gain
- 316m
- Elevation loss
- 334m
- Highest point
- 94m
- Lowest point
- 2m
- Net elevation
- -18m
- Start
- Inner Harbor, Baltimore
- Cutoff time
- 7h 0m
Race History
The Baltimore Running Festival Marathon was first held in 2001, a genuinely hilly course climbing past the Inner Harbor and around Lake Montebello in the Maryland city. Its constant undulation made it an honest urban test backed by lively crowds. From its founding it grew into the city's signature running event. Held each October, it draws a field to its bridge-and-harbor route.
Plan Your Trip
Everything you need to know to get there, get settled, and get to the start line.
- Nearest airport(s)
- Baltimore/Washington (BWI), Reagan National (DCA) & Dulles (IAD)
- Best area to stay
- The Inner Harbor for proximity to the route and full hotels, Fells Point for lively, characterful stays, and Mount Vernon for elegant, value options.
- Getting to the start
- The start and finish are near the stadiums and Inner Harbor; take light rail or walk from Inner Harbor hotels to the start.