Course Map
Route based on 2025 course — may differ slightly from this year.
About this Race
The Philadelphia Marathon is a fast, fairly flat course through the historic American city, passing Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, and the famous Rocky steps of the Art Museum before an out-and-back along the Schuylkill River to Manayunk. The gentle profile and smooth roads make it a popular Boston-qualifying and personal-best target, with only modest rises to interrupt the rhythm. Held in November, it offers crisp, cool autumn conditions ideal for hard racing. Enthusiastic crowds line the early downtown miles, thinning along the river out-and-back. It suits the PB-focused runner who wants a fast course steeped in American history at the tail end of the fall racing season.
Course Insight
Philadelphia is a mostly flat November marathon with an early dose of city landmarks before a long out-and-back along the river to Manayunk that defines the back half, a lonely, repetitive stretch where the field thins. Pace the early miles with that long return in mind rather than banking too much speed. Cool late-autumn air suits fast running. The riverside out-and-back tests focus as much as legs. Run the first half with discipline and the flat return stays under your control.
Difficulty Breakdown
Mostly due to tough late hills.
Course Details
- Course type
- Out-And-Back
- Elevation gain
- 193m
- Elevation loss
- 186m
- Highest point
- 42m
- Lowest point
- 2m
- Net elevation
- +7m
- Start
- Benjamin Franklin Parkway (near the Art Museum)
- Cutoff time
- 7h 0m
Course Records
- Men's
- 2:13:28 — Mike Chesire (Kenya), 2021
- Women's
- 2:28:35 — Leslie Sexton (Canada), 2021
Race History
The Philadelphia Marathon was first held in 1994, growing into a fast, fairly flat tour of the historic city past Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, and the famous Rocky steps. Its forgiving course made it a popular late-season Boston-qualifying and personal-best target. From its founding it expanded into one of the larger marathons on the U.S. East Coast. Held each November, it draws a big field in crisp autumn conditions.
Plan Your Trip
Everything you need to know to get there, get settled, and get to the start line.
- Nearest airport(s)
- Philadelphia International (PHL), Newark (EWR) & Trenton-Mercer (TTN)
- Best area to stay
- Center City for proximity to the Art Museum start and full hotels, Old City for historic, characterful stays, and University City for value options across the river.
- Getting to the start
- The start is by the Art Museum on the Parkway; walk from Center City hotels or take SEPTA to a central stop and walk in.