The 2025 runner’s guide to Pennsylvania marathons

Over the rest of the year, runners will race through the commonwealth’s urban areas or beautiful scenery in 18 Pennsylvania marathons.

Mark your calendar for these Pennsylvania marathons taking place across the state in 2025. Whether you want to join thousands in an urban marathon like the Philadelphia Marathon or you want to run a small, scenic race like Wellsboro’s Conquer the Canyon Marathon, the commonwealth has multiple options for you to earn your marathon medal.

Jim Thorpe Area Running Festival – Jim Thorpe

Date: April 27

Boston Marathon qualifier: Yes

Registration cost: $149 with scenic train ride, $139 with shuttle bus

The Jim Thorpe Area Running Festival encompasses a full marathon, half marathon, and a 7-mile race. The full marathon course—one of the fastest in the U.S. Northeast—extends through the picturesque Lehigh Gorge on a rail trail (a path created from former railroad corridors). Runners will enjoy the breathtaking views as well as a slight downgrade slope for almost the entire 26.2 miles. Plus, many marathon runners can take a scenic train ride from Jim Thorpe to the start of the race in White Haven.

Gettysburg North-South Marathon – Gettysburg 

Date: April 27

Boston Marathon qualifier: Yes

Registration cost: $125

The Gettysburg North-South Marathon is a two-loop course that runs through the scenic hills of Adams County and twice crosses the Mason-Dixon Line. The Saturday before the Sunday race, the marathon organizers host a health and fitness expo with local vendors and a pasta dinner.

Great Allegheny Ohiopyle Marathon – Ohiopyle

Date: May 3

Boston Marathon qualifier: Yes

Registration cost: $90

Runners in the Great Allegheny Ohiopyle Marathon get to test themselves while surrounded by the gorgeous scenery of Ohiopyle. The marathon is part of the Great Allegheny Ohiopyle Marathon Race Festival, and the crushed limestone marathon course is two loops of the festival’s half marathon.

Pittsburgh Marathon – Pittsburgh 

Date: May 4

Boston Marathon qualifier: Yes

Registration cost: Full marathon is sold out; half marathon registration is $175

The annual Pittsburgh Marathon courses a hilly 26.2 miles through the city streets, crossing each of Pittsburgh’s three rivers as you explore city neighborhoods. As of publication, the 2025 marathon is at its capacity of 3,500 runners, but you can still register for several sub-events such as the half marathon, marathon relay, or 5K. Or, you can rest during the marathon weekend, sign up for a different Pennsylvania marathon later in the year, and cheer on the other Pittsburgh runners!

Runners in the 2017 Pittsburgh Marathon cross the David McCullough Bridge, also known as the 16th Street Bridge. (John Marino/CC BY 2.0)

York Marathon – York 

Date: May 4

Boston Marathon qualifier: Yes

Registration cost: $100 before April 12, 2025; $110 beginning April 13, 2025

The York Marathon is hosted by the area YMCA and runs through the city of York and on the York County Heritage Rail Trail. As runners reach the finish line, they’ll be greeted with food and drinks like sandwiches, salty snacks, and lemonade.

Participants in the York Marathon run along the York County Heritage Rail Trail. (Patti Stirk/CC BY-SA 2.0)

God’s Country Marathon – Galeton and Coudersport 

Date: June 7

Boston Marathon qualifier: Yes

Registration cost: $85

The 50th God’s Country Marathon will take place in beautiful Potter County in 2025. It begins in Galeton, runs around an area lake, passes through Susquehannock State Forest, and then treks down to the center of Coudersport. It’s considered one of the best—and one of the most challenging—marathons in the state.

1/2 Sauer 1/2 Kraut – Philadelphia 

Date: June 7

Boston Marathon qualifier: No

Registration cost: $85 before May 5, 2025; $89 beginning May 6, 2025

The 1/2 Sauer 1/2 Kraut marathon is a unique event combining German culture with a late spring race. Although the Philly area is quite warm in June, the course is mostly flat and shaded as it runs along Pennypack Creek. One of the aid stations along the way is staffed by “Heidi,” a Bavarian waitress! The post-race party includes a pop-up beer garden, a German dance performance, and a costume contest.

Conquer the Canyon Marathon – Wellsboro 

Date: July 26

Boston Marathon qualifier: Yes

Registration cost: $80 before June 9, 2025; $85 beginning June 10, 2025

Wellsboro, located in north-central Pennsylvania, is the entry point to the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon—also known as the Pine Creek Gorge. The town is also the home of the Conquer the Canyon Marathon. The first portion of the two-loop course is on a road and ends at a scenic overlook with a view of the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon. Then, runners take to the trail.

Run for the Elk Marathon – Emporium

Date: July 27

Boston Marathon qualifier: Yes

Registration cost: $80 before June 10, 2025; $85 beginning June 11, 2025

The Run for the Elk Marathon takes place this summer in largely rural Cameron County, the heart of Pennsylvania’s elk country, where roughly 1,400 elk make their home. The race takes place on the crushed limestone of the West Creek Rail Trail, and therefore, the scenic course is relatively smooth.

Drake Well Marathon – Titusville 

Date: Aug. 17

Boston Marathon qualifier: Yes

Registration cost: $80 before May 1, 2025; $90 May 2, 2025 through July 1, 2025; $100 July 2, 2025 through Aug. 1, 2025; $110 Aug. 2, 2025 through day of race

The Drake Well Marathon is a small community race that winds through the scenery of the Oil Valley in northwestern Pennsylvania, the site of the world’s first commercial oil well. Runners start in downtown Titusville and then run along Oil Creek, which is mostly shaded.

Erie Marathon – Erie

Date: Sept. 7

Boston Marathon qualifier: Yes

Registration cost: $95 before June 26, 2025; $115 beginning June 27, 2025

The Erie Marathon is a lakeside race within Erie’s Presque Isle State Park, one of the most picturesque parks in the state. It’s the perfect marathon to run if you’d like to visit Pennsylvania’s only “seashore” and its accompanying beaches! The race course is quite flat and is mostly either asphalt or concrete.

Jack & Jill’s Downhill Marathon – Jim Thorpe

Date: Sept. 13

Boston Marathon qualifier: Yes

Registration cost: $149 before May 4, 2025; $154 beginning May 5, 2025

The Jack & Jill’s Downhill Marathon is, as the name suggests, a downhill race. Runners enjoy a consistent downward slope of roughly 1% as they soar down the D&L Trail from White Haven to Jim Thorpe for a total net drop of 800 feet. The course promises lovely views of the Lehigh River.

Pocono Mountains Marathon – Greentown

Date: Oct. 11

Boston Marathon qualifier: Yes

Registration cost: $80 before Aug. 25, 2025; $85 beginning Aug. 26, 2025

The Pocono Mountains Marathon takes place in Promised Land State Park and offers stunning scenery while taking place on paved asphalt with minor elevation changes. The fall marathon is a two-loop course that ends with sandwiches and cookies.

Steamtown Marathon – Scranton

Date: Oct. 12

Boston Marathon qualifier: Yes

Registration cost: $110 before May 31, 2025; $115 beginning June 1, 2025

The annual Steamtown Marathon takes place in Northeastern Pennsylvania and runs through 14 different communities as well as rail trails on the Lackawanna River. The marathon is considered one of the best for first-time marathon runners as well as one of the fastest, with a net elevation drop of 955 feet.

Veteran’s Marathon – Black Lick

Date: Nov. 2

Boston Marathon qualifier: Yes

Registration cost: $26.20 before July 4, 2025; $40 July 5 through Sept. 1; $50 Sept. 2 through Oct. 28; $60 Oct. 29 through day of race

The InFirst Bank Veteran’s Marathon is an annual race benefiting the Western Pennsylvania Veterans Relief Fund. The out-and-back course runs along the scenic Ghost Town Trail, a popular rail trail that passes through several ghost towns and mining community ruins.

Harrisburg Marathon – Harrisburg

Date: Nov. 9

Boston Marathon qualifier: Yes

Registration cost: $95 before May 31, 2025; $105 beginning June 1, 2025

Organized by the East Shore YMCA, the Harrisburg Marathon has run through the Pennsylvania capital since 1973. Runners sometimes describe the marathon as a “Mini Boston” because of the crowds of supporters cheering them on as they race through and around the city.

St. Luke’s D&L Marathon – Allentown 

Date: Nov. 9

Boston Marathon qualifier: Yes

Registration cost: At least $110; prices increase as more runners register

The St. Luke’s D&L Marathon is a gentle race in the Lehigh Valley where runners begin in downtown Allentown, run along the D&L Trail to hit Bethlehem, and ultimately reach Easton for a photo finish at the confluence of the Lehigh and Delaware Rivers. The marathon ends with a post-race party in downtown Easton.

Philadelphia Marathon – Philadelphia

Date: Nov. 23

Boston Marathon qualifier: Yes

Registration cost: At least $160; prices increase as more runners register

The Philadelphia Marathon is part of the Philadelphia Marathon Race Weekend, which includes a full marathon, a half marathon, and an 8K race. The full marathon is considered one of the best—and largest—marathons in the country, as it has more than 10,000 finishers each year. The course begins and ends at the iconic steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

The Philadelphia Marathon brings out thousands of runners and spectators each year. (M. Kennedy for Visit Philadelphia)

This article first appeared on Good Info News Wire and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.