MarathonStay

Most people start looking for a hotel when the race starts feeling real — six or eight weeks out. By then, for the races on this list, the useful options near the decisive point are gone.

The real window opens the moment entries are confirmed. For an April race with September acceptances, that's seven months before race day. That is when people who have done the race before make their booking, and it is why "sold out" arrives so much earlier than it feels like it should.

Sorted below by when the window opens, not by race date — because the window is the thing you need to act on.

January

  1. JanHonolulu MarathonP2PHonolulu, Hawaii, United StatesA 5am start, no cut-off at all, and low-80s heat by mid-morningGuide →
  2. JanUTMB Mont-BlancP2PChamonix, FranceChamonix fills within days of the draw, and much of it never reaches an OTAIn production

February

  1. FebNew York City MarathonP2PNew York, United StatesYou pre-book your ride, and the departure points are 6km apartGuide →

March

  1. MarPhiladelphia MarathonPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania, United StatesTwo fixed appointments 1.85km apart, and no race-morning bib pickupGuide →
  2. MarWalt Disney World MarathonWalt Disney World Resort, Florida, United StatesA 4:30am start, and the transport belongs to the resort not to youGuide →
  3. MarTwin Cities MarathonP2PMinneapolis / Saint Paul, Minnesota, United StatesTwo cities 12.8km apart, and only one of them has the bedsGuide →

April

  1. AprLondon MarathonP2PLondon, United KingdomIn 2027 it runs across two days, and your day is drawn for youGuide →

May

  1. MayAthens MarathonP2PAthens, GreeceThe original point-to-point — Marathon town has almost no bedsGuide →

June

  1. JunEdinburgh MarathonP2PEdinburgh, United KingdomIt finishes in Musselburgh, not Edinburgh — plan the return, not the startGuide →
  2. JunCape Town MarathonCape Town, South AfricaTwo start lines you don't choose, in a precinct that closes to cars on FridayGuide →

August

  1. AugTokyo MarathonP2PTokyo, JapanShinjuku start, Tokyo Station finish, and the clock runs on gun timeGuide →
  2. AugTwo Oceans MarathonP2PCape Town, South AfricaA new two-day format, +50% capacity, everything finishing at UCTGuide →
  3. AugBig Sur International MarathonP2PCarmel, California, United StatesThe bus is compulsory, and it returns you where you startedGuide →
  4. AugPittsburgh MarathonPittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United StatesBridges close early and split the walkable options in halfIn production

September

  1. SepBoston MarathonP2PBoston, Massachusetts, United StatesThe start line is 26 miles from where you should sleepGuide →
  2. SepComrades MarathonP2PDurban / Pietermaritzburg, South AfricaThe direction alternates every year, so does the right place to stayGuide →

October

  1. OctChicago MarathonChicago, Illinois, United StatesWave starts and a single park entrance concentrate everyone at onceGuide →
  2. OctMarine Corps MarathonP2PArlington, Virginia, United StatesScreened at both ends, and your bag finishes in a third placeGuide →
  3. OctBerlin MarathonBerlin, GermanyEntrance is staggered by block, and your gate depends on your bagGuide →
  4. OctGrandma's MarathonP2PDuluth, Minnesota, United StatesTwo Harbors start, and Duluth's bed count is smaller than the fieldGuide →
  5. OctLoch Ness MarathonP2PInverness, Scotland, United KingdomYou cannot reach the start yourself — one coach out of InvernessGuide →

November

  1. NovSydney MarathonP2PSydney, AustraliaA harbour crossing splits the city on race morningGuide →
  2. NovGold Coast MarathonGold Coast, Queensland, AustraliaYour start wave is fixed at entry, and cannot be improved laterGuide →
  3. NovDublin MarathonDublin, IrelandStart and finish 850m apart, and the city barely notices the raceGuide →

December

  1. DecValencia MarathonValencia, SpainRace day opens a four-day national holiday, and the city sells out earlyGuide →

Registration months are typical rather than guaranteed; organisers move them. Each guide verifies the current position against the organiser directly.

Know when your race's booking window opens

Accommodation for most big races moves within days of acceptances going out — often seven months before race day. We'll tell you when yours is about to open, and what to book first.

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