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Los Angeles Marathon: The Route, History And How To Enter

Los Angeles is one of the most famous and fascinating cities on the planet, so you might expect its marathon to be at the top of every runner’s wish list. It passes through some of the best-known neighbourhoods in the world, starts at an iconic sporting venue and normally enjoys the kind of weather many runners can only dream about.

Los Angeles is one of the most famous and fascinating cities on the planet, so you might expect its marathon to be at the top of every runner’s wish list. It passes through some of the best-known neighbourhoods in the world, starts at an iconic sporting venue and normally enjoys the kind of weather many runners can only dream about. The Los Angeles Marathon is not currently one of the World Marathon Majors, but that should not stop it from being considered a major international running event. It offers runners an opportunity to experience Chinatown, Downtown Los Angeles, Hollywood, West Hollywood and Beverly Hills during the same race. For many years, one of the most surprising things about the event was how easy it was to enter compared with races such as London, New York and Tokyo. That appears to be changing, with the 2026 marathon selling out more than two months before race day in the fastest sell-out in the event’s history. Los Angeles Los Angeles is a vast Southern California city best known as the centre of the American film and television industries. Hollywood, Beverly Hills and the city’s famous palm-lined boulevards have appeared in countless films and television programmes, giving many visitors a sense of familiarity before they have even arrived. The city is much more varied than its glamorous reputation might suggest. It is made up of numerous neighbourhoods and communities, each with its own identity, history and culture. The marathon provides a rare opportunity to connect several of these areas on foot without having to negotiate the traffic for which Los Angeles is equally famous. Near the Hollywood sign are studios including Paramount Pictures, Universal and Warner Bros, while Hollywood Boulevard is home to the Walk of Fame, TCL Chinese Theatre and several historic entertainment venues. The city also offers beaches, museums, sporting venues and a wide range of restaurants, making it a popular destination for runners travelling from overseas. History Of The Los Angeles Marathon The first Los Angeles Marathon was held in 1986 and was created partly as a legacy of the successful 1984 Olympic Games held in the city. More than 10,000 people entered the inaugural event, making it one of the largest first-time marathons ever staged. The course has changed several times since then, and this lack of consistency may be one reason the marathon has not developed the same instantly recognisable identity as some of the world’s other major city races. The original route started at Exposition Park and finished at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, while later versions both started and finished in Downtown Los Angeles. For a short period during the late 2000s, the event began south of Universal City and finished Downtown. The race later introduced its popular “Stadium to the Sea” route, which began at Dodger Stadium and finished near the Pacific Ocean in Santa Monica. The Santa Monica finish gave the marathon an attractive identity, but it was expensive and complicated to stage. The route was subsequently changed, with the race now starting at Dodger Stadium and finishing in Century City on what organisers call the “Stadium to the Stars” course. Race Organiser The event is organised by The McCourt Foundation, a nonprofit organisation that stages a number of running events in California and Massachusetts. The foundation’s work supports research and initiatives connected with neurological diseases while also encouraging healthier communities. It operates the Los Angeles Marathon alongside events including the LA 5K, the Rose Bowl Half Marathon and the Santa Monica Classic. When Is The Los Angeles Marathon? The Los Angeles Marathon is normally held annually in March. Distances The main event is the full 26.2-mile Los Angeles Marathon, but race weekend also includes the LA 5K, LA Kids Run and the LA Charity Half Marathon. Runners can complete the LA 5K on Saturday and either the Marathon or Charity Half Marathon on Sunday to earn the LA Double Play medal. Is There An Expo? There is a free two-day Lifestyle Expo at Dodger Stadium on the Friday and Saturday before the Marathon. It normally features more than 75 exhibitors, including running brands, charities, event partners and other fitness-related organisations. All Marathon and Charity Half Marathon participants must attend the expo to collect their race number. Bibs are not posted and participants must normally collect their own number, so anyone travelling to Los Angeles needs to arrive with enough time to visit Dodger Stadium before the expo closes. There is no standard race-morning collection, although limited arrangements may sometimes be available through separately purchased start-line hospitality. How Many Runners? The Los Angeles Marathon has grown into one of the largest running events in the United States. More than 26,000 marathon runners were expected to take part in the sold out 2026 event, with further participants joining the weekend’s shorter races. The previous description of around 30,000 participants across all distances was broadly representative of the overall weekend, but the Marathon itself is now large enough to compare favourably with many internationally recognised races. The 2026 event selling out more than two months in advance was particularly significant. Los Angeles has historically been much easier to enter than the World Marathon Majors, but the record demand suggests runners should no longer assume they can leave registration until close to race day. Dodger Stadium where it all starts The Course The Los Angeles Marathon follows a point-to-point course from Dodger Stadium to Avenue of the Stars in Century City. It crosses a large part of the city from east to west and passes through neighbourhoods including Chinatown, Downtown Los Angeles, Hollywood, West Hollywood and Beverly Hills. Race morning starts early at Dodger Stadium. The main marathon field is scheduled to begin at 7am, partly because of the need to manage road closures and partly because temperatures can rise as the morning progresses. The course is not flat. There are a number of climbs and descents throughout the route, and the repeated changes in gradient can make it more demanding than runners expect. Los Angeles may be associated with sunshine and palm trees, but this is not necessarily an easy personal best course. After leaving Dodger Stadium, runners head towards Chinatown and its distinctive Dragon Gate. The early miles then take the field through Downtown Los Angeles, passing close to landmarks including Los Angeles City Hall and the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels. The course also passes through Little Tokyo, one of only a small number of officially recognised Japantowns in the United States. It has been an important centre for Japanese-American culture since the late nineteenth century and provides one of the route’s most distinctive early sections. Runners then move northwest and join Sunset Boulevard before reaching Hollywood. This is where the race begins to deliver many of the locations international visitors will have been expecting, including the Capitol Records Building and historic theatres associated with the entertainment industry. Hollywood Boulevard brings the field past or close to famous locations including Hollywood and Vine, the Hollywood Walk of Fame, the Pantages Theatre and TCL Chinese Theatre. These names are known around the world, and there are few marathons that can offer so many recognisable landmarks within a relatively short section of the course. By around the halfway point, runners are travelling through West Hollywood. The course continues towards Beverly Hills, where the streets, shops and palm-lined surroundings provide another significant change in atmosphere. The later miles include an out-and-back section as runners head west before turning and returning towards Century City. Running back along a road you have already covered is not everyone’s favourite marathon experience, particularly during the final stages, but it does allow runners to see others travelling in the opposite direction. The previous Stadium to the Sea route continued west towards Santa Monica. The current course turns back before reaching the coast and finishes on Santa Monica Boulevard at Avenue of the Stars in Century City. The finish does not have the natural attraction of the Pacific Ocean, but it is still located in one of the most recognisable parts of Los Angeles. The event also provides extensive entertainment and organised support, with the 2027 course expected to include more than 40 charity cheer zones, over 65 running club cheer zones and 20 entertainment activations. Water and electrolyte drinks are available around the course, although the brands and exact locations can change between editions. Runners should always check the latest course map and final instructions rather than relying on information from a previous year. Getting To The Start Los Angeles traffic needs to be taken seriously at any time, and even more so when major roads are closed for a marathon. The point-to-point route also means the start and finish are in completely different parts of the city. Official participant shuttles are normally available from Century City, Union Station and selected Downtown Los Angeles locations. Shuttles from the finish area to Dodger Stadium have previously operated during the early hours of race morning, with advance reservations recommended. Anyone using a taxi or rideshare service should allow considerably more time than the journey would normally take. Road closures and controlled access around Dodger Stadium can prevent drivers from reaching the most convenient drop-off points. Participants should check the latest transport information shortly before the event because shuttle times, parking arrangements and road closures can change each year. Can it get any more iconic? What’s Unique? There are few other opportunities to experience Los Angeles in this way. The city is famously designed around cars, and many visitors spend much of their time travelling between neighbourhoods on busy roads and freeways. The marathon allows runners to connect Dodger Stadium, Chinatown, Downtown Los Angeles, Hollywood, West Hollywood, Beverly Hills and Century City entirely on foot. It brings together communities and landmarks that can otherwise feel separated by the enormous scale of the city. The event’s greatest strength is not one individual landmark but the variety of the complete journey. The surroundings change constantly, providing a much broader impression of Los Angeles than runners might receive during an ordinary visit. Do Charities Benefit? The Los Angeles Marathon operates a large official charity programme through Team TMF and a range of partner organisations. The programme allows charities to use the marathon, Charity Half Marathon and LA 5K to raise funds and increase awareness of their work. Runners can secure charity entries through The McCourt Foundation or one of the official charity partners. Each charity sets its own arrangements and fundraising expectations, so runners should check the commitment carefully before registering. For the 2027 marathon, Team TMF is offering free entry and additional benefits to runners who agree to reach its fundraising target. Higher fundraising levels can unlock further benefits, although these may change between events. The Charity Half Marathon is also specifically focused on fundraising. Participants raise money for Team TMF while completing a shorter version of the marathon route from Dodger Stadium to Century City. Our Verdict There are many reasons why the Los Angeles Marathon should be much more prominent on the international running calendar. It takes place in one of the world’s most famous cities, begins at Dodger Stadium and passes through Hollywood, West Hollywood and Beverly Hills before finishing in Century City. The event has sometimes struggled to establish a consistent identity because its course has changed so often. The loss of the Stadium to the Sea finish was also disappointing for runners who liked the idea of ending the race beside the Pacific Ocean. However, the current route still provides a fascinating tour of Los Angeles, and the event appears to be growing in popularity. The record sell-out for the 2026 race suggests that more runners are beginning to recognise what it offers. The course is more challenging than many people expect and the logistics require careful planning, but this is a memorable destination marathon with a character of its own. How To Register General entries are available through the official Los Angeles Marathon website. There is no ballot or general qualifying-time requirement, although previous marathon times can be submitted by faster runners seeking placement in one of the earlier starting corrals. Charity entries are available through Team TMF and other official charity partners in return for an agreed fundraising commitment. The race has historically remained open much later than marathons such as London, New York and Tokyo, but that should no longer be taken for granted. The 2026 Los Angeles Marathon sold out more than two months before race day, so anyone planning to take part should register as early as possible. Race website https://www.mccourtfoundation.org/pages/la-marathon

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