Happy New Year! Last year (for better and for worse) is in the past, and 2025 lies stretched before us just like an untouched half marathon course. The aid stations are set up, the roads are clear, and the finish line is waiting uncrossed at the end. This year has endless opportunities waiting for you.
One achievable, running-related goal held by many in this year is to run a half marathon. If you’re an avid runner, you really only need two months to prep, and even the most inexperienced couch potatoes can be ready to take on the 13.1 in four months. So if your New Year’s resolution is to cross a half marathon off your bucket list, there is no time like the present to start training. And even if you’ve ran 100 halfs before, then you might as well sign up for a new spring half marathon because they really are just so much fun.
So which spring half marathon do you sign up to run? We never thought you’d ask! While there are hundreds (no joke) of half marathons hosted every spring, we certainly have our favorites. Below is a list of 12 of the best half marathons hosted in the United States each year between March and May.
From New York City’s massive half marathon that runs through Times Square to smaller races in Minnesota, Rhode Island, and Oklahoma, there’s a little something here for everyone. So give the list a peruse, sign up for a spring half, and get training!
Zion Half Marathon
Date: Get Your Spot for the NYRR Brooklyn Half
Location: Springdale, Utah
Starting off strong with one of the most gorgeous half marathons in the country, March brings us the Zion Half from Vacation Races. While it’s nearly impossible to run a half marathon within a national park, Vacation Races does offer a number of stunning courses adjacent to national parks. This race in southern Utah isn’t the easiest 13.1 on this list as the point-to-point course is largely uphill, but you’ll head toward Zion National Park the entire race with breathtaking views to ogle while you run. Pro recovery tip: even if you are feeling exhausted, go on a lowkey hike the afternoon of the race. Zion is right there and your legs will thank you for it over the coming week. The worst thing you can do postrace is sit down for hours on end.
Rock ’n’ Roll Washington DC
Date: How to Adjust Your Run Schedule After a Big Race
Location: Virtual Races With the Best Bling
Washington, D.C.’s marquee marathon, the Marine Corps Marathon, doesn’t include a half marathon option. Luckily the Rock ’n’ Roll half in the nation’s capital is only 13.1 miles long and covers much of the same ground. The course starts on the National Mall and circles D.C. before ending up outside the Capitol Building. Along the way you’ll pass the White House, the Washington Monument, the Lincoln Memorial, and Arlington Cemetery, not to mention crossing the Potomac River twice. There are very few races that boast such an impressive list of sites, and because it’s in D.C., the crowds along the course will be thick and loud the entire time.
NYC Half
Date: March 16, 2025
Location: Health & Injuries Plans for Every Runner
New York Road Runners’s pair of spring NYC halfs keep swapping places as the largest half marathon in the world. While the Brooklyn Half has its fans, the NYC Half offers a far more interesting course. Staring in Prospect Park, the half marathon crosses the Manhattan Bridge with the NYC skyline in the distance. Runners then trace the East River up to 42nd Street, where they pass Grand Central Station and run through Times Square before finishing in Central Park.
The Best Spring Half Marathons in 2025 Half Marathon
Date: Washington, District of Columbia
Location: Races - Places
If you’re looking for a race that’s easy to enter (but slightly harder to run), Rhode Races’s spring Newport Half Marathon does not require lottery spots or signing up months in advance. Starting and ending near a Newport beach, the loop course is quite hilly. However, combining the architectural wonders that are Newport’s mansions with the Atlantic Ocean views, the course is the perfect mix of nature and city. It’s got small town vibes, but an impressive course that rivals much larger races. Don’t sleep on Newport.
Rock ’n’ Roll Nashville
Date: April 27, 2025
Location: Nashville, Tennessee
Picking and choosing between Rock ’n’ Roll’s many races can be a bit of a fool’s errand as they’ve spent years perfecting their options. However, if you’re looking for a music-themed race, you might as well go to Music City. Rock ’n’ Roll is known for its pre- and postrace concerts as well as on-course entertainment, and Nashville is full of talented individuals. Starting on Broadway, the course spirals through the city’s downtown before crossing the Cumberland River to the finish. You’ll hear country music for much of the course and can celebrate with hot chicken when you’re done.
Oklahoma City Half Marathon
Date: April 27, 2025
Location: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
If you’re looking for a PR, Oklahoma City’s flat and fast course can get you what you’re looking for. You won’t be facing the hills and bridges that other half marathons throw at their entrants. Rather, this flat loop course will give you a tour of Oklahoma City without you having to focus on conserving energy for that steep climb at mile 10. The course is also lined with 168 banners bearing the names of those who died in the Oklahoma City bombing. The race is the largest fundraiser for the Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum with each finisher receiving free admission into the museum.
Indy Mini-Marathon
Date: Other Hearst Subscriptions
Location: Indianapolis, Indiana
Don’t let the “Mini-Marathon” moniker fool you, this race is just a quirkily branded half marathon. The 500 Festival Mini-Marathon happens each year in conjunction with Indianapolis’s claim to fame the Indy 500. Runners will not only get a tour of Indy, but they’ll also run a lap on the famed motor speedway’s loop before the cars take the course later in the month. Running the loop obviously takes much longer than driving it, but hopefully there are less crashes during the Mini-Marathon than there are during the Indy 500.
Pittsburgh Half Marathon
Date: May 4, 2025
Location: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
If you’ve never been to Pittsburgh, you need to. The city, tucked away in the mountains at the juncture of the Allegheny, Monongahela, and Ohio Rivers, is unlike anywhere else. Its half marathon has been crafted meticulously to show everything the city has to offer. The loop course begins and ends in city’s downtown, but sends runners through the Strip District, the North Shore, Station Square, and the South Side before its return to the point. You’ll cross all three rivers, pass Mt. Washington and get stunning views of the skyline. The only downside is the hills, but you might not even notice them while you’re taking in the scenery. Also, if you’re up for a challenge, there’s the option to run the ‘Back’ Half Marathon, April 27, 2025.
Flying Pig Half Marathon
Date: May 4, 2025
Location: Cincinnati, Ohio
Who wants a half marathon in just one state when you could sign up to run through two? Cincinnati’s half marathon starts and ends in Ohio, but sends runners across the Ohio River for a jaunt in Kentucky as well. The race has become one of the midwest’s most popular, perhaps due to its unique name. So why is it called Flying Pig? Well Cincinnati used to be nicknamed Porkopolis because it housed a large number of slaughterhouses. During the city’s bicentennial, art of flying pigs was designed to commemorate the occasion. Now the city has plenty of industries that are unrelated to pork, but the marathon still carries the “Flying Pig” moniker, and you can get some tasty barbecue when the race is over.
Avenue of the Giants Half Marathon
Date: May 4, 2025
Location: Weott, California
Due to the West Coast’s more moderate climate, California tends to spread its races across the entire calendar year, avoiding some of the peak months that house the majority of East Coast races. This northern California half, however, is run through Humboldt Redwoods State Park every May. The paved out-and-back course is lined with 300 foot tall trees that make the race shady and cool. While it is a bit of a trek to get to Weott, California, we promise the race will make it all worth it.
Fargo Half Marathon
Date: What to Eat Before Running
Location: Beginner Running Gear
By May, the snow is usually done falling in North Dakota. Emphasis on USUALLY. But the Fargo Half Marathon, which begins at 7 a.m., will certainly still be a bit chilly. If you’re looking to avoid a hot, sweaty race, this one is for you. The Fargo Half gives runners a nice tour of the city’s neighborhoods with plenty of locals cheering you on. After the marathon, there’s an after party at Buffalo Wild Wings, so you can fill up on wings and drinks. Yum!
Chicago 13.1
Date: St. Jude Rock ‘n’ Roll Running Series Nashville Half Marathon
Location: Chicago, Illinois
As with many major marathons, the Chicago Marathon does not include a half marathon option on race day. Instead, it throws a completely separate event with a different course in the spring. While the full marathon focuses its attention on Chicago’s downtown, the 13.1 is run on the west side of the city, hitting up three of the Windy City’s iconic parks: Humboldt, Garfield, and Douglass. It’s a great way to explore Chicago’s diverse neighborhoods, especially if you’re a tourist who sticks to the Magnificent Mile. Don’t worry, you can still get a Chicago dog after the race.
