Atlantic City claims the third-oldest continuously run marathon in the country, dating to 1958, and the course is about as flat as a marathon gets: 200 feet of gain and a high point of 22 feet. You start and finish at Bally's and run mostly out-and-back along Absecon Island, with something like eight to ten miles on the Boardwalk, where the boards soften your stride and the salt air comes straight off the ocean. Small overpasses in the first half are the only climbs. Around a thousand marathoners finished in 2025. The 2026 race is Sunday, October 18, and it is already sold out, so for 2027 register early or use the series' Triple Threat bundle. One caution from reviewers: the time limit is enforced firmly, so this is not a race to walk late.
Very flat, mostly out-and-back course on Absecon Island starting and finishing at Bally's on the Boardwalk, with roughly 8-10 miles on the boards and only small overpasses in the first half; high point 22 ft.
Closes 2026 marathon sold out as of 2026-10-13. A 2027 'Triple Threat Bundle' (one race from each of the three AC Race Series events, 5% discount) is already on sale. Race director Genia Sperling, (609) 822-1167. Register ↗
- The race dates to 1958 and bills itself as the third-oldest ongoing marathon in the United States. ↗
- Other sources put the founding at 1959 or 1960; Wikipedia still calls it the third-oldest active U.S. marathon. ↗
- Elevation gain and loss are 200 ft with a maximum elevation of 22 ft; 1,030 runners finished in 2025 and 6.1% qualified for Boston. ↗
- The course is USATF-certified and a Boston qualifier, with about eight miles of oceanfront Boardwalk running from a start/finish at Bally's. ↗
- The 2026 marathon is sold out. ↗
Checked 2026-10-13. Always confirm on the official site before booking travel.