Kiawah is quiet in December, and that quiet is the point. You start at 8:00 AM at the West Beach Conference Center, and within a mile the road narrows under towering live oaks, their branches draped with Spanish moss and meeting overhead so the light comes through in patches. The course is a loop around the resort island's paved roads, as flat as any marathon you will run, with only about 130 feet of gain the entire way; the only real variables are the wind off the salt marsh and the long, even stretches that ask you to keep your focus. You pass maritime forest, tidal creeks and big, shuttered beach homes, with the occasional egret standing in the grass. The field is small, the finish line has food and beer, and the certified course is a Boston qualifier. Register early; it sells out.
A very flat paved loop through the gated resort island, starting and finishing at the West Beach Conference Center, under towering live oaks and past salt marshes, maritime forest and large homes. Course map ↗
December 11, 2026 at 8:35pm EST; as of 2026-10-13 both the marathon and half are FULL with waiting lists. 2026 registration opened January 1, 2026 ($175 marathon through March 31, per the signup page). Limited entries; registration closes automatically at capacity with 24-hour notice on Facebook. Late tiers: $275 (Oct), $300 (Nov), $350 (Dec 1-11) for the marathon. Entry fees are non-refundable and non-transferable. Ages 18+ for the marathon, 14+ for the half. Register ↗
- The 2026 race is the 48th annual Kiawah Island Golf Resort Marathon, starting at 8:00 AM on Saturday December 12, 2026 at the West Beach Conference Center. ↗
- Both the half and the full marathon are Boston Marathon qualifiers; the entry includes a shirt, medal, food, beer, entertainment and shuttle service for off-island runners. ↗
- 1,505 runners finished the 2025 marathon and 7.3% ran Boston-qualifying times; Find My Marathon measures only 129 ft of gain on a 'very flat' loop. ↗
- The 2026 marathon and half are both sold out with waiting lists; late-registration tiers reach $350 by December 1. ↗
- The course time limit is 6.5 hours and the course officially closes at 2:30 PM; aid stations with water and Powerade sit every 2-3 miles. ↗
Checked 2026-10-13. Always confirm on the official site before booking travel.