Missoula is the race Runner's World readers voted the best marathon in the country, and the reasons are simple: a point-to-point course that starts in Frenchtown at dawn and runs mostly flat into town, a finish on the Higgins Avenue bridge over the river in historic downtown, and a community-run organization, Run Wild Missoula, that treats every finisher well. The early miles are cool and quiet, with the smell of cut hay drifting off the fields before the sun gets up. Elevation is modest, about 490 feet of gain against 315 of loss, so it is a fair place to chase a time, and roughly 1,250 marathoners finished in 2026. The marathon is Sunday, June 27, 2027, at the end of a weekend with a half, a 5K and a beer run. Registration opened September 15, 2026.
Point-to-point from Frenchtown into historic downtown Missoula, mostly flat at 3,037-3,263 ft elevation, finishing on the Higgins Avenue (Beartracks) Bridge.
Registration opens 2026-09-15. Registration for 2027 opened September 15, 2026 on RunSignup; prices not captured. Register ↗
- Named Best Marathon in the U.S. by Runner's World readers and twice the top marathon in The BibRave 100. ↗
- Organized by Run Wild Missoula, a 501(c)(3) running club with more than 2,100 members. ↗
- The course runs point-to-point from Frenchtown to the Higgins Avenue Bridge with 492 ft of gain and 315 ft of loss. ↗
- 1,250 runners finished the marathon in 2026; 8.1% ran Boston-qualifying times. ↗
- Registration for the 2027 race opened September 15, 2026. ↗
Checked 2026-10-13. Always confirm on the official site before booking travel.