Top 50 Marathons to Do Across America

HATFIELD-MCCOY MARATHON

South Williamson, Kentucky

Race director David Hatfield injects a little bit of fun into his family's infamous Appalachian rivalry. Participants are split randomly into "Hatfields" and "McCoys," and the team with the lowest average time wins the feud. hatfieldmccoymarathon.com

BATON ROUGE BEACH MARATHON

Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Get into the Creole spirit with this Bayou State marathon. After two loops through shaded neighborhoods, you'll enjoy fried chicken, grilled alligator and jambalaya at the finish-line party. brbeachmarathon.com

MOUNT DESERT ISLAND MARATHON

Bar Harbor, Maine

Fall foliage viewing doesn't get much more spectacular than Acadia National Park during peak season. This marathon challenges runners with a hilly route, while ocean vista views provide stunning payoffs. mdimarathon.org

BALTIMORE MARATHON

Baltimore, Maryland 

This urban course travels through Charm City's waterfront and Federal Hill neighborhoods before the inspirational finish in Camden Yards. Baltimore pride abounds, right down to the crab-shaped medal. thebaltimoremarathon.com

BOSTON MARATHON

Boston, Massachusetts 

The ultimate bucket-list marathon, Boston is a true celebration of our sport. For Massachusetts' residents, the race is a source of statewide pride, and Beantown locals come out in force to cheer on the masses. baa.org

GRAND RAPIDS MARATHON

Grand Rapids, Michigan 

This race may take place in a big city, but it's full of personal touches. Pickle juice is served along the course, and the race director gives a handshake (or a hug) to every single runner who crosses the line. grandrapidsmarathon.com

GRANDMA'S MARATHON

Duluth, Minnesota

A point-to-point course provides a gorgeous tour of the Great Lakes. The first 19 miles run along the north shore of Lake Superior, and the remainder loops through bustling downtown Duluth. grandmasmarathon.com

MISSISSIPPI BLUES MARATHON

Jackson, Mississippi 

The city of Jackson is known for friendly locals. This community puts in a special effort to make runners feel welcome. Entry to the marathon includes an enormous finishers' medal as well as a post-race blues bar crawl. msbluesmarathon.com