50 Open Entry Races in California and the US You Can Still Run in 2026
No qualifying time. No lottery. 30 California races, 20 across the US. From now through spring 2027. Every distance 5K to marathon, all USATF certified.
It’s race season. If you’ve been waiting for the right moment to sign up for something, this is it. 50 open entry road races: 30 in California, 20 across the US. All USATF certified. All open to everyone, no matter how fast or slow you run.
The rule for everything on this list: no qualifying time, no lottery. You register, you train, you show up. Races run from now through spring 2027, so there’s a window for whatever you’re building toward. If the training part is the bit you don’t want to do alone, most people start by joining a run club without calling themselves a runner.
A few notes. Prices go up as race day gets closer. A handful of these are sold out of standard entries but have charity or benefactor spots. We’ve flagged the status on every one. Click through and verify before you register. Race capacity and pricing move fast.
Flat, fast, USATF certified Bay Area waterfront course. Good summer tune-up option. Craft beer at the finish. The 2026 race is done. Registration for the 2027 edition opens December 1, 2026.
Golden Gate Park, across the bridge, through the city. The 2026 race is run, 30,000 finishers across the weekend. Next one is the 50th anniversary edition and registration is already open.
Point-to-point through active vineyards, Cuvaison Estate to Sonoma Plaza, with the Rosé 5K on the plaza the day before. The 2026 race is run. The 2027 waitlist is open now and gets you early access pricing plus registration 48 hours before everyone else.
Wine country roads, mostly flat, multi-distance weekend. The marathon, half and 10K have all sold out. The Saturday 5K is the only distance still open.
Flat out-and-back loops on the Long Beach beach path, starting and finishing on Ocean Blvd. Three distances, USATF certified, and the 5K and 10K both come in under $60.
East Bay edition. Multi-distance format with a 1-mile option. USATF certified. Good fall training block tune-up.
One of SoCal's most consistent fall race weekends, city streets and coastline, and October in Long Beach is about as good as race conditions get here. The 2026 race is sold out at every distance now, including the 5K, so the only way in is the 2027 waitlist.
The 49th year of a Riverside tradition, starting downtown and winding through the parks, landmarks and historic neighborhoods. Proceeds go to the Mission Inn Foundation and Museum.
Small, chip-timed Saturday race from Shoreline Aquatic Park, flat out and back along the LA River bike path. Free race photos and its own medal. The Long Beach Marathon two weeks earlier is sold out, and this one still has room.
Starts and finishes at Zuma Beach and stays on the Pacific Coast Highway the whole way. The half, 10K and 5K run on both Saturday and Sunday, so you pick the day.
Central Valley fall classic. Multi-distance, USATF certified, point-to-point. Smaller field, less hype, faster moves through registration.
Saturday half at Centennial Park in Santa Ana with a beer festival after, from the same Beer City series as the Bay Area races on this list. There's a beer mile too.
Veterans Day weekend race down the Silver Strand from Coronado to Silver Strand State Beach. Flat and fast next to the water the whole way, with a beach party at the finish. Four distances, so it works whether you have a 5K in you or a full 13.1.
Presented by HOKA. 13.1 along the waterfront plus a 5K and a kids fun run, finishing in the Funk Zone.
Sold out in eight days, and the Race Benefactor entries went in fifteen minutes. One of the most beautiful half courses in California. The official waitlist is the only way in now.
Saturday morning half on a flat, looping course along the bay, starting and finishing on Vacation Isle. There's a two person half marathon relay too, if you'd rather split the 13.1 with a friend.
USATF certified East Bay course winding through Berkeley campus, downtown, and the marina. Mid-November race day with full fall conditions.
The 49th Dana Point Turkey Trot, a Thanksgiving morning 5K and 10K at Dana Point Harbor. The combo entry lets you run both.
Thanksgiving morning 5K on the Oceanside coast, put on by San Diego Running Co. The Double Dip runs both 5K waves back to back for a bonus medal.
Net downhill, point-to-point, USATF and World Athletics certified. One of the fastest marathon courses in the US. All standard tiers sold out at record speed. Gold Entry Draw closed in May.
Saturday half just outside Santa Barbara, starting and finishing at Goleta Beach Park and running the bike path along Atascadero Creek.
Flat, fast holiday half in Oxnard with a quarter marathon and 5K. The race raises money for a charity that serves more than 1,000 local kids a year.
13.1 with a 711-foot net elevation drop along a rolling downhill bike path. A fast December half and a way to end the year with a PR attempt.
Out and back along Carlsbad Boulevard, the old Highway 101, with ocean views for most of the course. 2027 is its 36th year.
Runs past the Colorado Street Bridge, through Old Town Pasadena and by Caltech, then finishes on the 50 yard line inside the Rose Bowl. The organizers call it a sellout race.
Flat and fast on the Pacific Coast Highway, past the Huntington Beach pier, with a surfboard finisher medal.
Stadium to the Sea, Dodger Stadium to Santa Monica. One of the most iconic point-to-point marathon courses in the country. Open entry, no qualifier.
Net downhill from Ojai to the Ventura coast. Known as one of the fastest BQ marathon courses in California. Annual; 2027 registration opens fall 2026.
Annual SoCal weekend with marathon, half, 5K, and combo challenges. Course finishes at OC Fair & Event Center. Open entry, multi-distance.
Balboa Park start, finish in Little Italy, live music every mile. Annual SoCal classic. 2027 registration opens late 2026.
Net downhill point-to-point through the old Iron Horse rail tunnel and along the Snoqualmie Valley Trail. Boston qualifier, and the alternate course is listed as USATF certified. Cult favorite for PR attempts. Storm damage closed sections of the usual course, so 2026 runs an alternate permitted route. Registration closes September 6.
Big-city feel without the lottery. The half marathon sold out, so the ways in now are the waitlist or one of the charity partners. The 5K and kids run are still open.
Consistently called the Most Beautiful Urban Marathon. Lakes, parks, fall foliage, city streets. Open entry, no lottery, no qualifier. Register and go.
Flat, fast, USATF certified. A popular Boston qualifier attempt course because the consistency is that good. Open registration, rarely sells out early.
Point-to-point, significant net downhill, USATF certified. Runners who are serious about a PR target Steamtown specifically for the course profile. Small field. Open entry.
26th annual event with a scenic harbor course. USATF certified, open entry, multi-distance. Bring a crew at different fitness levels.
International Half crosses the Ambassador Bridge into Windsor and back through the tunnel. Marathon and Motor City Half are sold out. International Half still open through Sep 8.
No prize money. No elite wave. Just runners. The course goes past the Lincoln Memorial and through D.C. landmarks. General registration sold out. Charity spots open through July 31.
Flat, fast, USATF certified. Open registration, no lottery, no qualifier. One of the most runner-friendly big-city race setups in the country.
13.1 through Savannah's historic squares, oak-lined streets, and a finish through Savannah Bananas' Grayson Stadium. Promo code available for $10 off.
Called America's Friendliest Marathon. USATF sanctioned, certified, and a top Boston qualifier course. Full marathon sold out at the fastest pace in event history. Half marathon and 8K still open, waitlist for the full.
Full marathon sold out. Half marathon and 8K still open. Certified course through historic Philly. No qualifier for remaining distances.
Full weekend on the Mother Road's 100th birthday: marathon, half, relay, and 5K through downtown Tulsa. Certified course, open entry, and a finish-line party that earns its reputation.
Florida's oldest marathon, 55 years running. Space-themed race day along the Indian River from historic Cocoa Village with a riverfront finish. Full marathon sold out early, the earliest in event history. Half marathon still open but selling fast.
55th year. New dynamic pricing model so the earlier you register the less you pay. Multi-distance fall race weekend in downtown Dallas.
No qualifier, no cutoff time, ages 7 and up. The course runs from Ala Moana through Waikiki, around Diamond Head, and back. Bucket-list December marathon.
Aramco Houston Half on Sunday Jan 17. Flat, fast, USATF certified. Registration runs Nov 1, 2026 through early January.
Tidal Basin, cherry trees in peak bloom, ten flat miles. Annual lottery for general entry; charity bibs available. USATF certified.
One of the oldest 10Ks in the country and it runs Easter weekend, through downtown New Orleans, the French Quarter and Esplanade Ave. USATF certified. 2027 registration is open, and the entry price steps up in tiers as the date gets closer.
Prospect Park loop course. NYCRUNS runs a clean operation: easy bib pickup, USATF certified, no lottery. The Brooklyn half marathon without the Brooklyn half wait list.
What is an open entry race?
An open entry race means you can register without meeting a time qualifier or winning a lottery. You pay the entry fee and you're in. Most road races work this way. The exceptions are Boston, New York, and Chicago. Those require either a qualifying time or lottery entry.
Do I need to qualify to run a half marathon or marathon?
For most races, no. Qualifying times are mainly required for the Boston Marathon and a few elite-invite events. Every race on this list is open to runners regardless of pace or experience.
What does USATF-certified mean?
USATF certification means the course distance has been officially measured and verified by USA Track & Field. This guarantees you ran the advertised distance. It matters for PRs and any future qualifying standard.
Which California races are still open right now?
As of July 7, 2026, here's where the California list stands. Open right now: Mission Inn Foundation Run; RunThrough Long Beach Half, 10K & 5K; Malibu Moves Half Marathon, 10K & 5K; Two Cities Marathon; Beer City Half, Orange County; Silver Strand Half Marathon, 10 Miler, 12K & 5K; Santa Barbara Half Marathon & 5K; Kaiser Permanente Thrive San Diego Half Marathon & 5K; Berkeley Half Marathon; Dana Point Turkey Trot; O'side Turkey Trot; Goleta Beach Holiday Half Marathon, 10K & 5K; Santa to the Sea Half Marathon; and San Diego Holiday Half Marathon & 5K. Sold out at standard entry: 2XU Long Beach Marathon (Sold out, 2027 waitlist open); Monterey Bay Half Marathon (Sold Out · Waitlist Only); and California International Marathon (Sold Out, Access Code Entry Only). Each row says whether a waitlist or charity entry is still open. Already run this season: Santa Rosa Marathon; Californian Dreamin' Half Marathon; and Beer City Half, Bishop Ranch. On next season's dates, each with its own registration window: Beer City Half, Alameda (2027 Registration Opens Dec 1); The San Francisco Marathon (2027 Registration Open); Napa to Sonoma Wine Country Half (2027 Waitlist Open); Carlsbad Marathon, Half & 5K (Open Registration); Rose Bowl Half Marathon & 5K (Open Registration); Surf City Marathon & Half (2027 Registration Open); Los Angeles Marathon (2027 Registration); Mountains 2 Beach Marathon & Half (2027 Registration); Hoag OC Marathon Running Festival (2027 Registration); and Rock 'n' Roll San Diego (2027 Presale Open).
Can a beginner run an open entry half marathon?
Yes. None of the races on this list have a minimum pace requirement. Some have time cutoffs, usually 3.5 to 4 hours for a half marathon. Check each race's FAQ before registering if that's a concern.
What's the best fall open entry marathon in the US?
Twin Cities (October 4), Hartford (October 10), Steamtown (October 11), Baltimore (October 17), and Indianapolis Monumental (November 7) all have open entry and USATF certification. Steamtown, Hartford, and Indianapolis are the go-to options for runners targeting a PR.
A Race Fills
All 50 races are on this page already and the list stays current, so there is nothing to download. Leave your email and I will tell you when one sells out, when prices jump, or when a new one worth doing opens up.
- 30 California open entry races, summer 2026 to spring 2027
- 20 top US USATF-certified races, no qualifier needed
- Every distance: 5K, 10K, Half Marathon, Full Marathon
- Current prices and direct registration links
- A note when a race sells out, instead of a file that never updates
