The Atlantic City Marathon course is a very flat road course, with more than 10 miles of it taking place on the boardwalk. There are a few turns, a loop, and there are a few ramps to exit or enter the boardwalk.
The Atlantic City Marathon was the 69th largest marathon in the U.S. last year and was the 74th largest in 2022.
This year 5.3% of finishers qualified for the Boston Marathon and 7.8% of runners qualified for Boston in 2023.
This gives the Atlantic City Marathon the 242nd highest percentage of Boston Marathon qualifiers in the U.S. last year and the 272nd highest percentage so far in 2024.
Its Course Score of 99.74 ranks it as the 59th fastest marathon course in the U.S. and the 1st fastest course in New Jersey.
The typical race time temperature and humidity levels are slightly above the ideal range for optimal marathon performance. This, coupled with the Course Score, gives the Atlantic City Marathon a PR Score of 99.59. This PR Score ranks it as the 60th fastest marathon in the U.S. and the 1st fastest in New Jersey.
Learn more about PR Scores and Course Scores on the FAQ page.
Atlantic City Marathon Elevation Chart
Max Elevation: 28 feet (8m) Min Elevation: -15 feet (-4m)
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I ran in the AC Marathon for the first time in 2018. It was only my second marathon overall, so I can't compare it to any big/major events. I found the ACM to be well organized, easy to get to, and fairly enjoyable. That it's not a huge hassle to get to the starting line (just walk up), and that you can stay warm in the casino next door made it stress free on race day.
Race Tips
It's very flat. The biggest hills are the highway overpass ramps that you cross. Early on, the route goes along the highway and behind a couple of marina district casinos, which is pretty boring ("ohh, an employee parking lot! yay..."). But at this point the pack hasn't separated out too much, so at least you're with other runners. After that, it's mostly residential areas plus the boardwalk. Sadly, a lot of the time you can't see the ocean from the boardwalk, thanks to the protective sand dunes blocking the view.
Half marathoners start at the same time as the full marathoners. After the halfers split off, it gets a little lonely, as by then the marathon runners have spread out, and it's past the casino areas so there aren't even any tourists. After this point, I mostly saw people walking their dogs, and few very (but enthusiastic) people specifically cheering runners. Crowd support is sparse but the aid volunteers were great.
Many of the streets on the marathon course are not fully closed to traffic but have the shoulders blocked off for runners and intersections controlled by police to allow runners through.
Be mindful the coastal winds could be strong.
The race start/finish line and finishing area is right next to Bally's and casinos on the boardwalk. It's very easy to get to, so you could stay at most any hotel in the area (though within walking distance would be advisable). I stayed at Resorts which is further up the boardwalk, and it only took about 10 minutes to walk there.
Because it's a smallish race, there's just one starting corral and you don't have to arrive super early. The bag check was a small area nearby -- I had absolutely no delays. There aren't any special security perimeters go to through. A big plus is that you can hang out and prep inside of Bally's, staying warm and using the restrooms, while you wait for the starting event.
4.5 Stars from 2 Reviews
