Surf City Marathon

Registration 

Register for the Surf City Marathon today! 

Schedule of Events coming soon

Places to Stay

There are four oceanfront resorts dotting Pacific Coast Highway in walkable distance from the Surf City Marathon event footprint.

• The Waterfront Beach Resort, A Hilton Hotel
• Kimpton Shorebreak Resort
• Paséa Hotel & Spa
• Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort & Spa

Location 

The Surf City Marathon will take place at:

Huntington Beach Parking Lot
21291 Pacific Coast Highway Huntington Beach, CA 92648

Road closure information coming soon.

FROM THE NORTH – DRIVING SOUTH on I-405

1. Exit at Beach Blvd
2. For Main Street paid parking lots: continue on Beach Blvd, turn right onto Atlanta Ave to access Main Street area
3. For Beach Parking Lots: continue on Beach Blvd to Pacific Coast Highway to enter lot

FROM THE SOUTH – DRIVING NORTH on I-405

1. Exit at Warner Ave
2. Turn left on Magnolia Ave or Newland St and travel south to access Beach Parking Lots or Turn left on Beach Blvd and travel south to access Beach Parking lots, Drop Off Zone, or Main Street paid parking lots (turn left onto Atlanta Ave)
3. Exit at Brookhurst Ave
4. Travel south to access Beach Parking Lots

FROM THE NORTH – DRIVING SOUTH on PCH

1. Turn left (inland) at Warner Ave. Follow Warner Ave toward Beach Blvd. Turn right (south toward the beach) and follow Beach Blvd toward the beach
2. For Main Street paid parking lots: continue on Beach Blvd, turn right onto Atlanta Ave to access Main Street area
3. For Drop Off Zone: continue on Beach Blvd, drop off zone located at intersection of Beach Blvd and Atlanta Ave
4. For Beach Parking Lots: continue on Beach Blvd to Pacific Coast Highway to enter lot

FROM THE SOUTH – DRIVING NORTH on PCH

1. For Main Street paid parking lots: Turn right on Beach Blvd and left on Pacific View Ave to access Main Street area
2. For Beach Parking Lots: turn left into lots from Pacific Coast Highway at Brookhurst St, Magnolia St, or Newland St

CLICK HERE FOR A 2023 PARKING MAP

SUNDAY – MARATHON, HALF MARATHON, 5K

FREE PARKING & SHUTTLES

• Civic Center – The Civic Center parking lot (1900 Main Street, Huntington Beach) is a convenient option away from the closed traffic streets.  A shuttle stop is located at the Civic Center parking lot and will drop off 1-2 blocks from the start/finish line.
• Edison High School – The Edison High School parking lot (21400 Magnolia Street, Huntington Beach) is a convenient option away from the closed traffic streets.  A shuttle stop is located at the high school parking lot and will drop off 1-2 blocks from the start/finish line.
• Beach Parking Lots – Beach Parking lots are located off of Pacific Coast Highway and can be accessed by heading west via Beach Blvd, Newland St, Magnolia Blvd, or Brookhurst St.  While these lots are generally a walkable distance to the start/finish line, two shuttle stops are located within these lots for those that want transportation closer to the start line.  The first shuttle stop is located within the parking lot near Newland St.  The second shuttle stop is located within the parking lot between Magnolia Blvd and Brookhurst St.  For reference, here is the approximate walking distance to the start/finish line from each entrance:
  • From Beach Blvd: approximately .5 miles
  • From Newland St: approximately 1 mile
  • From Magnolia Blvd: approximately 1.5 miles
  • From Brookhurst Blvd: approximately 2.25 miles

PAID PARKING

We recommend having cash on hand in the event credit cards are not accepted.

• Pacific City – The Pacific City parking lot (21010 Pacific Coast Highway, Huntington Beach – access via Pacific View Ave) is likely the most convenient of all parking lots as it is located 1 block from the start/finish line.  The hourly parking rate is set by the parking operator, not race officials.
• Main Street Promenade – The Main Street Promenade Garage (200 Main St, Huntington Beach) is closest to the Huntington Beach Pier and all the restaurants/shops on Main Street.  This lot is just 4-5 blocks from the finish line.  The hourly parking rate is set by the parking operator, not race officials.
• Strand Parking – The Strand Parking lot (146 6th Street, Huntington Beach) is close to the Huntington Beach Pier and all the restaurants/shops on Main Street.  This lot is 6-7 blocks from the finish line.  The hourly parking rate is set by the parking operator, not race officials.
• Public Parking – The Public Parking lot (21622 Pacific Coast Highway, Huntington Beach) is located at the intersection of Beach Blvd and Pacific Coast Highway (entrance on Beach Blvd).  This lot is 1-2 blocks from the start line of the race.  The all-day rate is $15 for race participants (enter before noon) and will open at 4:30am.  The parking rate is set by the parking operator, not race officials.

SUNDAY – DROP-OFF AREA

There is a specific drop-off area (including Rideshare/Uber/Lyft) set aside at the intersection of Beach Blvd and Atlanta Ave (21229 Beach Blvd, Huntington Beach).  There is no parking available at this intersection but participants will be able to walk approximately 3 blocks down Atlanta Ave and then 3 blocks down Huntington Street toward the start line.  The start line is at the intersection of Pacific Coast Highway and Huntington Street.

SUNDAY – NO PARKING

No event parking will be allowed at the following locations.  Vehicles will be subject to tow and impound at the expense of the vehicle’s owner:

• Beach Promenade Shopping Center – located at the intersection of Beach Blvd and Atlanta Ave
• Newland Shopping Center – located on Beach Blvd between Adams and Yorktown Area

SEE COURSE MAP HERE

Description: Half Marathon by the Mile

Miles 1–2: Huntington Beach Pier & Main Street
Start on Pacific Coast Highway between the ocean and the Hilton Waterfront Beach Hotel. Running north, the Huntington Beach Pier and Main Street are less than a mile away. At the 5K start banner, look to the left to enjoy the famous Huntington Beach Pier. Downtown Main Street is where you will likely head after your race to watch the Super Bowl in one of the many idyllic beach bars.

Miles 2–5: Seapoint View
Just past the second mile marker, at the first retro surf band station, turn inland on Seapoint and head toward Huntington Central Park. On this stretch, you will encounter the course’s only incline, between miles 3 and 4. Take your turn at the bluff, reenergize at the aid station and head down Seapoint back toward the ocean. Enjoy the ocean view all the way down to PCH.

Miles 5-7: Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve
Just past mile five, take a right on PCH and absorb the energy from the ocean! Breathe in the fresh sea air as you continue north on the highway. The Bolsa Chica Reserve wetlands roll out to the right. This 300 acre ecological wonder is a sanctuary for wildlife and migratory birds. Bolsa Chica, along with the rest of Huntington Beach, CA, has some of the nation’s best birding! Nearly half of the birds found in the U.S. have been seen in Huntington Beach. Sightings of great blue herons, snowy egrets and brown pelicans are common; lucky bird watchers can even spot a rare white pelican at the right time of the year.

Miles 8-13.1: The Home Stretch
Just before mile eight at Warner, turn back south on Pacific Coast Highway. The blue waters of the Pacific Ocean stretch out to your right and you are getting your second wind. Feel the fresh ocean breeze and take in the spectacular view. It’s flat, it’s fast, and it’s all yours for the next five miles! Before you know it you are back at the pier, less than a half mile from the finish line. It’s a straight shot from there, and the finish line banner is just ahead. Spectators line the highway to cheer you to the finish!

Description: Marathon by the Mile

Miles 1–2: Huntington Beach Pier & Main Street
Start on Pacific Coast Highway between the ocean and the Hilton Waterfront Beach Hotel. Running north, the Huntington Beach Pier and Main Street are less than a mile away. Look to the left to enjoy the famous Huntington Beach Pier. The next time you see it, you will be on the beachfront running path at mile 25!

Miles 2–9: Huntington Central Park
Just past the second-mile marker, at the first retro surf band station, turn inland on Seapoint and head for Huntington Central Park. On this stretch, you will encounter the course’s only incline, between miles 3 and 4. But take heart; there are hundreds of kids at the park, waiting to cheer you on! They love marathon runners and get up early every year to come to the park, hand out water and yell words of encouragement! These will be your biggest fans! Feeding off energy from the kids in the park, head down Seapoint back toward the ocean. Enjoy the ocean view all the way down to PCH.

Miles 9–15: Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve
Just past mile nine, take a right on PCH and absorb the energy from the ocean! Breathe in the fresh sea air as you continue north on the highway. The Bolsa Chica Reserve wetlands roll out to the right. This 300-acre ecological wonder is a sanctuary for wildlife and migratory birds. Bolsa Chica, along with the rest of Huntington Beach, CA, has some of the nation’s best birding! Nearly half of the birds found in the U.S. have been seen in Huntington Beach. Sightings of great blue herons, snowy egrets and brown pelicans are common; lucky bird watchers can even spot a rare white pelican at the right time of the year.

Miles 16–25: Beachfront Running Path
Starting on mile sixteen, the course leaves Pacific Coast Highway and continues on a beachfront running path paved right over the sand! These are the same beaches where the legends of surf movies and music were made. Observe local surfers in their natural habitat with the waves crashing just yards away. Run all the way back to the pier, where a crowd of spectators will be cheering from above!

The Last Mile: A Spectacular Finish
After turning at the pier, work your way up through the lifeguard station back to Pacific Coast Highway. As you come on to the highway, you will be less than a mile from the finish line. It’s a straight shot from there, and the finish line banner is just ahead. Spectators line the highway to cheer you to the finish line!

Surf City Marathon and Half Marathon, presented by 361° has a long-standing tradition of working with enthusiastic volunteers. They are looking for individuals, clubs, and associations to help be part of this 2,000+ person volunteer team. All volunteers will receive a Race Team t-shirt, special volunteer parking, lunch, credit for community service hours, and detailed training before their shift starts. 

Volunteer sign up coming soon.

Before the Event FAQs

Race Day FAQs

After the Race FAQs