How hilly is the New Orleans Marathon?
The New Orleans Marathon is described as pancake flat. The course listing puts the climb at 45 m.
New Orleans Marathon
This race edition
- Race date
- Date not confirmed for this distance
- Race timezone
- Timezone not confirmed
- Edition status
- Status not confirmed
Entry options
2026 edition
Entry options are not yet confirmed for this edition. Check the organiser before making plans.
Decision summary
New Orleans Marathon at a glance
- Cut-off average pace
- 9:57/km
- Typical conditions
- 59/100
- Evidence depth
- 40 verified facts
7:00:00 total limit divided by distance. Check gun/chip timing and intermediate limits; allow time for stops.
Historical race-date favourability, not a forecast
Source facts available
Route details
Known course facts at a glance
New Orleans Marathon has known course details for its marathon race. The summary below keeps the focus on what is confirmed for the course.
- Official distance
- 42.2 km
- Terrain
- Road
- Scenery
- Lakeside, Parkland, Coastal, City, Waterfront
Quick answers
What runners ask first
Where does the New Orleans Marathon route go?
The New Orleans Marathon route starts at the New Orleans Museum of Art (1 Collins Diboll Circle) in City Park; runners line up on the right and left sides of the museum. Marathon, half marathon and relay start at 7:30 AM; the 5K starts at 6:30 AM and finishes on Roosevelt Mall ('Mardi Gras Mall') in City Park. Underfoot, expect paved park roads and lakefront drives. It passes New Orleans Museum of Art, City Park, Bayou St. John, Lakeshore Drive and Lake Pontchartrain. The official Post Race Party is held on the floor of Tad Gormley Stadium in City Park.
What should runners know on race day for the New Orleans Marathon?
Runners are energized by live music, cheer zones and street performers throughout the course. Official 'On Pace' pacers lead pace groups on course.
Race character
Scenery
- Lakeside
- Parkland
- Coastal
- City
- Waterfront
Atmosphere
- Festival
- Big City
- Scenic Tour
Terrain
- Road
- Elevation character
- Pancake Flat
- Technicality
- Non Technical
- Source-stated ascent
- 45 m
- Net elevation
- -1 m
Entry, logistics and records
Entry requirements
- Entry status
- Open entry: The held registration model is open entry and this edition is not marked sold out.
- Cut-off
- 7-hour time limit (17:00 min/mile pace). Marathon runners must reach the lap-two checkpoint by 11:45 AM to continue onto the second loop.
- Qualification status
- The 2026 New Orleans Marathon will be a Boston Marathon Qualifier; the marathon, half marathon and 5K courses are USATF certified.
Race day logistics
- Pacers
- Official 'On Pace' pacers lead pace groups on course.
- Medal
- All finishers receive a finisher medal described by the organizer as 'a forever keepsake.'
- Finisher tee
- Event shirts are offered in both men's and women's sizing.
- On-course music
- Runners are energized by live music, cheer zones and street performers throughout the course.
Access and course status
- Start
- Start at the New Orleans Museum of Art (1 Collins Diboll Circle) in City Park; runners line up on the right and left sides of the museum. Marathon, half marathon and relay start at 7:30 AM; the 5K starts at 6:30 AM.
- Finish
- Finish on Roosevelt Mall ('Mardi Gras Mall') in City Park.
Course facts
- Course type
- Laps
- Surface
- Paved park roads and lakefront drives.
- Landmarks
- New Orleans Museum of Art, City Park, Bayou St. John, Lakeshore Drive, Lake Pontchartrain, New Orleans Lakefront, Roosevelt Mall, Tad Gormley Stadium
- Notable features
- The official Post Race Party is held on the floor of Tad Gormley Stadium in City Park
- A two-lap (double loop) marathon course run within the 1,300-acre City Park and along the Lake Pontchartrain lakefront. Runners pass under the Bayou St. John Bridge and round the far eastern edge of Lakeshore Drive on each loop, with the second loop using a slightly different U-turn location than the first
What are typical race-day conditions?
- 17°CTypical temperature
- 21 kphTypical wind
- 4 mmTypical rainfall
- 59Favourability /100