Miami Marathon Visitor Guide

Last reviewed: October 29, 2026. Sources for this page are listed in its fact sheet.

Short answer first. The Life Time Miami Marathon and Half takes place on Sunday January 31, 2027, finishing alongside the water at Bayfront Park in Downtown Miami. The Life Time Tropical 5K runs the day before, on Saturday January 30, 2027. One fact shapes every plan for 2027: when this page was checked on October 29, 2026, the organizer's registration page listed 2027 general registration for the marathon and half as sold out, with entry fees shown as $225 for the marathon and $190 for the half. If you do not already hold an entry, read the entry section below before you book travel around racing.

Marathon runners on race day. This is a stock photo of a marathon field, not the Miami course. Photo: RUN 4 FFWPU, Pexels.

What is the race weekend, exactly?

It is a two day running weekend in late January, organized by Life Time. Saturday belongs to the Tropical 5K, which the organizer describes as a family friendly 5K that serves as the kick off and preview of the marathon weekend and is suitable for runners of all levels. Sunday is the main event: the full marathon and the half marathon run on the same morning and share the same finish line at Bayfront Park, with the half marathon course splitting away in the last 200 meters, per the organizer. Every registrant receives a shirt, and every finisher receives a finisher medal, per the registration page. For visitors, the weekend works on two levels at once. It is a race to run, and it is also a downtown festival weekend, with the finish area at Bayfront Park sitting right on Biscayne Bay in the middle of the city.

January timing is the point. The race falls in the middle of Miami's dry, cooler season, which is why it draws runners from colder states and from abroad, and why hotels and flights for that weekend price like a peak weekend rather than a quiet one. Our best time to visit Miami guide puts the weekend in context against the rest of the winter calendar.

Entry: what sold out means, and what routes remain

Start with the status as listed by the organizer on October 29, 2026. The registration page at themiamimarathon.com showed 2027 general registration for the marathon and half as sold out, at the listed fees of $225 and $190. The same page showed the 2027 entry waitlist as closed, with waitlist entry priced at $250 for the marathon and $225 for the half for runners selected from it. The organizer said waitlist selections began on October 5, 2026 and continue on a rolling basis as spots open, with selected runners notified by email and given about 48 hours to complete registration before the spot passes to someone else. In plain terms: if you are not already registered and not already on the waitlist, the standard door is shut.

Two legitimate routes are still worth checking on the official site. First, the organizer's groups and charities page states that a limited number of Life Time Foundation charity athlete spots were available for the 2027 marathon and half, with team members receiving Foundation race apparel and fundraising support. That page also lists a wider set of official charity partners for the event. Second, the Tropical 5K is a separate event: the registration page listed it at $75 under 2027 general registration when checked, and did not mark it sold out. Do not buy a bib from a stranger. The organizer states that it is not involved in bib to bib transfers or resales between individuals, does not guarantee entries sold that way, and does not condone resale at elevated prices. Statuses change, so confirm the current position on themiamimarathon.com before you rely on any of this.

Watching the race: a spectator plan

You do not need a ticket to watch. The organizer's spectator guidance makes Bayfront Park the center of a spectator day: the finish line is there, bleachers just south of the finish line are available to spectators on a first come, first served basis, and the start and finish feeds are shown on site at the park. The start line itself is a secure, athlete only zone, and spectators are directed to Bayfront Park rather than the start. The organizer also offers athlete tracking, with text message updates as a runner crosses timing splits on the course, which is how most supporters time their move back to the finish. Plan around one runner, not the whole course: pick up your runner on tracking, be at Bayfront Park in good time, and accept that downtown streets near the course will be disrupted on race morning. Arrive on foot or by transit where you can; our getting around Miami guide covers the downtown options.

Where should you stay?

Stay in Downtown Miami or Brickell if you are racing or supporting a runner. The finish is at Bayfront Park, and a downtown base means a short walk or ride on race morning instead of a cross town trip through road closures, plus an easy walk back to a shower and breakfast after the finish. Our hotels near PortMiami guide covers the downtown hotel cluster close to Bayfront Park, and the Miami hotels hub compares every area. Flying in for the weekend? The Miami International Airport guide covers the trip from the airport to downtown. Book early for this weekend: between runners, supporters, and peak season visitors, downtown rooms for marathon weekend are among the first in January to fill.

Compare hotels in Downtown Miami near Bayfront Park on Expedia

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2027 Miami Marathon sold out?
General registration was listed as sold out on the organizer's registration page when checked on October 29, 2026, and the entry waitlist was listed as closed. The organizer's site also described a limited number of Life Time Foundation charity athlete spots for 2027. Check themiamimarathon.com for the current status, because spots can reopen if registered runners drop out.

How much did entry cost?
The organizer listed 2027 general registration fees of $225 for the marathon and $190 for the half marathon, with taxes and processing fees not included, when checked on October 29, 2026. Waitlist selections were priced higher, at $250 and $225. The Tropical 5K was listed at $75.

Where does the race finish?
At Bayfront Park in Downtown Miami, alongside the water. The marathon and half marathon share the finish line, and spectators can watch from bleachers just south of the finish line on a first come, first served basis, per the organizer.

Can I run a shorter race that weekend?
Yes. The Life Time Tropical 5K runs on Saturday January 30, 2027, the day before the marathon and half, and the organizer describes it as suitable for runners of all levels. It is registered separately from the Sunday races.

What time does the race start?
Check the organizer's site and your athlete communications for the official start schedule. Start arrangements are confirmed by the organizer closer to race weekend, and this guide does not publish a start time it has not verified for the 2027 edition.

Keep planning

Start at the Miami events guide for the rest of the winter calendar, including the Boat Show and SOBEWFF weekends that follow in February. If you are combining the race with a first trip to the city, read the first time in Miami guide before you book, and use the hotels for cruise passengers guide if you are sailing from PortMiami after race weekend.