Charleston Half Marathon
Charleston, SC
- Half Marathon, 5K
- Road (Paved)
- Official race website
Race through historic Charleston, celebrate at the Post-Race Party, and explore everything the #1 City in the U.S. has to offer! Quintessential Course Historic Holy City Views! Fun, Fast & Certified Lowcountry Landmarks Palmetto Rose Rewards Long Sleeve Participant Shirt Finisher Medal Finisher Glassware Gift Post-Race Party Party In The Park (The Joe) Post Race! Featuring Music, Beer, … MORE
Local Historical Weather (Jan 30):
| 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |
| H (°F) | 55 | 66 | 63 | 63 | 49 |
| L (°F) | 33 | 41 | 38 | 56 | 22 |
Find Nearby Lodging (hotel, rental, etc.):
2026 My First Half Marathon
Excellent location for my first half marathon. Weather was great (I'm from Maryland so did not mind a cooler morning to start the race). GREAT Scenery, and supportive crowds! I … MORE
Excellent location for my first half marathon. Weather was great (I’m from Maryland so did not mind a cooler morning to start the race). GREAT Scenery, and supportive crowds! I loved this race. My knees started to hurt around mile 7/8 and really stopped wanting to work but I pushed through with walking until the end. Will work on a run / walk method instead of straight running for my next few big races. 10/10 recommend traveling to Charleston for this race.
Flat, fast, scenic
Combined this half with the Myrtle Beach half in March for an extra medal. January in Charleston was still COLD (20s at race time). Warmed up once sun came out. … MORE
Combined this half with the Myrtle Beach half in March for an extra medal. January in Charleston was still COLD (20s at race time). Warmed up once sun came out. Flat, fast course. Decent amount of spectators. Adequate aid stations. Expo was at baseball stadium. T shirt was paper thin and very light pink.
It was a cold and fun race.
If you are coming from out of town transportation to the start line is easy via Uber. Get there early. Fun course. Very well organized packets picked was small and … MORE
If you are coming from out of town transportation to the start line is easy via Uber. Get there early. Fun course. Very well organized packets picked was small and intimate, few vendors. Post race swag and food AMAZING.
Held off the snow storm for a fun race
This race was under threat of a snow storm for the entire week leading up to it. However, I am glad that they managed to hold it. The pre-race communicate … MORE
This race was under threat of a snow storm for the entire week leading up to it. However, I am glad that they managed to hold it.
The pre-race communicate was first rate. Especially as it became closer and the weather threat presented itself, the organizers kept us up to date about their thinking. The race also opened up the deferral window after the weather threat presented itself so that those that did not want to risk traveling to the race under a weather threat could defer.
The expo was small but easy to navigate through. The race shirt was a new color for me. i guess I would call it pale pink. There was also a beanie included with the swag which came in handy for many on race morning. Since the expo was also the finish line it was a good opportunity to see where everything would be located post race.
On race morning it was cold. However, the energy at the starting line was palpable and helped the announcements were loud, there was plenty of space for the number of people, and there were even enough porto-potties. The corrals were only slightly too small for all the people in them.
The race course itself was not overly interesting. It took you on a tour mostly of the perimeter of the peninsula with a jaunt into downtown. I had fans out on the course and there were some great places for them to set up so that was an advantage. There were plenty of aid stations for my taste and the traffic control was first rate.
the finish line and festival was good. There were all of the normal carbs and drinks. Additionally the breakfast burrito was a nice thought even if it was not the greatest tasting. Two beers was a very nice touch. I will say what I say in most places about the beer however. You have a great beer scene in Charleston, serve local.
All around this was a solid race and I am glad I did it. If one is looking for a SC race you would not make a bad choice doing this one.
Very Flat Charleston Tour
Well organized expo! Really like the shirt and the beanie that you get! Race morning was easy drop off and timely start. My own fault that I clipped a pothole … MORE
Well organized expo! Really like the shirt and the beanie that you get! Race morning was easy drop off and timely start. My own fault that I clipped a pothole at mile 4 and sprained my ankle then hobbled to the finish. True southern running as at least 50 runners checked on me/cheered me on to the finish! Two beers at the finish helped with my pain! Will likely run again next year without tripping so I can PR on this flat fun course through Charleston!
Fast and flat
I booked this race thinking it would be a nice getaway from winter in Ohio. It turns out Charleston was under a winter weather advisory and the high was in … MORE
I booked this race thinking it would be a nice getaway from winter in Ohio. It turns out Charleston was under a winter weather advisory and the high was in the mid 30s. Luckily, the race was able to proceed, but a lot of other things in the area were closed.
I paid to have my bib mailed to me since I wasn’t arriving in town until the night before the race. It was a nice option, but I don’t have any insights to the expo. If your bib is mailed, you pick up your race shirt after you finish.
The race started promptly at 7. It looked like there were only 3 corrals. The start and finish lines are not the same spot, but they are close together. There were a few paid parking options, but I stayed about a mile from the start, so I just walked there. It looked like there was a bit of traffic getting to the parking lots.
You start going north and looping back around past the finish line. It is approximately 4.5 miles into the race, but spectators have a good chance to see you there. The race then continues along the shore past some nice houses and downtown and then goes back the same way. I only had 69′ of elevation gain.
The race shirt was nice, but rather thin. I liked the design and colors of the medal. I was cold afterwards, so I didn’t stay around for the after party. The awards weren’t until 45 minutes after I finished, so I never picked mine up.
Overall, it was a good race and had some nice scenery.
A Cold Day But A Good Race!
There's nothing that you can do about the weather, but it was definitely a cold start. The first 3ish miles were a bit tough because of the cars parked on … MORE
There’s nothing that you can do about the weather, but it was definitely a cold start. The first 3ish miles were a bit tough because of the cars parked on the streets making for a narrow route with little space to pass. Not a ton of crowd support throughout the course. Overall a pretty good race.
Good Winter Race - Unusually bad weather
State #48 for me. I was saving South Carolina to the end because I knew that I could drive (I live in Tennessee) and boy did I pick 2 crazy … MORE
State #48 for me. I was saving South Carolina to the end because I knew that I could drive (I live in Tennessee) and boy did I pick 2 crazy years. First, I deferred from last year because the race was cancelled due to weather. Thinking that weather is usually not an issue in the south two years in a row – I chose to run this year. Well, the weather was bad again. The morning of the race was in the low 30’s with a chance of snow. Fortunately, it didn’t begin to snow until after the race, but it was dreary and cloudy the entire time. The beginning of the race was freezing and dark although there was a purchased VIP option to be allowed inside the high school where it started. The course was scenic – running through The Citadel, alongside the coast and in some beautiful neighborhoods and business parts of town. There were not enough water stations in my opinion – just the required ones. The crowd support was ok and the course was marked well. The afterparty was a joke. When I finished – there was a choice of a banana and a banana. The expo was not represented by outside vendors but there were some race specific products to purchase. Packet pickup was easy. All this took place at the local baseball stadium close to the start and finish where parking was limited. Of my 56 halfs, this was probably the worst shirt I have ever received. It was a long sleeve paper thin cotton tshirt that I could wear as a dress. It was so thin it would have been suitable to wear at the Grammy awards! A winter hat was also given and the medal was ok. I honestly don’t know why the cost of this race was so much – I have no idea what all that money went for. I stayed at a the big Marriott near the finish but not near the start (about a mile away). The hotel is huge but old and the heat went out on night two and we were given extra blankets. All this to say that probably for the next 5 years – winter weather won’t be a problem in the Charleston area. Overall I would recommend this race but know that it is not budget friendly.
Nice race
Nice race. Course is pretty flat. I probably would have enjoyed it more if the weather had cooperated, but that’s not the race’s fault.lots of hotels in walking distance from … MORE
Nice race. Course is pretty flat. I probably would have enjoyed it more if the weather had cooperated, but that’s not the race’s fault.lots of hotels in walking distance from start and finish. Swag included a hat which was much appreciated.
Perfect Half Marathon
This race has everything I want in a half. The Course: It's fairly scenic with most of the race going along the water and/or through beautiful parts of downtown Charleston. … MORE
This race has everything I want in a half.
The Course:
It’s fairly scenic with most of the race going along the water and/or through beautiful parts of downtown Charleston. The course is very flat so it’s perfect for a fast time. There are plenty of spots for spectators and there were a lot of people out, even on a cold day.
Logistics:
It’s easy to get to and from. I walked to the start from a hotel downtown. The gear check was easy. The bathroom lines were about typical for a race, not short but not terrible either. The finish area looked great but I didn’t stick around because it was a pretty cold day.
Swag/Organization:
Tshirt, medal, and beanie were cool. Nothing special but definitely better than some races. Race communication was great. No real issues to complain about.
Typical event, nothing bad, or great.
Pretty typical event. No real complaints, but nothing special about this event either. Expo was ok. Found free parking for both the expo and race. Not to far away. So … MORE
Pretty typical event. No real complaints, but nothing special about this event either. Expo was ok. Found free parking for both the expo and race. Not to far away. So that was good. Race was a fairly easy drive getting in, and out of the area. Start was pretty crowded. A wave start would be better to thin people out more. Course was pretty near the waterfront. Aid stations were fine. Post race stuff was fairly basic. They gave out half of a breakfast burrito for the food ticket. Grabbed a banana and drink also. Left pretty quickly after the race. It was cold, and bad weather was moving into the area that afternoon. Race T-shirt was just ok. Bonus also got a knit hat. Medal was ok. I wish they would put the date on the medals. Overall the event was satisfactory. Most likely a one and done for me. Just needed a race in SC for my 50 state goal. If the weather was nicer I would’ve spent another day in the area visiting the Patriots Point Navel Museum, but they were closed with the expected bad weather coming. Kudos to the event for not cancelling for the second year in a row. The weather didn’t get bad until later on Saturday after I was already gone.
One of my favorite races ever!
I am doing a half marathon in every state; I've done 9 so far, and this is by far my favorite one! It is a very nice, scenic course, and … MORE
I am doing a half marathon in every state; I’ve done 9 so far, and this is by far my favorite one! It is a very nice, scenic course, and it’s easy. I would almost come back to do this one again–that’s how much I liked it. Also, they gave us two shirts, which I thought was cool.
Much Improved Route!
The 2024 Charleston Half Marathon was once again on one of the coldest days of the year, but at least the wind wasn't as bad as forecasted! And the route … MORE
The 2024 Charleston Half Marathon was once again on one of the coldest days of the year, but at least the wind wasn’t as bad as forecasted! And the route was 100x better than 2023. They listened to everyone’s feedback!!
Southern Charm
Packet pickup was well-organized and held at the baseball field. There was plenty of parking across the street, but most people tried to park in the small lot at the … MORE
Packet pickup was well-organized and held at the baseball field. There was plenty of parking across the street, but most people tried to park in the small lot at the field, which caused back-ups.
There were a couple of hotels within walking distance of the start/finish, so we were able to leave the hotel 20 minutes prior to the start, with ample time to get to our corral.
The course was flat with several out and back sections. There were plenty of beautiful houses along the course and we ran along the shoreline of the Ashley River. The course also went through the campus of The Citadel Military College, which I enjoyed.
The race finished outside the baseball field, with runners getting their medal, some snacks, water, and mylar blanket.
Inside the baseball field, runners were treated to a choice of hotdog or breakfast wrap, and two free beers (choice of Michelob ultra, a cider or an IPA).
A long sleeve tech shirt and short sleeve triblend shirt were included in the cost of the registration.
A final note: anyone who ran any of the distances offered at this race and at the Myrtle Beach race the first weekend in March will get extra “Bless Your Heart” medal.
Perfect Running Weather for January
The course is flat and pretty scenic and temperatures were great for distance running. Packet Pickup was pretty uneventful. Flights were reasonable into Charleston, hotel was pretty expensive, but some … MORE
The course is flat and pretty scenic and temperatures were great for distance running. Packet Pickup was pretty uneventful. Flights were reasonable into Charleston, hotel was pretty expensive, but some good restaurant options in the city. Parking before race was not bad arriving about 40 mins before start time, but leaving the free parking lot about 3 hours later was a nightmare- they needed more volunteers to direct traffic.
Nice Winter Race
Awesome medal and swag!! Waterfront portion of the run was absolutely beautiful! Hydration stations were plentiful. Excellent pre race communication. Path was too narrow for simultaneous out and back running. … MORE
Awesome medal and swag!! Waterfront portion of the run was absolutely beautiful! Hydration stations were plentiful. Excellent pre race communication.
Path was too narrow for simultaneous out and back running. There should be no vehicle parking on course during the race. Overcrowding made it difficult to move forward or go around slower runners during the 1st 5k. New route in ‘24. This should be an easy fix.
If cars cannot be eliminated, add more corrals and spread out the corral start times to ease the over-crowding.
Great tour of Charleston
State #33 for me. Based on previous reviews I was little skeptical however there must have been major improvements to this race because it seemed well organized and I enjoyed … MORE
State #33 for me. Based on previous reviews I was little skeptical however there must have been major improvements to this race because it seemed well organized and I enjoyed it. The course is great for a destination run, it has lots of turns but goes through all the nice sites of the city, and the miles fly by.
Packet pickup was easy, and the swag is nice with two shirts. Love the medal. I stayed at the Marriott and it was an easy walk to and from the start and finish.
They did a nice job with the start and spreading people out, which is important because it is narrow in spots. People were friendly, aid stations great, with water/sports drink, gels, no stopping needed.
The weather was perfect running weather. The finish line was well organized and provided snacks and hot chocolate. Overall I would recommend this race and would love to do it again.
Great course
Course is flat and fast. Lots of nice scenery. Although it was 30 degrees there was great crowd support. You get food and 2 beers at the finish so that’s … MORE
Course is flat and fast. Lots of nice scenery. Although it was 30 degrees there was great crowd support. You get food and 2 beers at the finish so that’s a plus! Will definitely run this again.
Beautiful first 10 miles!
This race was especially cold, and windy. Which made it difficult running the last couple miles uphill on the highway. The majority of the course is super beautiful around downtown … MORE
This race was especially cold, and windy. Which made it difficult running the last couple miles uphill on the highway. The majority of the course is super beautiful around downtown Charleston, the end toward the North Charleston finish is less desirable. Overall well organized. This race has been deferred from 2022, which was cancelled a week or so before the race
Front 75% is great, back 25% not so much
Most of the race in was beautiful like through the Citadel, the. Battery and King St but the last 4-5 miles was boring running through industrial part of town. I … MORE
Most of the race in was beautiful like through the Citadel, the. Battery and King St but the last 4-5 miles was boring running through industrial part of town. I had to pay to park and was late to start line