Philadelphia Marathon

Philadelphia, United States of America 23 Nov, 2025

The Philadelphia marathon presents a mostly flat, urban course that winds through a range of historic and scenic neighborhoods. While the elevation changes are modest, with the lowest point near 3 meters above sea level and the highest around 42 meters, runners encounter rolling hills primarily between miles 4 and 10 as the route heads through West Philadelphia and University City. The first major hill appears just before the eighth mile, and a second notable climb happens in the tenth mile, each requiring an adjustment in effort but not posing extreme difficulty due to the gradual nature of the inclines and declines.

Participants navigate through central Philadelphia, passing landmarks and the Philadelphia Zoo, then move onto stretches where crowd support is sparse and surface conditions demand attention to potholes and manhole covers, especially if it’s rainy. After the ten-mile mark, the course flattens considerably, culminating in a gradual downhill leading back into the city that can help runners regain pace in the later miles.

The event’s urban landscape features a mix of city streets lined with enthusiastic supporters, quieter stretches through residential areas, and scenic views along the Schuylkill River. Runners experience a distinctive mix of urban energy and riverside tranquillity. The typical weather during the event is conducive to fast running, supporting a relatively high percentage of Boston Marathon qualifiers. Overall, the course offers a balance of mild challenges and motivating scenery, with varied runner experiences depending on specific sections of the route.

Generic Marathon Time This represents the time you would expect to run a "generic" marathon in. This is a marathon with around 250 m (800 ft) of elevation gain and a temperature around 10°C (50°F). For best results, use our Race Predictor.

: :

Philadelphia Marathon Time


Statistics

Elevation
Elevation Gain 235 m 771 ft
Elevation Low 1 m 3 ft
Elevation High 44 m 144 ft
Weather
Expected Temperature (Low) 0°C 32°F
Expected Temperature (High) 9°C 49°F
Chance of Rain 2%

Did we get something wrong? Let us know at support@statathon.com

The Philadelphia marathon presents a mostly flat, urban course that winds through a range of historic and scenic neighborhoods. While the elevation changes are modest, with the lowest point near 3 meters above sea level and the highest around 42 meters, runners encounter rolling hills primarily between miles 4 and 10 as the route heads through West Philadelphia and University City. The first major hill appears just before the eighth mile, and a second notable climb happens in the tenth mile, each requiring an adjustment in effort but not posing extreme difficulty due to the gradual nature of the inclines and declines.

Participants navigate through central Philadelphia, passing landmarks and the Philadelphia Zoo, then move onto stretches where crowd support is sparse and surface conditions demand attention to potholes and manhole covers, especially if it’s rainy. After the ten-mile mark, the course flattens considerably, culminating in a gradual downhill leading back into the city that can help runners regain pace in the later miles.

The event’s urban landscape features a mix of city streets lined with enthusiastic supporters, quieter stretches through residential areas, and scenic views along the Schuylkill River. Runners experience a distinctive mix of urban energy and riverside tranquillity. The typical weather during the event is conducive to fast running, supporting a relatively high percentage of Boston Marathon qualifiers. Overall, the course offers a balance of mild challenges and motivating scenery, with varied runner experiences depending on specific sections of the route.

Scroll to Top