Kiawah Island Marathon 2026
- Date
- Race weekend: Friday to Saturday, December 11 to 12, 2026
- Start time
- 3:00 PM start (New York)
- Location
- Kiawah Island, South Carolina
- Entry fee
- From Free · goes up to $45 on Oct 1, 2026
- Included with entry
- Includes a shirt and a hat
Registration is open.
We earn a small commission when you register through this link, at no cost to you. Details
Official race websiteAdd to calendar: Apple or Outlook · Google
Events and entry fees
| Event | Distance | When | Entry fee | Cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friday, Dec 11, 2026 | ||||
| Jingle Shells 1 Mile Fun Run | Kids | Dec 11, 20263:00 PM | $35$45 after Oct 1, 2026 | – |
| Jingle Shells 5K | 5K | Dec 11, 20263:00 PM | $45$65 after Oct 1, 2026 | – |
| Saturday, Dec 12, 2026 | ||||
| High Performance Corral Full | Marathon | Dec 12, 20268:00 AM | Free | 300 |
| High Performance Corral Half | Half Marathon | Dec 12, 20268:00 AM | Free | 300 |
| Kiawah Island Half-Marathon | Half Marathon | Dec 12, 20268:00 AM | $230$255 after Oct 1, 2026 | 3,823 |
| Kiawah Island Marathon | Marathon | Dec 12, 20268:00 AM | $250$275 after Oct 1, 2026 | 2,400 |
| Test Event | Marathon | Dec 12, 20268:00 AM | Free | – |
| Kiawah Island Virtual Half-MarathonVirtual | Half Marathon | Dec 12, 202611:59 PM | $50 | – |
| Kiawah Island Virtual MarathonVirtual | Marathon | Dec 12, 202611:59 PM | $50 | – |
Entry fees exclude processing fees. Prices and dates come from the race's registration page and refresh nightly.
The Kids fee goes up to $45 on Oct 1, 2026.
Race day planning
Entry fee schedule
- Jingle Shells 1 Mile Fun Run: $35 until Sep 30, then $45 until Dec 11.
- Jingle Shells 5K: $45 until Sep 30, then $65 until Dec 11.
- Kiawah Island Half-Marathon: $230 until Sep 30, then $255 until Oct 31, then $300 until Nov 30, then $350 until Dec 11.
- Kiawah Island Marathon: $250 until Sep 30, then $275 until Oct 31, then $300 until Nov 30, then $350 until Dec 11.
Online registration closes Dec 11, 2026, unless the race fills first.
What a typical finish looks like
A typical finisher at a marathon in South Carolina runs 4:14:02, about 9:41 a mile, based on 6 races with published results. Women typically finish in 4:27:26 and men in 4:03:11.
Light and altitude
Sunrise on race morning is at about 7:12 AM, and the Jingle Shells 1 Mile Fun Run starts at 3:00 PM. The start sits about 0 feet above sea level.
Fees exclude processing fees. Comparisons use current entry fees and published results from races nearby.
Start location and course
2 Shipwatch Road, Kiawah Island, SC 29455
The pin marks the address the race lists, which is usually the start. The organizers have not shared a course map with us yet.
2025 results
All results (5 years)Kiawah Island Half-Marathon
Kiawah Island Marathon
Jingle Shells 5K
Aggregated from official results (GO Race Productions) for Kiawah Island Marathon. Individual finisher names are not stored here.
How fast do you need to be at Kiawah Island Marathon?
At the 2025 Kiawah Island Half-Marathon, the fastest tenth finished in 1:43:49 or better, the top quarter in 1:56:50, and half the field in 2:12:27; the last tenth came in after 3:06:01.
At the 2025 Kiawah Island Marathon, the fastest tenth finished in 3:23:22 or better, the top quarter in 3:44:20, and half the field in 4:14:02; the last tenth came in after 5:34:27.
At the 2025 Jingle Shells 5K, the fastest tenth finished in 23:50 or better, the top quarter in 28:18, and half the field in 32:04; the last tenth came in after 51:42.
| Age | Women | Men |
|---|---|---|
| Under 20 | 1:38:12 | 1:19:06 |
| 20-29 | 1:23:30 | 1:18:39 |
| 30-39 | 1:26:38 | 1:18:16 |
| 40-49 | 1:30:13 | 1:20:35 |
| 50-59 | 1:39:22 | 1:27:47 |
| 60-69 | 1:54:23 | 1:37:44 |
| 70+ | 2:17:45 | 2:07:09 |
Groups with fewer than five finishers are left out. Awards vary by race; check the race's rules.
What would my time get me?
Where a finish time would have placed in 2025.
Finishers by year
Up 15 percent since 2021.
All events combined, from official results.
Kiawah Island Marathon Half Marathon year by year
From 2021 to 2025, the field went from 2,802 to 2,947 finishers, and the median time dropped from 2:16:03 to 2:12:27.
| Year | Finishers | Median | Fastest tenth | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2,947 (+8%) | 2:12:27 | under 1:43:49 | 1:09:55 |
| 2024 | 2,723 (-24%) | 2:14:03 | under 1:45:14 | 1:09:53 |
| 2023 | 3,594 (+9%) | 2:16:26 | under 1:46:26 | 1:05:03 |
| 2022 | 3,295 (+18%) | 2:14:19 | under 1:43:37 | 1:05:00 |
| 2021 | 2,802 | 2:16:03 | under 1:44:10 | 1:08:51 |
From each year's official results for the Half Marathon; virtual options are left out.
How fast is it?
Slower than most South Carolina half marathons
The fastest quarter of the 2025 half marathon field finished under 1:56:50, against 1:53:06 in a typical South Carolina half marathon, so times here run 3 percent slower.
- Marathon: Faster than most US marathons. The fastest quarter of the 2025 marathon field finished under 3:44:20, against 3:52:43 in a typical US marathon, so times here run 4 percent faster.
- 5K: About average for South Carolina 5Ks. The fastest quarter of the 2025 5K field finished under 28:18, against 28:28 in a typical South Carolina 5K, so times here are about average.
Compares the fastest quarter of each field, so walkers and first-timers do not skew it. It reflects the course and the field together: a flat course, cool weather, or a competitive crowd all make times faster.
Typical race-day weather
Around December 11 the day usually runs from 48°F at dawn to 64°F in the afternoon, with measurable rain on about 20% of days. Cold snaps dip to 36°F and hot years reach 72°F.
Based on 75 days within a week of the date over the last 5 years, from historical weather for the start area. Not a forecast.
Race details
- Where
- 2 Shipwatch Road, Kiawah Island, SC 29455Map
- Course
- Road
- Start elevation
- About 0 feet
- Included with entry
- Beanie; Official Kiawah Island Race Shirt
- Distances
- 5K, Half Marathon, Marathon, Kids
- Editions
- 2026 (Dec 11, 2026), 2025 (Dec 12, 2025), 2024 (Dec 13, 2024), 2023 (Dec 8, 2023), 2022 (Dec 9, 2022), 2021 (Dec 10, 2021)
Organize this race? Add details or a correction
Plan your race
Quick answers
- When is Kiawah Island Marathon?
- It is a race weekend, Friday to Saturday, December 11 to 12, 2026: Kids, 5K on Friday; Marathon, Half Marathon on Saturday.
- How much does it cost?
- Entry starts at Free before processing fees, and rises to $45 on Oct 1, 2026.
- When does registration close?
- Online registration closes Dec 11, 2026, unless the race fills first.
- Do runners get a shirt or medal?
- Entry includes a shirt and a hat, according to the race's registration page. Check it for sizes and whether kids' races get the same.
- What distances can I run?
- 5K, Half Marathon, Marathon, Kids.
- How big is it, and how fast?
- In 2025, 2,947 runners finished the Kiawah Island Half-Marathon; the median finish was 2:12:27 and the winner ran 1:09:55.
- Is it a fast course?
- The fastest quarter of the 2025 half marathon field finished under 1:56:50, against 1:53:06 in a typical South Carolina half marathon, so times here run 3 percent slower.
- Where does it start?
- 2 Shipwatch Road, Kiawah Island, SC 29455.
From the organizers
Join us in celebrating the 48th annual Kiawah Island Golf Resort Marathon. Whether you’re running 13.1 or 26.2 miles, experience the natural beauty of Kiawah Island with our towering live oaks and sweeping salt marshes as you race towards the finish. Then, cross the finish line to the cheers of friends and family and enjoy our post-race celebration.