Charlotte Marathon: Elevation Profile, Course Map & Pace Calculator
A scenic loop through Charlotte's Center City and historic Piedmont neighborhoods, finishing in Uptown. The course is honestly hilly — Charlotte sits on a ridge — with constant rolling terrain and roughly 1,000 feet of cumulative climb. Mid-November weather is typically mild, but this is no place to chase a BQ.
The Charlotte Marathon is moderately rolling — rated 3/5 on our difficulty scale. Over the official 42.195 km (26.2 mi) the course gains about 1010 ft (310 m) and loses 1010 ft (310 m), with roughly level start to finish. Grade-adjusted pace says the toughest stretch arrives at kilometre 13 (near mile 8), demanding about 12% more effort than the same distance on flat ground. The steepest pitch on course reaches 7.2%.
Course stats
| Distance | 26.2 mi (42.195 km) |
|---|---|
| Location | Charlotte, NC, USA |
| Total ascent | 1010 ft (310 m) |
| Total descent | 1010 ft (310 m) |
| Net elevation | +0 ft (+0 m) |
| Steepest grade | 7.2% |
| Difficulty | 3/5 |
| Field size | ≈11,000 runners |
| Race day | Second Saturday of November |
Mile-by-mile splits (grade-adjusted)
Grade-adjusted (GAP) splits for a 4:00:00 finish, computed from the course's elevation profile with the Minetti gradient-cost model: uphill miles get more time, downhills less, at even effort. Splits scale proportionally for any other goal time — the interactive pace calculator on this page computes them exactly.
| Mile | GAP pace /mi | GAP pace /km | Elev Δ | Elapsed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 9:08 | 5:40 | -15 ft (-4 m) | 9:08 |
| 2 | 8:58 | 5:34 | -30 ft (-9 m) | 18:06 |
| 3 | 9:14 | 5:44 | -2 ft (-1 m) | 27:20 |
| 4 | 8:49 | 5:29 | -44 ft (-13 m) | 36:09 |
| 5 | 9:41 | 6:01 | +47 ft (+14 m) | 45:50 |
| 6 | 8:50 | 5:29 | -43 ft (-13 m) | 54:40 |
| 7 | 9:34 | 5:57 | +34 ft (+10 m) | 1:04:14 |
| 8 | 8:50 | 5:29 | -42 ft (-13 m) | 1:13:03 |
| 9 | 9:42 | 6:02 | +48 ft (+15 m) | 1:22:45 |
| 10 | 9:14 | 5:44 | 0 ft (0 m) | 1:31:59 |
| 11 | 9:50 | 6:07 | +64 ft (+19 m) | 1:41:49 |
| 12 | 8:57 | 5:34 | -30 ft (-9 m) | 1:50:46 |
| 13 | 9:24 | 5:50 | +21 ft (+6 m) | 2:00:10 |
| 14 | 9:05 | 5:39 | -15 ft (-5 m) | 2:09:15 |
| 15 | 8:42 | 5:24 | -61 ft (-19 m) | 2:17:57 |
| 16 | 9:27 | 5:52 | +26 ft (+8 m) | 2:27:24 |
| 17 | 9:40 | 6:00 | +48 ft (+15 m) | 2:37:04 |
| 18 | 9:33 | 5:56 | +36 ft (+11 m) | 2:46:36 |
| 19 | 8:58 | 5:34 | -25 ft (-7 m) | 2:55:34 |
| 20 | 9:20 | 5:48 | +13 ft (+4 m) | 3:04:54 |
| 21 | 9:06 | 5:39 | -11 ft (-3 m) | 3:14:00 |
| 22 | 8:45 | 5:26 | -50 ft (-15 m) | 3:22:45 |
| 23 | 9:12 | 5:43 | -5 ft (-2 m) | 3:31:57 |
| 24 | 8:58 | 5:34 | -31 ft (-9 m) | 3:40:55 |
| 25 | 9:39 | 6:00 | +45 ft (+14 m) | 3:50:34 |
| 26 | 9:25 | 5:51 | +18 ft (+5 m) | 3:59:58 |
| 26.0 | 13:17 | 8:15 | +1 ft (0 m) | 4:00:00 |
Frequently asked questions
Is the Charlotte Marathon flat or hilly?
The Charlotte Marathon is moderately rolling (3/5 difficulty). Total ascent is about 1010 ft (310 m) over 26.2 miles.
How much elevation gain does the Charlotte Marathon have?
About 1010 ft (310 m) of total ascent and 1010 ft (310 m) of descent, for a net change of +0 ft (0 m). Figures come from a digital elevation model, so very flat courses can read 20–30 ft high.
What is the hardest part of the Charlotte Marathon course?
Kilometre 13 (near mile 8) is the toughest split on the course by grade-adjusted effort. Grade-adjusted pace puts it at roughly 12% more effort than flat running. The steepest grade on course is 7.2%.
When is the Charlotte Marathon?
The Charlotte Marathon is typically held on the second Saturday of November. The next edition is expected around November 14, 2026. Confirm the exact date on the official race website.
How many runners take part in the Charlotte Marathon?
The field is roughly 11,000 runners.
What pace do I need to run the Charlotte Marathon in my goal time?
At an even pace: 3:00:00 needs 6:52/mi (4:16/km); 3:30:00 needs 8:01/mi (4:59/km); 4:00:00 needs 9:09/mi (5:41/km); 4:30:00 needs 10:18/mi (6:24/km); 5:00:00 needs 11:27/mi (7:07/km); 5:30:00 needs 12:35/mi (7:49/km). On this course, grade-adjusted pacing shifts a few seconds per mile between uphill and downhill splits — the pace calculator on this page computes those splits for any goal time.
Plan your Charlotte race
Marathons with a similar profile
- Detroit Free Press Marathon — 970 ft (300 m) ascent
- Vancouver Marathon — 950 ft (290 m) ascent
- Austin Marathon — 1070 ft (330 m) ascent
- Los Angeles Marathon — 940 ft (290 m) ascent
Official race site: https://thecharlottemarathon.com