Los Angeles Marathon: Elevation Profile, Course Map & Pace Calculator
The Stadium to the Stars point-to-point from Dodger Stadium to Century City, threading Little Tokyo, Hollywood, Sunset Strip, Rodeo Drive, and Beverly Hills. The course is rolling with long climbs through Silver Lake and a net-uphill back half totaling roughly 700 feet of gain. March weather can spike unexpectedly warm.
The Los Angeles Marathon is moderately rolling — rated 3/5 on our difficulty scale. Over the official 42.195 km (26.2 mi) the course gains about 940 ft (290 m) and loses 1170 ft (360 m), with a net drop of 71 m (233 ft). Grade-adjusted pace says the toughest stretch arrives at kilometre 6 (near mile 3.5), demanding about 13% more effort than the same distance on flat ground. The steepest pitch on course reaches 7.4%.
Course stats
| Distance | 26.2 mi (42.195 km) |
|---|---|
| Location | Los Angeles, CA, USA |
| Total ascent | 940 ft (290 m) |
| Total descent | 1170 ft (360 m) |
| Net elevation | -233 ft (-71 m) |
| Steepest grade | 7.4% |
| Difficulty | 3/5 |
| Field size | ≈27,000 runners |
| Race day | First Sunday of March |
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 | 7:53 | 4:54 | -162 ft (-49 m) | 7:53 |
| 2 | 8:48 | 5:28 | -50 ft (-15 m) | 16:41 |
| 3 | 8:56 | 5:33 | -31 ft (-10 m) | 25:37 |
| 4 | 10:17 | 6:23 | +104 ft (+32 m) | 35:54 |
| 5 | 9:55 | 6:10 | +55 ft (+17 m) | 45:49 |
| 6 | 9:03 | 5:37 | -24 ft (-7 m) | 54:52 |
| 7 | 8:48 | 5:28 | -48 ft (-15 m) | 1:03:40 |
| 8 | 9:27 | 5:53 | +23 ft (+7 m) | 1:13:07 |
| 9 | 9:25 | 5:51 | +20 ft (+6 m) | 1:22:33 |
| 10 | 9:10 | 5:42 | -5 ft (-2 m) | 1:31:42 |
| 11 | 9:07 | 5:40 | -11 ft (-3 m) | 1:40:49 |
| 12 | 8:58 | 5:34 | -29 ft (-9 m) | 1:49:47 |
| 13 | 9:49 | 6:06 | +61 ft (+19 m) | 1:59:36 |
| 14 | 8:55 | 5:32 | -34 ft (-10 m) | 2:08:31 |
| 15 | 7:59 | 4:58 | -153 ft (-47 m) | 2:16:29 |
| 16 | 9:11 | 5:42 | -3 ft (-1 m) | 2:25:41 |
| 17 | 9:24 | 5:50 | +17 ft (+5 m) | 2:35:04 |
| 18 | 9:35 | 5:57 | +39 ft (+12 m) | 2:44:39 |
| 19 | 8:56 | 5:33 | -34 ft (-10 m) | 2:53:35 |
| 20 | 9:21 | 5:49 | +14 ft (+4 m) | 3:02:56 |
| 21 | 9:51 | 6:07 | +65 ft (+20 m) | 3:12:47 |
| 22 | 9:09 | 5:41 | -8 ft (-2 m) | 3:21:56 |
| 23 | 9:09 | 5:41 | -6 ft (-2 m) | 3:31:06 |
| 24 | 8:59 | 5:35 | -26 ft (-8 m) | 3:40:05 |
| 25 | 8:44 | 5:25 | -53 ft (-16 m) | 3:48:48 |
| 26 | 9:39 | 6:00 | +43 ft (+13 m) | 3:58:28 |
| 26.2 | 9:28 | 5:53 | +5 ft (+1 m) | 4:00:00 |
Frequently asked questions
Is the Los Angeles Marathon flat or hilly?
The Los Angeles Marathon is moderately rolling (3/5 difficulty). Total ascent is about 940 ft (290 m) over 26.2 miles.
How much elevation gain does the Los Angeles Marathon have?
About 940 ft (290 m) of total ascent and 1170 ft (360 m) of descent, for a net change of -233 ft (-71 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 Los Angeles Marathon course?
Kilometre 6 (near mile 3.5) is the toughest split on the course by grade-adjusted effort. Grade-adjusted pace puts it at roughly 13% more effort than flat running. The steepest grade on course is 7.4%.
When is the Los Angeles Marathon?
The Los Angeles Marathon is typically held on the first Sunday of March. The next edition is expected around March 7, 2027. Confirm the exact date on the official race website.
How many runners take part in the Los Angeles Marathon?
The field is roughly 27,000 runners.
What pace do I need to run the Los Angeles 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 Los Angeles race
Marathons with a similar profile
- Vancouver Marathon — 950 ft (290 m) ascent
- Barcelona Marathon — 920 ft (280 m) ascent
- Detroit Free Press Marathon — 970 ft (300 m) ascent
- Charlotte Marathon — 1010 ft (310 m) ascent
Official race site: https://www.lamarathon.com