New York City Marathon: Elevation Profile, Course Map & Pace Calculator
Five boroughs in one race. The Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge climb at km 1 sets the tone; the late ascents into Manhattan and Central Park make this the toughest Major after Boston. Two million spectators line the course. Some 55,000 runners cross the East River and back.
The New York City Marathon is a challenging course with meaningful climbs — rated 4/5 on our difficulty scale. Over the official 42.195 km (26.2 mi) the course gains about 770 ft (230 m) and loses 790 ft (240 m), with roughly level start to finish. Grade-adjusted pace says the toughest stretch arrives at kilometre 37 (near mile 23), demanding about 12% more effort than the same distance on flat ground. The steepest pitch on course reaches 8.5%. The Queensboro Bridge runs from mile 15.5 to 16 (km 25.2–25.8) and climbs 60 ft (20 m) over 0.6 km at an average 3.2% — about 19% more effort than the same ground run flat. The Fifth Avenue climb runs from mile 23 to 24 (km 36.7–38.2) and climbs 100 ft (30 m) over 1.6 km at an average 1.8% — about 10% more effort than the same ground run flat.
Course stats
| Distance | 26.2 mi (42.195 km) |
|---|---|
| Location | New York, NY, USA |
| Total ascent | 770 ft (230 m) |
| Total descent | 790 ft (240 m) |
| Net elevation | -26 ft (-8 m) |
| Steepest grade | 8.5% |
| Difficulty | 4/5 |
| Field size | ≈55,000 runners |
| Race day | First Sunday of November |
| Elevation from | USGS 3DEP ned10m (US, 10 m) |
Bare-earth terrain model, smoothed over 500 m — it measures the ground, not the rooftops.
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 | 8:21 | 5:11 | -117 ft (-36 m) | 8:21 |
| 2 | 9:44 | 6:03 | +58 ft (+18 m) | 18:05 |
| 3 | 9:23 | 5:50 | +24 ft (+7 m) | 27:28 |
| 4 | 9:13 | 5:44 | +7 ft (+2 m) | 36:41 |
| 5 | 8:56 | 5:33 | -23 ft (-7 m) | 45:37 |
| 6 | 8:57 | 5:33 | -23 ft (-7 m) | 54:33 |
| 7 | 9:02 | 5:37 | -12 ft (-4 m) | 1:03:35 |
| 8 | 9:16 | 5:45 | +13 ft (+4 m) | 1:12:51 |
| 9 | 9:29 | 5:53 | +32 ft (+10 m) | 1:22:20 |
| 10 | 8:37 | 5:21 | -57 ft (-17 m) | 1:30:57 |
| 11 | 9:31 | 5:55 | +39 ft (+12 m) | 1:40:28 |
| 12 | 8:47 | 5:28 | -38 ft (-12 m) | 1:49:15 |
| 13 | 9:06 | 5:39 | -5 ft (-2 m) | 1:58:21 |
| 14 | 9:09 | 5:41 | +1 ft (0 m) | 2:07:30 |
| 15 | 9:12 | 5:43 | +6 ft (+2 m) | 2:16:41 |
| 16 | 9:39 | 6:00 | +45 ft (+14 m) | 2:26:21 |
| 17 | 8:55 | 5:32 | -25 ft (-8 m) | 2:35:15 |
| 18 | 8:54 | 5:32 | -28 ft (-9 m) | 2:44:09 |
| 19 | 9:10 | 5:42 | +4 ft (+1 m) | 2:53:20 |
| 20 | 9:19 | 5:48 | +18 ft (+5 m) | 3:02:39 |
| 21 | 8:54 | 5:32 | -27 ft (-8 m) | 3:11:33 |
| 22 | 9:20 | 5:48 | +20 ft (+6 m) | 3:20:53 |
| 23 | 9:13 | 5:43 | +7 ft (+2 m) | 3:30:05 |
| 24 | 9:50 | 6:06 | +69 ft (+21 m) | 3:39:55 |
| 25 | 8:57 | 5:34 | -27 ft (-8 m) | 3:48:52 |
| 26 | 9:09 | 5:41 | -1 ft (0 m) | 3:58:01 |
| 26.2 | 9:04 | 5:38 | -2 ft (-1 m) | 4:00:00 |
Frequently asked questions
Is the New York City Marathon flat or hilly?
The New York City Marathon is a challenging course with meaningful climbs (4/5 difficulty). Total ascent is about 770 ft (230 m) over 26.2 miles.
How much elevation gain does the New York City Marathon have?
About 770 ft (230 m) of total ascent and 790 ft (240 m) of descent, for a net change of -26 ft (-8 m). Elevation is sampled from USGS 3DEP ned10m (US, 10 m) and smoothed over 500 m, so it will not match a GPS watch step for step.
What mile is the Queensboro Bridge on the New York City Marathon course?
The Queensboro Bridge runs from mile 15.5 to 16 (km 25.2–25.8) and climbs 60 ft (20 m) over 0.6 km at an average 3.2% — about 19% more effort than the same ground run flat. The steepest sustained pitch on the course, run in near silence with no spectators on the bridge.
What mile is the Fifth Avenue climb on the New York City Marathon course?
The Fifth Avenue climb runs from mile 23 to 24 (km 36.7–38.2) and climbs 100 ft (30 m) over 1.6 km at an average 1.8% — about 10% more effort than the same ground run flat. A mile of steady rise along Central Park between mile 23 and mile 24, on legs that have already run a long way.
What is the hardest part of the New York City Marathon course?
Kilometre 37 (near mile 23) 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 8.5%.
When is the New York City Marathon?
The New York City Marathon is typically held on the first Sunday of November. The next edition is expected around November 1, 2026. Confirm the exact date on the official race website.
How many runners take part in the New York City Marathon?
The field is roughly 55,000 runners.
What pace do I need to run the New York City 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 New York race
Named climbs on the New York City Marathon course
- The Queensboro Bridge runs from mile 15.5 to 16 (km 25.2–25.8) and climbs 60 ft (20 m) over 0.6 km at an average 3.2% — about 19% more effort than the same ground run flat. The steepest sustained pitch on the course, run in near silence with no spectators on the bridge.
- The Fifth Avenue climb runs from mile 23 to 24 (km 36.7–38.2) and climbs 100 ft (30 m) over 1.6 km at an average 1.8% — about 10% more effort than the same ground run flat. A mile of steady rise along Central Park between mile 23 and mile 24, on legs that have already run a long way.
Marathons with a similar profile
- Dublin Marathon — 760 ft (230 m) ascent
- Marine Corps Marathon — 770 ft (230 m) ascent
- Boston Marathon — 770 ft (240 m) ascent
- Philadelphia Marathon — 740 ft (230 m) ascent
How New York City Marathon ranks
- Hilliest marathon courses — ranked 11 of 20 (770 ft (230 m) of climbing)
- Hardest marathon courses — ranked 9 of 20 (4/5 — 770 ft (230 m) up, 790 ft (240 m) down)
- Marathons with the hardest finish — ranked 3 of 10 (hardest at km 37 (mile 23) — 12% over flat effort)
- World Marathon Majors compared — ranked 5 of 7 (770 ft (230 m) of climbing)
- Biggest marathons by field size — ranked 2 of 20 (≈55,000 runners)
Official race site: https://www.nyrr.org/tcsnycmarathon