The Rocket City Marathon starts at 7 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 13, at the Von Braun Center. Marathon entry is $140 until Nov. 22; the 10K and 5K run Saturday, Dec. 12.

Last checked Nov. 1, 2026. This page is updated each year at the same address. Sources: the Huntsville Track Club’s Rocket City Marathon pages and the Huntsville Police Department’s 2025 road closure notice.

The Rocket City Marathon starts at 7 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 13, 2026, on Monroe Street outside the Von Braun Center, with the half marathon at 9 a.m. The weekend opens with the 10K, 5K and a 1-mile family run on Saturday, Dec. 12, and every race finishes indoors in the Von Braun Center’s South Hall. The race is conducted by the Huntsville Track Club, and registration is on the official race site.

Updated Nov. 1: the marathon is now $140 and the half $120; the next price rise is after Nov. 22.

Know before you go

  • Race weekend: Saturday, Dec. 12, and Sunday, Dec. 13, 2026
  • Start and finish: Von Braun Center, 700 Monroe St. SW
  • Expo and packet pickup: VBC South Hall, 2 to 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 11, and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 12
  • Next price rise: entry fees go up after 11:59 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 22
  • No refunds or deferrals; transfers to another runner only before Sept. 1
  • Register and questions: Rocket City Marathon on RunSignup

Race schedule and prices, 2026

All times are Central. Prices are the race fees the event listing showed on Nov. 1, before the sign-up fee. Huntsville Track Club members get 10% off.

Race Day Start Time limit Price
10K Sat. Dec. 12 7 a.m. 2 hours $50
5K Sat. Dec. 12 9 a.m. 1 hour $40
1 Mile Family Run/Walk Sat. Dec. 12 10:15 a.m. 30 minutes $25
Marathon, early start Sun. Dec. 13 6 a.m. 7 hours $140
Marathon Sun. Dec. 13 7 a.m. 6 hours $140
Half marathon Sun. Dec. 13 9 a.m. 4 hours $120

Prices for every race except the 1-mile rise after 11:59 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 22, and again after Dec. 6. Online registration closes at 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 12; the 1-mile run closes at 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 11. Runners who finish the 10K, the 5K and either the half or full marathon earn the Hat Trick award: a custom Rocket City hat, plus a medal and shirt for each race.

The courses

The marathon course is a USATF-certified Boston qualifier. It tours the courthouse square, the medical district, Blossomwood, Maple Hill Cemetery and Five Points, then heads west on Holmes Avenue and up Clinton Avenue past Campus 805 and Stovehouse to the U.S. Space & Rocket Center. Runners then pass through the Huntsville Botanical Garden’s Galaxy of Lights displays before returning downtown. The race puts the total climb at about 700 feet, with aid stations every 2 to 3 miles.

The half marathon loops the downtown square, then joins the marathon on Holmes Avenue near mile 15 and follows it to the finish. The 10K and 5K stay closer to downtown, through the Twickenham District and past the Huntsville Depot; the 10K also takes in Five Points.

The marathon has a 6-hour limit. Runners who need six to seven hours must register for the 6 a.m. early start, carry their own light, stay behind the 6-hour pacers until the halfway point and reach Providence Classical School on White Street by 9:30 a.m.

Road closures

The city posts this year’s closure notice in the week of the race. For the 2025 race, the Huntsville Police Department said closures began at 5 a.m. on race day, and the I-565 Jefferson Street exit and Clinton Avenue at Memorial Parkway were closed for the whole event. Other roads on the route closed briefly as runners passed or ran with fewer lanes. Police, Madison County deputies and state troopers staffed the route.

Parking

The race’s parking page lists:

  • Von Braun Center garage: $15, entered from Pollard Street at Clinton Avenue; limited spaces
  • Free city lots and garages: Lot E, 209 Eustis Ave. SE; Lot H between Spragins and Jefferson streets at Lewters Way; the Meridian Street lot, 116 Cleveland Ave.; Garage A, 305 Fountain Circle; Garage B, 318 Fountain Circle; Garage O, 116 Clinton Ave.; Garage D, 132 Greene St. (cars leaving after 2 p.m. Sunday pay)
  • Charging: Lot K, 614 Clinton Ave. W; Garage T, 300 St. Clair Ave.; Garage M, 100 Church St.

Saturday’s races close some downtown streets, so allow extra time if you arrive for a later start.

For spectators

Watch the marathon start on Monroe Street, then catch the final three-quarters of a mile through Big Spring Park or the finish inside the South Hall. Live runner tracking is free. The race says early December in Huntsville typically brings a low of 34 degrees and a high of 53.

What to know

  • Not allowed on the course: strollers and baby joggers (except at the back of the 1-mile run), pets, bicycles, skates and unregistered runners. Headphones are strongly discouraged.
  • Race-day packet pickup (5:30 to 8 a.m. Sunday) is only for runners who bought it in advance as a $20 add-on.
  • Runners under 18 may enter the marathon if a parent or guardian registers them.
  • Switching distance is allowed before Dec. 1 if spots remain, the race FAQ says.

Future dates

The race lists its next weekends as Dec. 10-12, 2027, and Dec. 8-10, 2028. It is held on the second full weekend in December.

More December plans: holiday lights and Christmas events and the Christmas parade and tree lighting.

Frequently asked questions

When is the 2026 Rocket City Marathon?

The marathon starts at 7 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 13, 2026, on Monroe Street at the Von Braun Center, with an early start at 6 a.m. for runners who need six to seven hours. The half marathon starts at 9 a.m. the same day; the 10K, 5K and 1-mile run are Saturday, Dec. 12.

How much does it cost to run the Rocket City Marathon?

On Nov. 1, 2026, the race listed the marathon at $140, the half at $120, the 10K at $50, the 5K at $40 and the 1-mile at $25, plus a sign-up fee. Prices rise again after 11:59 p.m. Nov. 22.

Where do I park for the Rocket City Marathon?

The Von Braun Center garage, entered from Pollard Street at Clinton Avenue, costs $15. The race lists several free city lots and garages nearby, including Garages A and B on Fountain Circle and Garage O at 116 Clinton Ave.

What roads close for the Rocket City Marathon?

In 2025 closures began at 5 a.m. race day, and the I-565 Jefferson Street exit and Clinton Avenue at Memorial Parkway stayed closed for the whole event, Huntsville police said. Other roads closed as runners passed.

When is the Rocket City Marathon in 2027?

The race lists Dec. 10-12, 2027, and Dec. 8-10, 2028, as its future dates.