Parks Half Marathon
Rock Creek Park's Parks Half Marathon offers a scenic, growing race with a loyal following.
Race Date
Sep 27, 2026
Location
Rockville, MD
Quick facts
- Date
- Sunday, September 27, 2026
- Location
- Rockville, Maryland
- Distance
- Half marathon (13.1 mi) + 13.1 Miles
- Course
- Point to Point
- Terrain
- Road
- USATF certified
- Yes
- Finishers on record
- 30,498
Highlights
Good For
Atmosphere
Course
The Experience
The Parks Half Marathon, first run in 2006 and now in its 19th edition, winds through the natural beauty of Rock Creek Park. Runners experience the sun rising through the trees on paved paths, with mile markers and a pace team guiding the way. This event draws participants from approximately 18 states, with about 39% returning each year, reflecting its strong loyalty and growing field size, which recently averaged around 979 finishers.
Described as scenic with "lots of downhill" and "some rollers," the course offers a beautiful park setting with paved trails through fields and woods. Spectators and volunteers provide support, and free race photos capture memories. The finish festival allows runners to connect and share their experiences after crossing the line, making it a well-loved local institution.
Race-provided description
Welcome to the MCRRC Parks Half Marathon! The race begins just before sunrise, at 6:45 AM, on a scenic Montgomery County road and quickly transitions into a tour of beautiful Rock Creek Park. As you run through the park, you’ll experience the sun rising through the tree cover and enjoy the sights and sounds of nature. Mile markers help keep you on track, and we also have an excellent pace team ready to help you reach your goals. Our thoughtfully placed hydration stations, complete with awesome volunteers, will keep you hydrated and motivated. Everyone always loves our FREE, high-quality race photos, so be sure to wear a smile along the course because we will have photographers along the way capturing race memories. At the finish, catch up with your friends to exchange race stories at our Finish Festival.
Logistics
Race Day
Sunday, September 27, 2026
Start Time
6:45 AM
Giveaway
Long-Sleeved Tech Shirt
Start Location
Metro Overpass, Rockville, MD, 20850
Course Info
USATF CertifiedCourse Type
Point to Point
Terrain
road
Scenery
Park, Forest
Surface
Paved
Difficulty
Rolling Hills
Net Drop/km
+4.03 m
Separation
56.8%
Also Offers
USATF Certified Course
MD17024NP · Parks Half-Marathon
Net downhill course — fast finishing times are common. Point-to-point course layout.
Quality Score
Runner Favorite8519 years running
~971 finishers a year
growing or steady
39% returning runners
USATF certified · 5 timing sources · 3 photos
runners from 18 states
winner 1:11:01
typical high 73°F
Race Day Weather
5-year historical avgStart (Low)
59°
Afternoon (High)
73°
Warm — hydration strategy is key, start conservatively
0.1"
Precipitation
9 mph
Wind
78%
Humidity
Historical Finish Times
How 30,498 finishers actually crossed the line across 19 years.
Most recent
2025
Total finishers
30,498
Median time
2:09:13
Latest turnout
979
States
48
Turnout by year
2017–2025
Hover the histogram to inspect specific finish times.
Race Photos
Frequently asked
When is the Parks Half Marathon?
The Parks Half Marathon is held on Sunday, September 27, 2026, starting at 6:45 AM.
Where does the Parks Half Marathon take place?
It takes place in Rockville, Maryland.
What distances does the Parks Half Marathon offer?
The half marathon (13.1 miles), plus 13.1 Miles.
Is the Parks Half Marathon course flat and good for a PR?
The Parks Half Marathon is a rolling hills, point to point course. The course is USATF-certified, so finish times can be used for qualifying.
How many people run the Parks Half Marathon?
HalfRuns has finish records for 30,498 runners who have completed the Parks Half Marathon.
HalfRuns editorial — independent, no paid placement.
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