How do I register for the REVEL Mt Charleston Marathon?

Registration is open to all runners through the official REVEL website. It typically opens in August and closes in March or when the race sells out. Spots do fill, so registering early is recommended.

Is the REVEL Mt Charleston Marathon a Boston qualifier?

Yes, the course is USATF certified and qualifies for Boston. A high percentage of finishers earn a BQ, making this one of the more reliably fast marathons in the country.

What is the elevation profile like?

The course is a point-to-point descent from Mt Charleston, starting at approximately 7,600 feet and finishing near 2,500 feet, for a net drop of close to 5,100 feet. Total elevation gain is only 186 feet, so the course runs almost entirely downhill.

What should I expect from race-day weather?

The finish area in the Las Vegas valley averages a high near 75°F and a low near 53°F. The start on Mt Charleston is typically 15 to 25 degrees cooler, so plan to dress in layers you can discard in the early miles.

What is the time limit for the marathon?

The time limit is approximately 6 hours and 33 minutes from the start.

How large is the field?

Recent editions have seen roughly 1,100 to 1,200 finishers, making this a smaller, less crowded race compared to major city marathons.

Is the course USATF certified?

Yes, the REVEL Mt Charleston Marathon course is USATF certified.

Sat, Apr 3 · 2027Las Vegas, NVSince 2016

REVEL Mt Charleston Marathon

Starting high on Mt Charleston and dropping nearly a mile in elevation to the Las Vegas valley, this point-to-point course is built for runners chasing a fast time. The climb is almost nonexistent. The descent is relentless.

Net downhillOpenBQ Hotbed

Visit race website

REVEL MT CHARLESTON · US

REVEL Mt Charleston

SAT, APR 3

2027

UNLOCK YOUR FIT SCORE

How does REVEL Mt Charleston stack up for you?

Answer 6 questions, and we’ll score this race honestly and compare it against every other marathon in our directory.

Take the 2-min quiz

Race Overview

EST. 2016

This one is straightforward: you start at 7,600 feet on Mt Charleston, and you run downhill to Las Vegas. Almost all of the work is done by gravity. The first several miles drop hard through the mountain, and it feels effortless early. That is the trap. Your quads are absorbing a lot of stress before you even realize it, and the damage accumulates quietly. Don't go out at the pace the slope seems to offer you.

The course is genuinely fast if you run it right. Nearly 40 percent of finishers go home with a Boston qualifier, which tells you something real about the design. It's a small field, which means no crowding, clean tangents, and a relaxed atmosphere at the start. The morning temperature up top runs 15 to 25 degrees cooler than the finish, so dress in layers you can shed. By the time you reach the valley the weather is warm, so don't overdress for the second half. Registration opens in August on the REVEL website and closes in March or when it sells out. It fills, so don't sit on it.

Field size

~1.2k

1,179 finishers

BQ rate

39%

Among the highest in the US

Time limit

6:33

Standard cutoff

Entry

Open

First-come registration

The Course

186 ft total gain

Total ascent

↑186 ft

Total descent

↓5,100 ft

Net elevation

↓4,914 ft

Highest point

7,600 ft

Lowest point

2,502 ft

Course shape

Point to point

Different start and finish

The course starts at roughly 7,600 feet on Mt Charleston and drops to about 2,500 feet at the finish, shedding nearly 5,100 feet with only 186 feet of gain. The descent is concentrated in the first half, where grades are steepest. Quad fatigue is the primary risk. Runners who go out too hard on the early downhill often pay for it after mile 18. The surface is paved road throughout. Wind exposure on the upper mountain sections can be a factor depending on conditions. Pace the first 10 miles conservatively, let your legs settle into the gradient, and save something for the flatter final miles into the valley.

DIFFICULTYFLATPR-FRIENDLYMODERATE

View official course map Past results

Race-Day Weather

10-year median

Low

53°F

High

75°F

30°MARATHON-IDEAL 45–60°80°

What to expect

The start is up at elevation, and at 7,600 feet in early April it can be genuinely cold at the gun. Bring a throwaway layer for the corral. As you drop down the mountain, temperatures climb, and by the time you reach the valley floor you could be running in the mid-70s. The back half is more exposed, so don't let the cool start fool you into underestimating the warmth that's coming. Plan your hydration accordingly and dress in removable layers.

Entry

OPEN

Open registration through official REVEL website. Registration typically opens in August and closes in March or when the race sells out.

Register on race site

Logistics

For runners travelling in

Closest airport

LAS

6 mi

from the start

≈ 10 min transferOn the doorstep

What to expect

Most travelling runners fly into LAS, about 6 miles from the start, right on the doorstep by rideshare or transit, roughly a 10-minute trip. Stay close to the start in Las Vegas, NV so you're not fighting race-morning closures and transit on tired legs. Arrive a day early to clear the expo and bib pickup, and build in buffer for gear-check and corral entry.