Half Marathon races near Jacksonville

The Amelia Island Half Marathon, held in Fernandina Beach, Florida, offers a 12k option for those seeking a shorter run. This event is organized by women, for women, with female planners, coaches, and athletes guiding the race's design. The course winds through historic Fernandina Beach and Old Town before proceeding onto the shaded roads near Fort Clinch. Participants will also see ocean vistas, contributing to its recognition as a notable beach half marathon.

The Jacksonville Marine Corps Half Marathon & Freedom 5K starts runners and walkers downtown Jacksonville near Riverfront Plaza, with both distances sharing the start on Hogan and Water Street. The half marathon is a 13.1-mile road race, paired with a shorter 5K, and the event is one of Jacksonville’s larger running days, drawing more than 3,000 participants in a past running. The race formerly used the Marine Corps Half Marathon name, and the starting area sits where the Jacksonville Landing once stood. The half marathon route is mostly flat and uses an out-and-back layout along city streets near the St. Johns River. Early on, runners encounter the main climb of the day with a bridge crossing toward Friendship Park, then return to the north side by way of the Acosta Bridge and follow Riverside Avenue along the river. The course continues through neighborhood streets, with turns near Willow Branch Park, St. Johns Avenue, Boone Park, Fishweir Park, and Yukon Street, where runners reach the halfway point before heading back over much of the same ground toward the finish.