RunRace USA › California › Rock 'n' Roll San Diego › The course

One route, three synchronized views

The Rock 'n' Roll San Diego course

26.2 miles · about 1166 modeled feet of climb · roughly 7 to 404 ft elevation

Fly the course

The whole course, built from the best available published route trace and an extruded model of San Diego. Scrub it, change the camera, or let it play. Nothing here is a video: it is drawing the city live.

Route statusOrganizer-linked course file. Google My Maps 'Rock n Roll San Diego 2026-community' embedded on the official runrocknroll.com/events/san-diego/traffic-impact page. KML placemark 'San Diego RnR 2025 Marathon- Colleen Version 2/17 with DT Edits' measures 26.66 mi (421 pts), start 32.7367,-117.1593 (Sixth & Quince), end 32.7199,-117.1657 (Ash & Union) — the organizer's own course line, reused unchanged for 2026.

The route line uses the best published course trace available. Public-domain USGS and USDA aerial photography plus USGS 3DEP elevation are baked into RunRace USA, so the flyover makes no paid map API or third-party runtime requests. Buildings, roads, parks and water use OpenStreetMap, ODbL. This is photographic terrain with modeled architecture, not photogrammetry. Bridge approaches, elevations and facade details are approximations; the organizer's published route remains the reference.

Elevation, mile for mile

Marathon elevation26.2 miles · about 1166 ft of climb
-40 -20 0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180 200 220 240 260 280 300 320 340 360 380 400 420 440 Mile 0.0 to 0.2: +0.6% Mile 0.2 to 0.4: -0.0% Mile 0.4 to 0.6: +1.3% Mile 0.6 to 0.8: -1.0% Mile 0.8 to 1.0: -0.0% Mile 1.0 to 1.2: +0.7% Mile 1.2 to 1.4: -0.3% Mile 1.4 to 1.6: +2.3% Mile 1.6 to 1.8: -6.5% Mile 1.8 to 2.0: +3.4% Mile 2.0 to 2.2: +0.1% Mile 2.2 to 2.4: +2.6% Mile 2.4 to 2.6: +0.6% Mile 2.6 to 2.8: +0.4% Mile 2.8 to 3.0: -0.1% Mile 3.0 to 3.2: +0.8% Mile 3.2 to 3.4: +0.7% Mile 3.4 to 3.6: -0.2% Mile 3.6 to 3.8: +0.5% Mile 3.8 to 4.0: -0.0% Mile 4.0 to 4.2: +0.6% Mile 4.2 to 4.4: -0.5% Mile 4.4 to 4.6: +0.2% Mile 4.6 to 4.8: +0.0% Mile 4.8 to 5.0: +0.2% Mile 5.0 to 5.2: +0.3% Mile 5.2 to 5.4: +0.0% Mile 5.4 to 5.6: -1.3% Mile 5.6 to 5.8: +0.7% Mile 5.8 to 6.0: +0.7% Mile 6.0 to 6.2: -0.2% Mile 6.2 to 6.4: -0.3% Mile 6.4 to 6.6: -0.3% Mile 6.6 to 6.8: +0.9% Mile 6.8 to 7.0: -0.1% Mile 7.0 to 7.2: -0.6% Mile 7.2 to 7.4: -0.6% Mile 7.4 to 7.6: -0.4% Mile 7.6 to 7.8: -1.1% Mile 7.8 to 8.0: -0.3% Mile 8.0 to 8.2: +0.7% Mile 8.2 to 8.4: -0.2% Mile 8.4 to 8.6: -0.9% Mile 8.6 to 8.8: -2.8% Mile 8.8 to 9.0: -3.1% Mile 9.0 to 9.2: +1.9% Mile 9.2 to 9.4: +5.5% Mile 9.4 to 9.6: +0.2% Mile 9.6 to 9.8: -1.5% Mile 9.8 to 10.0: -1.9% Mile 10.0 to 10.2: +0.1% Mile 10.2 to 10.4: -1.0% Mile 10.4 to 10.6: +0.2% Mile 10.6 to 10.8: +0.5% Mile 10.8 to 11.0: -0.6% Mile 11.0 to 11.2: -0.8% Mile 11.2 to 11.4: +0.2% Mile 11.4 to 11.6: +0.1% Mile 11.6 to 11.8: +0.6% Mile 11.8 to 12.0: -0.2% Mile 12.0 to 12.2: -0.2% Mile 12.2 to 12.4: -0.9% Mile 12.4 to 12.6: -1.0% Mile 12.6 to 12.8: -1.8% Mile 12.8 to 13.0: -4.7% Mile 13.0 to 13.2: -1.8% Mile 13.2 to 13.4: -8.4% Mile 13.4 to 13.6: -3.4% Mile 13.6 to 13.8: +1.3% Mile 13.8 to 14.0: +0.0% Mile 14.0 to 14.2: -0.1% Mile 14.2 to 14.4: -0.4% Mile 14.4 to 14.6: +0.1% Mile 14.6 to 14.8: -0.4% Mile 14.8 to 15.0: +0.0% Mile 15.0 to 15.2: +0.3% Mile 15.2 to 15.4: -0.4% Mile 15.4 to 15.6: -0.6% Mile 15.6 to 15.8: +0.2% Mile 15.8 to 16.0: +0.5% Mile 16.0 to 16.2: +0.3% Mile 16.2 to 16.4: +1.2% Mile 16.4 to 16.6: -0.8% Mile 16.6 to 16.8: -0.2% Mile 16.8 to 17.0: -0.1% Mile 17.0 to 17.2: -0.3% Mile 17.2 to 17.4: +0.0% Mile 17.4 to 17.6: +0.6% Mile 17.6 to 17.8: +0.4% Mile 17.8 to 18.0: -0.6% Mile 18.0 to 18.2: +0.4% Mile 18.2 to 18.4: -0.0% Mile 18.4 to 18.6: +1.0% Mile 18.6 to 18.8: +0.1% Mile 18.8 to 19.0: -0.6% Mile 19.0 to 19.2: -0.2% Mile 19.2 to 19.4: +0.0% Mile 19.4 to 19.6: +0.2% Mile 19.6 to 19.8: +1.2% Mile 19.8 to 20.0: +0.2% Mile 20.0 to 20.2: +1.3% Mile 20.2 to 20.4: +0.3% Mile 20.4 to 20.6: -0.1% Mile 20.6 to 20.8: +1.1% Mile 20.8 to 21.0: -1.6% Mile 21.0 to 21.2: +1.2% Mile 21.2 to 21.4: +0.6% Mile 21.4 to 21.6: +1.0% Mile 21.6 to 21.8: -0.7% Mile 21.8 to 22.0: +0.2% Mile 22.0 to 22.2: -0.5% Mile 22.2 to 22.4: +0.9% Mile 22.4 to 22.6: +2.0% Mile 22.6 to 22.8: +4.3% Mile 22.8 to 23.0: +5.4% Mile 23.0 to 23.2: +4.1% Mile 23.2 to 23.4: +1.1% Mile 23.4 to 23.6: -2.6% Mile 23.6 to 23.8: -2.8% Mile 23.8 to 24.0: -1.8% Mile 24.0 to 24.2: -1.1% Mile 24.2 to 24.4: -1.2% Mile 24.4 to 24.6: -0.5% Mile 24.6 to 24.8: -0.7% Mile 24.8 to 25.0: -0.3% Mile 25.0 to 25.2: -2.6% Mile 25.2 to 25.4: -0.4% Mile 25.4 to 25.6: -1.5% Mile 25.6 to 25.8: -0.8% Mile 25.8 to 26.0: +0.6% Mile 26.0 to 26.2: -2.0% 5 10 15 20 25 mile +236 ft +58 ft +47 ft +38 ft
steep up up flat down steep down

This Marathon profile covers 26.2 miles, ranges from roughly 7 to 404 feet, and contains about 1166 feet of modeled climb.

  • , mile 21.9 to 23.42: 236 feet up, 2.9% average.
  • , mile 19.14 to 20.2: 58 feet up, 1.0% average.
  • , mile 20.46 to 20.81: 47 feet up, 2.5% average.
  • , mile 0.9 to 1.59: 38 feet up, 1.0% average.

Click anywhere on the profile to move the flyover to that point. Changing distance in the player changes the profile and plan map with it.

The course on a map

1 5 10 13 15 20 25 26 PACIFIC OCEAN
Marathon route26.2 miles
course featured climb start/finish

Gold is the selected modeled course; route provenance is stated beside the flyover.

The climbs that shape the day

Climb 1

Mile 21.9 to 23.42

236 feet of modeled rise · 2.9% average.

Climb 2

Mile 19.14 to 20.2

58 feet of modeled rise · 1.0% average.

Climb 3

Mile 20.46 to 20.81

47 feet of modeled rise · 2.5% average.

Climb 4

Mile 0.9 to 1.59

38 feet of modeled rise · 1.0% average.

Mile by mile

Every row uses the same modeled route and elevation surface as the player. Net change shows the shape of that mile; the common sparkline scale makes hard and easy sections comparable.

MileShapeModeled netWhat happens
1+4 ft
2+25 ft
3+56 ft
4+22 ft
5+2 ft
6+4 ft
7-4 ft
8-39 ft
9-81 ft
10+21 ft
11-13 ft
12-4 ft
13-99 ft
14-160 ft
15-11 ft
16+5 ft
170 ft
18+3 ft
19+3 ft
20+18 ft
21+9 ft
22-3 ft
23+164 ft
24-23 ft
25-54 ftCalifornia Tower (Balboa Park / Museum of Us)
26-52 ft

The city model is race-specific

Get your bearings with these local landmarks along the course. Their map positions and recorded dimensions guide the 3D models; small architectural details remain approximate.

California Tower (Balboa Park / Museum of Us)

Near mile 24.5

Built into the flyover as a race-specific local landmark. The model rises about 60 meters.

San Diego Central Courthouse

Near mile 26.2

Built into the flyover as a race-specific local landmark. The model rises about 118 meters.

Route provenance

Organizer-linked course file. Google My Maps 'Rock n Roll San Diego 2026-community' embedded on the official runrocknroll.com/events/san-diego/traffic-impact page. KML placemark 'San Diego RnR 2025 Marathon- Colleen Version 2/17 with DT Edits' measures 26.66 mi (421 pts), start 32.7367,-117.1593 (Sixth & Quince), end 32.7199,-117.1657 (Ash & Union) — the organizer's own course line, reused unchanged for 2026.

Course lines can change between editions. Confirm late adjustments on the official race site →

Know the line. Run the line.

Register for the 2027 Rock 'n' Roll San Diego →on Rock 'n' Roll Running Series

Course geometry provenance is stated beside the player; elevation profiles always use the same route loaded there. City geometry is OpenStreetMap, ODbL. Aerial imagery is from USGS and USDA; other images carry their own source credits. Weather figures use Open-Meteo reanalysis for June 2-10 across 2016-2025 at the start line. Schedule, prices and expo hours were checked in 2026-08-27 and are the fields most likely to move: confirm them on www.runrocknroll.com/events/san-diego before you book anything. Spot an error? Tell us and we'll fix it fast.