US road lotteries
Carmel, CA, United States
Opened Oct 14
Subscribing adds every date for this race to your calendar and keeps them current.
2028 key dates
Dates for the 2028 edition haven't been announced yet.
How entry works
Standard marathon places are given out through a free-to-enter random drawing that runs for about two weeks in late summer, eight months before the April race, and your card is charged only if you are picked. If you miss out, a few first-come routes cost more or come with conditions: VIP packages, charity fundraising, Marathon Tours packages, and the Boston 2 Big Sur challenge for runners already entered in that year's Boston Marathon.
Previous cycle
Big Sur VIP guaranteed entry opens (first-come, 400 places): Aug 19, 2026 (source)
Random drawing opens: Aug 19, 2026, 9:00 AM PDT (source)
Random drawing closes: Sep 2, 2026, 11:59 PM PDT (source)
Drawing results (selected runners charged and emailed): Sep 8, 2026 (source)
Other distances open first-come (relay, 21-miler, 11-miler, 12K, 5K): Sep 10, 2026 (source)
Boston 2 Big Sur registration opens: Oct 14, 2026, 8:00 AM PDT (source)
Race day (40th Big Sur International Marathon): Apr 25, 2027 (source)
