Sticker Shock? Why Marathon Weekend Hotels Are So Expensive

One of the most common messages I get from runners goes something like this:

"I just got into the marathon... why are all the hotels so expensive?!"

If you've never traveled for a major marathon before, you're not imagining things. Hotel prices really do jump—sometimes dramatically.

The good news? Once you understand why, the prices become a little less shocking, and it's easier to decide where it's worth spending your money.

It's not just the runners

When you think about a marathon with 50,000 runners, it's easy to forget that many of them aren't traveling alone.

They're bringing spouses, kids, parents, and friends. Add volunteers, race staff, vendors, media, and spectators, and suddenly tens of thousands of additional people are all competing for the same hotel rooms on the same weekend.

Hotels know demand is high, and prices reflect it.

Unfortunately, this isn't unique to Chicago or London. The same thing happens in Berlin, New York, Tokyo, Boston—really any major destination marathon.

There usually isn't a hidden bargain

Everyone hopes there's a secret hotel a few blocks from the start that's half the price.

Occasionally, a cancellation creates a great opportunity, and I always keep an eye out for those. But I never recommend planning your marathon weekend around getting lucky.

The reality is that, regardless of the tradeoffs you make, you're probably going to pay more than you'd like. That's simply the nature of marathon weekends.

Instead of asking, "How can I find the cheapest hotel?" I think it's more helpful to ask, "How can I get the best value?"

Every marathon hotel is a tradeoff

Want to stay within walking distance of the finish? You'll probably pay more.

Want to save money? You may be taking the train on race morning.

Traveling with your family? You might choose a neighborhood with more restaurants, parks, and things to do instead of the hotel that's closest to the start. Or you might decide it's worth spending a little more for a hotel that can serve as a comfortable home base during the weekend—a place where your family can warm up if it's cold, cool off if it's hot, let the kids nap, grab a snack, or simply take a break between cheering spots.

There isn't a right answer. Every marathon hotel is a tradeoff between price, convenience, location, and the overall experience you want to have.

Why I usually recommend hotels over vacation rentals

I've personally stayed in Airbnbs for marathon weekends and had great experiences.

But when I'm helping clients, I usually recommend hotels.

The biggest reason is reliability.

Unfortunately, it's not unheard of for Airbnb or Vrbo hosts to cancel reservations before major events so they can relist the property at a higher price. It certainly doesn't happen every time—but after months of training, why introduce that risk?

Hotels also tend to make race weekend easier. After 26.2 miles, it's nice to have food nearby, bottled water, luggage storage, and a front desk if something goes wrong. Those little conveniences often end up being worth more than people expect.

My biggest piece of advice

If you find a hotel that checks most of your boxes and has a good cancellation policy, book it.

You can always keep looking.

In fact, that's exactly what I often do with my clients. We secure a refundable option so they know they have somewhere to stay, then keep an eye out for cancellations or better values as race weekend approaches.

What you usually can't do is go back and book yesterday's price.