Here's something Florida runners know that visitors learn the hard way: half marathon season in this state doesn't start in January. It starts when the humidity finally gives up. From late October through mid-December, the mornings turn reasonable, the air gets lighter, and a 13.1 stops feeling like an endurance test you survive and starts feeling like something you actually look forward to.
There are 19 upcoming half marathons in Florida in this window alone. That's great news, and also a gentle warning, because the races runners talk about are the ones that fill up first. We pulled four out of the pile that are worth planning your fall and winter around — whether this is your first 13.1 or your fifteenth. All four scored 80 or better out of 100 in our race ratings, which means you're choosing between good options rather than hunting for one.
2026 Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend — Friday, October 23, 2026 — Orlando
This one opens the whole stretch, and it does it on a Friday. A Friday race day is rarer than you'd think, and it changes the shape of your trip: travel in Thursday, race Friday, and still have the entire weekend ahead of you afterward instead of behind you. Orlando is simple to reach from just about anywhere, and anyone coming along to cheer will have no trouble filling their time. It earned a Runner Favorite score of 83 out of 100. Because it's the earliest of the four, it's also the one that asks you to start training soonest — which, in late-summer Florida heat, is a real commitment worth naming out loud.
Tom Walker Half Marathon & 5k — Sunday, November 8, 2026 — Gainesville
A couple of weeks later, the action shifts north to Gainesville. November in north Florida is one of the better arguments for living here, and this race pairs a half marathon with a 5K on the same day — which makes it an unusually easy sell for a partner, a friend, or a family member who isn't ready for 13.1 yet but wants to be part of the morning. It scored 83 out of 100, a Runner Favorite. If you're building toward a late-fall goal and want a race that doesn't require a flight, this is a strong middle stop on the calendar.
Space Coast Marathon & Half Marathon — Sunday, November 22, 2026 — Cocoa
This is the highest-rated race on our list at 92 out of 100, squarely in Runner Favorite territory. The late-November date sits just before the holiday calendar gets loud, which makes it a clean anchor for a fall training block: you build through October, sharpen in early November, and race before everything else demands your attention. Cocoa is an easy drive from much of central Florida, and the timing works whether you're chasing a personal best or simply want one more long finish line before the year turns over.
Mount Dora Half Marathon & 5K — Saturday, December 19, 2026 — Mount Dora
Six days before Christmas, Mount Dora hands you a Saturday race day and a chance to close out your running year properly. It scored 89 out of 100. The paired 5K makes it one of the more group-friendly events of the four, and the mid-December timing lands right in that window when a lot of runners are looking for one last thing to point at before the calendar resets. If your season has been a little scattered, this is the race that gives it a shape.
How to pick your Florida half
Four races, four different jobs: Disney Wine & Dine starts the season, Tom Walker splits it, Space Coast anchors it, and Mount Dora ends it. If you're new to the distance, pick the one whose date gives you enough weeks to train without panic. If you've done this before, pick the one that fits the goal you're actually chasing — a fast day, a fun trip, or a finish line that closes the year on a high note.
And if none of these four fit your schedule, that's fine too. Florida has a deep bench this time of year. Head to our full half marathons in Florida directory to see every upcoming race in the state, filter by what matters to you, and lock in your next start line before the good ones disappear.