Pennsylvania in late fall is a runner's sweet spot. The summer humidity is gone, the hills are lit up with color, and the race calendar still has real room in it before winter settles in. If you have been meaning to put a half marathon on the books this season, this is the window to do it — four strong races are on the schedule between late October and early December 2026, spread from the Laurel Highlands to the Lehigh Valley to the middle of the state.
Here is what is coming up, and why each one is worth a look. Whether this is your first 13.1 or one of many, there is a race here that fits.
End of the Road Half Marathon & One Tunnel 4 Miler
Saturday, October 24, 2026 — Waterfall, Pennsylvania
This one lands first on the calendar, and it earns its name. Waterfall is tucked into the ridges of south-central Pennsylvania, so expect a course that feels like a fall road trip rather than a loop around a business park. The paired 4-miler gives you an option if you are bringing a friend who is not quite ready for 13.1 yet — a nice way to make a race weekend out of it. Late October timing means peak leaf season is a real possibility. If you want one more big effort before the weather turns, this is your race.
InFirst Bank Veteran's Marathon, Half Marathon, and Marathon Relay
Sunday, November 1, 2026 — Blairsville, Pennsylvania
A November race in Blairsville, with a marathon, half marathon, and marathon relay all sharing the day. That combination tends to make for a bigger, more energetic event than a half-only race — more people on course, more people at the finish, and relay teams adding a different kind of buzz. It is also a meaningful date on the calendar, falling around Veterans Day weekend. If you have been looking for a fall half with a little extra atmosphere, this one delivers.
2026 Delaware & Lehigh Heritage Half Marathon Walk and Run
Sunday, November 1, 2026 — Slatington, Pennsylvania
The name says a lot: this is a half marathon and a walk, which makes it one of the more welcoming race days on this list. The Delaware & Lehigh corridor is flat, scenic, and steeped in canal-and-railroad history, and the walk division means you can bring along someone who wants the distance without the pace pressure. Same day as the Blairsville race, so if you are choosing between the two, pick based on whether you want hills and a marathon crowd or a gentler path and a walk-friendly field.
Nittany Valley Half Marathon
Sunday, December 6, 2026 — State College, Pennsylvania
A December half is a specific kind of commitment, and Nittany Valley rewards it. State College in early winter is quiet, the course rolls through the kind of countryside that makes central Pennsylvania feel like its own place, and there is something genuinely satisfying about closing out the year with 13.1 miles when most people have already hung up their shoes. Layer up, adjust your expectations for pace, and treat it as the season finale it is.
How to Pick
If you want the earliest date and the best shot at fall color, go with Waterfall on October 24. If you want the biggest race-day feel, Blairsville on November 1 is your pick. If you want a flatter, walk-friendly option on the same weekend, Slatington is right there. And if you want to end the year on a high note, State College on December 6 is the one.
One practical note: fall half marathons in Pennsylvania fill up, and the two November 1 races are competing for the same weekend on your calendar. Decide soon, register soon, and give yourself a proper training block rather than a scramble.
Ready to see everything on the calendar? Head to our Pennsylvania half marathon directory to browse all the upcoming races in the state, compare dates, and find the one that fits your fall.
Training is easier with support, and race day is better with a plan. Pick your race, find your people, and keep the adventure going.