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Getting to the Eilat Desert Marathon 2026, and getting home

Friday 27 November, starting from the Dan Eilat promenade. Kit pick-up opens on Thursday afternoon, the marathon starts at 06:20, and Eilat is about 4 hours from Tel Aviv.

See who's driving to EilatRace site

Updated September 2026 · Race details from the organizer's own site

3 people sharing a ride at night

Getting to Eilat

Eilat is about 4 hours by car from Tel Aviv and about 3.5 from Jerusalem, most of it on Route 90 through the Arava. Flights land at Ramon Airport, north of the city. Buses run from the center but take longer. Most runners drive down on Thursday, and a 4 hour drive with 1 runner in the car is exactly the trip worth sharing.

The weekend in order

According to Marathon Israel's timetable, the expo and race kit pick-up open on Thursday 26 November at 14:00 on the Dan Hotel promenade. On Friday the marathon starts at 06:20, followed by the half marathon, the 10 km and the 5 km. Awards and Kabbalat Shabbat are on the promenade on Friday afternoon.

Getting home

The drive back is the part people leave open. Leaving on Friday afternoon means racing Shabbat; staying means driving back on Saturday night or Sunday. Either way, 4 hours alone after a marathon is a long drive. Settle it before you go down.

When and where

Friday 27 November 2026, start and finish by the Dan Eilat promenade. Kit pick-up from Thursday 26 November, 14:00.

Distances

Marathon 42.2 km at 06:20, then the half marathon, 10 km and 5 km. Desert trails, gravel and technical sections.

From your city

Tel Aviv about 4 hours, Jerusalem about 3.5, Beer Sheva about 2.5. Flights to Ramon Airport.

Traveling with runners already going

The Desert Marathon has a ride board on PairMee. See who is driving down from your area and ask to join, or post your own trip and choose who comes along. Whoever posts the ride approves everyone who joins, and there is a women-only option. It is free, and fuel is agreed between you.

Driving there, post seatsLooking for a ride

Questions runners ask

When is the Eilat Desert Marathon 2026?
Friday 27 November 2026, starting from the Dan Eilat promenade. Distances are the marathon, half marathon, 10 km and 5 km, organized by Marathon Israel.
What time does the marathon start?
According to Marathon Israel, the marathon starts at 06:20, with the shorter distances after it. Check their timetable for the exact times of each.
When is race kit pick-up?
The expo and kit pick-up open on Thursday 26 November at 14:00 on the Dan Hotel promenade, per the official timetable, with some last kits on race morning.
How long is the drive to Eilat?
About 4 hours from Tel Aviv, 3.5 from Jerusalem and 2.5 from Beer Sheva. Flights land at Ramon Airport.
How do runners get home?
Some leave on Friday afternoon before Shabbat, others drive back on Saturday night or Sunday. Either way, it is a long drive after a race, and one worth sharing with a runner going back to the same area.

PairMee does not organize this race. Details about the race belong to Marathon Israel and appear here to save you the search. You can also read how it works or what we have to say about safety.

4 hours to Eilat, better shared

Post your drive down and back, and approve the runners who join.

See who's goingSee how it works