What Vacation Races does

Vacation Races is a privately held, founder-operated destination race company founded in 2012 and headquartered in Washington, USA, with 11-50 employees. It organizes half marathons, ultramarathons, and multi-day trail running festivals held at iconic U.S. national parks and scenic locations, including Zion, Bryce Canyon, Yosemite, Grand Teton, Yellowstone, Glacier, Mount Rainier, Joshua Tree, Rocky Mountain, Great Smoky Mountains, Mount Rushmore, Moab, and Antelope Canyon. The product portfolio spans ten half marathon events, three dedicated ultra events (Bryce Canyon Ultras, Zion Ultras, Antelope Canyon Ultras) with distances from 30K to 100 miles, and two Trailfests (Moab Trailfest, Grand Circle Trailfest) that combine daily timed races with on-site camping, meals, glamping, and festival amenities.

The company operates a direct-to-consumer go-to-market, selling race registrations through its own website (vacationraces.com) supplemented by third-party platforms UltraSignUp and Let's Do This. Merchandise and add-ons such as iTab medal engravings, drop bag shipping, and camping reservations are sold through its own e-commerce storefront. The tech stack is non-proprietary: the website runs on Wix, race timing is handled by Brooksee, live tracking by Laurel, photos by FinisherPix, and a third-party quiz tool from Flint powers race recommendations. There is no evidence of in-house software development, AI/ML systems, or patents.

Vacation Races generates revenue primarily through tiered race entry fees that range from $125 for half marathons up to $500 for 100-mile ultras, with earlier registration windows offering 10-30% discounts. Secondary revenue streams include multi-day Trailfest All Festival Passes ($1,375-$1,475), glamping and RV packages ($30-$1,775), merchandise sales, and ancillary services such as meal tickets, pacer registration fees, and portable showers. Customer segments center on recreational road and trail runners, ultra-distance endurance athletes, trail running enthusiasts seeking multi-day community experiences, and families combining race participation with vacation travel; all participants are individual consumers with no disclosed enterprise accounts.

Name

Vacation Races

Legal name

Vacation Races

Website

https://vacationraces.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Vacation Races is a privately held destination race company that organizes half marathons, ultramarathons, and multi-day trail running festivals at iconic U.S. national parks. It sells race entries, camping packages, and merchandise direct-to-consumer to recreational and ultra-endurance runners across 15+ events annually.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Race Entry Fees: Primary revenue stream from half marathon, ultra marathon, and trail race registrations. Pricing varies by event distance and timing of registration (early release, current release, final release). Entry fees range from approximately $125 for half marathons to $500 for 100-mile ultras.
2. Camping and Glamping Packages: Multi-day events like Trailfests offer on-site camping accommodations including tent sites, RV spots, and glamping options. Glamping packages range from $445 for solo shared tent to $1,775 for 4-person glamping. RV and van spots available from $30-$165.
3. Merchandise Sales: Online store selling race merchandise including finisher medals, event apparel, and commemorative items. Additional purchases include iTab personalized medal engravings at $15.
4. Add-on Services: Additional revenue from meal tickets, crew/pacer registration fees, drop bag shipping ($35 per bag), shower services ($5), and Big Agnes sleeping pad rentals ($45).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Vacation Races organizes destination running events at iconic US national parks and scenic locations. The company sells race registrations for half marathons at ten national parks, multi-day Trailfest festivals, and ultramarathons (ranging from 30K to 100 miles). Each event is structured as a destination travel and racing experience, with bundled lodging, camping/glamping, meals, aid stations, and finisher amenities.

Product overview

Vacation Races is a destination race company offering half marathons, multi-day Trailfests, and ultramarathons at breathtaking U.S. national parks and scenic locations. The portfolio includes ten half marathon events at parks (Grand Teton, Mount Rainier, Joshua Tree, Mount Rushmore, Rocky Mountains, Zion, Yosemite, Great Smoky Mountains, Glacier, Yellowstone), two Trailfest multi-day festivals (Moab and Grand Circle combining Bryce Canyon, Zion, Antelope Canyon), and three dedicated ultra events (Bryce Canyon, Zion, and Antelope Canyon Ultras). Events are designed as destination experiences featuring scenic courses, camping options, aid stations, and runner communities, with registration managed through external platforms and training partnerships with Runna.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Half Marathons Destination half marathon events held at iconic U.S. national parks and scenic locations. Designed for recreational runners and walkers seeking a scenic race experience combined with travel.
• Ultramarathons Ultra-distance racing events including Bryce Canyon Ultras, Zion Ultras, and Antelope Canyon Ultras, with distances from 30K to 100 miles. Features technical desert terrain, via ferrata sections, and slot canyon running for experienced endurance athletes.
• Bryce Canyon Ultras Ultra running event at Lucky 7 Ranch featuring distances from 30K to 100 miles. Course traverses high plateau (7,000-9,000 ft elevation) with views of hoodoo formations, Thunder Mountain Trail, and Sevier River scenery. Includes camping, aid stations, and runner recovery amenities.
• Zion Ultras High-desert ultra running event featuring distances from 30K to 100 miles. Course features mesas, slickrock terrain, Wire Mesa, Gooseberry Mesa, and technical singletrack including the Flying Monkey Trail and Mondo Z Cut.
• Antelope Canyon Ultras Ultra running event near Page, Arizona featuring 50M, 55K, 30K, and Half Marathon distances. Course traverses Navajo Nation land with slot canyon running, slickrock passages, ladders, scrambles, and via ferrata sections. Includes Horseshoe Bend and Marble Canyon views.
• Trailfests (Multi-Day Trail Running Festivals) Multi-day trail running festivals combining daily timed races with camping, meals, and festival activities. Designed for trail runners seeking immersive multi-day experiences combining running, camping, and community in scenic outdoor destinations.
• Moab Trailfest Three-day trail running festival at Old Spanish Trail Arena in Moab, UT. Features daily timed races on Pritchett Arch (13.5 mi), Gemini Bridges (16.75 mi), and Porcupine Rim (14.6 mi). Includes on-site camping, glamping, meals, beer garden, yoga, live music, and keynote speakers.
• Grand Circle Trailfest Five-day multi-destination trail running festival combining Bryce Canyon, Zion, and Antelope Canyon. Features scenic trails, camping, and immersive Southwest experiences across Utah and Arizona national parks.
• Civilian Production Corps Crew member recruitment program for event support. Participants earn competitive day rates while assisting at destination races. Targets van-life enthusiasts, travelers, and companions of runners. Includes volunteer and paid crew opportunities.

Named customers11 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• HotelPlannercoreGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial lodging partner providing exclusive discounted rates for race participants. HotelPlanner pages are set up with official race weekend dates and lodging options near expo, start line, and finish line locations for all Vacation Races events.
• RunnacoreGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial training partner providing personalized ultra training plans. Vacation Races runners can unlock two free weeks of Runna training with code VACATIONRUNNA. Partnership includes co-branded marketing and training recommendations on event pages.
• LaurelcoreTechnology or IntegrationLive results tracking system for Vacation Races events. Provides real-time runner position tracking estimated between checkpoints based on pacing data.
• iTabminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMedal personalization partner providing custom engraved plates with runner name and finishing time that attach to finisher medal ribbons.
• Geyser SystemsminorOthersPortable shower service provider for Bryce Canyon Ultras camping. Eco-friendly portable showers using less than 1 gallon of water per shower, offered at $5 per shower.
• Greater ZioncoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPresenting sponsor for Zion Ultras. Regional tourism organization promoting the Greater Zion area as a premier destination for outdoor recreation including trail running.
• UltraSignUpcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThird-party registration platform for ultra marathon events. Handles race registration, registration modifications, and crew/pacer registration.
• Let's Do ThiscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThird-party registration platform for Trailfest and select events. Handles race registration, deferrals, and transfer processing.
• Wander ProjectminorOthersFundraising partnership allowing runners to raise money for charitable initiatives supporting communities and wild places that host Vacation Races events.
• BrookseecoreTechnology or IntegrationTiming and results partner providing race timing services, live tracking, and results hosting for Vacation Races events.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Spartan Race: Global obstacle racing and endurance event brand with multiple distance tiers and destination-based events. Comparable paid endurance-event structure with tiered pricing and merchandise revenue, though obstacle format is distinct from trail/ultra running.
• Tough Mudder: Large-scale obstacle and endurance event series with branded event experiences, festival atmosphere, and merchandise. Overlaps with Vacation Races on the "paid endurance experience" value proposition and direct-to-consumer registration model, though obstacles rather than running are the core.
• UTMB World Series: Premier international ultra-trail running series with qualifying races at iconic mountain and trail locations globally. Comparable in premium destination ultra positioning and technical trail experience, though at significantly larger international scale.
• Rock 'n' Roll Marathon Series: Owned by IRONMAN (Advance Publications), Rock 'n' Roll runs destination-themed marathons and half marathons across US cities with entertainment along course. Directly comparable business model (paid race entries in destination locations) but at much larger scale and without Vacation Races' national park or trail focus.

Direct peers

• Ragnar Relay Series: Multi-day team running relays held at US scenic locations, with overnight camping built into the format. Closely comparable to Vacation Races' Trailfest multi-day destination events in the bundled lodging-plus-running structure and team/social dynamic.
• Big's Backyard Ultra: Last-person-standing ultra format held annually in Tennessee with growing international satellite events. Comparable in paid ultra-distance competitive format and high-endurance participant profile, though single-event vs. multi-event portfolio.
• Wine Country Half Marathons (Destination Races): Destination half marathons held at iconic US scenic locations (Napa, Sonoma, Santa Barbara). Mirrors Vacation Races' "destination race at premium location" core proposition, similar one-time entry fee pricing and direct-to-consumer registration model.

Emerging players

• Mount to Coast: Premium destination-focused running brand running point-to-point ultras and marathons at scenic US and international locations. Closely aligned with Vacation Races' destination-ultra thesis and high entry-fee structure.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/vacationraces
• YouTubeyoutube.com/vacationraces
• Facebookfacebook.com/vacationraces
• Instagraminstagram.com/vacationraces
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/vacation-races

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Vacation Races