For many years the Portland Marathon has been rated as one of the premier marathon events in the United States. It has been ranked as one of the top 10 local road race events in the U.S, and one of the top 40 races of all types and distances.

Runner's World has called the Portland Marathon "the best people's marathon in the West" and for the past ten years has ranked it as one of the top 10 or 15 marathons in the country. Runner's World also states that "perhaps more than any other running event in the country, this race keeps evolving, keeps getting better". Runner's World has chosen the Portland Marathon as the "Race of the Month" and said the event is one of the "friendliest, best organized, most family-oriented races in the country.