On the second weekend of September, West Main Street fills with runners. At 7:00 a.m. on Saturday, September 12, the Three Sisters Half and Full Marathon launch in the shadow of the three smokestacks the race is named for. If you’re running it (or cheering on someone who is) The Laurel Hotel puts you exactly where you want to be on race morning: steps from the starting line at Caesars Virginia.
A Few Steps from the Start Line
No pre-dawn drive into closed streets. No hunting for parking outside a road-closure zone. The Laurel sits at 1076 W Main Street, a short walk from where the half marathon, full marathon, and relays stage and start. Runners can sleep in a real bed in a spacious room, finish their coffee, and walk to the start. It’s the kind of race morning most participants only wish for.
There’s a deeper connection, too. The Three Sisters Marathon takes its name from the trio of smokestacks at the old Dan River Mills. The Laurel Hotel is housed in the mill’s 1903 headquarters, the former Dan River Company Office Building. You won’t just be staying near the race. You’ll be staying at the heart of the very place it celebrates.
The Course Loop
The Three Sisters is a USATF-certified Boston Qualifier, run as a loop course (two loops for the half, four for the full) winding along the Dan River, through Ballou Park, and into downtown Danville. Because the start and finish sit right at Caesars Virginia, runners staying next door at The Laurel are steps from the action all weekend, and spectators can catch the start, the finish, and the post-race celebration without ever moving the car.
Arrive Friday: 5K, Packet Pickup, and a Full Weekend
Race weekend opens Friday, September 11, with the 5K at 7:00 p.m. Packet pickup runs Thursday and Friday at the Danville Family YMCA on Riverside Drive. Same-day pickup is available downtown at Moss Mountain Outfitters on Main Street, a few minutes from the hotel. After Saturday’s races, a post-race celebration brings together local vendors, food, and live music.
With free on-site parking and EV charging at The Laurel Hotel, you can leave the car put for the weekend and let the road closures work around you instead of against you.
Room for the Whole Crew
Running with a group, or traveling with family to spectate? The Laurel Hotel offers two-story, loft-style accommodations with separate seating areas, classic and deluxe rooms, accessible rooms, and spa rooms. One address, steps from the start, with room to gather before the early alarm and to celebrate after.
Built-In Recovery: Spa Soaking Tubs
Twenty-six point two miles earns you a proper soak. The Laurel Hotel’s spa rooms feature elegant soaking tubs — exactly what a marathoner’s legs are asking for at the finish. Add heated bathroom floors, luxury bedding, Gilchrist & Soames bath products, and an in-room Nespresso for the morning after, and recovery starts the moment you walk back through the door.
Book Your Race-Weekend Stay
Three Sisters weekend fills Danville’s rooms quickly, and the start line won’t get any closer than this. Stay in a beautifully restored textile landmark, steps from the start, with free parking and a soaking tub waiting at the finish.
Book your Three Sisters Marathon Hotel directly.
