Bay of Fundy International Marathon
Lubec, United States · June · Independent
Why people love it
- Starts at West Quoddy Head Light and crosses into Canada over the FDR Memorial Bridge.
- RaceRaves 4.9 from 20 ratings, with scenery 5.0 and production 4.9.
- Aid about every 3.2 km (2 mi), with gels at 18.5 km (11.5 mi).
- Four lighthouses on the full course, with whales sometimes seen near the turnaround.
- Open entry, capped at 250 marathoners for 2027; Boston qualifying.
Watch out for
- Hilly: hills from 21 to 29 km (miles 13 to 18) and a big climb near 40 km (mile 25).
- Passport or passport card needed; border check at bib pickup on Campobello.
- Lodging is scarce and the venue is 2 to 3 hours from airports.
- Small field means small crowds, and hot years reach 31 °C (87 °F).
- Regular start is 06:30 Eastern; the 6-hour limit is tight on a hilly course.
Race
How racers feel about it, how well it is run, and how it treats a first timer. Counts for 28% of the overall score.
Toughness: Very tough
- Racer satisfactionBucket list4.6
RaceRaves 4.9 from 20 ratings; nearly everyone calls it a favourite. Evidence is mostly one aggregator, so the score is held a little below that. · Medium confidence
- OrganizationWell run4.4
RaceRaves production 4.9. Smooth passport pre-clearance, volunteers and a name-announcing finish MC; in 2025 spectators were held about an hour at a junction. · Medium confidence
- First timer friendlyDoable2.6
RaceRaves difficulty 4.3. Hills, a 6-hour limit, passport steps and a remote location are a lot for a first marathon. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialSlow1.8
A 2026 reviewer says it is not a PR course: hills from 21 to 29 km (18 mi), then a big climb near 40 km (24.9 mi). · Medium confidence
Course
Scenery, road surface, closures, and room to run. Counts for 20% of the overall score.
- Course scenerySpectacular4.9
RaceRaves scenery 5.0 across 20 ratings. Starts at West Quoddy Head Light, crosses into Canada, passes four lighthouses, and whales were seen near the turnaround. · High confidence
- Room to runRoomy3.9
Only about 165 marathoners on the road, so no crowding. Some narrow rural roads and an out-and-back on Campobello, with no bottleneck reports. · Low confidence
- Road surfaceGood3.7
Listed as paved road, with 6 to 8 km (4 to 5 mi) of packed gravel on the half only. No marathon surface complaints found. · Low confidence
- Road closuresPartly closed3.4
Small rural race with firefighters and sheriffs on traffic. Whether roads are fully closed is not confirmed. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Course flatnessHilly2.0
One reviewer logged about 305 m (1,000 ft) on the half; the full adds a turnaround and a late climb. Full gain is not published. · Medium confidence
- Net downhillEven3.0
Starts and finishes at sea level in Lubec, so no net drop. It is a Boston-qualifying course. · Medium confidence
Support
Crowds, aid stations, the start, and pacers. Counts for 20% of the overall score.
- Start logisticsSmooth3.5
Regular start 06:30 Eastern per the organiser, with an early-start bus at 05:00. Border pre-clearance at packet pickup; late arrivals were accommodated in 2026. · Low confidence
- Pacers and timingSome pace groups3.0
Chip timing and a finish clock. Pace groups are not confirmed. · Low confidence
- Crowd supportDecent2.9
Locals, school kids at a water stop and a lively finish, but a small field on a remote course. · Medium confidence
- Aid stationsAbundant4.5
Aid about every 3.2 km (2 mi), gels at 18.5 km (11.5 mi) and the turnaround, EMTs on site, plentiful toilets, big finish spread. · Medium confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 14% of the overall score.
- WindSome wind3.2
Coastal headlands, and a 2025 reviewer mentions wind and rain. No heavy windy reputation. · Low confidence
- Air temperaturePleasant4.0
Highs of 16 to 31 °C (60 to 87 °F) in recent years. Most years cool; 2024 was hot. · Medium confidence
- Weather reliabilityVariable3.3
Rain and wind in 2025, hot in 2024 and 2026, ideal in 2013 and 2015. Coastal Bay of Fundy weather varies. · Low confidence
- Spectator friendlySome viewpoints2.8
Point-to-point with a Canada leg. In 2025 spectators were held about an hour at a junction and walked 0.8 km (0.5 mi) to the finish. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeSea level4.9
Coastal course at sea level, from lighthouse to lighthouse. · High confidence
Stay and travel
Hotels, walkability, getting there, and the town around the race. Counts for 10% of the overall score.
- Hotel availabilitySells out early1.8
Several reviewers from 2017 to 2025 warn that lodging is scarce and to book as soon as you register. · Medium confidence
- Hotel valueNormal3.0
Small-town inns and cottages. No price data found. · Low confidence
- WalkabilitySome driving2.6
The finish is on Water Street in Lubec but the start is at West Quoddy Head Light, so runners need a bus or ride. · Low confidence
- Travel easeAwkward1.6
The organiser says to allow 2 to 3 hours from the nearest airports, plus a passport and a border crossing. · Medium confidence
- LogisticsSome complexity2.6
Bibs are collected on Campobello with passport control. Reviewers call it smooth, but it adds steps and the expo is very small. · Medium confidence
- Town and foodGood4.0
Pre-race lobster supper, local lobster rolls and a farmers market. Acadia, Hopewell Rocks and Saint John are within reach. · Medium confidence
Entry
How hard it is to get a place, and what you get for the fee. Counts for 8% of the overall score.
- Getting inRegister early2.8
Capped at 250 marathoners for 2027, with separate USA and Canada sites and a passport needed a month ahead. · Medium confidence
- Value for moneyGood value4.0
The 2025 fee was about $125 to $141. Handmade medal, shirt, poster, collapsible cup and finish food were mentioned. · Low confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Lubec, Washington County, United States
- Typical month
- June
- Latest or next date
- 20 June 2027
- Organiser
- Independent
- Field size
- About 165 athletes
- First held
- 2013
- Distances
- 42.2 km (26.2 mi)
- Course type
- point-to-point
- Start time
- 06:30
- Cutoff
- 6 hours
- Boston qualifier
- Yes
- Surface
- Paved road; half course includes 4 to 5 miles (6 to 8 km) of packed gravel
- How to get in
- open
- Entry fee
- About $135
- Air temperature
- 9–19 °C (48–66 °F)
- Humidity
- Coastal and damp; rain at the finish in 2025
- Altitude
- 15 m (49 ft)
- Nearest airport
- Bangor International (BGR) or Fredericton (YFC) / Saint John (YSJ)
- Where to stay
- Lubec, Cobscook Bay area, Campobello Island
- Booking
- Lodging is scarce, book as soon as you register. Organiser says allow 2 to 3 hours of travel from the airports.
What racers and reviewers say
- RaceRavesRaced 2026 · aggregator · Positive
20 ratings, 4.9 overall; difficulty 4.3, scenery 5.0, production 4.9, swag 4.3. Marathon and half runners agree the scenery and volunteers are outstanding, the course is hilly (hills from 21 to 29 km (18 mi), big climb near 40 km (24.9 mi)), lodging is scarce and the border process is smooth. Small field, so little crowd noise.
- Quoddy Vacation (It's Bill)Raced 2025 · article · Positive
Over 600 runners across three races from 38 states and 12 countries; event returned after a COVID pause. Water every 2 miles (3.2 km), EMTs on site, fire and sheriff staff on parking, lobster-trap finish banner, name-announcing MC and light rain at the finish. Spectators were held about 1 hour at a junction.
“We are back!”
- Running Magazine (Canada)Raced 2013 · article · Positive
Account of the inaugural 2013 race. Clear skies and mild temperatures, whales spotted near Head Harbour Light, and runners called the hills demanding but the views worth it. Second place finisher said he had never run a harder course.
“a tough course”
- Press Herald / race coverageRaced 2013 · article · neutral
Inaugural-edition coverage: 447 finishers on a point-to-point course from West Quoddy Head Light to Head Harbour Light on Campobello and back to Lubec; runners described it as hilly.
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Sources
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