Grandma's Marathon
Duluth, United States · June · Independent
Why people love it
- Net downhill of 40 m (130 ft) along Lake Superior from Two Harbors to Canal Park.
- Aid every 1.6 km (1 mi) after mile 19, with ice, maple gels and pickle juice.
- Crowds turn loud and costumed over the last 10 km (6 mi) into Duluth.
- Highway 61 is closed to traffic; the finish is by the Aerial Lift Bridge.
- Open first-come entry, about $155, with free start buses.
Watch out for
- Buses reach the start 75 to 90 minutes early; dress warm for 7 °C (45 °F) waits.
- Marathon sold out in 174 minutes for 2026; register the minute entry opens.
- Hotels sell out about 6 months ahead, and Duluth is far from big airports.
- Heat and humidity can turn dangerous: 2025 ended under a red flag at 21 to 26 °C (70s °F).
- Rolling hills and Lemon Drop at 35 to 39 km (miles 22 to 24) bite late.
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: Tough
- Racer satisfactionBucket list4.5
RaceRaves average 4.5 of 5 from 138 ratings. Reviewers say the town comes out all weekend and call it worth doing; logistics are the drawback. · High confidence
- OrganizationWell run4.1
Well-stocked aid and a 2025 storm and heat day handled with a 30 minute delay. Long bus waits and toilet lines cost points. · High confidence
- First timer friendlyFriendly3.7
A 40 m (130 ft) net drop helps, but heat risk, a 75 to 90 minute early bus wait and sold-out lodging do not. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialFast3.9
Net drop of 40 m (130 ft) with rolling hills throughout. A popular PR and Boston qualifier race when the weather is cool. · Medium confidence
Course
Scenery, road surface, closures, and room to run. Counts for 20% of the overall score.
- Course sceneryBeautiful4.3
Lake Superior views along Highway 61, rated 4.3 of 5 for scenery. Fog hid the views in 2018. · High confidence
- Room to runRoomy3.9
The field spreads out after the first mile. Corrals are cramped, especially corral 3. · Medium confidence
- Road surfaceGood3.9
Paved highway and city streets. No surface complaints found. · Low confidence
- Road closuresMostly closed4.4
Highway 61 is closed to traffic for the race. · High confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Course flatnessMostly flat3.5
Gentle rolling hills throughout with a net drop of 40 m (130 ft). Total gain is not published. · Medium confidence
- Net downhillDownhill3.6
Net drop of 40 m (130 ft) over 42.2 km (26.2 mi), a gentle point-to-point descent. Boston qualifier. · High confidence
Support
Crowds, aid stations, the start, and pacers. Counts for 20% of the overall score.
- Start logisticsSome waiting2.6
No parking at the start. Buses from 16 locations arrive 75 to 90 minutes early, with confusing pickup, long toilet lines and confusing return buses. · High confidence
- Pacers and timingGood3.6
Pace groups exist; one marathoner said pacers started too fast. Little other evidence. · Low confidence
- Crowd supportStrong4.0
Sparse outside Duluth until about 21 km (mile 13), then loud with costumes after 32 km (mile 20); the final miles are called outstanding. · Medium confidence
- Aid stationsAbundant4.5
Stations every 3 km (2 mi), then every 1.6 km (1 mi) after mile 19. Ice, maple gels, pickle juice. Some stations close early. · High confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 14% of the overall score.
- WindSome wind3.2
The lake breeze helps. One half marathoner noted a headwind for the first 11 km (7 mi). · Medium confidence
- Air temperaturePleasant3.6
Can be 7 °C (45 °F) and foggy, or hot and humid. 2025 reached 21 to 26 °C (70s °F) under a red flag. · Medium confidence
- Weather reliabilityVariable2.8
2025 brought storms then heat, 2018 fog and rain. Reports range from cool and sunny to hot across years. · High confidence
- Spectator friendlySome viewpoints3.4
Best viewing is in Duluth and Canal Park near the finish; spectators must bus back before runners. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeSea level4.7
The course runs 186 to 226 m (610 to 740 ft) above sea level. · 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 early2.2
Duluth and Superior hotels fill about 6 months out, and the weekend population nearly doubles. · High confidence
- Hotel valueNormal2.6
Hotels are expensive; campgrounds about 15 minutes out cost around $55 a night. · Medium confidence
- WalkabilitySome driving3.0
A bus to the start is required. The finish at Canal Park is walkable. · Medium confidence
- Travel easeOne connection3.0
Duluth's airport is small. Most travel comes via Minneapolis-St Paul, about 250 km (155 mi) away by car. · Medium confidence
- LogisticsSome complexity3.0
The expo is crowded and parking is a problem. The pasta dinner is $20 and unlimited. · Medium confidence
- Town and foodGood4.0
Canal Park, the Aerial Lift Bridge, Grandma's Restaurant and the lake. · 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 inHard2.4
The 2026 marathon sold out in 174 minutes and capacity for 2027 is cut to 8,000. · High confidence
- Value for moneyGood value3.7
About $155 with free start buses. Medals are praised; shirts and post-race food are mixed. · Medium confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Duluth, North Shore of Lake Superior, United States
- Typical month
- June
- Latest or next date
- 19 June 2027
- Organiser
- Independent
- Field size
- About 7,500 athletes
- First held
- 1977
- Distances
- 42.2 km (26.2 mi)
- Course type
- point-to-point
- Start time
- 07:45
- Boston qualifier
- Yes
- Surface
- Paved Highway 61 and city streets, closed to traffic
- How to get in
- open
- Sells out
- Yes
- Entry fee
- About $155
- Air temperature
- 8–20 °C (46–68 °F)
- Humidity
- Can be humid; lake breeze cools the shore
- Altitude
- 200 m (655 ft)
- Nearest airport
- Duluth International (DLH); Minneapolis-St Paul (MSP) is the major hub
- Where to stay
- Canal Park, Downtown Duluth, Superior WI
- Booking
- Duluth and Superior WI hotels fill about 6 months out; reviewers stayed in nearby towns and campgrounds ($55 a night).
What racers and reviewers say
- RaceRavesRaced 2026 · aggregator · Positive
Average 4.5 of 5 (scenery 4.3, production 4.5, difficulty 2.5). Praise for Lake Superior views, Duluth crowds and aid with ice and pickle juice. Main complaints are early long bus waits, crowded toilets and corrals, a crowded expo and expensive sold-out lodging.
“one of the most beautiful courses”
- Marathon Training AcademyRaced 2018 · blog · Positive
Foggy mid-40s °F start (about 7 °C (45 °F)), moderate crowding, spread out after mile 1. About 15,000 bused from 16 locations. Fans plentiful after mile 20, aid every 2 miles and every mile after 19. Called it well organised and good for a fast time.
- Grandma's Marathon site (runner recap)Raced 2025 · blog · Positive
Ninth Grandma's weekend for this runner, on a hot, humid 2025 race day with a slightly delayed start. The participant shuttle was smooth and reliable; spectators and volunteers lifted her, and iced pickle juice at mile 21 (34 km) helped her finish a PR. The source is hosted by the organiser.
- Duluth News TribuneRaced 2025 · article · Mixed
2025 report: overnight storms delayed the start 30 minutes, with a red flag by afternoon, temperatures in the 70s °F (21 to 26 °C (79 °F)) and humidity near 90 percent. Record 18,317 finishers across events; 7,530 marathon finishers; eight runners to hospital.
- Marathon HandbookRaced 2027 · article · neutral
2027 entry guide: net drop 130 ft (40 m), marathon capacity cut to 8,000, sold out in 174 minutes in 2026, $155 fee, about 1,000 charity places.
Show 3 more
- MPR NewsRaced 2026 · article · Positive
50th anniversary feature: nearly 24,000 participants across races, about 12,000 in the marathon, 10th largest US marathon, weekend doubles Duluth's population; fee now about $150.
- BibRave (reviewer notes)blog · Mixed
Reviewers said crowds are sporadic outside Duluth and solid only in the last 3 miles (4.8 km), Lemon Drop is modest, aid is about every mile after mile 20, hotels fill 6 months out and the expo is crowded. One first-timer had a rough day and returned.
“Lemon-drop hill wasn't as bad as I thought”
- WikipediaRaced 2025 · article · neutral
Race founded 1977, record 7,542 finishers in 2025, men's record 2:09:06 and women's 2:23:52.
Raced Grandma's Marathon? Your notes on the course, conditions and logistics help the next athlete decide.
Sources
Pages we used for facts and ratings. See how we rate.
Training for Grandma's Marathon? Moku Coach builds your plan around race day.