Maine Coast Marathon
Wells, United States · May · Independent
Why people love it
- Coastal first and last miles pass rocky shore and the Wells Reserve marsh.
- Medals, hoodies and the finish party are praised by many runners.
- Lively crowds and volunteers in the town sections.
- FindMyMarathon lists 9.1 percent of finishers as Boston qualifiers.
Watch out for
- Late shuttles and starts (8 to 45 minutes) hit several years; dress for a cold wait.
- Mile markers and half distance have run off by up to 0.8 km (0.5 mi).
- The middle miles use open two-lane roads with little scenery and some missing cones.
- A steep climb near mile 23 (37 km) leads onto a half-mile (0.8 km) sandy trail.
- Shuttle, bag drop and shirt can cost extra.
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 satisfactionLiked3.2
RaceRaves 3.4 from 30 ratings. Strong scenery, swag, volunteers and crowds against recurring shuttle, start-delay and measurement complaints. · Medium confidence
- OrganizationAdequate2.6
RaceRaves production 3.0. Starts ran 8 to 45 minutes late in several years, shuttles struggled and markers were off by 0.8 km (0.5 mi). · Medium confidence
- First timer friendlyDoable3.2
Rolling course and good volunteers, but logistics and cold waits are hard on newcomers; one first-marathon runner liked communication and spectators. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialAverage3.3
Findmymarathon PR score 98 and 9.1 percent BQ rate, but hills at mile 21 to 25 (km 34 to 40), sandy trail and wind. · Medium confidence
Course
Scenery, road surface, closures, and room to run. Counts for 20% of the overall score.
- Course sceneryBeautiful3.9
RaceRaves scenery 4.0. Rocky coast, Wells Reserve and marsh at both ends, but a dull middle on busy roads. · Medium confidence
- Room to runSome pinch points3.0
Congestion at the start and a bottleneck in mile 1; tight turns in a parking lot near the finish. · Low confidence
- Road surfaceMixed3.4
Mostly paved with a sandy section near mile 23 (km 37) and loose spots. · Low confidence
- Road closuresPartly closed2.5
Open roads with some missing cones and cars passing on blind turns, per one reviewer. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Course flatnessRolling3.2
About 91 m (300 ft) gain on the half; marathon unreported with hills near miles 21 to 25. · Low confidence
- Net downhillEven3.0
Not reported. · Low confidence
Support
Crowds, aid stations, the start, and pacers. Counts for 20% of the overall score.
- Start logisticsFiddly2.0
Late starts, 40 to 90 minute cold waits and overwhelmed parking and toilets recur, though 2025 reports found easy parking and punctual buses. · Medium confidence
- Pacers and timingSome pace groups3.3
Pacer teams present but some goal times missing in 2025; mile markers inaccurate. · Low confidence
- Crowd supportDecent3.3
Good crowds in towns and a lively announcer; sparse on backroads. · Medium confidence
- Aid stationsStandard3.4
Every 3.2 km (2 mi) with plenty of water, sports drink and gels for marathoners; Gatorade ran out for half runners in 2023 and 2024. · Medium confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 14% of the overall score.
- WindSome wind2.6
Headwinds mentioned in 2024 and wind at the 2026 start; exposed coast. · Medium confidence
- Air temperatureWarm or cool3.2
Starts near 0 to 7 °C (32 to 45 °F) in cold rain some years; finishes at 12 to 17 °C (54 to 63 °F). · Medium confidence
- Weather reliabilityVariable2.6
Freezing rain in 2026 and cold drizzle in 2025, yet a warm day in 2023. · Medium confidence
- Spectator friendlySome viewpoints2.7
Point-to-point on busy roads with separate half and marathon starts; shuttles make viewing hard. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeSea level5.0
Near sea level, about 10 m (30 ft). · High confidence
Stay and travel
Hotels, walkability, getting there, and the town around the race. Counts for 10% of the overall score.
- Hotel availabilityBook early3.3
Tourist coast; May is shoulder season but few hotels at the start. · Low confidence
- Hotel valueNormal3.4
Holiday Inn reported reasonably priced; some runners stayed far away. · Low confidence
- WalkabilityMostly driving2.0
Requires parking lot and shuttle to start; long return walks reported. · Medium confidence
- Travel easeOne connection3.3
Portland airport 60 km (37 mi) away, Boston 140 km (85 mi) south. · Medium confidence
- LogisticsFiddly2.4
Small but fine expo; shuttle, bag drop and parking cause the problems, though 2025 reports found them easier. · Medium confidence
- Town and foodGood3.7
Newburyport, Portsmouth and Kittery food praised; Ogunquit nearby. · Low 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 inEasy4.0
Capped at about 1,000 but not described as selling out early. · Low confidence
- Value for moneyFair2.8
Hoodies, medals and post-race party liked, but a reviewer felt it was nickel and dimed with paid shuttles and bag drop. · Low confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Wells, York County, United States
- Typical month
- May
- Latest or next date
- 2 May 2027
- Organiser
- Independent
- Field size
- About 630 athletes
- Distances
- 42.2 km (26.2 mi)
- Course type
- point-to-point
- Start time
- 07:00
- Surface
- Two-lane roads, neighbourhood streets, a sandy trail section
- How to get in
- open
- Air temperature
- 0–17 °C (32–63 °F)
- Humidity
- Coastal, often damp
- Altitude
- 10 m (33 ft)
- Nearest airport
- Portland International Jetport (PWM), 60 km (37 mi) away
- Where to stay
- Wells, Kennebunk, Ogunquit
- Booking
- Holiday Inn in Wells was reasonably priced for one 2024 runner; others stayed 29 km (18 mi) away.
What racers and reviewers say
- RaceRavesRaced 2026 · aggregator · Mixed
30 ratings, 3.4 overall; difficulty 2.4, scenery 4.0, production 3.0, swag 3.8. Scenic and well-supported on course, but the same shuttle, late start and measurement problems repeat across years.
“Shuttle management was the worst I have seen.”
- Ernesto Burden SubstackRaced 2024 · blog · Positive
3:00:30 finisher, 35th of 632. Coastal views at both ends, rolling backroads between, a steep climb at mile 23 (km 37) onto a half-mile sandy trail, a hill at mile 25 and tight parking-lot turns near the end. 7 to 12 °C (45 to 54 °F), light breeze and headwinds.
- Marathon Maniacs member reviewsRaced 2025 · forum · Positive
Five reviews from 2018 to 2025. Rolling course, ocean views, well-manned aid; easy parking and shuttles at the high school in 2025; cold and foggy 2025; older reports of start in Kennebunk and finish in Biddeford or Wells.
“Very friendly, small race.”
- Press Herald / AP reportRaced 2017 · article · Negative
Runners were sent down a dead end and added about 0.5 mi (0.8 km); the race director apologised and offered refunds to Boston hopefuls who missed times.
- BibRave marathon reviewsRaced 2024 · aggregator · Mixed
Marathon described as harder than the half but beginner friendly, mostly on two-lane roads and neighbourhoods, with aid about every 3.2 km (2 mi). Extras like the shuttle and shirt cost more.
Show 5 more
- Weeviews half marathon reviewRaced 2023 · blog · Mixed
Lovely coast and marsh course but start delayed about 45 minutes, a mile walk to the shuttle pickup, too few toilets, hills up to mile 12 and a Garmin about 0.8 km (0.5 mi) long.
- Liagags on RaceRavesRaced 2025 · aggregator · Mixed
Marathon: scenic first 6 km (4 mi), dull km 8 to 27 (miles 5 to 17) on open roads, a sandy section and hills at miles 21 and 24 (km 34 and 39). Plenty of water and gels, drizzle and wind at about 11 °C (52 °F), punctual buses.
- ajd90 on RaceRavesRaced 2024 · aggregator · Mixed
Scenic start and finish with dull back roads; good crowds; limited finish food; would not return.
- tcinc5 on RaceRavesRaced 2024 · aggregator · Positive
First marathon. Clear communication, mailed sweatshirt, scenic first and last miles with a dull middle, great spectators.
- nagelca1989 on RaceRavesRaced 2024 · aggregator · Positive
Easy start drop-off, well-marked course, amazing volunteers and a small but well-run expo.
Raced Maine Coast 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 Maine Coast Marathon? Moku Coach builds your plan around race day.