Mount Desert Island Marathon
Bar Harbor, United States · October · Independent
Why people love it
- Runs beside Somes Sound at peak fall foliage; RaceRaves scenery 4.9 of 5.
- About 457 to 566 m (1,500 to 1,854 ft) of climbing, and a Boston qualifier.
- Volunteers roughly match runner numbers; aid and themed stations praised.
- Lobster-claw medal and free engraving in Bar Harbor.
- Rated 4.7 of 5 by 41 runners on RaceRaves.
Watch out for
- The last 10 km (6 mi) has hills, traffic, sloped shoulders and sidewalk running.
- Finish shuttle waits ran from 10 minutes to 3 hours; leave early.
- Only about 6 toilets reported at the 2026 start; queues are long.
- Bar Harbor lodging fills in foliage season.
- Point-to-point: Bar Harbor to Southwest Harbor, 25 km (15 mi) apart.
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 4.7 of 5 from 41 ratings; Marathon Maniacs members average about 8.9 of 10 from 7. Scenery and volunteers praised; · High confidence
- OrganizationWell run3.8
Volunteers nearly match runners and aid is plentiful, but start toilets are few, finish shuttles can wait 3 hours and late miles have traffic. · High confidence
- First timer friendlyDemanding2.4
About 520 m (1,700 ft) of gain, a 7 hour cutoff, a hard last 10 km (6 mi) and logistics needing planning. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialSlow1.7
457 to 566 m (1,500 to 1,854 ft) of gain; reviewers say hill after hill. Winners run 2:36 to 2:43, slower than flat peers. · High confidence
Course
Scenery, road surface, closures, and room to run. Counts for 20% of the overall score.
- Course scenerySpectacular4.9
RaceRaves scenery 4.9 of 5: Somes Sound, Acadia and peak foliage; several say the second half along a busy road is less scenic. · High confidence
- Room to runRoomy3.6
About 800 finishers on a point-to-point, little congestion; narrow shoulders and oncoming traffic complicate it. · Medium confidence
- Road surfaceMixed3.3
Paved with sloped shoulders; one runner had Achilles soreness from camber, others hit curbs in the last 10 km (6 mi). · Medium confidence
- Road closuresMostly open2.2
Roads shared with traffic; 2026 runners report shoulder running and sidewalk use in later miles. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Course flatnessHilly1.8
457 to 566 m (1,500 to 1,854 ft) of gain with no sustained flats. · High confidence
- Net downhillEven3.0
Point-to-point between two sea-level towns, so roughly net zero. Boston qualifier. · Medium confidence
Support
Crowds, aid stations, the start, and pacers. Counts for 20% of the overall score.
- Start logisticsSome waiting2.6
Buses from Bar Harbor 06:15 to 07:15, about 6 toilets reported in 2026, and finish shuttle waits from 10 minutes to 3 hours. · High confidence
- Pacers and timingSome pace groups3.0
Chip timing, live results and free photos; one 2008 runner had chip trouble. Pace groups not confirmed. · Low confidence
- Crowd supportDecent3.4
Strong in the villages, and one half runner saw her spectators eight times; thin on the highway for the last 10 km (6 mi). · Medium confidence
- Aid stationsGood4.2
Several reviewers praise plentiful aid, themed stations and volunteers; start toilets are the weak point. · High confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 14% of the overall score.
- WindMostly calm3.6
Mostly sheltered by hills and forest; no wind complaints. · Low confidence
- Air temperaturePleasant4.3
Typical starts of 3 to 8 °C (37 to 46 °F) and highs of 9 to 17 °C (48 to 63 °F); · Medium confidence
- Weather reliabilityReliable3.5
Mostly cool and sunny in reports, but rain from 10:30 in 2017 and a thunderstorm in 2005. · Medium confidence
- Spectator friendlyEasy3.7
Spectators can drive the course and see runners many times, but traffic and the point-to-point layout complicate it. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeSea level5.0
Coastal course between two harbor towns, near sea level throughout. · 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
Foliage-season Bar Harbor books out early; reviewers advise reserving well ahead. · High confidence
- Hotel valuePricey2.3
Peak foliage prices; some businesses close after October. · Medium confidence
- WalkabilitySome driving2.6
The start is in Bar Harbor and the finish in Southwest Harbor, about 25 km (15 mi) away; · High confidence
- Travel easeOne connection2.6
Bangor airport is about 80 km (50 mi) away; remote island with small airports and limited roads. · Medium confidence
- LogisticsSome complexity3.0
Easy packet pickup at the YMCA and free parking, but shuttles, gear check and the point-to-point layout add friction. · High confidence
- Town and foodGood4.2
Bar Harbor and Southwest Harbor offer seafood, with Acadia nearby; a long finish music festival. Some places close after the season. · 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 early3.2
Open entry but it fills, with a cap around 1,000 runners; sign up early. · Medium confidence
- Value for moneyGood value3.6
About $120 to $150, a lobster-claw medal and pullover most liked, free photos; a few wanted marathon-specific swag. · Medium confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Bar Harbor, Mount Desert Island, Acadia, United States
- Typical month
- October
- Latest or next date
- 17 October 2027
- Organiser
- Independent
- Field size
- About 811 athletes
- First held
- 2004
- Distances
- 42.2 km (26.2 mi)
- Course type
- point-to-point
- Climbing
- 520 m (1,710 ft)
- Start time
- 08:00
- Cutoff
- 7 hours
- Boston qualifier
- Yes
- Surface
- Paved rural and park roads, many with sloped shoulders
- How to get in
- open
- Sells out
- Yes
- Entry fee
- About $135
- Air temperature
- 3–14 °C (37–57 °F)
- Humidity
- Moderate, coastal; fog at the start in some years
- Altitude
- 30 m (98 ft)
- Nearest airport
- Hancock County-Bar Harbor (BHB), Bangor (BGR), 80 km (50 mi) away
- Where to stay
- Bar Harbor, Southwest Harbor, Northeast Harbor
- Booking
- Bar Harbor books out in foliage season; reserve early. Some Southwest Harbor businesses close after the season. Packet pickup at the MDI YMCA the day before.
What racers and reviewers say
- RaceRavesRaced 2026 · aggregator · Positive
41 ratings average 4.7 of 5 (difficulty 3.9, scenery 4.9, production 4.2, swag 4.0). Runners agree it is spectacular in peak foliage and the volunteers are great; complaints are hills (GPS 1,500 to 1,854 ft, 457 to 566 m (1,860 ft)), a late-race stretch of traffic, long toilet queues and delayed finish shuttles.
“a challenging, but beautiful course”
- Marathon Maniacs Member ReviewsRaced 2023 · aggregator · Positive
Seven member reviews average about 8.9 of 10. Five give 10 for scenery and organisation; the lowest score (4 of 10) objected to the busy-highway final stretch; another waited three hours for the shuttle.
“By far the most picturesque marathon we have run”
- Marathon Training AcademyRaced 2017 · blog · Positive
50th-marathon recap: point-to-point from Bar Harbor, many hills, rain from 10:30, easy packet pickup and parking, 7 h limit, themed aid stations, flexible deferrals. Finish area and shuttle to Bar Harbor confusing; last 10 km (6 mi) ran along a busy highway with few spectators.
“You never know where running will take you!”
- Laura VanderkamRaced 2024 · blog · mixed-positive
Ran the half. Hillier than expected, coastal early, then a busy local road. Buses from the Village Green ran on schedule; finish buses left when full from noon, so she left early.
“I survived and finished, so yay for that.”
- Mount Desert Islander (Bar Harbor Story)Raced 2023 · article · Positive
About 650 marathon finishers posted results in 2023. Packet pickup at the YMCA, aid stations staffed by local groups, a free runners' blessing with toilets and coffee, a long post-race music festival, and perfect weather per one runner.
Show 3 more
- Distance Running (AIMS)Raced 2004 · article · Positive
Early write-up calls it a 'beast': Granite Hill near mile 19 (km 30.6) and the high point near mile 24 (km 38.6). Runners and volunteers numbered about the same, aid was plentiful, locals were welcoming and conditions mild.
- Brad Feld blogRaced 2008 · blog · Positive
Very hilly with a grind from mile 21 to 25 (km 34 to 40); cool, calm and sunny; warm spectators. Timing chip kept slipping off his shoe.
“Really hilly. But beautiful, perfect weather”
- Road Trail RunRaced 2014 · blog · Positive
A 2014 write-up calls the course brutal, with nearly constant hills and more an experience than a PR course. It praised ocean views, stone walls and quirky spectators; the author finished in 3:50.
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Sources
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