Transportation

SIT BACK & RELAX — WE’LL DRIVE!

Grandma’s Marathon and the Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon are unique in many ways, one of which is the way our race transports participants to the start line. 

You can leave the driving on race day to our transportation partners. Their experienced and friendly drivers will pick you up on race morning, deliver you to the start line, and then take you back to your hotel or vehicle following your race.

NOTE: Using official bus (or train, for full marathon participants) transportation is the ONLY allowable way for participants to get to the start line of Grandma’s Marathon or the Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon. For the safety of our participants, volunteers, and the public, individual drop-offs at the start line are strictly prohibited.

GRANDMA’S MARATHON START LINE BUS SCHEDULE

DULUTH
Duluth Entertainment Convention Center (DECC)
350 W. Railroad Street
Duluth, MN 55802

DULUTH
Miller Hill Mall (near JCPenny)
1600 Miller Trunk Highway
Duluth, MN 55811

DULUTH
University of Minnesota Duluth (UMD)
1120 Kirby Drive
Duluth, MN 55812

PROCTOR
Sports & Event Center
704 Kirkus Street
Proctor, MN 55810

SUPERIOR
University of Wisconsin Superior
(UWS)
Exact location to be determined closer to 2024 race day.

TWO HARBORS
Two Harbors High School
1640 County Highway 2
Two Harbors, MN 55616

Return Shuttle Bus Schedule

There will be FREE return shuttle bus service provided for participants and spectators on race day. The return buses will return riders to the six bus loading locations and will run continuously from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on race day and will depart from the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center (DECC), on Railroad Street near the north gate (see map HERE).

NOTE: The buses returning to the Two Harbors location will depart on the hour. All other buses will run continuously throughout the day and will depart when full.

COULD YOU, WOULD YOU, ON A TRAIN?

For a truly unique and authentic Duluth experience, Grandma’s Marathon participants can also ride the North Shore Scenic Railroad to the start line.

Sit back and enjoy the clickity clack of the steel rails and the natural beauty of Minnesota’s North Shore on the way to the start of your race. TRAVEL IN COMFORT: The participant train has bathrooms on board for your trip to the start line!

PARTICIPANT TRAIN LOADING TIMES & LOCATION
5:00 a.m. to 5:45 a.m.
Duluth Entertainment Convention Center (DECC)
350 W. Railroad Street
Duluth, MN 55802

NOTE: The North Shore Scenic Railroad travels to the Grandma’s Marathon start line only. It is limited to the first 800 participants and operates on a first-come, first-served basis.

GARRY BJORKLUND HALF MARATHON START LINE BUS SCHEDULE

DULUTH
Duluth Entertainment Convention Center (DECC)
350 W. Railroad Street
Duluth, MN 55802

DULUTH
Miller Hill Mall (near JCPenny)
1600 Miller Trunk Highway
Duluth, MN 55811

DULUTH
University of Minnesota Duluth (UMD)
1120 Kirby Drive
Duluth, MN 55812

PROCTOR
Sports & Event Center
704 Kirkus Street
Proctor, MN 55810

SUPERIOR
University of Wisconsin Superior
(UWS)
Exact location to be determined closer to 2024 race day.

TWO HARBORS
Two Harbors High School
1640 County Highway 2
Two Harbors, MN 55616

Return Shuttle Bus Schedule

There will be FREE return shuttle bus service provided for participants and spectators on race day. The return buses will return riders to the six bus loading locations and will run continuously from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on race day and will depart from the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center (DECC), on Railroad Street near the north gate (see map HERE).

NOTE: The buses returning to the Two Harbors location will depart on the hour. All other buses will run continuously throughout the day and will depart when full.

UMD
University of Minnesota Duluth (UMD), College of St. Scholastica (CSS)

EDGEWATER / FITGER’S
Fitger’s Inn, Days Inn Duluth Lakewalk, Edgewater Hotel

SUPERIOR
University of Wisconsin Superior (UWS), Superior Inn, Best Western Bridgeview, Barker’s Island Inn, Hampton Inn, Holiday Inn Express

MILLER HILL MALL
Miller Hill Mall

PROCTOR
Proctor Sports & Event Center, Motel 6, Super 8, Comfort Inn West, AmericInn, Best Western Plus Spirit Mountain, America’s Best Value Inn Spirit Mountain

TWO HARBORS
Super One Foods, Country Inn, AmericInn, Larsmont Cottages

Other Race Weekend Transportation

As part of our committment to hosting an environmentally sustainable event, we provide several transportation alternatives to our participants and community members on race weekend.

BIKE VALET
Skip the traffic when exploring Duluth! To help make our event a more accessible biking destination, we will offer a bike valet on both Friday and Saturday of race weekend. Just like a coat check, we’ll tag your bike and provide you with a claim stub. When you’re ready to move on, come get your bike, and off you go!

This complimentary service is available at the following times and locations on race weekend:

  • Friday, June 16
    4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. — Duluth Entertainment Convention Center (along Harbor Drive)
  • Saturday, June 17
    6:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. — Dewitt Seitz Marketplace (on Buchanan Street)

 

RIDE THE BUS 
Participants can ride the Duluth Transit Authority (DTA) for free on race day just by showing their official race bib. NOTE: Be sure to utilize the DTA Trip Planner to plan your weekend activites.

PORT TOWN TROLLEY
Courtesy of the Duluth Transit Authority (DTA), the Port Town Trolley will be available on race day to transport participants and spectators between Canal Park (corner of Lake Avenue and Morse Street) and Bayfront Fesitval Park.