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.
Details of our race weekend transportation plan are usually finalized in early- to mid-May. If you’re registered and working to plan your race morning, please check back then for specific pickup times and locations.
2024 START LINE BUS SCHEDULE
Start line transportation is for participants ONLY. Official race bib must be visible to board. Please plan to arrive as early as possible to your preferred loading location to ensure you arrive at the start line on time.
NOTE: Using official bus 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.
DULUTH
Duluth Entertainment
Convention Center (DECC)
350 W. Railroad Street
Duluth, MN 55802
Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon
4:30 a.m. to 5:00 a.m.
Grandma’s Marathon
5:45 a.m. to 6:15 a.m.
DULUTH
Miller Hill Mall
(near JC Penny)
1600 Miller Trunk Highway
Duluth, MN 55811
Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon
4:30 a.m. to 5:00 a.m.
Grandma’s Marathon
5:45 a.m. to 6:15 a.m.
DULUTH
Kirby Student Center
Univ. of Minnesota Duluth (UMD)
1120 Kirby Drive
Duluth, MN 55812
Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon
4:30 a.m. to 5:00 a.m.
Grandma’s Marathon
5:45 a.m. to 6:15 a.m.
** NEW IN 2024 **
SUPERIOR
Wessman Arena
Univ. of Wisconsin Superior
2701 Catlin Avenue
Superior WI 54880
Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon
4:15 a.m. to 4:45 a.m.
Grandma’s Marathon
5:30 a.m. to 6:00 a.m.
PROCTOR
Sports & Event Center
704 Kirkus Street
Proctor, MN 55810
Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon
4:15 a.m. to 4:45 a.m.
Grandma’s Marathon
5:30 a.m. to 6:00 a.m.
** NEW IN 2024 **
TWO HARBORS
Two Harbors High School
1640 County Highway 2
Two Harbors, MN 55616
Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon
4:30 a.m. to 5:00 a.m.
Grandma’s Marathon
6:15 a.m. to 6:45 a.m.
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
The participant train is expected to arrive at the Grandma’s Marathon start line at or before 7:10 a.m. on race morning. If you require or would enjoy more time at the start line prior to the race, please plan to take one of the earlier buses.
NOTE: The North Shore Scenic Railroad travels to the Grandma’s Marathon start line only. For the 2024 event, the participant train is limited to the first 450 participants and will operate on a first-come, first-served basis.
RETURN SHUTTLE BUS SERVICE
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.
MILLER HILL MALL
Miller Hill Mall
UMD
University of Minnesota Duluth (UMD), College of St. Scholastica (CSS)
EDGEWATER / FITGER’S
NEAR Fitger’s Inn, Days Inn Duluth Lakewalk, Edgewater Hotel
PROCTOR
Proctor Sports & Event Center, Motel 6, Super 8, Comfort Inn West, AmericInn, Best Western Plus Spirit Mountain
SUPERIOR
UW-Superior (Wessman Arena), Superior Inn, Best Western Bridgeview, Barker’s Island Inn, Hampton Inn, Holiday Inn Express
TWO HARBORS
Two Harbors High School, 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 21
4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. — Duluth Entertainment Convention Center (near Entrance A) - Saturday, June 22
6:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. — across from Dewitt Seitz Marketplace (near 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.