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.
START LINE TRANSPORTATION
All Grandma’s Marathon and Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon participants MUST take the provided transportation to the start line. These transportation options are for PARTICIPANTS ONLY, and your 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.
There is NO ACCESS and NO PARKING available near the marathon or half marathon start lines. For the safety of our participants, volunteers, and the public, individual drop-offs at the start line are strictly prohibited.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Participants will be asked to choose their preferred loading location via email in mid-May. Please look for this email and respond as soon as possible — it greatly helps our transportation team in creating its plan for race morning.
2025 START LINE TRANSPORTATION SCHEDULE
The buses to the start line(s) will be FULL, and single participants will be asked to share a double seat. Please listen for announcements while on the bus, and wait for a staff member or volunteer to direct you to deboard once you’ve arrived at the start line.
NO BAGS (other than gear bags for full marathoners) will be allowed on the buses.
Duluth Entertainment Convention Center (DECC)
350 Harbor Drive
Duluth, MN 55802
GARRY BJORKLUND HALF MARATHON: 4:15 a.m. to 5:00 a.m.
No gear bags will be allowed on buses to the half marathon start line. Your bag MUST be dropped at the loading location prior to boarding.
GRANDMA’S MARATHON: 5:30 a.m. to 6:15 a.m.
Buses will load in front of the North gate along Railroad Street. Parking is available in the DECC parking ramp and lot for $10 per day.
This location is best for participants staying in Canal Park, Park Point, downtown Duluth, and areas just west of downtown Duluth. It can be one of the most congested loading sites, but it is the only site that allows you to park a vehicle within walking distance of the finish line.
Kirby Student Center
1120 Kirby Drive
Duluth, MN 55812
GARRY BJORKLUND HALF MARATHON: 4:15 a.m. to 5:00 a.m.
No gear bags will be allowed on buses to the half marathon start line. Your bag MUST be dropped at the loading location prior to boarding.
GRANDMA’S MARATHON: 5:30 a.m. to 6:15 a.m.
Buses will load near the Kirby Student Center on the University of Minnesota Duluth (UMD) campus. Parking is available in campus lots via University Drive.
This location is best for participants staying in the Woodland, Kenwood, and Hillside neighborhoods of Duluth. It is also a good alternative to the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center (DECC) for those staying in downtown Duluth.
Miller Hill Mall
1600 Miller Trunk Highway
Duluth, MN 55811
GARRY BJORKLUND HALF MARATHON: 4:15 a.m. to 5:00 a.m.
No gear bags will be allowed on buses to the half marathon start line. Your bag MUST be dropped at the loading location prior to boarding.
GRANDMA’S MARATHON: 5:30 a.m. to 6:15 a.m.
Buses will load in the parking lot near JC Penny. Parking is available in marked areas of the mall parking lot — no race parking is allowed in the map areas shaded in red.
This location is best for participants in and near the Miller Hill Mall area, Duluth Heights and Piedmont neighborhoods of Duluth, Hermantown, and locations north of Duluth on Highways 2 and 53.
Duluth East High School
301 N. 40th Avenue East
Duluth, MN 55804
GARRY BJORKLUND HALF MARATHON: 4:15 a.m. to 5:00 a.m.
No gear bags will be allowed on buses to the half marathon start line. Your bag MUST be dropped at the loading location prior to boarding.
GRANDMA’S MARATHON: 5:30 a.m. to 6:15 a.m.
Buses will load in the parking lot near the main entrance to the school. Parking is available in the school lots via N. 40th Avenue East. NOTE: London Road will close at 5:30 a.m., after which this location must be accessed using Superior Street.
This location is best for participants coming from the east side of Duluth, including parts of downtown and the London Road corridor. It is the closest location to the start of the Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon.
Proctor Sports & Event Center
704 Kirkus Street
Proctor, MN 55810
GARRY BJORKLUND HALF MARATHON: 4:15 a.m. to 4:45 a.m.
No gear bags will be allowed on buses to the half marathon start line. Your bag MUST be dropped at the loading location prior to boarding.
GRANDMA’S MARATHON: 5:15 a.m. to 6:00 a.m.
Buses will load along the north side of Kirkus Street near the event center. Parking is available in the event center lot, with overflow parking available nearby.
This location is best for participants staying in Proctor, Cloquet, Carlton, and other locations south of Duluth. It’s also an option for those staying in the western portions of Duluth.
Wessman Arena
2701 Catlin Avenue
Superior, WI 54880
GARRY BJORKLUND HALF MARATHON: 4:15 a.m. to 4:45 a.m.
No gear bags will be allowed on buses to the half marathon start line. Your bag MUST be dropped at the loading location prior to boarding.
GRANDMA’S MARATHON: 5:15 a.m. to 6:00 a.m.
Buses will load in the parking lot of Wessman Arena. Parking is available in the arena parking lot or across the street at Superior High School.
This location is best for participants staying in Superior or other northern Wisconsin communities.
Two Harbors High School
1640 County Highway 2
Two Harbors, MN 55616
GARRY BJORKLUND HALF MARATHON: 4:15 a.m. to 5:00 a.m.
No gear bags will be allowed on buses to the half marathon start line. Your bag MUST be dropped at the loading location prior to boarding.
GRANDMA’S MARATHON: 6:00 a.m. to 6:30 a.m.
Buses will load along the driveway located behind the high school. Parking is available in two lots on the high school campus.
This location is best for participants staying in Two Harbors or along the North Shore. Participants staying between Duluth and Two Harbors can choose between this location and Duluth East High School.
Duluth Entertainment Convention Center (DECC)
350 Harbor Drive
Duluth, MN 55802
The train is NOT AVAILABLE for transportation to the Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon start line.
GRANDMA’S MARATHON: 5:00 a.m. to 5:45 a.m.
Limited seating available on a first-come, first-served basis.
The train will load in front of the North gate along Railroad Street. Parking is available in the DECC parking ramp and lot for $10 per day.
The participant train does have bathrooms on board, but it is expected to arrive at the Grandma’s Marathon start line no earlier than 7:10 a.m. on race morning. IMPORTANT: If you require or would enjoy more time at the start line prior to the race, please plan to take the provided bus transportation.
RETURN SHUTTLE BUS SERVICE
There will be FREE return shuttle bus service provided for participants and spectators on race day.
The return buses 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). The buses will return riders to the bus loading locations as well as the listed hotels.
NOTE: The buses returning to the Two Harbors locations will depart on the hour. All other buses will run continuously throughout the day and will depart when full.
WILL RETURN TO: University of Minnesota Duluth (UMD) Kirby Student Center
WILL RETURN TO: Miller Hill Mall (near JC Penny)
WILL RETURN TO: Duluth East High School, Fitger’s Inn, Days Inn Duluth Lakewalk, Edgewater Hotel
NOTE: Because these locations are located on the racecourse, these buses will return riders as NEAR AS POSSIBLE while the event is ongoing.
WILL RETURN TO: Proctor Sports & Event Center, Motel 6, Super 8, Comfort Inn West, AmericInn, Best Western Plus Spirit Mountain, America’s Best Value Inn Spirit Mountain
WILL RETURN TO: University of Wisconsin Superior (UWS) Wessman Arena, Superior Inn, Best Western Bridgeview, Barker’s Island Inn, Hampton Inn, Holiday Inn Express
WILL RETURN TO: Two Harbors High School, Country Inn, AmericInn, Larsmont Cottages
NOTE: The buses returning to the Two Harbors locations will depart on the hour.
OTHER RACE WEEKEND TRANSPORTATION
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 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 20
12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. — Duluth Entertainment Convention Center (DECC), near Entrance A
SATURDAY, JUNE 21
6:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. — Corner of Buchahan Street & Lake Avenue
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 from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on race day between Canal Park (corner of Lake Avenue and Morse Street) and Bayfront Fesitval Park.
SKYWALK ACCESS
Use the indoor skywalk system to cross Interstate-35 and access the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center (DECC). Enter the skywalk in downtown Duluth at the Holiday Center (207 W. Superior Street).
LAKEWALK
For a less congested option to move between the finish line area and Miles 19-24 on the racecourse, consider using Duluth’s scenic Lakewalk.
IMPORTANT: Bikes are allowed on the Lakewalk, but they are NOT ALLOWED on the racecourse.