RoadCoolForestCoast
Mount Desert Island Marathon
Bar Harbor, ME
A coastal Acadia marathon at peak fall color — hilly, cool, and quintessential New England.
Mount Desert Island Marathon is a point-to-point coastal road marathon in Maine near Acadia National Park, run at peak fall color. It is hilly and cool. Best for scenic New England destination racing.
- When
- October 18, 2026
- Distances
- Marathon
- Surface
- Road
- Course
- Point-to-point
- Elevation gain
- 1,900 ft
- Altitude
- 10 ft–300 ft
- Weather
- Cool
- Nearest airport
- BHB
- Suggested trip
- 3 nights
Weather
| Month | Avg high / low | Band |
|---|---|---|
| October | 40–56°F | Cool |
Historical averages for planning — not a forecast. Always check conditions before race week.
Route & course
Marathon
Point-to-point · Road- Elev gain
- 1,900 ft
- Elev loss
- 1,900 ft
- High point
- 300 ft
- Low point
- 10 ft
- Start and finish are in different locations
- Plan shuttle, drop-off, or two-car logistics
- Conditions can differ from start to finish
Start · 60 ftFinish · 20 ft
Travel
- Base town
- Bar Harbor
- Nearest airport
- BHB · 20 min
- Rental car
- Recommended
- Rideshare
- Limited
- Lodging
- Limited
- Facilities
- Good
- Trip length
- 3 nights
- Travel complexity
- 6/10
Coastal point-to-point with a shuttle; fall-foliage demand makes lodging tight and pricey.
Bangor (BGR) ~1 hr has more flights. Combine with Acadia National Park.
Best for / avoid if
Best for
- Fall-foliage and coastal-town lovers
- Runners who enjoy honest, hilly courses
- Travelers pairing a race with Acadia
Avoid if
- You want a flat PR course
- You dislike cool, damp coastal weather
- You need a large-city marathon atmosphere
About this race
A hilly, honest point-to-point road marathon connecting harbor towns on Mount Desert Island, home to Acadia National Park. Cool coastal air, granite shoreline, and brilliant fall foliage make it a quintessential New England race weekend.
Last verified June 19, 2026. Race details can change — always confirm with the official race website.