Important Warning Issued For Grandma’s Marathon Weekend In Minnesota

Grandma's Marathon, the largest foot race in Minnesota, is set for Saturday, June 21, and while that is the iconic event of the weekend, there are other races and related activities scheduled in Duluth beginning the day before.

Whether you're running the William A. Irvin 5K, Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon, Grandma's Marathon, or volunteering, or just coming to cheer on the runners and have a fun weekend, road construction will make traveling in the area especially difficult this year.

That prompted race officials to issue a warning ahead of the event to prepare everyone and offer suggestions to help people travel through the busiest areas during race weekend.

Grandma's Marathon Issues Important Traffic Warning

Race officials noted that construction on Interstate 35, which started this spring, will continue through Grandma’s Marathon weekend. Therefore, both residents and visitors must allow themselves more time than usual for what they expect to be the biggest race weekend ever.

The construction reduces Interstate 35 traffic to one lane in both directions between Lake Avenue and 27th Avenue West. With tens of thousands of people set to descend on Duluth for the race weekend, everyone is encouraged to arrive early if possible and to practice patience.

“Thursday will be the optimal arrival day for those who can make it. Friday will be more slow-going, so knowing that and planning ahead can make all the difference,” said Marketing & Public Relations Director Zach Schneider.

The most affected areas will be the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center (DECC), Bayfront Festival Park, downtown Duluth, and the Canal Park area. Anyone trying to access these areas, especially for the events listed below, will experience heavy congestion and delays.

• Packet Pickup
• Essentia Health Fitness Expo
• Michelina’s All-You-Can-Eat Spaghetti Dinner
• Rock the Bayfront Festival
• William A. Irvin 5K
• Whipper Snapper Races & YAF Festival for Kids
• Finish Line (Grandma’s Marathon & Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon)

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Recommendations For Arriving In Duluth

Race officials strongly recommend that visitors plan to arrive in Duluth within the following time windows, if possible, to avoid the most congested parts of race weekend:

• Thursday, June 19: All Day (best option)
• Friday, June 20: Before 10:00 a.m. or After 4:00 p.m.

Also, it's important to note that the William A. Irvin 5K now starts at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, June 20. Race participants are strongly encouraged to pick up their race packet on Thursday or no later than 11:00 a.m. on Friday to avoid being late to the start line.

For Visitors Arriving From the South

To access the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center (DECC) from the south on Interstate 35, use the following directions:

• Option A: Take Exit 256A toward Mesaba Avenue/MN-194. Use the right lane to go toward Superior Street/Michigan Street and keep left onto Superior Street. Turn right onto 5th Avenue West.
• Option B: Use the Interstate 35 bypass before taking temporary Exit 256B toward Lake Avenue. Turn right onto Lake Avenue.

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For Race Morning Participants

Runners of the Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon or Grandma's Marathon are strongly encouraged to leave earlier than normal on race morning to reach the following bus loading locations, as heavier traffic and delays are expected due to the construction:

• Duluth Entertainment Convention Center (DECC)
• Proctor Sports & Event Center
• University of Wisconsin-Superior

While it is recommended that runners arrive as early as possible at the loading location, everyone will still load the bus in the time window provided, based on their corral assignment. This will help ensure participants with earlier start times arrive on time for their race.

For Race Morning Spectators

Race spectators are advised that construction, road closures, and race day crowds will make travel in and around Canal Park, downtown Duluth, and Park Point very difficult on Saturday, June 21. Please allow yourself extra time, be patient, and look into alternate routes if possible.

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