Races Marathon · Bar Harbor, USA
Mount Desert Island Marathon
Mount Desert Island Marathon is a hilly marathon in Bar Harbor, USA, held each October. A hilly point-to-point from Bar Harbor to Southwest Harbor past Somes Sound, with a sharp climb near mile 17 and a long gradual rise from mile 20 to 25. Cool autumn conditions, around 5 to 14°C. Bar Harbor's hills change the plan itself: expect hill repetitions and long runs that rehearse the course's shape.
Page rebuilt 2026-11-14 · race facts not independently verified — confirm dates and entries on the official race site
When
October
next: Sunday 17 October 2027
Course
hilly
Marathon
Conditions
Cool autumn conditions, around 5 to 14°C.
Racing this course well
A hilly point-to-point from Bar Harbor to Southwest Harbor past Somes Sound, with a sharp climb near mile 17 and a long gradual rise from mile 20 to 25.
Bar Harbor's hills change the plan itself: expect hill repetitions and long runs that rehearse the course's shape.
Getting a place
- How you get in
- Open entry: first come, first served
- Entries open
- Entries for 2026 opened on 14 February 2026 at noon Eastern
- Price
- From $145, rising to $170 from 1 September (2026 race)
- Does it sell out?
- YesGeneral registration for 2026 reached capacity on 11 August 2026.
Official Mount Desert Island Marathon site →Checked November 2026
Race day
- Next race
- Sunday 17 October 2027
- Start time
- 08:00
- Time limit
- 6 hours 30 minutes
- Also on the day
- half-marathon, team relay
The course in numbers
A climb of about 45 m comes between 2 and 5 km (miles 1 to 3). The course reaches its low point at mile 16 and its high point at mile 25, then drops over the last 1.2 miles.
- Layout
- Point-to-point
- Course status
- USATF certified
- Boston qualifier
- Yes
Pick your goal for Bar Harbor
Pace charts, weekly structure and timelines for the most common marathon goals:
The date shown is the one the organiser has announced. Change it if yours differs.
Build your training around Mount Desert Island Marathon.
RunV works backwards from race day to today. Your plan adapts when life interrupts, and you approve every change. It does not adapt to this specific course — the pacing guidance above is where the course knowledge is.
Everything above stays free and complete — this is an optional next step, not a paywall.
Asked often
- When is the Mount Desert Island Marathon?
- The next Mount Desert Island Marathon is on Sunday 17 October 2027 in Bar Harbor, USA. It is held each October.
- Is the Mount Desert Island Marathon course flat?
- A hilly point-to-point from Bar Harbor to Southwest Harbor past Somes Sound, with a sharp climb near mile 17 and a long gradual rise from mile 20 to 25.
- How do I enter the Mount Desert Island Marathon?
- Open entry: first come, first served. Entries for 2026 opened on 14 February 2026 at noon Eastern. Price: From $145, rising to $170 from 1 September (2026 race).
- Does the Mount Desert Island Marathon sell out?
- Yes. General registration for 2026 reached capacity on 11 August 2026.
- Is the Mount Desert Island Marathon a Boston qualifier?
- Yes. The Mount Desert Island Marathon is run on a certified course, so a time set here can be used to apply for the Boston Marathon.
- How should I train for the Mount Desert Island Marathon?
- Train specifically for Bar Harbor — terrain, conditions, goal pace — and let the plan flex around real life. With RunV Premium you can adapt your plan to fit your week.
Not sure what to target? Predict your marathon time from a recent race →
More marathon races
Supplements research for this distance
Build for Bar Harbor — around your actual life
RunV engineers your block backwards from race day in October — and adapts it when training doesn't go to script. You approve every change.
