7:00AM - EARLY START Offered ONLY to participants who expect to take more then 6.5 hours to complete the Marathon route. Those who start early and finish under 6 hours may face disqualification. No relay teams are permitted to start at 7:00AM. YOU MUST BE REGISTERED AS AN "EARLY STARTER" TO START AT THIS TIME.

8:00AM - OFFICIAL START Marathon and Team Relay Official Start Time.

NOTE: There is plenty of free parking in Bar Harbor or walk to the start from your hotel. (Bar Harbor does not enforce hourly parking beyond Columbus Day.)

Our partners at Friends of Acadia provide free shuttle buses, courtesy of Downeast Transportation. Buses will run between the Village Green in Bar Harbor (very near the starting line) and the Bar Harbor Bank parking lot in Southwest Harbor (across from the finish line).

The MDI Marathon route has many great places to take in all the action, but the designated MDI Marathon Spectator Zones are places we highly recommend to whoop it up with hundreds of others! Bring you enthusiasm or even your musical instruments and cheer on the runners!

NOTE: NO VEHICLES are permitted to follow the MDI Marathon route leaving Bar Harbor on Route 3. You will be stopped and have to turn around if you try.

Instead, please follow the routes below to successfully spectate the race and meet your runner at the finish line in Southwest Harbor. Due to the nature of our point-to-point and the roads of Mount Desert Island, the spectator zones are listed in order of how you will reach them by car.

• Mile 11.5 - Route 198 and Route 3 Intersection (Asticou Corner)
• Exit Bar Harbor on Route 233 / Eagle Lake Road
• Follow Route 233 / Eagle Lake Road for approximately 5 miles until you reach the intersection of Route 198, located just past MDI High School. (Where the pasta dinner is held.)
• Turn LEFT on Route 198 toward Northeast Harbor, and follow it until you reach the intersection with Route 3. (Approximately 4.5 miles.)
• This intersection is located at approximately mile 11.5 of the marathon route.
• Be sure to park on the opposite side of the road from where the marathon course is. Runners will be on the left, heading towards Northeast Harbor.
• Mile 12.3 - Downtown Northeast Harbor
• Continue on Route 198 to downtown Northeast Harbor.
• Follow signs to park at the Marina (on your LEFT) and then walk up the hill into town.
• IMPORTANT: You will be driving on the marathon course briefly and you will have to cross the marathon route to park at the marina. MARATHONERS HAVE THE RIGHT OF WAY! Please yield to them and drive with caution.
• This area is located at approximately mile 12.3 of the marathon route.
• Mile 17.3 - Sargeant Drive and Route 198 Intersection
• Upon leaving the Northeast Harbor Marina, reverse direction on Route 198 and follow back the way you originally came for approximately 3 miles until you reach the intersection with Sargeant Drive. (Note: Sargeant Drive is closed to ALL traffic on race day.)
• This intersection is located at approximately mile 17.3 of the marathon route.
• Mile 18.6 - Route 198 and Route 233 Intersection (RA Corner)
• Continue to follow Route 198 for approximately 1.5 miles back to the intersection with Route 233. You will be sharing this stretch of road with runners. Please drive slowly with flashers and pull over if necessary for oncoming traffic.
• Be sure to park on the opposite side of the road from where the marathon course is. Runners will be on the left, heading towards Somesville/Southwest Harbor.
• This intersection is located at approximately mile 18.6 of the marathon route.
• Mile 20.8 - Somesville Fire House (Route 102)
• Follow Route 198 towards Somesville/Southwest Harbor for approximately 2 miles. You will be sharing this stretch of road with runners. Please drive slowly with flashers and pull over if necessary for oncoming traffic.
• Turn LEFT at the Somesville traffic light onto Route 102 heading towards Southwest Harbor.
• Drive SLOWLY on Route 102 thru the Village of Somesville for approximately 0.8 miles. The road is very narrow here and you will be sharing it with marathoners.
• Park at the Somesville Fire House (on your RIGHT).
• This area is located at approximately mile 20.8 of the marathon route.
• Finish - Downtown Southwest Harbor
There are two ways to get to the finish line in Southwest Harbor:
OPTION #1 (Recommended)
• From the Somesville Fire House, turn LEFT onto Pretty Marsh Road/Route 102. (Note: Route 102 splits at this intersection and either continues to Southwest Harbor following the Marathon Route (Option #2), or heads to Seal Cove via the Pretty Marsh Road.)
• Follow the Pretty Marsh Road/Route 102 for approximately 7.5 miles until you reach the intersection with Seal Cove Road on your LEFT. (Note: Pretty Marsh Road will turn into Tremont Road.)
• You can either turn LEFT onto Seal Cove Road and follow it for approximately 3.8 miles to Southwest Harbor, and park at the Seal Cove Shops, and then walk the approximately 0.5 mile to the finish line.
• Note: Only local traffic is permitted beyond this point. They will be detoured around downtown and the finishing area. This is the closest you may park to the finish line.
OR
• If you have the time, we recommend this scenic route: Continue on Tremont Road/Route 102 (DON'T turn onto Seal Cove Road) for approximately 4.7 miles.
• Bear RIGHT onto Flat Iron Road and follow for 0.3 miles. (This is a slightly confusing intersection -- look for and follow signs toward Bass Harbor Lighthouse.)
• Turn RIGHT onto Route 102A/Harbor Drive and follow for approximately 1.3 miles.
• Stay on 102A by bearing LEFT at the road to Bass Harbor Lighthouse -- feel free to drive the 0.5 mile road down to the light house.)
• Continue on 102A for approximately 5.2 miles (Harbor Drive becomes Seawall Road at the intersection to visit the lighthouse).
• Turn RIGHT onto Route 102 and follow for approximately 0.7 miles. Route 102 is shared by Main Street in downtown Southwest Harbor.
• You will be one block from the finish line and may park either on Main Street or you may turn RIGHT onto Clark Point Road and park in the town lot on your left.
OPTION #2 (Not Recommended)
• From the Somesville Fire House, continue following Route 102 towards Southwest Harbor for approximately 4.8 miles.
• You will be sharing this final stretch of road with runners. Please drive slowly with flashers and pull over if necessary for oncoming traffic. This can be a very busy section of road.
• As you enter Southwest Harbor, turn LEFT onto the Seal Cove Road and park at the Seal Cove Shops and walk the 0.5 miles to the finish line.
• Note: Only local traffic is permitted beyond this point. They will be detoured around downtown and the finishing area. This is the closest you may park to the finish line.

Spectators are an important compliment to our race. Please watch for and report any downed or disoriented runners. There are Ham Radio personnel stationed at many points along the course.

In the event of an emergency call 911.

Finally, as you will be driving on some parts of the marathon course, doing so with safety flashers on will help inform competitors that you are part of the race as well as helping to slow other traffic. Please drive slowly. If you stop to cheer ALWAYS pull off on the opposite side of the road where runners are present. DO NOT BLOCK THE MARATHON COURSE OR MAKE RUNNERS GO AROUND YOUR VEHICLE!!! Pay attention!!!