Economic contribution of 2024 Grandma’s Marathon weekend

Key findings

Grandma’s Marathon and associated events generated significant economic activity in the region in 2024.

• Grandma’s Marathon and events generated $39.4 million in economic activity.
• The events created $13.6 million in labor income for the 300 jobs supported by the event.
• Each person in Duluth for the events spent $176.70 per day on average,
• Hotels and motels, bars and restaurants, and gasoline stations directly benefited the most from the events.
• The real estate and utilities industries, which are not usually visited by runners, received the highest indirect and induced benefits from the events.

Grandma’s Marathon and associated events contributed to Duluth’s tourism economy.

• Grandma’s Marathon weekend was the busiest weekend of the year for the Bayfront Park and Canal Park areas of Duluth, according to mobile analytics data.
• Nearly nine out of every ten participants in Grandma’s Marathon events were visitors to Duluth.
• On average, each participant brought between two and three people with them for the weekend.
• People generally were in Duluth for two to three days as part of the events.

About this report

Grandma’s Marathon. The iconic marathon’s name is instantly recognizable within running communities across Minnesota, the nation, and even the world. Launched in 1977, the marathon course follows Scenic Route 61, hugging the curves of Lake Superior. With a starting line in picturesque Two Harbors, the race ends in Duluth, offering runners and fans the full experience of Minnesota’s north shore in June.

In 2024, 17,942 people lined up to start at least one of the three events. Both the full marathon and 5K set records with the largest race fields in history, and the half-marathon hosted the second-largest field on record. Along with racers come friends, family, and spectators, filling Duluth area hotels and campgrounds, dining out at local restaurants, and taking advantage of the recreational amenities of northeast Minnesota.

As they do these things, racers and their travel parties spend money in the region. Grandma’s Marathon event organizers were interested in understanding the economic contribution of the events. University of Minnesota Extension conducted an economic contribution analysis. 

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