Thank you for your interest in staying on-campus during marathon weekend. This page has been updated to reflect the rates and reservation timeline for 2025. Please reach out if you have questions about any of the information on our website.
Making a Reservation - Timeline & Process
A Google form will be posted at 10 AM CST on Tuesday, February 4 2025 on this webpage to collect contact information from folks interested in making a room reservation at UMD for Grandma's Marathon. Based on past trends, we receive enough interest to fill all of our available spaces within the first few minutes of the form opening. As a result, the form may only be available on our webpage for a short duration.
By 4:30 PM CST on Tuesday, February 4 2025 staff will email everyone who submitted a Google form to let them know if we anticipate being able to offer them housing at UMD. If we anticipate being able to offer you a space, you will receive an email letting you know the date and time you will be given access to our reservation system to complete your reservation. If we don't anticipate being able to offer you a space, you will receive an email letting you know that you have been placed on our waitlist. Due to the high number of submissions that are received, we are unable to tell everyone where they are at on the waitlist.
*When you submit your Google form you should receive an email summary of your responses. Please review your submission summary to ensure that you typed everything correctly. If your email is entered incorrectly on the Google form, you will not receive the follow-up communication mentioned above.
Please also keep in mind that the maximum number of reservations that can be made by a single person is three.
Questions? Check out our FAQ section below. If you can’t find the answer to your question, please e-mail [email protected] or call 218-726-7402 between 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM, Monday - Friday.
Campus Rentals
A two-night minimum is required on all stays. Guests may arrive starting on 6/19/25 and must depart on or before 6/22/25 at noon.
Residence Hall Rooms: Each room has two single beds, sheets, blankets, pillows and cases, towels, washcloths, and a small refrigerator. Restroom facilities are communal-style shared baths.
The total price of a 2025 two night room rental, including tax, is $282
The total price of a 2025 three night room rental, including tax, is $423
Apartments: Each apartment has two bedrooms with two single beds each (4 beds total), a bathroom, living room, and kitchen area. Sheets, blankets, pillows and cases, towels, and washcloths are provided.
The total price of a 2025 two night room rental, including tax, is $650
The total price of a 2025 three night room rental, including tax, is $975
Parking in residence lots is provided at no charge. Rooms do not include land-line phones.
Please consider bringing a small fan as rooms are not air-conditioned.
Smoking is prohibited on all UMD property. The smoking ban includes indoor facilities and the campus grounds. Pets are not allowed in the housing facilities.
Grandma's Marathon Reservations FAQ
Minimum Stay
There is a TWO night minimum required stay at UMD for Grandma's Marathon.
The earliest arrival date is Thursday, June 19, 2025 at 12:00 PM CST and the latest departure is at 12:00 PM CST on Sunday, June 22, 2025.
There are NO single night stays available at UMD.
What is provided for Guests?
Standard furniture including twin XL beds, closets, and dressers. Compact refrigerators in residence halls and full sized refrigerators in apartments. Common area microwaves are available for guest use in the Ianni Hall lobby and in apartment lobbies.
Bedding (sheets, light blanket, pillow, pillowcase)
Towels (body sized and wash cloth sized)
Coffee & hot water available Saturday morning prior to race start in the Ianni Hall lobby.
What do I NEED to bring?
We suggest you bring a fan (there is NOT air conditioning at UMD), eating utensils, and personal hygiene products.
What are the bathrooms like?
Residence halls have communal restrooms. Each restroom contains at least two toilet stalls, at least two shower stalls, and at least two sinks. There will be both a men’s and women’s restroom located within one floor of your room. Within the Residence Halls, there are gender-neutral bathrooms (without showers) in the public areas of the buildings.
Each apartment unit has its own bathroom.
What are the capacity of rooms?
Rooms within the Residence Halls are designed to accommodate 2 guests and include 2 twin XL beds. Our apartments are 2-bedroom units designed for 4 guests total and include 2 twin XL beds in each bedroom.
We are unable to provide cots or cribs to our spaces.
If I depart on Saturday, can I shower after the race?
Yes, you can request a towel at the Ianni Hall lobby desk after the race to take a shower before you depart.
Are cooking facilities available to me during my stay?
Each residence hall room has a small refrigerator and there is a microwave for communal use in the Ianni Hall lobby. Each apartment has its own kitchen with a refrigerator, sink, and stove.
Dishes and other cooking utensils are not provided.
Is there a shuttle from UMD?
UMD is working closely with Grandma's Marathon to determine the feasibility & availability of shuttles for the 2025 marathon weekend. Updates will be provided as they become available.
Is parking available?
Yes, complimentary parking is available at UMD for guests staying on-campus.
How far is UMD from the race?
UMD is four miles from the race finish line in Duluth’s Canal Park.
We loved staying at UMD for Grandma's Marathon! Can we stay another weekend?
We’re glad you had a great stay! Sorry, but with the exception of marathon weekend, UMD offers neither short-term weekend nor vacation rentals. We’ll see you again next year!
Can we block rooms for our local Running Club?
Unfortunately no, we are unable to hold blocks of rooms for Grandma's Weekend. All reservation requests and payments must be made by individuals and the refund policies outlined will apply.
Are reservations refundable?
We are able to offer refunds on canceled reservations through May 31st. A $25 cancellation fee does apply for any refunds issued. After May 31st, refunds are only offered for cancellations if a medical situation prevents a guest from participating in the race - documentation from a medical provider will be needed to issue a refund.