You start on River Drive in Moline at 7:00 am and almost immediately cross the Mississippi, which is wide, slow and steaming in the cool late-September air. The course takes you through Davenport and Bettendorf on the Iowa side, back over the river onto Arsenal Island past the brick Army arsenal buildings, and finally into Rock Island and home to Moline. The bridges provide the only climbs, each a few hundred meters of ramp with a view down the river that is worth the effort. In between, the route follows riverfront paths and quiet neighborhood streets with locals handing out orange slices. It is a mid-sized, well-run regional race that Boston accepts, and you will finish just steps from the John Deere Pavilion with the whole weekend's festival around you.
Starts and ends in downtown Moline near the John Deere Pavilion and crosses the Mississippi three times, touching four cities, two states and Arsenal Island; mostly flat with rises on the bridge approaches. Course map ↗
Registration is handled through Race Roster. Shirt and size guaranteed only if registered by August 31; no refunds or transfers. 2027 fees not yet published. Register ↗
- The marathon is billed as '5 races, 4 cities, 3 bridges, 2 states, 1 island' along the Mississippi River. ↗
- First run in 1998; 2027 is the 30th anniversary. ↗
- 576 marathoners finished in 2026, the highest total of the past six years. ↗
- The course is USATF-certified and an Abbott World Marathon Majors age-group qualifier. ↗
Checked 2026-10-13. Always confirm on the official site before booking travel.