🔒Run, boat, hike: Outdoor recreation powers Downeast economy

Every year, thousands of runners congregate in Maine’s Downeast region for marathons, tens of thousands of boaters glide along the coastline and millions of hikers, bikers and others gravitate to Acadia National Park. While the scale of participation varies widely, each event generates income for local businesses, supports jobs and bolsters communities.

‘Marathon of the north’

The Mount Desert Island Marathon/Half/Relay, launched in 2002 with 392 finishers, drew 1,983 in 2025 from all 50 states and the District of Columbia, as well as abroad. The Down East Sunrise Trail Relay, started in 2014 with 106 runners, grew to 391 from 14 states plus Canada. And the Millinocket Marathon & Half, begun in 2015 with just 54 finishers, ballooned to 2,303 last year from 40 states. While most participants hailed from Maine, they were joined by athletes from Canada, the U.K.. Iran and the Philippines. “The MDI Marathon was the ‘New York City Marathon of the far north,’” says Gary Allen, founder and race director. “And the Millinocket marathon was, ‘Why wouldn’t this work?’ I think the Millinocket marathon has an identity of its own.” The 2025 Millinocket edition, which doesn’t charge an entry fee, was bigger even than the MDI Marathon. “We’ve been told lodging is full from Bangor all the way to Houlton,” says Allen. “It definitely fed a need. You get on the Golden Road and you have that snow-capped peak of Katahdin looking you in the face.”

The 2023 MDI Marathon generated over $2.1 million for the local economy, says planning and operations director Mary Ropp, citing figures from the Maine Sports Commission. The Millinocket Marathon’s 2015 through 2021 editions generated a total of $2.8 million for the Katahdin region. In 2025, the events attracted $110,966 in charitable donations. The events are hosted by Crow Athletics and produced by Run Maine Inc. “The planning process for ‘next year’s race’ is always underway, even when we’re just getting started on the current edition,” Ropp explains.

On the water

Recreational boaters — from high-end yachts to slim kayaks to revved-up powerboats — cruise and race along the coastline and on the state’s many lakes from spring through fall, generating $3 billion annually in direct, indirect and induced spending, according to the New England Marine Trade Association’s 2023 economic impact report. With 108,820 registered boats, the industry supports 11,977 direct and indirect jobs, 619 direct businesses and $270.8 million in annual new boat, engine, trailer and accessory sales. “Boat service yards and marinas are steady — most Maine marinas still have waiting lists for dockage and moorings,” says Stacey Keefer, executive director of the Maine Marine Trades Association.

Acadia’s appeal

In 2025, Acadia National Park had just over four million visitors, up from 3.9 million in 2024. The latest figures from 2024 show the park had $745 million in economic output in local gateway economies surrounding the park. The figure includes visitor expenditures of $539 million in local gateway regions. The park supported a total of 5,300 jobs and $243 million in labor income.