Boston Marathon course guide: Here's the route, hills and map for 2026
Are you running the Boston Marathon or rooting for someone running? Either way, here's the course explained.
The Boston Marathon is not known as a flat and fast marathon; after all, it's known for the brutal Heartbreak Hill . But it’s also a net-downhill course, meaning if you play your cards right, it's easier than some others to set a personal record. The 2026 marathon is set to host over 30,000 competitors from almost 130 countries, with entrants from all 50 states in the country predicted to participate, the Boston Athletic Association said .
There are sure to be a lot of competitors setting their own personal records at the race as well. From Main Street to Copley Square, here’s what you need to know about the Boston Marathon course. What is the Boston Marathon route?
See map The Boston Marathon starts on Main Street in Hopkinton. Runners will then follow Route 135 through Ashland, Framingham, Natick and Wellesley to where Route 135 turns into Route 16. The course goes along Route 16 until the fire station at Commonwealth Avenue, where runners will take a right and begin the stretch of Newton Hills.
After Heartbreak Hill from mile 20 to 21, runners will pass the Chestnut Hill Reservoir before turning left on to Beacon Street. At this point, runners will have just about four miles to go. They will continue through Brookline, Kenmore Square, and under Massachusetts Avenue.