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If you plan to run the Boston Marathon or even just want to watch the tens of thousands of runners who do run it, it’s an experience like no other. The whole city feels different in the week leading up to Patriot’s Day. The Boston Marathon is always held on Patriot’s Day, the third Monday in April. It was first held in 1897 and has been held every year since, with the only exception being in 2020 due to the pandemic. It generally has between 30,000 to 40,000 runners and upwards of 500,000 spectators.

Although I’ve never run the Boston Marathon (and let’s be honest, never will). I have been a part of the Boston Marathon in some way or another since 2013. Some years, I was in a FEMA Bunker nearby watching the race with a room full of federal agencies. Other years a state or local emergency operations center. For some years I was working directly on the course at one of the many medical stations. Not only do I know the layout and public information. But I also have lots of experience “on the course” that I’ll share.

For more information on the basics of the City of Boston, and our recommended attractions, check out our Boston Travel Guide.

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Before the Marathon: What and When to Book.

First, book your flights and lodging early. The Boston Marathon attracts tens of thousands of runners from all over the world, plus their friends, family, and supporters. Hotel rooms, flights, and rental cars will be booked quickly, so if you want them, book them early.

Most people qualify for the Boston Marathon before the end of the year. They know the date months in advance and if they’re planning on attending. For those going just as spectators, the date is always the same weekend. So you could book things years in advance to get a better rate on flights and hotels.

Pro-Tip: I wouldn’t recommend renting a car. Traffic in Boston is notoriously bad, and even worse on Boston Marathon weekend. Driving anywhere near the Marathon route is difficult. Many roads are closed and the traffic is heavier than usual.

You can get nearly anywhere along the route that you want to go with the subway (MBTA) or Commuter Rail. Just pick a hotel near public transportation and skip the car altogether.

When Should I Arrive?

If you’re coming as a runner, show up at least 3 days early. I won’t try to give you any advice on how to prepare for actually running the race. Because if you qualified, you’re much more experienced as a runner than I am. But there are a lot of events during the weekend leading up to the Marathon that you’ll want to be a part of; concerts, bib pickup, networking, dinners, and obviously, visiting the finish line.

If you’re coming as a spectator, come in at least a day early so you can visit the finish line. Maybe even scope out a good spot along the course for the next morning. I’ll give you some suggestions later in this post.

A few days before the Marathon, you’ll start to see individuals wearing past Marathon jackets and shirts everywhere. On the train, in hotels, at the airport, and in restaurants – That’s how you’ll know it’s Marathon weekend. People are very proud of their participation in the Marathon.

Visit The Finish Line

The day before the Marathon, they close the block around the finish line. They will repaint it and finish setting up the finish line equipment. They complete the finish line area set up a few days before the Marathon. The street will be blocked off to vehicles from that point on. Take this opportunity to walk around and get some photos standing at the finish line.

There will be lots of runners, tourists, and locals visiting the finish line. Plan for some significant crowds. But there is a lot of space down there, so it doesn’t feel crowded. The easiest way to get there is the MBTA Green Line to Boylston Station. Make note that the Boylston Street Station is closed all day on Marathon Monday. The station is open until the end of service on Sunday though.

Visit The Boston Marathon Bombing Memorial

If you visit the finish line, stop by the Boston Marathon Memorial. It’s located at the site of the first bombing just a couple of hundred feet west of the finish line. It’s a touching memorial to the unfortunate lives lost in the 2013 bombing of the Boston Marathon.

What Is The Easiest Way To Get Around On Marathon Monday?

Monday Morning, roads start to close very early (like 2 am early). So, if you’re planning on driving to the Marathon, reconsider. There is a 26-mile line in the middle of Eastern Massachusetts that has very limited ways to cross. Parking anywhere in the area of the Marathon is also very limited.

As a runner, take the Green Line to Boston Commons. Then take the BAA (Boston Athletic Association) shuttle buses to the starting line.

If you’re a spectator, take the train to a nice spot along the course. If you’re watching somebody race, you can buy an all-day pass for the MBTA System. Then you can hop on, hop off at various points along the course and catch them running past you a few times.

Along the course, the MBTA Commuter Rail Worcester Line has 12 stations within 1 mile of the course and 7 within 1/4 mile of the course. The MBTA Green Line has 11 stations within a mile. A portion of the green line route actually runs directly next to the Marathon course. This gives you the chance to watch the runners while you travel on the subway.

Which Green Line Train Do I Need To Take To Watch The Boston Marathon?

A quick note about the MBTA Green Line. The “T” (as it’s known locally) has 5 lines, each of a different color. The green line has 4 additional branches, each labeled with a letter (B, C, D, E). If you’re looking at the MBTA Marathon Route map, you’ll see that it lists which line you’ll need to be on to get to that stop.

Traveling the subway can be challenging, there are limited places in which all of the lines come in so that you can transfer between them. For some of the further out locations, you’ll need to take the train all the way into Boston. Then you’ll need to swap to a different line and finally take it out of the city again. This map of the Green Line will help you understand where the various branches intersect.

Note that in most stations, all of the branches come in on the same tracks. So make sure you’re looking at the display on the train displays to make sure you’re getting on the correct train. Look for more information on the MBTA on their website, including how to get passes, prices, and operating hours.

What Security Precautions Should I Be Aware Of During The Boston Marathon?

Obviously, after the events of the 2013 Boston Marathon Bombing, security has become even tighter along the course. Even before then, there have always been a lot of behind-the-scenes security measures to keep the marathon safe. Expect to see a variety of police, military, and both state and federal agencies along the course.

If you’ve got a really keen eye, you may even see snipers along some of the rooftops. Within the city of Boston, expect to go through security checkpoints to access the finish line area. You’ll also find that for the last few miles of the course, there are barricades set up to prevent you from getting onto the course.

Outside of the security measures that you can see, there are at least 4 Emergency Operations Centers monitoring the race end to end. They monitor for security concerns using everything from cameras, sensors, helicopters, and drones. So, with all that said, don’t bring weapons. Be prepared to have any backpacks or bags that you carry screened. It may happen anywhere along the course. Never leave your backpack or similar unattended anywhere near the course.

While you’re enjoying the Marathon-like any big event with crowds of this size- keep an eye out for your surroundings. Look for things that feel out of place. Keep an eye out for exits and places to seek shelter, either from a dangerous situation or even from poor weather. Keep in mind the See Something, Say Something mantra and report anything unusual to 9-1-1.

What Kind Of Medical Services Are Available During The Boston Marathon?

If you’re running the course, you’ll see a medical tent nearly every mile along the route. Starting with several medical facilities before the start line and several large field hospitals just after the finish line.

If you’re a spectator, just note where the closest medical tent is along the course. Although they are primarily in place for the racers, they won’t turn away a spectator in need of medical attention.

Each medical station is staffed with a combination of doctors, nurses, EMS/Paramedics, mental health staff, sports therapists, athletic trainers, and support staff. I want to stress that stopping at a medical station doesn’t mean you need to stop racing. We had plenty of racers stop just for a brief treatment and then continue on. Some stopped for more advanced treatment, but after feeling a little bit better, they would continue on.

We want every racer to finish the race, but can only let a racer continue if we feel it’s safe for them to do so. If while running, you don’t think you can finish the race, stop at any medical aid station. Shuttle buses will be waiting at each station to get you back to the finish line area.

How Should I Prepare For The Weather On Boston Marathon Monday?

The most common problems we see are related to the weather. The weather on Marathon Monday can be all over the place. It’s been run in rain, snow, and sleet. Temperatures range from a little above freezing first thing in the morning to the upper 80s in the afternoon. It can change several times in both directions throughout the course of the day or over the distance of the course.

Again, I’m not going to give advice on long-distance running, but unlike many marathon locations, the weather in Boston is very unpredictable. Take the time to really research the weather before you decide how to dress either to run or spectate. Heat exhaustion, hyperthermia, and hypothermia are real concerns and can be dangerous if not treated.

Take care of yourself out there and plan according to the weather.

Where Are The Water Stations Along The Boston Marathon Route?

There are water stations every mile (or so) along the route as well, generally halfway between the medical aid stations. They alternate between being on the left and the right side of the course. If you miss one, note that the next one will be on the other side of the course. Volunteers will be standing next to the road with cups that you can grab and go. Some stations just have water, some have Gatorade and/or hydrogel.

Where Are The Best Places For Spectators To Watch The Boston Marathon?

There are 26 miles of potential places to watch, but here are my suggestions:

• If you want a close-up experience without the crowds, choose somewhere along the first 10K or so. You’ll also get to see a lot more runners closer together in packs because of how close it is to the start line.
• If you want the experience of loud crowds and lots of cheering, try the scream tunnel near the 14K mark.
• Want to cheer on the racers in what is commonly known as the hardest part of the course? Heartbreak Hill is halfway between 20K and 21K.
• If you want the big crowds and to see the racers on the final stretch, anything along Boylston Street in the last 2K. But you’ll have a more difficult time getting a good view because of the crowds.

To get into the finish line area, you generally need a ticket and those are obviously limited. So unless you know somebody, you likely won’t get to see the finish line directly.

How Do I Track A Racer Running The Boston Marathon?

A few years ago, the BAA added a racer tracking system that allows you to track racers as they pass a number of checkpoints along the course. In between these checkpoints, it uses the average pace of the runner to determine where the racer likely is. If you’re doing the hop-on, hop-off train idea suggested above. Or just waiting somewhere along the course, this will allow you to know when they are approaching so you don’t miss them.

Depending on where you are along the course though, they could be in with a crowd of racers, so spotting them might be more difficult than you would think. I believe it will also indicate if a racer has dropped out of the race at a medical station. So you’re not standing by waiting for them, while they are on a bus heading to the finish line or getting medical attention.

As a Spectator, How Do I Get Across The Course?

Once the race starts, you can only cross the course at designated course crossings. In the first few miles, there aren’t gates on each side of the course. This can make seeing the crossing points a little bit harder. Once you get closer to Boston there will be security fencing along the course on both sides. You’ll need to look for crossing points to get across. Keep an eye out for signs that will point you toward them.

After the first groups of racers, you’ll be able to cross during breaks in the runners. Volunteer guides are there to tell you when it’s safe to cross. As the racers thin out near the end of the race, the guides will again assist in getting you across.

As you get into the bigger groups, they use a creative method to get you across. They split the course in half, and racers will run down one side of the course while spectators move into a box in the middle of the course. Volunteers will direct racers down the other side of the course and the spectators cross to the other side. So, for a brief moment, you can say you were “in the Boston Marathon” as you cross over.

Not sure where to get lunch in Boston during Marathon Weekend? Check out our article about the Best Restaurants in Boston.

Where Do I Meet Runners At The Finish Line?

The finish line area is a secure area, so you won’t be able to get to the finish line or the immediate area afterward. This includes the water stations, medals awarding, medical tents, blankets, etc). However, just beyond those is the Family Meeting Area. It’s broken into zones so ideally, you’ll pre-plan which zone you want to meet in.

Remember, many runners don’t carry cell phones with them. Until they get to gear check and pick up belongings, it may be hard to reach them. If a racer drops out of the race at any medical station (but doesn’t need hospital level of care), shuttles will take them to this finish area. They will be dropped off just inside the secure area, next to the Family Meeting Area.

Are Boston Marathon Staff Volunteers?

To make the Boston Marathon work as smoothly as it does, it takes thousands of people. They range from security, logistics, medical support, race marshals, media, emergency response, technical operations, and more. Even behind the scenes, there are entire teams staged just for the chance that a significant event requires an evacuation of part or all of the course.

Of these tens of thousands of staff, nearly ten thousand of them are unpaid volunteers. Many start their days as early as 4 am and head home well after 8 pm. Just keep this in mind when interacting with folks throughout the day. Many of them are volunteers who do this for the love of the sport, the history of the race, and the love of supporting this amazing event.

If you’re interested in volunteering, you can apply here. Note that positions are highly coveted. Many volunteers return year after year to volunteer, some traveling long distances to be there. I myself fly from North Carolina to Boston each year to continue to support the race. Unfortunately, they turn away thousands of volunteers every year due to a lack of available positions.

Everything About Boston Marathon

Now you have all the information about the Boston Marathon! Seems like its time for you to get out there and start running to run for the Marathon. Or maybe just like us you’re better as a spectator.