The Boston Marathon is one of the most iconic races in the world. Beginning in 1887, the event has become a goal race for marathon runners due to it’s strict qualifying times and inclusion as one of the Abbott World Majors.
Unlike many marathons, the main way to get into Boston isn’t through a ballot. Instead you’ll need to complete another race within the specified time required for your gender and age group. As a result, thousands of runners around the world train every year to improve their times to be in with a chance of taking part.
Remember to always check the official Boston Marathon runner communications before taking part in the race as specific details about the event may change.
Boston Marathon 2025 Guide
In our Boston Marathon 2025 podcast Tom and Kieran discuss all logistics and other things you need to know about the event.
Where To Stay
The Boston Marathon is unlike many other marathons as the start is actually 26.2 miles away from the finish line in the town of Hopkinton. If you’re planning on visiting the city to take part you’ll likely want to spend your time in Boston itself.
Luckily, all of the events and activities running over the Boston Marathon weekend take part in the centre of the city, which means you have a lot of options for places to stay. Boston also has a well-serviced public transport system, so you can save yourself some money by booking somewhere a bit further out.
Boston Marathon Expo Guide
The Boston Marathon Expo takes place at the John B. Hynes Veterans Memorial Convention Center. Unlike many marathons, this is located right in the middle of the city and next to the finish line – so you don’t need to make any plans to travel a long way out.
The expo is open from Friday April 18th to Sunday April 20th. It can get busy closer to the race day though so try and get in on the Friday if you can.
It’s here that you’ll pick up your bib, your commemorative race top and your race packet. It’s also where you can buy the official Boston Marathon kit, including the famous runner jacket, as well as a take photos at a number of spots around the building.
Where Is The Boston Marathon Start?
The start of the Boston Marathon is located in the town of Hopkinton, located 26 miles from the finish line. To get there you’ll need to head to Boston Common on the morning of the race and take one of the school buses to the runners area.
You’ll need to check your start time to find out when you need to get on the bus as the journey can take around an hour.
When you get to the runner’s area in Boston you’ll find water, snacks and toilets to use while you wait for your wave to be called to the start line.
Where Is The Boston Marathon Finish?
The finish line of Boston Marathon is on Boylston Street, located in the centre of the city. You can expected the streets as you enter the city, with the final stretch being one of the most impressive finish line crowds of any marathon.
Once you cross the finish line you’ll be moved through the cordoned of area to pick up water, snacks and – if you left one – your bag.
Boston Marathon Route Guide
Due to it being a point-to-point race, the route for the Boston Marathon is very simple. Starting at the town of Hopkinton, the route follows a meandering line taking you past the towns and villages on the way back to Boston.
Although the road is relatively simple to look at on the map, the elevation chart is slightly less inviting. The first three miles of the race is a noticeable downhill decent, which can mean a lot of runners head off too fast. After that it undulates for a while until you tackle a few steeper climbs in the final 9 miles – including the famous Heartbreak Hill.
How To Get Into The Boston Marathon 2026
Boston Marathon is famous for requiring runners to qualify in order take part in the race. Those qualifying times are broken down by gender and age group. You can see what those times are here. Note that if too many people enter with the required qualifying times, Boston Marathon will select the faster runners within you grouping, so it’s likely that you will need to run a time in another marathon that is under the qualifying time.
Other routes to get into the Boston Marathon are through charity spots, which don’t require a qualifying time, and through a tour operator that will include your race spot as part of the package.