Where to Run in Top Family Vacation Destinations

The summer family vacation. Whether the plan is to head to one of the top visited cities, the beach, a National Park, or tourist attraction such as Disney, one thing’s for sure: you’ll still want to get that run in. If the kids are little, that might require an understanding spouse who will let you sneak out for an early morning jaunt. If they’re teens, it’ll be more like “Mom, sure, go out for a long one”. The other challenge, of course, is to find a good place to run in that vacation spot.  It’s helpful to do a bit of research in advance, which might even determine where you stay in order to be close to a good running spot.

Here’s the Great Runs guide to some of the best places to run in some of the most visited U.S. destinations in summer by families.

Most Visited Cities

New York City. There’s more to running in NYC than Central Park! There are wonderful paths along the Hudson River and the East River. Running over the Brooklyn Bridge and along the waterfront there is also a treat.

Washington, D.C. Fortunately, the best running in D.C. is synonymous with some of the most visited sites. There’s nothing like a run along the National Mall over to the Tidal Basin/Memorials. For some shade, head over to Rock Creek Park.

Los Angeles. There’s fabulous running in L.A., but it’s not downtown. Try to stay in Santa Monica or Venice Beach, to enjoy wonderful beach and boardwalk running. If in the West Hollywood area, tackle the hills of Runyon Canyon Park or the posh streets of Beverly Hills.

Chicago. If visiting Chicago, try to stay downtown. This will put you near the city’s major museums, great architecture, the Magnificent Mile…and some of the best urban running in the United States: Lakefront Path, Millennium Park/Grant Park, and River/Loop routes.

Boston. Visiting Boston on vacation is different than being there for the Marathon, since the Marathon route doesn’t actually pass by the city’s most scenic running spots. The two iconic Boston runs are the Charles River Path and the Olmsted-designed Emerald Necklace. There’s also excellent running along the harbor. Or, get up early and run the Freedom Trail!

Resort/Theme Park Areas

Disney/Universal, Orlando. The kids might be excited, but the running options in the Disney/Universal area won’t be on any runner’s bucket list. Some of the Disney resorts have their own running trails, and there are sections of International Drive that have a running/walking path. 

Disneyland California. Downtown Anaheim is no great shakes for running. But there’s good stuff in the larger Orange County area: wonderful parks in the Anaheim Hills, just east of the city; and great beach/coastal running in Huntington Beach, Newport Beach, and Laguna Niguel.   

San Diego. If your family trip leads you to San Diego for the Zoo, LEOGOLAND, SeaWorld, or other attractions, you’ve also hit the running jackpot. San Diego has it all for runners: great beachfront running, a waterfront loop around Mission Bay, Balboa Park, and endless hill/canyon options just outside the city.  Our San Diego running guide has numerous wonderful runs in the beachfront communities north of the city, from La Jolla to Oceanside. 

Popular Beach Spots

Millions of families head to the beach in summer, particularly along the East Coast, from Maine to Georgia. For runners, the priority is knowing whether the beach is ‘runnable’, which we define as being at least one mile in length, fairly flat, and featuring packed sand. This might require consulting a tide chart, in order to get that firm footing near low tide. If the beach itself isn’t runnable, the next best bet is to find a beach resort that features a beach-side path or boardwalk, or a coastal road (hopefully one with a good shoulder!). We’ve compiled a list of best beaches for running and other good coastal running options in our Summer Running Hub. 

National Parks

The U.S. National Parks receive more than 300 million visits annually. If heading to one of the Parks with your family this summer, you might be wanting to sneak in a run between that hike or scenic drive. For the typical runner, here are some tips for running in some of the popular national parks:

• Look for multi-use paths. They might not be as spectacular as some of the hikes, but they’re the best and safest option. Some of the best of these are in Acadia National Park, Grant Teton National Park, Everglades National Park, Big Bend, Bryce Canyon, Grand Canyon (Rim Trail, South Rim), & Glacier (Lake MacDonald).
• Run the park loop roads. Some of the most spectacular drives in the National Parks offer some wonderful running, provided they’re not too hilly and have a decent shoulder. Each park is different, but some of the best ‘loop road’ running is in Acadia National Park, Badlands, Big Bend, Zion, Death Valley (Artists Drive), and Sequoia/Kings Canyon (Crescent Meadow Rd.).
• Look for some of the longer ‘nature trails’ and some of the hiking/walking trails rated ‘easy’. Generally these will be flatter and will have good footing. More moderately rated trails will be more for trail running.
• Run the ‘Shuttle Bus’ Routes. Several of the most popular national parks are closing central sections to vehicles and are using shuttle buses instead, especially during peak season. This is goodness for runners: Less traffic on the road, and the option to run one-way and take the shuttle bus back!

For more, see our list of Best Runs in U.S. National Parks, and also our National Park home page, which the best places to run in the most visited U.S. national parks.