Best Runs in New England

The Charles River Paths

Boston, MA

Along the Water | Iconic | Classic River Paths

One of the most famous runs in the country. Run all the way from downtown to Newton! Sections on the Boston side and Cambridge side, with numerous bridges along the way, allowing for great loops.

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The Emerald Necklace: Boston Common, Public Garden, Comm. Ave., Fens, Jamaica Pond, Arnold Arboretum, Franklin Park

Boston, MA

A greenway originally conceived by Frederick Law Olmsted, running 10 miles from the State House to Franklin Park. Highlights include the Comm. Ave Mall, Fens, Jamaica Pond, Arboretum, and Franklin Park.

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Boston Harborwalk/Waterfront: Charlestown to UMASS

Boston, MA

Along the Water | Iconic | Near Convention Center | Waterfront Promenades

There are 43 miles of path known as the 'Harborwalk'. We've mapped the most scenic 14-mile continuous segment, from Charlestown to UMASSS. Water views, important sites, and a festive scene! Table with segment distances.

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Best North Shore Running Beaches

Boston, MA - North Shore

By the Beach | Iconic | Great Beach Runs

There are several great running beaches on Boston's North Shore. Closest to Boston is Revere Beach, and just north, Kings Beach and Nahant Beach. The most scenic is Crane's Beach in Ipswich. Salisbury Beach near the NH border is also good for running.

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Worlds End

Boston, MA - South Shore

Great Views | Trail Running | National Parks | Olmsted

Overlooking Hingham Harbor just south of Boston, Worlds End offers several miles of roads and trails, flanked by specimen trees, with great views to the water and the Boston skyline. Enjoy 3+ miles of carriage road type trails in this Olmsted-designed park.

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Falmouth: Waterside Run

Cape Cod, MA

Along the Water | Great Views | Iconic

Fantastic waterside running, with views to Vineyard Sound. There are two ~3 mile one-way sections: Surf Drive; and Grand Ave. & Menauhant Ave. from Falmouth Heights Beach to East Falmouth. A 2 mile 'inland' section separates these two areas.

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Chatham Grand Tour

Cape Cod, MA

Along the Water | Gorgeous Residential | Historic / Tourist | Fantastic Neighborhoods

Chatham is one of the prettiest towns on the Cape. This is a grand 7.5 mile tour, which includes a run along Shore Dr., a section along Oyster Pond, and a jaunt out to Morris Island and the Monomoy Wildlife Refuge. Good options to vary & shorten.

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Bay Side Beaches

Cape Cod, MA

By the Beach | Great Beach Runs

The best beach running on the Cape tends to be on the Bay side. A favorite is in the Brewster area, between Breakwater Beach in the north and Boat Meadow Landing in the south. In good conditions, this is beach running heaven.

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Oak Bluffs Running Tour

Martha's Vineyard, MA

Along the Water | Gorgeous Residential | Historic / Tourist | Fantastic Neighborhoods | Runseeing

A 'runseeing' tour of Oak Bluffs: waterfront sections around the harbor and Seaview Ave., festive Circuit Ave., spectacular homes around Ocean Park, famous gingerbread houses, and for a longer run, a loop around the Land Bank Trails and out East Chop.

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Edgartown Tour

Martha's Vineyard, MA

Along the Water | Gorgeous Residential | Historic / Tourist | Fantastic Neighborhoods

Tony Edgartown is the historic and commercial center of Martha's Vineyard. Develop your own route incorporating Lighthouse Beach, whaling captains' homes along Water St. and the leafy side streets with quaint homes, shops, & inns.

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Nantucket Historic District Tour

Nantucket, MA

Historic / Tourist | Iconic | Runseeing

A 3-mile tour of some of the prettiest and most historic streets of Nantucket's Downtown Historic District and the center area. Lots of opportunities to add on. Downtown can get crowded in high season, so best to do that section early.

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‘Sconset to Sankaty Light

Nantucket, MA

Along the Water | Gorgeous Residential | Great Views

Siasconset, known as ‘Sconset to locals, hugs the high eastern crest of the island, where grand homes look out over even grander ocean views. This 3 mile route leads from downtown ‘Sconset to the Sankaty Light.

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The ‘Two Park Triangle’

Hartford, CT

Gorgeous Residential | Historic / Tourist | Parks | Runseeing

This 6.5 mile run combines the best of Hartford's parks and a section of our Hartford history tour. Bushnell Park, a loop around Elizabeth Park, and the important sites along Asylum Ave. & Farmington Ave., which run between the two parks.

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Mystic, Stonington, Groton

Connecticut: Highlights

Along the Water | By the Beach

Nice running opportunities in these popular visitor areas. We've put together a 6-mile 'Mystic Loop', a run to Stonington Point, and trails in Barn Island Wildlife Management Area and Bluff Point State Park.

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East Bay Bike Path

Providence, RI

Along the Water | Iconic | Multi-Use Trails | Rail-Trail

The signature run in Providence, popular with pedestrians and cyclists alike. Starting at India Point Park in Providence, the paved trail follows the Providence River for 14.5 miles to Bristol. Great water views much of the way.

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Newport Grand Tour: Waterfront, Ocean Ave., Bellevue Ave.

Newport & Jamestown, RI

Mix & match the ~5 miles along Ocean Ave. -- one of the most spectacular 'drives' in the country -- with famous Bellevue Ave., & the Newport Waterfront. Or, do the full Newport running experience of nearly 12 miles!

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Mohegan Trail

Block Island, RI

By the Beach | Great Views | Iconic

A wonderful run from downtown to one of Block Island's most popular spots, with great views of the water. A good add-on is to take the steep stairs down to the beach, and run/walk for a bit along the beach.

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Narragansett: Beaches, Lighthouses, Bike Paths

Rhode Island - All Routes

Along the Water | By the Beach | Multi-Use Trails | Great Beach Runs | Rail-Trail

The best running in this popular vacation spot is along Narragansett Beach and some of the nearby roads, Point Judith out to the lighthouse, the Galilee area near the Block Island ferry, and the O'Neill Bike Path between Narragansett and Kingston.

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Nashua Running Highlights

New Hampshire: All Routes

The best place to run in Nashua is Mine Falls Park. We also love running in the residential neighborhood & Greely Park near downtown. The Nashua River Rail Trail is great for a long off-road run, and the Horse Hill Nature Preserve is great for trail running.

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Manchester, NH Running Highlights

New Hampshire: All Routes

Along the Water | Multi-Use Trails | Parks | Iconic Race Courses | Rail-Trail

The best places to run in Manchester are the Piscataquog Trail, the loop around Doors Pond, a downtown route incorporating several small parks and paths along the Merrimack River, Derryfield Park, and the Rockingham Rail Trail.

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Concord, NH Running Highlights

New Hampshire: All Routes

Gorgeous Residential | Parks | Trail Running | Running Track

Our guide to the best places to run in New Hampshire's capital. Highlights include a downtown tour, trails along the Merrimack River, West End Farm Trail, Sewalls Falls Park, Lehtinen Park, Bear Brook Park. Lots of trail running options for all abilities.

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Portsmouth & Newcastle Island Loop

Portmouth & New Hampshire Seacoast, NH

Along the Water | Bridges

Lovely running in this hip and historic port city on the Picataqua River. Enjoy the main streets, Prescott Park, and grounds of the Strawbery Banke Museum. We've also included a 7.5 mile loop out to the island of Newcastle.

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New Hampshire Beaches & Odiorne Point State Park

Portmouth & New Hampshire Seacoast, NH

Along the Water | By the Beach | Great Views | Great Beach Runs

Wonderful beach running. Wide, with firm sand, ~1.5 miles long. Can extend further south to Seabrook Beach and Salisbury Beach for a total distance of 5 miles. We also recommend lovely oceanside road running at Odiorne Point State Park.

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Franconia Notch State Park Recreation Path

North Conway Area, NH

One of the best running spots in the White Mountains. The paved trail is 8.8 miles from Flume Gorge in the south to Skookumchuck & Rt. US 3 in the north, with an 800 foot elevation gain. Many sites & views along the way. Seasonal shuttle allows for one-way run!

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Eastern Promenade Trail

Portland, ME

One of Portland’s centerpieces, running from downtown, along the water, to Back Cove. The waterfront trail is built along an old rail corridor and offers spectacular harbor and ocean views.

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Peaks Island

Portland, ME

Along the Water

Take the 20-minute ferry over to Peaks Island, and enjoy a wonderful 4-mile perimeter tour of the island, with great water and Portland skyline views.

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Ogunquit Beach/Wells Beach

Maine: Southern Coast

By the Beach | Great Beach Runs

One of our favorite beach runs in New England. The 2.4 miles on the beach between Ogunquit and Wells are wide, flat, open, and offer consistently good “beach running” conditions. Numerous access points.

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Kennebunk and Kennebunkport Shore Runs

Maine: Southern Coast

Along the Water | By the Beach | Historic / Tourist | Waterfront Promenades

Wonderful waterside running in this popular summer report area. In Kennebunk, run for nearly 2 miles along Beach Rd., paralleling Kennebunk Beach. In Kennebunkport, the run along Ocean Ave. is one of our favorites in Maine.

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Boothbay Harbor

Maine: Mid-Coast

Along the Water

Quaint coastal town, known for its coastal views, shops and restaurants, and as a departure point for ferries. We've mapped a 4 mile 'Boothbay Harbor' route, featuring great water views, and a 2.8 mile there and back along Shore Rd. on Ocean Point.

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Islesboro Tour

Foliage

Located just off of Maine’s mid-coast, accessible by ferry from Camden. Beautiful island for running in the Penobscot Bay, with quiet roads, pretty foliage, and great water views. We've mapped a 7 mile loop from the ferry terminal.

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Rockland Running Highlights

Maine: Mid-Coast

Along the Water | Great Views | Historic / Tourist

We've put together two great runs in this historic fishing village: A jaunt along the waterfront and quaint Main St., with its shops, restaurants, and galleries; And a route out to Breakwater Light, where you can run on large granite rocks for 0.7 miles to the lighthouse.

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Acadia National Park Carriage Roads

Foliage

You don’t have to be a serious trail runner to enjoy the backcountry views in this National Park. Acadia has 45 miles of wide, well-groomed carriage roads that are perfect for a refreshing fall run. Fantastic option in the fall.

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Island Line Rail Trail/Burlington Greenway

Burlington, VT (Includes Lake Champlain Islands)

This gorgeous waterfront trail is the signature running spot in Burlington, stringing together several shoreline parks, with great views of Lake Champlain and the Adirondacks. Unique marble causeway over the lake at the northern end.

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Shelburne Farms

Burlington, VT (Includes Lake Champlain Islands)

Historic / Tourist | Iconic | Olmsted

1400 acre working farm, a National Historic Landmark with stunning waterfront views. For runners, there are more than 10 miles of trails. We've put together a loop incorporating the major features at the farm.

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Stowe Recreation Path

Stowe, VT

Iconic | Multi-Use Trails | Foliage

A popular, paved 5.3 mile multi-use trail, fairly flat and with great views. It meanders along West Branch River, over numerous small bridges, past beautiful farms, and enchanting wooded sections. Great Mansfield views headed north!

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Manchester: Equinox Preservation Trust

Vermont: All Routes

Great Views | Hilly | Trail Running

You don’t need to travel far into Vermont to find a primo spot for foliage viewing. The Equinox Preservation Trust, accessible from just outside of Manchester, has 914 acres of woodlands with excellent running and foliage viewing conditions.

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Woodstock: Billings Farm & Museum

Vermont: All Routes

Great Views | National Parks

This loop is a tour of the charming town of Woodstock, which is a popular visitors’ destination not far from the New Hampshire border. Our route starts at the Billings Farm & Museum, billed as a gateway to Vermont’s rural heritage and one of the finest operating dairy farms in America.

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40 Best Runs in New England

The Charles River Paths

Boston, MA

The Emerald Necklace: Boston Common, Public Garden, Comm. Ave., Fens, Jamaica Pond, Arnold Arboretum, Franklin Park

Boston, MA

Boston Harborwalk/Waterfront: Charlestown to UMASS

Boston, MA

Best North Shore Running Beaches

Boston, MA - North Shore

Worlds End

Boston, MA - South Shore

Falmouth: Waterside Run

Cape Cod, MA

Chatham Grand Tour

Cape Cod, MA

Bay Side Beaches

Cape Cod, MA

Oak Bluffs Running Tour

Martha's Vineyard, MA

Edgartown Tour

Martha's Vineyard, MA

Nantucket Historic District Tour

Nantucket, MA

‘Sconset to Sankaty Light

Nantucket, MA

The ‘Two Park Triangle’

Hartford, CT

Mystic, Stonington, Groton

Connecticut: Highlights

East Bay Bike Path

Providence, RI

Newport Grand Tour: Waterfront, Ocean Ave., Bellevue Ave.

Newport & Jamestown, RI

Mohegan Trail

Block Island, RI

Narragansett: Beaches, Lighthouses, Bike Paths

Rhode Island - All Routes

Nashua Running Highlights

New Hampshire: All Routes

Manchester, NH Running Highlights

New Hampshire: All Routes

Concord, NH Running Highlights

New Hampshire: All Routes

Portsmouth & Newcastle Island Loop

Portmouth & New Hampshire Seacoast, NH

New Hampshire Beaches & Odiorne Point State Park

Portmouth & New Hampshire Seacoast, NH

Franconia Notch State Park Recreation Path

North Conway Area, NH

Eastern Promenade Trail

Portland, ME

Peaks Island

Portland, ME

Ogunquit Beach/Wells Beach

Maine: Southern Coast

Kennebunk and Kennebunkport Shore Runs

Maine: Southern Coast

Boothbay Harbor

Maine: Mid-Coast

Islesboro Tour

Rockland Running Highlights

Maine: Mid-Coast

Acadia National Park Carriage Roads

Island Line Rail Trail/Burlington Greenway

Burlington, VT (Includes Lake Champlain Islands)

Shelburne Farms

Burlington, VT (Includes Lake Champlain Islands)

Stowe Recreation Path

Stowe, VT

Manchester: Equinox Preservation Trust

Vermont: All Routes

Woodstock: Billings Farm & Museum

Vermont: All Routes

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