Baltimore, also known as Charm City, has a long history as an important seaport. The city has a waterfront location on the Inner Harbor, gateway to Chesapeake Bay. It’s a diverse and manageable city, with many types of neighborhoods, each with a unique personality. There are some great options for running in Baltimore, taking advantage of its waterfront, historic sites, its 6,000 acres of parkland and public space, and numerous multi-use trails.
The best places to run in Baltimore’s central area are the Baltimore Waterfront Promenade around the Inner Harbor, the loop around Fort McHenry, and Patterson Park. There are great neighborhoods and parks for running northeast of downtown and near Johns Hopkins University, and accessible by metro: Druid Hill Park, the Roland Park neighborhood, and Lake Montebello/Herring Run Park. It’s also worth checking out some of the longer bike paths/multi-use trails in the area: the BWI and B&A Trail near BWI Airport; and the NCR Rail Trail. For some trail running, head to Oregon Ridge Park; and the Loch Raven Reservoir.
Notes: Runners should note that Baltimore’s summers are hot and humid! And for more nearby running options, check out our running guides for Annapolis, Washington, D.C. and its Maryland suburbs.
c location, Baltimore has a warm humid temperate climate with hot summers and no dry season. Winters are chilly on the scale of D.C. or Philadelphia. Summers can be hot and very humid (hydrate on your runs), while winters can be challenging with ice and snow.
