Located near the Gulf of Mexico, Houston is the fourth most populous city in the United States and the largest in Texas. The scene for running in Houston has been improving as a result of $100 million being poured into parks-related projects and trails along the Bayous. Since it’s a large, sprawling, and car-oriented city, below is a guide to the best places to run in Houston, grouped by type of run and geography. See also our running guides to Houston’s Suburbs, and Galveston (50 miles away).
Type of Run
Signature Parks: Memorial Park, Buffalo Bayou Park and Hermann Park. Numerous parks in the Energy Corridor.
Bayous. Growing number of continually improving trails. Buffalo Bayou is the signature. Brays Bayou, White Oak Bayou Trail are good.
Neighborhoods. Houston has some lovely, leafy residential neighborhoods with large homes and lovely running: River Oaks, Heights, Montrose, 6th Ward Historic District. Also Rice University and area.
Trails: Woodlands, Bear Creek Pioneers Park.
Areas
Downtown: Buffalo Bayou Park, White Oak Bayou Trail, 6th Ward Historic District.
Midtown: Montrose & River Oaks neighborhoods, Memorial Park, Buffalo Bayou Trail.
Museum District (south of downtown): Hermann Park, Brays Bayou, Rice University area
West Houston: Energy Corridor parks, west end of Buffalo Bayou trail.
North: Heights, neighborhood, White Oak Bayou Trail, Woodlands.
Houston’s layout and weather are factors in the running scene. As a large and spread out city that’s fairly car-centric, you will have to ‘find your spot’ for running. And summer weather is very hot and humid — best to hydrate and avoid the heat of the day.