Jacksonville is the most populous city in Florida and also the largest city by geographic area in the United States. Downtown is a mix of Old South atmosphere and Mediterranean architecture, with gleaming high-rises. A pleasant riverfront area, stately residential neighborhoods, nearby beaches, and numerous large parks with extensive trails offer great opportunities for running in Jacksonville. Nearby, we also have extensive running guides for the Amelia Island and St. Augustine areas.
In the downtown area, which is divided into northwest and southeast sections by the St. Johns river, there is good running on the Riverwalk, a route incorporating the numerous bridges, and the south bank sector consisting of the historic community of San Marco. The neighborhoods of Venice, Ortega, Baymeadow, and Forest Circle offer great opportunities for running. The beaches, located 17 miles east of downtown, offer 20 miles of hard-packed white sand that’s great for running, as well as well as wide boulevards. For trails, we love Guana River State Park, Theodore Roosevelt Preserve, and the Durbin Creek Peninsular Preserve Trail.
Note that Jacksonville can be very hot in summer. As for transport, there is some downtown but the area is very spread out and a car is generally needed.
