Philadelphia, noted for its rich history, is one of the more pedestrian-friendly cities in the United States. Laid out with some grand city planning, Philadelphia boasts varied architecture, numerous cultural institutions, and several universities. There’s an excellent variety of running in Philadelphia, with some great options downtown, significant parks, and extensive river trails. And of course, Rocky’s run up the stairs of the Philadelphia Museum of Art is on any runner’s ‘bucket list’. The central part of Philadelphia is easy to get around, with good public transport. Several of our downtown area routes can be combined.
Our guide to the best places to run in Philadelphia includes a Philadelphia Highlights tour, and a great ‘runseeing’ tour of the historic section. For off-road running, check out beautiful Fairmont Park and paths along the Schuylkill River. The University of Pennsylvania has a great campus for running. Adjacent to Old City, there are paths along the Delaware River, with options to cross he Benjamin Franklin Bridge to New Jersey. Other favorites include Olmsted-designed FDR Park in South Philly, the nine-mile trail in Pennypack Park, and the Cobbs Creek Trail.
For more routes just outside the city, see our guide to the Philadelphia suburbs, which includes coverage of Montgomery, Delaware, Chester, and Bucks Counties.
