There are three adjoining green spaces in southern Stuttgart, near the airport, that make for a nice run. Furthest west is Weidach- und Zettachwald, a large nature preserve with a series of trails through forests and meadows. There’s a combination of wide gravel roads and some slightly rugged trails that are more for hiking/trail running.

Weidach- und Zettachwald. Creative Commons

Just east of there is Hohenheimer Garden, large arboretum/botanical garden, with numerous pleasant paths for walking. Don’t miss the tree-lined Jägerallee. Also, you can explore the paths around the campus of the University of Hohenheim, just to the north. Then, just east of the botanical garden are the mainly wooded paths in the Häslachwald nature preserve.

We’ve mapped a route that combines and connects these three areas, to use as a guideline. Once in each of these three spots, there are numerous additional trails to explore. It’s ~7 km west to east.

STAY: Good selection of hotels on the west side of Weidach- und Zettachwald, near the highway. Also, a cluster of hotels in between the Hohenheimer Garden and Highway 8.