The Best American Cities for Running

If you’re a runner, you know that the best place to go running is wherever you happened to be at that moment. Lacing up your shoes and going for a run is inherently great no matter where you are. But, let’s face it, there are some special places that make for truly memorable long runs, mid-run selfies, post-run brunches and after-run beers with your running buddies.

Without further ado, here’s a list of some of the best running cities in the U.S.

Boston

Boston is a prominent American city with a small-city vibe and a rich history that dates back to the early 1600s. It has long been the cultural and financial center of the New England region, not to mention one of the best sports cities in the U.S. But it’s also been one of the best running cities since the first running boom of the 1970s.

Why It’s a Great Place to Run: Boston is known for the Boston Marathon, which is an annual rite of spring for runners in the Hub, but it also has a rich community of running clubs, some of the country’s best running shops, and dozens of other races that attract runners from New England and around the world. It has an active community of runners, which is bolstered by nearly 150,000 college students at the city’s 35 universities, colleges, and community colleges.

Best Time to Visit: April to June or September to October

Best Running Route: The Charles River Path is a network of concrete paths that extend for miles along the river between Boston and Cambridge from the Museum of Science to the Eliot Bridge. The best and most common route is a four-mile loop between Harvard Bridge and River Street Bridge, but longer loops are possible by connecting adjacent paths and neighborhoods.

Best Running Trail: The Middlesex Fells Reservation (known locally as “the Fells”) is a large, 2,300-acre park just north of Boston with  more than 100 miles of multi-use trails, including the 3.7-mile Rock Circuit Trail loop. You can make any number of combinations of loops in the park for medium- to long runs.

Best Races: The Boston 5K (mid-April), Boston Marathon (mid-April), 26.True (mid-April), Boston 10K for Women (mid-October), BAA Half Marathon (early November)

Best Running Shops: Marathon Sports, Heartbreak Hill Running Company, Tracksmith Track House

Best Boston Running Info: Boston Run Guides

Etc: Ryan Hall ran the fastest marathon ever by an American in 2011, when he ran the Boston Marathon in 2:04:58. (It’s not considered the official American record because the Boston Marathon course isn’t considered a record-eligible course due to its net-downhill, point-to-point course layout.)

Boulder, Colorado

Nestled at the edge of the iconic Flatirons where the Great Plains meet the Rocky Mountains, Boulder is an iconic small city known for a college town vibe, 300 days of sunshine per year, and an extremely active population. It has vast areas of public open space, an array of high-tech companies, more than two dozen microbreweries, and a downtown pedestrian mall with trendy shops and restaurants.

Why It’s a Great Place to Run: It has nearly 200 miles of trails adjacent to the city, and while only a few are flat, each one offers a unique view of the mountains. It has vibrant running clubs and groups focused on fitness, road running, and ultra-distance trail runs. The Bolder Boulder 10K, which dates back to 1979, is one of the country’s most historic road races, with an enormous depth of fast citizen runners, a world-class professional race, costumed participants, on-course music and entertainment, and an extraordinary community vibe.

Best Time to Visit: Spring, summer, or fall.

Best Running Route: The Dirty Bismark Loop, a fun, scenic, rolling 15-mile dirt loop on open space lands between South Boulder and Superior. Although there is no shade on the course at all, it’s a great place for marathoners and trail runners to log early morning or late afternoon long runs.

Best Running Trail: Mesa Trail, a 7-mile route between Chautauqua Park and Eldorado Springs that offers numerous challenging offshoots up 8,150-foot Green Mountain and 8,450-foot Bear Peak.

Best Races: Bolder Boulder 10K (Memorial Day); Sunset Trail Running Festival (mid-June), 4 on the Fourth Run (July 4), Pearl Street Mile (early August), Boulderthon (late September)

Best Running Shops: Fleet Feet, InMotion Running, Runners Roost

Best Boulder Running Info: Run Boulder

Etc: Boulder is one of the top training grounds for U.S. and international professional runners (Emma Coburn, Jenny Simpson, Elise Cranny, Jake Riley, Alicia Monson and Yared Neguse) and the home of several pro running teams (On Athletics Club, Team Boss, TinMan Elite).

Chicago

Chicago is known for its enormous skyline, deep dish pizza, passionate sports fans, and access to Lake Michigan. While it can seem crowded and spread out—some of the distant suburbs are an hour away from downtown—each part of the Chicagoland area has great places to run.

Why It’s a Great Place to Run: Although the weather can be rough—frigid cold in the winter, damp and chilly in the early spring and late fall, and hot and muggy in the summer—the flat terrain, network of paths, and deep running community make it a great place to run. There are several surprisingly great trail systems in the Chicagoland area, and along with many great races.

Best Time to Visit: May-June or September-October

Best Running Route: The best place to run in Chicago is the Lakefront Trail, a 18.5-mile-long shared-use path along the western shore of Lake Michigan. The mostly concrete trail passes through and connects Chicago’s four major lakefront parks along with various beaches and recreational amenities.

Best Running Trail: The 2,503-acre Waterfall Glen is one of the most ecologically impressive parcels of open space in northern Illinois. It is known for Rocky Glen waterfall, Sawmill Creek bluff overlook, and extensive trails, including the rolling, 9.7-mile crushed limestone loop that meanders through the preserve.

Best Races: Shamrock Shuffle 8K (mid-March), Spring Trail Chase 10K (mid-March), Bank of America 13.1 (early June), Big10K Run (mid-July), Chicago Marathon (early October), The Forge Trail Running Festival (mid-November)

Best Running Shops: Fleet Feet, Heartbreak Hill Running Company, Universal Sole

Best Chicago Running Info: Running Chicago Guide

Etc: The 606 is a 2.7-mile elevated park and trail that was built on what was once an industrial train line.

Los Angeles 

Los Angeles can be impossible to navigate by car, but it’s an amazing place to run. Within the sprawling metropolis of Los Angeles are dozens of neighborhoods, expansive parks, and scenic trails that are ideal for running. With more than 250 days of sunshine per year and access to scenic coastlines and rugged mountain trails, the Los Angeles area offers a wide range of options for runners.

 Why It’s a Great Place to Run: The Los Angeles running community is as diverse and vibrant as any city in the U.S. There are more than 135 active clubs with dozens of regular run meetups during the week and on the weekends. On any given Thursday night, runners can choose from more than 40 different group runs.

Best Time to Visit: March through June

Best Running Route: Running south from Will Rogers State Beach along Marvin Braude Bike Trail, an 8.7-mile route that includes a section known as the “The Strand,” is a dreamy coastal run with beachfront vibes.

Best Running Trail: There are great trails in Pasadena, the most iconic place to go trail running in LA is Griffith Park, the largest urban park in the U.S. There are numerous trails that can be turned into various 5- to 10-mile loops, including a run to the top of Mount Hollywood and back. (Yes, that’s where you can get pretty close to the famous Hollywood sign!)

Best Races: Rose Bowl Half Marathon & 5K (mid-January), Surf City Half Marathon & 5K (early February),  Los Angeles Marathon (mid-March), Santa Anita Derby Day 5k (early April), Santa Monica Classic 5K/10K (early September), Long Beach Marathon & Half Marathon (early October)

Best Running Shops: Run With Us (Pasadena), FrontRunners (Los Angeles), Fleet Feet (Burbank)

Best Los Angeles Running Info: LA Running Connoisseur

Etc: Los Angeles is hosting the 2028 Olympics, marking the third time in its history that its hosted the Summer Games, along with 1932 and 1984.

Portland, Oregon

Situated in the northwestern area of the state at the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers, Portland is known for its lush forested hills and outdoorsy population. The city is known for its bike-friendly transportation system, tasty coffee, eclectic art, craft beer, live music scene, PDX airport carpet (if you know, you know), and lively running community.

Why It’s a Great Place to Run: Although it’s not as sunny as a lot of other U.S. destinations, Portland’s expansive network of trails, lust forests and great local races make it one of the most vibrant local running communities in the U.S. If you deal with rain and muddy trails, you’ll have a blast running in Portland. It was ranked as the fourth-best running city in the U.S., which includes the top ranking for accessibility to running routes.

Best Time to Visit: April to October

Best Running Route: Wildwood Trail is the main arterial trail through Forest Park, a lush, 5,200-acre playground situated in the hills above Portland on the west side of the Willamette River. In total, it stretches about 30 miles and there are dozens of offshoots that offer different access points and the opportunity to make flowy looped runs and some gruelingly hard cached runs.

Best Running Trail: The Columbia River Gorge is chock-full of amazing trails with singletrack loops that zig-zag through lush pine forests and offer up-close views of massive waterfalls. One of the best is a 5.5-mile loop with 1,500 feet of elevation gain and descent that meanders around Wahkeena Falls, Ecola Falls, and Multnomah Falls.

Best Races: Shamrock Run Portland (mid-March), Gorge Waterfalls Trail Races (mid-April), Bridge to Brews 8K/10K (late April), Cinco de Mayo Half Marathon (May), Portland Trail Series (summer), Portland Marathon (early October)

Best Running Shops: Portland Running Company, Foot Traffic, Next Adventure

Best Portland Running Info: Portland Run Guides

Etc.: Wildwood Candle Company makes wood-wicked candles inspired by the trails of Forest Park.