The 131st Boston Marathon is on Monday, April 19, 2027, Patriots’ Day. The Boston Athletic Association expects about 30,000 participants on the 26.2-mile course from Hopkinton to Boylston Street. As of Oct. 22, 2026, the B.A.A. had not posted 2027 start times or road-closure schedules. Its spectator page still shows the 2026 race details. This guide uses the course layout and standing rules, which rarely change, and marks anything that comes from last year.
The course, town by town
The route passes through eight cities and towns: Hopkinton, Ashland, Framingham, Natick, Wellesley, Newton, Brookline and Boston. Because the race is point-to-point, the B.A.A. suggests planning ahead if you want to see a runner in more than one place. For 2026, its estimated road closures were:
- Hopkinton: 7 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. (limited spectator parking at Hopkinton State Park, with shuttles)
- Ashland: 7 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. (Ashland Commuter Rail station, just under a mile from the course)
- Framingham: 7:45 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. (Framingham Commuter Rail depot)
- Natick: 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. (West Natick and Natick Center Commuter Rail)
- Wellesley: 8:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. (Wellesley Square, Wellesley Hills and Wellesley Farms Commuter Rail)
- Newton: 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (Green Line, including Woodland and Boston College)
- Brookline: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Green Line, including Cleveland Circle)
- Boston: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
In 2026, the first starters were the military marchers at 6 a.m., the wheelchair divisions started just after 9 a.m., the professional men and women started at 9:37 and 9:47 a.m., and the six waves of runners went off between 10 a.m. and 11:21 a.m. The 2027 schedule will be posted by the B.A.A.
Popular places to watch
Wellesley
Around the halfway point, students at Wellesley College line the course in what’s known as the Scream Tunnel. It’s one of the loudest stretches of the race. Wellesley is also home to the B.A.A.’s sensory-friendly viewing area, run with the Doug Flutie, Jr. Foundation for Autism at the Tolles Parsons Center, 500 Washington St., around mile 13.5. People there are asked to avoid loud cheering and noisemakers.
The Newton Hills
Between about miles 17.5 and 21, runners climb the Newton Hills along Commonwealth Avenue, ending with Heartbreak Hill near Boston College. The wide sidewalks and tree-lined carriage roads make this a good spot for families, and it’s reachable on the Green Line’s B and D branches.
Brookline and Kenmore
The course follows Beacon Street through Brookline before entering Boston near Kenmore Square. The B.A.A. notes that this stretch offers nearly three miles of viewing spots, with plenty of places to grab food.
Boylston Street finish
The finish line on Boylston Street near Copley Square is the most crowded area. Spectators reach it on foot, because the B.A.A. says no one can park near the finish. It suggests garages at 100 Clarendon St., the Prudential Center (Huntington Avenue) and Copley Place. The Boston Common Garage was closed on the morning of the 2026 race.
Accessible viewing
In 2026, the B.A.A. set aside accessible viewing areas on Boylston Street at Hereford Street, Ring Road, Fairfield Street and Exeter Street. The B.A.A. also notes that the Hynes Convention Center MBTA station is not accessible. Expect similar locations in 2027, but confirm on the spectator page closer to race day.
Meeting your runner
The Family Meeting Area is on Stuart Street between Berkeley and Clarendon streets. It has alphabetical signs, and the B.A.A. warns that it takes runners a long time to walk there from the finish, so agree on a plan before race day.
Watching from home
In 2026, WCVB Channel 5 carried local live coverage starting at 4 a.m., with streaming on the Very Local app, and ESPN2 carried the race nationally.
Getting around
The MBTA publishes a marathon guide each year with station changes and service plans, and trains get very crowded on race day. Our MBTA guide covers fares and routes. Driving to the start is not practical for spectators, so many watch closer to Boston.
Rules worth knowing
- The B.A.A. asks for a no-drone zone along the entire course, and flight restrictions are in place.
- Report suspicious items or behavior to the nearest police officer or call 911.
- Expect security screening and bag restrictions near the start and finish. Check the B.A.A.’s spectator page for the 2027 list.
- Don’t step onto the course or hand runners anything except at official stations.
- April weather can swing from cold rain to warm sun. Check the forecast on race morning.
Related guides
Sources
- Boston Athletic Association: Boston Marathon
- B.A.A.: Info for Spectators
- MBTA: Boston Marathon guide
- Featured image: File:Boston Marathon 2019 runners crossing Walnut Street.agr.jpg, ArnoldReinhold, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Featured image: Runners cross Walnut Street in Newton during the 2019 Boston Marathon. Photo: ArnoldReinhold via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0).
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