2023 Boston Marathon: Where does it start, how long does it last? Street detours and finish line
The Boston Marathon follows a mostly downhill route and will finish in Copley Square. We look at the whole route and detours.
The 2023 Boston Marathon marks the 136th annual holding of the event, the world’s oldest marathon. The route will take the 30,000 participants from Hopkinton, in the southwest of Boston, to Copley Square in front of the Boston Public Library and Old South Church in the Back Bay neighborhood.
The route is generally a downhill run, with a few notable ascents thrown in, starting at 360 feet elevation and moving through gently rolling hills from Hopkinton to Ashland, and on to Framingham and Natick, before moving through Wellesley, Newton, and Brookline before entering Boston proper.
Runners will pass some of the most beautiful landmarks of the Boston area as they go past Lake Cochichuate, Wellesley College, Newton Lower Falls, the infamous Heartbreak Hill, Boston College, and Fenway Park before finishing in front of the Old South Church.
Driving into the city is strongly discouraged, with traffic closures and detours in place all along the route. Boston’s Patriot Day Parade also takes place on Monday so there will be disruption even at great distances from the race. Parking restrictions will also apply in Back Bay, Beacon Hill, Brighton, Fenway/Kenmore, the North End, and Government Center.
A full list of closures and detours can be found on the Boston government website.