In short
The 2027 Boston Marathon is on Monday 19 April 2027 (Patriots' Day), point to point from Main Street in Hopkinton to Boylston Street in Back Bay. Runners should stay in Back Bay or near Boston Common, a walk from the finish and from the official buses to the start, which load on Charles Street. Supporters do best near a Green Line or Commuter Rail stop, so they can cheer in Wellesley or on Heartbreak Hill and again at Kenmore Square. The 2027 field is already set, so book now: the official hotel block lets you cancel for a handling fee only until 28 February 2027.
Course sheet In race order, not to scale
- Main Street, HopkintonStart, a 0.7 mile walk from Athletes' Village
- Framinghammile 6.6 (km 11)Past the train depot, downhill and fast
- Natick Centermile 10 (km 16)Crowds around Natick Common, about mile 10
- Wellesley Scream Tunnelmile 12.6 (km 20) · cheer spotWellesley College students line Central Street just before halfway
- Newton hillsmile 17.5 (km 28)Right turn onto Commonwealth Avenue at the fire station, then climbs to mile 21
- Heartbreak Hill, Newtonmile 20 (km 32) · cheer spotHalf a mile up from Centre Street to Hammond Street, with Boston College at the top
- Coolidge Corner, Brooklinemile 24 (km 39)Big crowds on Beacon Street, with the Green Line C branch alongside
- Kenmore Squaremile 25.2 (km 41) · cheer spotUnder the Citgo sign, about a mile to go
- Boylston StreetFinish by the Boston Public Library in Copley Square
Race morning
Runners ride free official buses from Charles Street, between Boston Common and the Public Garden, to Athletes' Village at Hopkinton Middle and High School. Only runners may board and you must show your bib. In 2026 loading went by wave from 06:45 until the last bus left at 09:30, and the start is a 0.7 mile walk from the Village. Only the one-gallon Start Area Bag goes to Hopkinton, so drop your finish gear bag on Boylston Street before you board (05:45 to 09:15 in 2026). Parking in Hopkinton is very limited, first come first served at 52 and 80 South Street, so the bus is the safer plan.
Where to stay
Pick an area to see hotels and rentals there at live prices.
Start Finish Acheer spot Course
Live map · Back Bay and CopleyHotels and rentals at live prices, Fri 16 Apr to Tue 20 Apr
Open the live map for Back Bay and Copley ↗
Prices and availability come from booking sites through Stay22. Change the dates on the map if you are staying longer.
Watch the race
Pick Wellesley or Heartbreak Hill, take the train in to cheer again at Kenmore Square, then meet your runner on Stuart Street.
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mile 12.6 (km 20)
Wellesley Scream Tunnel
Take the Commuter Rail (Framingham/Worcester Line) to Wellesley Square, then walk a little over 1 km west along Central Street to the college. Your runner still has more than 12 miles to go, so there is time to take an inbound train to Lansdowne, by Kenmore Square.
Stays near Wellesley Scream Tunnel ↗ -
mile 20 (km 32)
Heartbreak Hill
Take the Green Line D branch to Newton Centre and walk about 1 km north on Centre Street to the bottom of the hill, or the B branch to its last stop, Boston College, just past the top. To move on, the D branch from Newton Centre runs direct to Kenmore; leave as soon as your runner passes.
Stays near Heartbreak Hill, Newton ↗ -
mile 25.2 (km 41)
Kenmore Square
The last big crowd, under the Citgo sign with about a mile to go. Kenmore station (Green Line B, C and D) and Lansdowne (Commuter Rail) are both close. After your runner passes, head for the family meeting area: getting through the finish can take them up to 30 minutes.
Stays near Kenmore Square ↗ -
Meet your runner
The Family Meeting Area is on Stuart Street between Berkeley and Clarendon Streets, with signs by the first letter of the runner's last name between Stuart Street and Columbus Avenue. Agree on your letter before race day. Copley station was closed all day in 2026; Back Bay station (Orange Line and Commuter Rail) is right by the meeting area.
The official hotels, explained
Marathon Tours & Travel, the official travel agency, runs a hotel-only block, mostly in Back Bay, downtown and Cambridge, with a two-night minimum (three at 11 of the hotels). You pay the hotel at check-in, but a 5% booking fee is never refunded, and cancelling costs $35 to $75 until 28 February 2027, one night in March and the full stay from 1 April 2027.
| Official hotel offer | Our maps | |
|---|---|---|
| Who runs it | Marathon Tours & Travel | Every hotel and rental near each area |
| Prices | Listed on the official site | Live prices from several booking sites |
| Minimum stay and cancellation | Two nights minimum (three at 11 of the hotels) and a 5% booking fee that is never refunded. Cancelling costs $35 to $75 until 28 February 2027, one night in March and the full stay from 1 April. | Filter for free cancellation |
| Need to buy a package? | No | No |
See the official hotel offer ↗ · We link to the official option and explain its terms, so you can compare before you book.
When to book
- NowBook a room with free cancellation near the start.
- Mon, 1 Mar 2027Official hotel deadline.
- Your cancellation dateKeep or cancel before it passes.
- Mon, 19 Apr 2027Race day.
Free guide
The Unofficial 2027 Boston Marathon Where to Stay Guide
Every area, the race morning plan and the booking dates in one place, updated every year.
Questions
Where should I stay for the Boston Marathon?
Back Bay, around Copley Square, puts you steps from the finish and a walk from the race buses on Charles Street. Downtown by Boston Common is closest to the buses, and Central Square in Cambridge is two Red Line stops from them.
Should I stay in Hopkinton, near the start?
Only if you find a room and have a way back after the finish, which is 26.2 miles away in Boston. The official buses all leave from Boston, and Hopkinton has few places to stay. In 2026 free return buses ran from Columbus Avenue in Back Bay to Hopkinton from 12:00 to 19:00.
How do I get to the start of the Boston Marathon?
On free official buses that load on Charles Street, between Boston Common and the Public Garden, by wave from early morning (06:45 for wave 1 in 2026). You need your bib to board, and only runners may ride.
Where can supporters watch the Boston Marathon?
The Wellesley Scream Tunnel just before halfway, Heartbreak Hill in Newton (miles 20 to 21), Coolidge Corner in Brookline and Kenmore Square (mile 25.2). Pick Wellesley or Heartbreak Hill, then take the train in to Kenmore Square.
Where do I meet my runner after the Boston Marathon?
At the Family Meeting Area on Stuart Street, between Berkeley and Clarendon Streets, under the sign with the first letter of their last name. Allow up to 30 minutes for them to get through the finish.
When is the 2027 Boston Marathon, and when should I book?
Monday 19 April 2027, Patriots' Day. The field was set on 29 September 2026, so book now. In the official hotel block, cancelling costs only a handling fee until 28 February 2027.
Official race site ↗ · Sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15