After a long flight, there are two things most travelers want to do: Stretch those legs and hit the town. For runners, joggers, and walkers, we’ve put together routes shorter than five miles so that you can get a sneak peak at the hot spots before you get ready to go out. Get your work out in and see as many high-level attractions as possible, all before you shower and go to dinner on your first night.
You’ll get a feel for the roads, get a taste for the neighborhoods, and have a grasp on the liveliest parts of the city before its time to reach for your wallet and spend. In order to see as much as possible, some of these routes don’t complete a full circle, so keep that in mind when venturing out. We’ll bring you through ten exciting US cities and show you easy, attraction-filled running routes to give yourself a good workout and a quick summary of what to expect on your trip.
Boston
A town filled with history, sports, academia, and posh retail flair, Boston wears many hats. To see them all, start at the oldest ball park in the country – Fenway. From there, run down Boylston Street toward the city, and pass prestigious Berklee College of Music, the Prudential Center, the Boston Public Library, and the Old South Church in Copley Square. A left on Clarendon Street and a quick right on Newbury Street brings you to top-notch designer stores like Chanel and Burberry, and the ultra chic Taj hotel.
Take a left on Arlington Street and a right at the gate of the Public Garden to run over the bridge and see the beautiful flora and Swan Boats. Cross over Charles Street straight through the Boston Common, and take a left at the Park Street Station where you’ll see the State House. Follow Beacon Street to your left to see historic homes of politicians, and take a right at Arlington Street to pass over the pedestrian bridge. Now you’re on the Esplanade. Keeping the Charles River to your right, run until the pathway lets out at Exeter Street, and take a right on Commonwealth Avenue, one of the most picturesque streets in the city.
As you get closer to the iconic Citgo sign, you’ll enter the liveliness of Kenmore Square, where you’ll meet rampant Red Sox fans all year round. (4.6 miles)
New York
In this enormously awake metropolis, you’re hard pressed to ever find a five mile route that will cover absolutely everything Manhattan has to offer. We’ve tried our hand at some of the big hitters, and bring you through worthy attractions.
Start in Central Park at the Natural History Museum and the Hayden Planetarium. Explore the greenery and run passed the lake on your left, and come to the infamous Tavern on the Green. Cut through the park or take a left to get to E 59th Street, and take a right on 5th Avenue. You’ll pass all the buildings that make New York so lavishly revered – FAO Schwartz, the Trump Tower, and Saks. Take a left on E 42nd Street, and run through the always fashionable Bryant Park, where runway meets the road, and come to the lively and lit Times Square. Continue down W 42nd and take a left at the water that will lead you to the Hudson River Park, the Chelsea Piers, and the Meatpacking District. (4.9 miles)
Feel like venturing off Manhattan? For a quick 5K, run across the Brooklyn Bridge and back. It’s 1.5 miles each way, and ends up being around 3.2 miles if you circle Washington Plaza once you cross.
San Francisco
There are a few sides to San Francisco, but it always boils down to two parts – the center and the shore. In our opinion, what happens in the center neighborhoods of Union Square, Haight Ashbury, Castro, Mission is better experienced in-depth rather than simply run by. Certainly venture back to these areas, since they make up the heart of the city and teem with cool culture.
We chose a running route that offers more picturesque scenery instead. Start at Fisherman’s Wharf, on Pier 39, where you’ll see Alcatraz in the distance and sea lions up close. Run toward the city, and keep the water on your right to run through the San Francisco Maritime National Historic Park, and the sugary Ghirardelli Square (no stopping!). With the water still on your right, run through Fort Mason and the Marina Green, and you’ll see the Palace of the Arts to your left. Continue on through the Presidio , and you’ll be surrounded by greenery on both sides. Pass through Fort Winfield Scott, and you’ll end up on the Golden Gate Bridge. Stop your run here for a 4.1 mile trip, or cross the bridge to add 1.3 miles, totaling 5.4 miles. We think it’s worth it!
Austin
It’s true what they say about Austin – it’s got its own thing going on. Exploring this city won’t bring you passed enormous malls or gigantic hairdos, but you will see nature-friendly parks, lakes, mansions, academia, and a much appreciated hippie counterculture on these roads.
Start your run at the University of Texas, which acts as the hub of the city. Explore the buildings, green areas and architecture, and exit at W. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard until you can take a left on N. Lamar Boulevard, which is one of the most well-known streets for sight-seeing. Follow the road as it takes you through Old West Austin. You’ll pass by Pease Park, House Park, and Duncan Park. After the greenery, get ready to plow through Downtown. Once you’re through it, cross W Cesar Chavez St. over the water and enjoy the view. From here, stay right through Butler Park, and follow the path as it hugs the water and turns left. Cross the Barton Springs bridge on the right to enter the enormous and beautiful Zilker Botanical Garden, where your run ends, and you’re free to explore the different species of trees and flowers. (4.7 miles)
Chicago
If Chicago is your kind of town, then get ready to see the best of it in a quick 4.2 miles. See the lake, the shopping, the history, and the art, all in one fell swoop.
Start first at the celebrated Magnificent Mile, which brings you through some of the most lavish retail establishments and posh hot spots in the city. From the top of N. Michigan Avenue at the Chicago Water Tower and the Hancock Center, run straight down the avenue where upscale hotels and glamorous shopping beckon tourists and locals alike. Pass prestigious Northwestern University on your left, and follow the campus to take a left on E Grand Avenue. Running straight to the end will bring you to the Navy Pier, where you’ll be surrounded by the Chicago Harbor. Run through the Navy Pier Park, back to the intersection of E Grand and N. Michigan, where you’ll take a left to cross over the water. Run straight town to Millennium Park, or stay left next to the water where E Wacker Drive turns into S Lake Shore Drive to run by the lake. Either route brings you to the awesome Loop, which is an elevated rectangle of train tracks that surround Downtown, the Chicago River, and both Michigan and Roosevelt Avenues. Your run ends here, where you can explore the park and take in views of the Buckingham Fountain. (4.2 miles)
Denver
In the land of frigid winters and microbreweries, you might be tempted to stay inside and get cozy with a hand-crafted lager or two in Denver, but no matter what season you see the Mile High City, it’s imperative to really take in the stunning outdoor landscape.
Start your run in one of the city’s chic shopping area, called Lower Downtown (also called Lodo). Here, you’ll see art galleries, nightclubs, and restaurants. Enter Washington Park, which has two lakes and plenty of green space to explore. Follow S Downing Street north and run by the Country Club Historic District to your right. Continue on S Downing and take a right on E 8th Avenue, which will bring you to another stretch of greenery called Cheeseman Park. Take a left to enter, and follow the main pathway that exits at E 12th Ave. Take your fourth left on York Street and a right on E Colfax to explore the tree-line side streets and striking mansions. (Exit Cheeseman Park through E 9th Street instead, and you’ll see the Denver Botanic Gardens Park. Still take a left on York Street.) On Colfax Street you’ll pass well-known restaurants and entertainment establishments like the Bluebird Theater and the Rock Bar. Take a left on Harrison Street to enter City Park, which houses the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, Duck Lake, and the Denver Zoo. Your run ends amidst gorgeous local flora and fauna so take it all and absorb the beauty of yet another charming Denver park. (4.9 miles)
Miami
Miami is a city unlike any other. The sunny southeast city has style, nightlife, beaches, and an influx of international culture to keep it afloat in the Atlantic. When running here, you’ll basically want to hug the shore – that’s where the best people watching, the most picturesque scenery, and the most visually gratifying parts of this hopping metropolis lie. There’s no better place to start than South Beach Park.
Run north up Ocean Drive to get the best of both worlds – the greenery of Lummus Park and the serenity of the ocean. Run all the way through Flamingo/Lummus until the park ends, where you’ll take a left and a quick right onto Collins Ave/ Florida A1A. This will take you through the Wolfsonian, passed Loews, and through Miami Beach up to the Ritz Plaza. After you pass Collins Park on the right, you’ll see beautiful Lake Pancost to your left. Take Indian Creek Drive to hug the lake, or stay on Collins Ave to be closer to the ocean – they both end up at 41st street, where you’ll take a left, and another left on Pine Tree Drive. Take a right on W 34th Street and a left on Prairie Drive to run the length of Bayshore Golf Course and the Miami Municipal Golf Course. End your run at the Miami Beach Botanical Gardens for a 4.9 mile trip, or keep following Dade Blvd to Island View Park for a trip just over five miles. (4.9 miles)
Atlanta
Atlanta goes by its infamous nickname Hotlanta, and it’s not just because of the heat – this city is full of hot places to see, and you can explore some of them through this scenic running route. Believe it or not, this southern gem is full of green spaces.
Start at the Ansley Park Golf Course, and run down Montgomery Ferry Drive , and take a left on Maddox Drive to follow Barksdale Drive to Ansley Park. Run through Eubanks Park and Winn Park on Westminster Drive, and take a left on Peachtree Street, where you’ll run by shops, boutiques, and galleries. Pass the Colony Square Shopping Center on your left as you hug the road to the right when it becomes 15th Street. Take another left on Peachtree Street NW, and your first left on 14th St. NE to run straight into Piedmont Park. Exit Piedmont Park at Piedmont Ave NE, and follow the road to the Atlanta Botanical Garden. (3.8 miles)
Los Angeles
Calling Los Angeles “urban sprawl” is true in the sense that the city goes on forever, but false in its connotation. The City of Angels is made up of distinct areas that characterize its architecture, real estate, culture, and residents, and aside from the beaches, the most glamorous of these lie in the Bel Air/Beverly Hills kingdom.
To get your fill of top notch spots, must-see attractions and celeb-studded joints, start your run at the reputable UCLA campus at the corner of Sunset and Hilgard, and run down Hilgard passed the Murphy Sculpture Garden. Take a left on Comstock, and run through Holmby Park. At the Beverly Hills Plaza, take a left on Wilshire through the middle of the course, and take a right before the Beverly Hilton, a quick right on Santa Monica Boulevard, and a left on Moreno Drive to circle Beverly Hills High School (although the school was fictional, fans of 90210 can rejoice here). Take a left on Spalding Street and a right on Wilshire to pass upscale shops like Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Barney’s. Take your final left on Rodeo Drive, and run until a storefront calls you inside. (3.9 miles)
New Orleans
New Orleans has been hit, but this city knows how to hit back in the best way possible. Saturated in history, jazz music, artists, restaurants, waterfront culture, and a whole lot of noise, New Orleans is stacked with things to do and places to see. Get your Cliff’s Notes copy of the hottest attractions with this jaunt that gives a little bit of history, green space and fun all in one package.
Start your run at the National World War II History Museum and run up Magazine Street to Poydras Street and take a right. Run toward the water and take a left at Harrah’s Casino to run by Woldenberg Park , the Cabildo, and straight into the French Quarter where you’ll see courtyards and picturesque cafes. Take a right on Chartres Street to pass Jackson Square, and take a left where it crosses Esplanade Ave. Your second left takes you to Bourbon Street, where the fun starts. Pass famous bars and shops and weave through pedestrians. Remember to look up at the beautiful architecture, and at the end, take a right on Canal Street (the boundary between Old New Orleans and New Orleans), pass the Ritz Carlton, and take another right on N. Rampart Street to pass the New Orleans Saenger Theater. One more left on St. Ann’s Street and you’ll end your run in Louis Armstrong Park – a cultural landmark – and Beauregard Square. (3.9 miles)
