How to Navigate Marathon Monday: A Spectator’s Guide

Posted by Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism

The world’s oldest (and, in our opinion, best) annual marathon is nearly upon us. On April 21, 2025, 30,000 athletes and nearly a half million spectators will gather along a 26.2-mile route through Massachusetts for the 129th-annual Boston Marathon. For over 100 years, the race has been not only an international showcase for some of the world’s best athletes, but also a celebration of one of Massachusetts’ favorite local holidays – Patriot’s Day.  

Watching the race and feeling the joy and enthusiasm of the crowds and athletes along the route is a special and uniquely-Massachusetts experience. Here are some of the best spots to see the Boston Marathon this year. 

Know that in order to get close to the race, you may have to go through security at any point near the Marathon Route, particularly around the starting and finish lines. Certain items are discouraged at the finish line. 

Hopkinton

The race begins in Hopkinton, at the Starting Line. Near the starting line within Hopkinton Town Common, you’ll find a bronze statue of George Brown, a longtime Hopkinton resident, firing a starter pistol. Brown fired the marathon starting pistol for decades and was instrumental in moving the Marathon starting line to the town over 100 years ago. 

Down the road from the starting line you’ll find the Spirit of the Marathon statue, depicting 2 Greek runners: Spyridon Louis, who won the first Boston Marathon in 1896, encourages Stylianos Kyriakides, who won the race in 1946. 

If you’re planning on watching the race from near the starting line, arrive early – street closures in Hopkinton begin around 6:30 a.m. to accommodate runners and security, and the area is usually packed with athletes, coaches, and spectators, so expect crowds. Crowds should ease along the route as you get closer to Ashland – just a mile down the road from the starting line, you’ll have a much easier time getting a good view of the race. If you don’t mind a crowd, there is a public viewing area in Hopkinton Common next to the starting line, and spectator access along Main Street. There is no commuter rail station in Hopkinton. If you’re traveling from Boston via public transportation, the closest station is just down the Marathon route in Ashland. 

Ashland

“It All Started Here” reads a sign for aptly named Marathon Park on Pleasant Street in Ashland, and for good reason. The Boston Marathon starting line was originally located in Ashland, since the train station there provided easy access for spectators. Changes to Olympic race length standards eventually lead the Boston Athletic Association to extend the marathon route into Hopkinton. 

Today the Commuter Rail is still a good option for spectators interested in watching the marathon closer to the start of the race, as road closures and general traffic make driving along the route difficult. On race day, roads in Ashland start closing around 6:15 a.m. Crowds in Ashland Center can be heavy – arrive early to get a good spot if you plan to watch the race here. For a lesser crowd, try Ashland State Park on Route 135. Parking and viewing are both limited there, and it may take some time to exit the park, but it can be a great area to spectate if you get lucky. 

Along the marathon route in between Hopkinton and Ashland, keep your eye out for the Marathon Dog Statue, which depicts Spencer, a real dog who became famous for cheering on runners after the Boston Marathon Bombing in 2013. Runners would often stop to take pictures with Spencer during their race. 

Framingham

Crowds should thin along the route as you approach Framingham, where the marathon route passes right through the center of town. The town and businesses near the route often hold special events on marathon day to celebrate the race. 

The Commuter Rail train is the best option to travel to Framingham – the station is right along the marathon route. Roads near the marathon route will close around 7:30 a.m. 

If you are hoping to see your runner from more than one location, Framingham is a great place to see them first. If you can time the Commuter Rail right, you can catch a Boston-bound train to Landsdowne and see your runner at Kenmore Square or the Finish Line. 

Natick

In Natick, the Natick Common will be the best place to stake out a viewing spot of the race’s 10-mile mark. Arrive early by train, as crowds are expected and roads will close starting around 7:30 a.m. 

For a quieter experience in Natick, the neighborhoods along Route 135 or by Lake Cochituate are a great place to set up a tailgate for the day. By this point, the runner crowds thin out a bit and you’re sure to see your runner pass. 

Wellesley

In Wellesley you’ll find the Boston Marathon 13.1-mile half-way point. The “Scream Tunnel” along Central Street, a Wellesley College tradition, is one of the race’s loudest sections outside of the Finish Line. Approaching runners will receive loud cheers of encouragement to approaching runners and the environment is festive and fun. 

Once again, the Framingham/Worcester Commuter Rail is your best bet to get into Wellesley on Marathon Monday. Take the MBTA to Wellesley Square, Wellesley Hills, or Wellesley Farms. Roads will close around 7:30 a.m. These stops are close to all Boston Marathon vantage points in Wellesley, including the charming downtown area, full of restaurants and coffee shops to pass the time. 

Newton and Chestnut Hill

Every race has its challenging areas, and for the Boston Marathon, the hardest stretch is probably in Newton and Chestnut Hill. The town’s hills are modest, but they are a change from the downhill trend in the first half of the course and appear at a time when runners may “hit the wall.”  The trial culminates in the appropriately named Heartbreak Hill – a 0.6-mile ascent near Boston College. It’s a good place to spot potential winners – the field begins to separate in the difficult hills and crowds are thinner. There is also a good median to set up for the day and many viewing areas are close to Newton’s village centers, with places to get refreshments. 

Just before Heartbreak Hill, be sure to check out the “Forever Young” statue. The monument honors legendary marathoner Johnny Kelley, who competed in the Boston Marathon a whopping 61 times. The statue shows him at age 27, when he won his first Boston Marathon, running alongside himself at age 84, when he competed for the last time.  

The area around the course after Heartbreak Hill tends to get crowded and loud due to its proximity to Boston College. Here, the students come out in droves to cheer on the runners in ways that only college students on a long weekend can! 

If you’re interested in cheering on runners during this difficult stretch of the race, you can take the Green Line’s D Branch to Woodland or the B Branch to Boston College. Roadways around the course will close to traffic around 7:00 a.m. 

Brighton

Around the 35K mark, the race enters Brighton. The crowds will pick up as the runners make their way closer and closer to the Boston Marathon Finish Line in Boston’s Back Bay. At Cleveland Circle, the route starts to trend downhill and runners can pick up some speed after their journeys through the hills of Newton. Cleveland Circle, accessible on 3 branches of the Green Line, is a great spot to be able to watch runners, grab a bite to eat, and make it back to the Finish Line using the T.  

Brookline

From Brighton, the course enters the town of Brookline. Coolidge Corner is another Green Line station right near the marathon course that is surrounded by beautiful architecture and great food. If the weather is right, many of the pubs and restaurants open up their windows and doors for the day so you can enjoy a meal while you cheer on the field. Crowds will be thinner along Beacon Street between Washington Square and Beacon Hill – its probably your last place to get some breathing room near the course before the exhilaration of the finish line. 

Boston

Finally, the course enters Boston. Around the 40K mark, runners know when they see the Citgo sign on Commonwealth Avenue that the Finish Line is near. For spectators, this is a great place to watch runners approach Boston, but it tends to get even more crowded when the morning’s Boston Red Sox game (a Patriot’s Day tradition) gets out. After running through the tunnel on Commonwealth Avenue, the crowds thicken and can be four to five people deep along Hereford and on the home stretch of Boylston Street. 

People show up early to secure their place on Boylston Street to cheer on runners and witness history. Spectators come and go around the finish line as their loved ones complete their races, and it is possible to get closer to the route late if you are patient and don’t mind waiting in line for security. The wait is worth it – the energy and jubilee around the finish line as people finish their races is unique. 

After experiencing the magic of the finish line, you’re in a perfect spot to see and do all that Boston has to offer. One block over from Boylston, Newbury Street is one of the city’s premiere areas shopping and restaurants. The beauty of the Public Garden and the Boston Common are a quick walk away and should be perfect for a stroll on a spring day. To escape the crowds, you can head to the Charles River Esplanade and wander along the river, or hop on the Green Line to the Museum of Fine Arts, the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, and the MassArt Museum. 

Ready for the Marathon? Whether you’re running or watching, you’re in for a treat – Marathon Monday is one of our favorite and closest-held traditions in Massachusetts. 

TOPICS: Ashland, Boston Marathon, Brighton, Brookline, Chestnut Hill, Framingham, Hopkinton, Newton, Wellesley