Boston Marathon guide

Mon, Apr 19, 2027 · Boston, MA, USA · Start 10:00 AM

What to know when planning this race

Start, finish & getting there
Point-to-point: you start in Hopkinton and finish on Boylston Street in Boston, 26.2 miles east.
Convenient areas to stay
Back Bay, near Boston Common, Copley and the Hynes expo, is closest to the start buses and the finish.
Confirmed vs. carried over
The race date and start time were checked against official race information on Oct 15, 2026.
Plan around before race morning
  • Athletes' Village buses leave Boston Common early by wave. There's no runner parking in Hopkinton.
  • Runner waves start at 10:00 AM; check your wave and bus time.
  • Plan for the Newton Hills (miles 16–21), ending with Heartbreak Hill.

Sources for Boston Marathon:

Race overview

Organizer
Boston Athletic Association
Date
Mon, Apr 19, 2027
Distance
Marathon
Start time
10:00 AM
Start location
Hopkinton, Massachusetts
Finish location
Boylston Street, Boston
Official race website

Last verified Sep 29, 2026. Source

Course

Cumulative elevation, mile by mile. Amber bars are the significant climbs.

Significant climbs

  • Mile 20–21 · +95 ft
  • Mile 16–17 · +70 ft
  • Mile 17–18 · +55 ft

Significant descents

  • Mile 0–1 · −146 ft
  • Mile 1–2 · −126 ft
  • Mile 15–16 · −116 ft
Mile-by-mile course notes
  • Mile 0–1 +20 / −146 ft · Steep downhill start from Hopkinton (490 ft) — biggest pacing trap of the race. Course totals ≈ 655 ft gain / 1,077 ft loss (source: Boston.com/BAA elevation chart; gross totals are third-party averages).
  • Mile 1–2 +25 / −126 ft
  • Mile 2–3 +25 / −86 ft
  • Mile 3–4 +25 / −76 ft
  • Mile 4–5 +15 / −16 ft
  • Mile 5–6 +15 / −16 ft
  • Mile 6–7 +15 / −16 ft
  • Mile 7–8 +15 / −16 ft
  • Mile 8–9 +15 / −16 ft
  • Mile 9–10 +15 / −16 ft
  • Mile 10–11 +15 / −16 ft
  • Mile 11–12 +15 / −16 ft
  • Mile 12–13 +15 / −16 ft
  • Mile 13–14 +15 / −16 ft
  • Mile 14–15 +15 / −16 ft
  • Mile 15–16 +15 / −116 ft · Sharp drop into Newton Lower Falls — save your quads.
  • Mile 16–17 +70 / −21 ft · Newton Hills begin (miles 16–21).
  • Mile 17–18 +55 / −26 ft
  • Mile 18–19 +15 / −16 ft
  • Mile 19–20 +55 / −31 ft
  • Mile 20–21 +95 / −21 ft · Heartbreak Hill — the final Newton hill, cresting near 230 ft.
  • Mile 21–22 +20 / −86 ft · Long descent toward Boston.
  • Mile 22–23 +20 / −66 ft
  • Mile 23–24 +20 / −56 ft
  • Mile 24–25 +15 / −16 ft
  • Mile 25–26 +15 / −16 ft
  • Mile 26–26.2 +3 / −3 ft

Aid stations

  • Mile 2

    Mile marker per official course information.

  • Mile 3

    Mile marker per official course information.

  • Mile 4

    Mile marker per official course information.

  • Mile 5

    Mile marker per official course information.

  • Mile 6

    Mile marker per official course information.

  • Mile 7

    Mile marker per official course information.

  • Mile 8

    Mile marker per official course information.

  • Mile 9

    Mile marker per official course information.

  • Mile 10

    Mile marker per official course information.

  • Mile 11

    Mile marker per official course information.

  • Mile 11.8

    GEL

    Official gel depot.

  • Mile 12

    Mile marker per official course information.

  • Mile 13

    Mile marker per official course information.

  • Mile 14

    Mile marker per official course information.

  • Mile 15

    Mile marker per official course information.

  • Mile 16

    Mile marker per official course information.

  • Mile 17

    GEL

    Official gel station. Mile marker per official course information.

  • Mile 18

    Mile marker per official course information.

  • Mile 19

    Mile marker per official course information.

  • Mile 20

    Mile marker per official course information.

  • Mile 21

    Mile marker per official course information.

  • Mile 21.5

    GEL

    Official gel depot.

  • Mile 22

    Mile marker per official course information.

  • Mile 23

    Mile marker per official course information.

  • Mile 24

    Mile marker per official course information.

  • Mile 25

    Mile marker per official course information.

  • Mile 26

    Mile marker per official course information.

Rules & important information

Race rules
Bib must be worn on the front and matched to the registered runner; bib transfer results in disqualification and a ban. Photo ID required at the expo — there is no race-day pickup. Security screening at the Athletes' Village; clear bag policy strictly enforced.
Cutoff times
The course closes approximately 6 hours after the final wave start; roads reopen progressively behind the sweep buses.
Transportation
Take the official Athletes' Village buses from Boston Common, departing early in the morning by wave. There is no runner parking in Hopkinton.
Other notes
Patriots Day race. Qualifying time or charity entry required. Course, aid station, expo and hotel details are compiled from published race information and are not yet officially verified — confirm timings and logistics with the organizer before race weekend.

Last verified Sep 29, 2026. Source

Race week & expo

  • John B. Hynes Veterans Memorial Convention Center

    900 Boylston St, Boston, MA

    Thu, Apr 15, 202711:00 AM – 7:00 PM
    Fri, Apr 16, 20279:00 AM – 7:00 PM
    Sat, Apr 17, 20279:00 AM – 7:00 PM
    Sun, Apr 18, 20279:00 AM – 6:00 PM
    Packet pickup
    Bib pickup and the official expo are held at the Hynes, steps from the finish line on Boylston Street.
    ID requirements
    Government-issued photo ID required. Third-party pickup is not permitted.
    Parking
    Prudential Center garage, paid; traffic in Back Bay is heavy all weekend.
    Transit
    MBTA Green Line to Hynes Convention Center or Prudential.

    Verification date unavailable. No source on file.

Ready 2 Race recommendation: visit the expo on the first day it opens if your travel allows — final-afternoon queues are the longest. This is guidance, not an official requirement.

Athlete tracking & results

Open tracking & results

Tracking and results come from the race organizer.

Hotels near the start, Airbnb and travel planning are available when you create your account.

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