Boston Marathon
The Boston Marathon is one of our city’s great traditions, bringing thousands of runners and visitors to the area each Patriots' Day—the third Monday in April. The 2018 Boston Marathon will take place on April 16, 2018.
You can access almost the entire marathon course on the MBTA. To make traveling along the route easier, the T runs extra service and offers special passes for visitors.
Please note, a number of items are prohibited near the starting line, finish line, and along the course on Marathon Monday. Read the spectator guidelines for more information.
Getting to the Marathon
- Starting Line: For runners looking to catch the BAA buses to Hopkinton
- Course: For spectators searching for the perfect spot to cheer on the marathoners
- Finish Line: For families of runners and fans who want to be in the heart of it all
The Starting Line - Hopkinton, MA
The only guaranteed transportation for runners from downtown Boston to the starting line are the Boston Athletic Association buses that leave from Charles Street, between the Boston Common and Public Garden.
To take public transit to the pickup point, you have a range of options:
Green Line
You can take the Green Line to any of the following stops to get to the Garden/Common:
- Park Street
- Boylston
- Arlington
Red Line
Take the Red Line to Park Street to access the Common.
Orange Line
Take the Orange Line to Downtown Crossing.
It’s a short walk to the Common—or you can transfer to the Red Line and take it 1 stop to Park Street to exit directly onto the Common.
The Course
There are plenty of great viewing (and cheering!) locations accessible by public transit.
Learn about our 2 passes for the marathon and take the T all day
Check out the MBTA/Keolis Marathon viewing map to stake out your stop:
Commuter Rail
Many stops along the Worcester Line are less than ½ mile from the course, including:
- Framingham
- West Natick
- Natick Center
- Wellesley Square
- Wellesley Hills
- Wellesley Farms
- Auburndale
- West Newton
- Yawkey
- Back Bay
Green Line
The entire C Branch of the Green Line runs parallel to the course. Several above-ground stops on the other branches are just steps away:
- Woodland (D)
- Newton Centre (D)
- Reservoir (D)
- Boston College (B)
- Chestnut Hill Ave. (B)
- Symphony (E)
- Prudential (E)
Kenmore and Hynes get you close to the finish line.
The Finish Line - Boylston Street, Boston, MA
Situated in front of the Boston Public Library, just off Copley Square, the finish line of the Boston Marathon is one of the most popular spots for spectators and families of runners.
Please keep in mind, there are security restrictions in place for this area on Marathon Monday.
Green Line
Take the Green Line to Hynes Convention Center (from Brookline, Newton and points west) or Arlington Station (from downtown Boston). It’s a short walk to Copley Square from either station.
Orange Line
Take the Orange Line to Back Bay Station. It’s just a short walk to Copley Square.
Bus
A number of bus routes stop close to Copley Square, but keep in mind that due to road closures and heavy traffic, buses may be detoured or delayed.
Check bus service alerts for the most current information.
Here are some bus routes to consider:
9, 10, 39, 55, 170, 502, 503, 504, 553, CT1
Commuter Rail
Take your preferred Commuter Rail line into the city, then follow the instructions from your last stop:
- Back Bay Station puts you right in the heart of the action, just 2 blocks from Copley Square.
- From North Station, take the Green Line to Arlington Station.
- From South Station, take the Red Line to Park Street and transfer to the Green Line. Take the Green Line to Arlington Station.
Additional Service
The T runs extra service to accommodate the large number of spectators:
Subway and Silver Line
All subway lines and the Silver Line will run additional service before and after the marathon.
Commuter Rail
The Worcester Line will run 5 additional trains, as well as 5 additional stops at Boston Landing.
Changes to Service
Subway
Copley Station on the Green Line is closed on Marathon Monday. The Berkeley Street entrance at Arlington Station is also closed.
The following stops are closed between 10 AM and 6 PM:
- Saint Mary’s Street (Green Line C Branch)
- Kent Street (Green Line C Branch)
- South Street (Green Line B Branch)
Bus
A number of bus routes near the Marathon course are detoured to avoid street closures and heavy traffic.
There may be service delays both on the day of the Marathon and the weekend before it.
Parking
If you plan to park in an MBTA garage or lot, please allow additional travel time. Garages and lots may fill quickly due to high demand. Real-time parking capacity information will be tweeted from @MBTA.
Bikes
Due to high ridership, bikes are not allowed on any MBTA vehicle on Marathon Monday, including folding bikes.
Marathon MBTA Passes
Find full MBTA fares and passes information
The T offers 2 types of unlimited travel passes to help visitors get around easily on Marathon Monday.
1-Day Pass: Subway and Bus
For the best view of miles 22-24, from Cleveland Circle to St. Mary’s Street, get an unlimited subway and bus pass for only $12.
You can buy the pass at any fare vending machine, and it’s valid for 24 hours after purchase.
Worcester Line All-day Pass
If you'd like to travel along the marathon route to see the runners in Ashland, Framingham, Natick, Wellesley, and more, pick up an All-day Commuter Rail Marathon Pass for just $20.
The pass is valid for unlimited travel on the Worcester Line, which runs parallel to the marathon route. Many stops are less than ¼ mile from the course.
Buy yours on the mTicket app, with cash on board the train on Marathon Monday, or at the ticket windows located in:
- North Station
- South Station
- Back Bay
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