What to Know About the 130th Boston Marathon
The 130th Boston Marathon is set for Patriots’ Day, Monday, April 20. This year’s race will see more than 30,000 competitors from almost 130 countries. Entrants from all 50 states…
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – APRIL 21: People dressed as members of the militia perform on Boylston Street to honor the 250th Anniversary of Patriots’ Day before the 129th Boston Marathon on April 21, 2025 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
The 130th Boston Marathon is set for Patriots' Day, Monday, April 20. This year's race will see more than 30,000 competitors from almost 130 countries. Entrants from all 50 states are expected to participate, according to the Boston Athletic Association.
Here's what you need to know about this beloved Boston tradition:
What's the Route for the Boston Marathon?
The Boston Marathon starts on Main Street in Hopkinton.
Runners will follow Route 135 through Ashland, Framingham, Natick, and Wellesley to the point where Route 135 becomes Route 16.
The course runs along Route 16 until the fire station on Commonwealth Avenue. There, runners will take a right and begin the stretch of Newton Hills. After Heartbreak Hill from mile 20 to 21, runners will pass the Chestnut Hill Reservoir before bearing left onto Beacon Street.
Runners will then proceed to Brookline, Kenmore Square, and under Massachusetts Avenue. Finally, they'll turn right onto Hereford Street, left onto Boylston Street, and finish near the Boston Public Library in Copley Square.
View the full course map online.
Where Can You Watch the Marathon in Person?
The Boston Athletic Association has created a spectator's guide for those who want to view the marathon in person. Below are several areas to view the marathon:
- Ashland station (1.90 miles to 4.95 miles)
- Beacon Street in Brookline (22.45 miles to 24.70 miles)
- Boylston Street in Boston (21.35 miles to 22.45 miles or 24.70 to the finish line)
- Framingham Train Depot (4.95 miles to 7.52 miles)
- Hopkinton's Main Street at the start of the marathon (0 miles to 1.90 miles)
- Natick Common on Center Street (7.52 miles to 11.72 miles)
- Near the Wellesley Scream Tunnel (11.72 miles to 15.93 miles)
- Newton Hills (15.93 miles to 21.35 miles)
Be sure to check the spectator's guide to find out what time racers will be passing through these areas.
