Boston Marathon Guide

Clickable graphic for the Boston Marathon Guide, with blue and yellow stripes

About the Boston Marathon

The Boston Marathon draws thousands of runners and spectators each year. The 126th Boston Marathon will take place on Monday, April 18, 2022.

Take the T to the Marathon

Service adjustments for Monday, April 18

In the interest of public safety, the MBTA may adjust service or temporarily close additional stations near the finish line.

Copley Station is closed for the entire day. South Street, Kent Street and Saint Mary’s Street stations are closed from approximately 10 AM – 6 PM. We recommend using transit near me to find nearby stations and alternate routes.
The Red, Orange, Blue, and Silver lines will operate on a regular weekday schedule, with additional service before and after the race.
All buses will operate on a regular weekday schedule, but may be detoured. Route 39 service will be diverted to Ruggles, and buses will not stop at Back Bay. Riders will exit the bus next to the Ruggles Orange Line fare gates.
- Inbound: Service will end at Ruggles. We’ll escort riders through the Orange Line fare gates and provide free transfers to riders who continue on Green Line E. There will be no inbound service from Back Bay to Huntington Ave @ Louis Prang St.
- Outbound: Service will begin at Ruggles next to the Orange Line fare gates. There will be no outbound service from Huntington Ave @ Ruggles St to Back Bay.
All Commuter Rail lines will operate on a regular weekday schedule. Shuttles will be operating between Salem and Newburyport/Rockport.
The RIDE and ferries will operate on a regular weekday schedule, but The RIDE may be detoured to accommodate the marathon and related events.

Please note that bicycles are prohibited on all MBTA vehicles, all day.

See all MBTA alerts for service adjustments

Getting to the finish line

For spectators and runners, the finish line is the heart of the Boston Marathon—before, during, and after the race. Located near the Boston Public Library on Boylston Street, there are several MBTA subway and bus stops nearby.

In the interest of safety, security restrictions and MBTA service adjustments may be in place the day of the marathon.

Plan a trip to the finish line

Viewing locations along the route

Many of the best viewing (and cheering!) spots along the route are accessible from the T. Parts of the Framingham/Worcester Line are less than a half mile from the course, and the Green Line C Branch runs parallel to it.

Find a T stop near your viewing spot below, and then use our trip planner to find out how to get there.

Download PDF of the marathon route

Getting to the starting line

Official transportation to the starting line for marathon participants is provided by the Boston Athletic Association. Buses leave from Charles Street, between Boston Common and the Public Garden.

The first buses load at 7:15 AM, and MBTA service starts around 5 AM.

Plan a trip to the BAA buses

Paying for Your Trip

We recommend loading enough money on a CharlieCard or CharlieTicket early in the day, and paying with a credit or debit card to reduce lines in stations.

We are also offering a $15 Marathon Pass for Commuter Rail. The unlimited all-day pass is valid for all Commuter Rail lines and zones.

Subway and bus

On Marathon Day, we recommend loading at least $5 on a CharlieCard or CharlieTicket—this is enough for a round trip on the subway. We encourage paying with a credit or debit card to reduce lines in stations.

Learn more about subway and bus fares

Learn more about CharlieCards

Here all week? Our 7-day passes are $22.50 and provide unlimited travel for a week from the date of purchase. You can buy them at fare vending machines at subway stations.

Learn more about subway passes

Learn more about subway and bus fares

Learn more about CharlieCards

Here all week? Our 7-day passes are $22.50 and provide unlimited travel for a week from the date of purchase. You can buy them at fare vending machines at subway stations.

Learn more about subway passes

Commuter Rail

We recommend buying tickets or passes in the mTicket app to reduce lines at stations. Tickets (but not passes) are also available at fare vending machines in subway and some Commuter Rail stations, or from conductors on board the train with cash or credit.

An all-day $15 Marathon Pass is valid for all Commuter Rail lines and zones, with unlimited hop-on and hop-off travel. Starting April 11, passes will be available in the mTicket app, at ticket windows at North, South, and Back Bay stations, and on board.

Please note the following:

Marathon Passes cannot be purchased at fare vending machines
Marathon Passes are not valid for subway or bus travel

Download the mTicket app

Did you know? If you’re in town the weekend before the marathon and interested in exploring the area, a $10 weekend pass is valid for unlimited travel on all Commuter Rail lines in all zones on Saturday and Sunday.

Learn more about Commuter Rail fares

Please note the following:

Marathon Passes cannot be purchased at fare vending machines
Marathon Passes are not valid for subway or bus travel

Download the mTicket app

Learn more about Commuter Rail fares

Fare Calculator

Choose your origin and destination to calculate your fare with our Trip Planner.

Parking

Driving to the finish line or other spectator areas is not recommended. Parking restrictions along the route may be in place leading up to and on the day of the marathon.

You can park at an MBTA station and take the subway or Commuter Rail in. Daily parking rates are $2 – $15, and you can pay on your phone using the PayByPhone app, or pay by invoice. There is a $1 surcharge for invoice payments.

Find a station and check rates

Tip! Check parking availability at some of the busiest MBTA garages on Twitter @MBTA_Parking.

Visiting Boston?

We've put together a guide with everything visitors need to know about riding the MBTA.

Check out our visitor guide

Etiquette and Safety

To ensure your safety along the course, additional MBTA staff and Transit Police will be available at MBTA stations throughout the day. Please follow these guidelines to ensure everyone’s safety and comfort.

If you need to report an emergency, please call 911 or the Transit Police at 617-222-1212.

Prohibited Items

A number of items are prohibited along the marathon route. Read the official spectator guidelines for more information.

Etiquette

Alcohol consumption is not allowed on trains, buses, or at any stations.
If you are wearing a backpack, remove it and hold it at your side or set it between your feet.
Let passengers off the train before you board.
Leave large items like bags, coolers, and strollers at home.
Bikes (including folding bikes) are not allowed on the subway or Framingham/Worcester Line on the day of the marathon. Bikes are also restricted on the Framingham/Worcester Line starting at 8 PM on Sunday, April 17.

Learn more about rider etiquette

Alcohol consumption is not allowed on trains, buses, or at any stations.
If you are wearing a backpack, remove it and hold it at your side or set it between your feet.
Let passengers off the train before you board.
Leave large items like bags, coolers, and strollers at home.
Bikes (including folding bikes) are not allowed on the subway or Framingham/Worcester Line on the day of the marathon. Bikes are also restricted on the Framingham/Worcester Line starting at 8 PM on Sunday, April 17.

Learn more about rider etiquette

Safety

Additional MBTA Transit Police officers will be available in and near stations throughout the day. If you need assistance, please report directly to a uniformed official.

If you need to report an emergency, call 911 or Transit Police at 617-222-1212.

Learn more about safety on the T
Learn more about MBTA Transit Police

Additional MBTA Transit Police officers will be available in and near stations throughout the day. If you need assistance, please report directly to a uniformed official.