Choosing where to stay for the Boston Marathon takes a little more planning than for many other races. The start is in Hopkinton, while the finish is on Boylston Street in Back Bay, more than 26 miles away.
Most runners staying in Boston take the official buses from Boston Common to Hopkinton on race morning. Your hotel location also matters after the race, when you’ll probably appreciate having an easy walk back after 26.2 miles. Below, we compare the areas that are most practical for runners, depending on what matters most to you.
Already know which area you prefer? See our Best Hotels for the Boston Marathon for specific hotel recommendations, including race-morning and post-finish walking times.
Next edition: 19 April 2027
Best Areas for the Boston Marathon
Not sure which part of Boston to choose? These are the areas we would consider first, depending on what matters most to you before and after the race.
BEST ALL-ROUND AREA
Back Bay & Copley Square
Close to the finish and well placed for the post-race area, with plenty of hotels, restaurants and public transport nearby.
BEST FOR RACE-MORNING BUSES
Boston Common & Theater District
Stay close to the official buses to Hopkinton, with the finish area still within walking distance.
BEST ALTERNATIVE TO BACK BAY
South End & Berkeley Street
A useful alternative to Back Bay, with the northern part of the South End still within walking distance of the main race areas.
BEST FOR FINAL-MILE ATMOSPHERE
Fenway & Kenmore
Stay near the final miles of the course and Kenmore Square, but allow more time to reach Boston Common on race morning.
The Boston Marathon starts in Hopkinton, but staying near the start isn’t the most practical option for most runners. The B.A.A. provides official buses from Boston Common to Hopkinton on race morning.
After crossing the finish line on Boylston Street, runners continue through the finish area before exiting, so we also consider the walk from the post-race area when comparing the areas below.
1. Back Bay & Copley Square – Best All-Round Area
Back Bay is the most obvious area to consider if you want to stay close to the Boston Marathon finish. The race ends on Boylston Street, and many hotels around Copley Square are within a short walk of the finish and the area where runners exit after the race.
Location within Back Bay does make a difference on race morning. Hotels on the eastern side of Back Bay can be around a 10-minute walk from the official buses at Boston Common, while hotels farther west can be closer to 30 minutes away.
OUR TAKE
Choose Back Bay if you want to stay close to the finish, but check your hotel’s exact location if a shorter walk to the race-morning buses is important to you.
First-time runners · Finish access · Central stay
Approx. 10–30 min walk to the official buses at Boston Common, depending on where in Back Bay you stay.
Many hotels are within a short walk of the post-race area, making this one of the easiest areas for getting back after the race.
Busy and central, with restaurants, cafés, shops and public transport nearby.
2. Boston Common & Theater District – Best for Race-Morning Buses
Staying around Boston Common or the Theater District puts you close to the official race-morning buses to Hopkinton. This can make the start of your day easier, especially if you prefer a short walk from your hotel to the buses.
Some hotels on the western side of this area are also very well placed for the runner exit after the finish. Hotels farther east in the Theater District require a longer walk, so the exact location of your hotel matters here too.
OUR TAKE
The western side of this area is the most practical for runners, especially around Park Plaza and Stuart Street. Here, you can stay close to the race-morning buses and still have a short walk back after the race.
Race-morning buses · Post-race access · Central stay
Hotels closest to Boston Common can be just a short walk from the official buses to Hopkinton.
Hotels on the western side of the area can be very close to the runner exit; those farther east require a longer walk.
Central and busy, with Boston Common, restaurants, theatres and public transport nearby.
$$$–$$$$
3. South End & Berkeley Street – Best Alternative to Back Bay
The northern part of the South End, especially around Berkeley Street, can be a practical alternative to staying in Back Bay. You’re just south of the main marathon areas, with Boston Common and the post-race area still within walking distance.
The location becomes less convenient the farther south you stay, so for runners we would concentrate on the northern edge of the South End rather than the neighbourhood as a whole. This keeps both race morning and the walk back after the race manageable.
OUR TAKE
Focus on the northern South End around Berkeley Street. This is the part we would choose for the marathon, as you remain within walking distance of both the race-morning buses and the post-race area.
Alternative to Back Bay · Quieter stay · Walkable location
From the northern South End, you can walk to the official buses at Boston Common. Expect a longer walk as you move farther south.
The Berkeley Street side is well placed for reaching the hotel after leaving the post-race area.
More residential than Back Bay, with restaurants and cafés throughout the neighbourhood.
$$–$$$
4. Fenway & Kenmore – Best for Final-Mile Atmosphere
Fenway and Kenmore put you close to the final stretch of the Boston Marathon course, with runners passing through Kenmore Square before continuing towards the finish on Boylston Street. It’s an interesting area if you want to be close to the course and enjoy more of the race-day atmosphere.
The trade-off is the extra walking. From hotels around Kenmore Square and Fenway, it can take around 35–40 minutes to walk to the official buses at Boston Common. After the race, the walk back from the post-race area is around 28–30 minutes for hotels such as Hotel Commonwealth and The Verb Hotel.
OUR TAKE
Choose Fenway or Kenmore if being close to the final part of the course is more important to you than keeping your walking to a minimum. For runners, Kenmore is the more practical end of the area.
Race atmosphere · Final miles · Supporters
Around 35–40 min walk to the official buses at Boston Common from hotels around Kenmore and Fenway.
Around 28–30 min walk back from the post-race area for hotels around Kenmore and Fenway.
Lively on race day, especially around Kenmore Square as runners head towards the finish.
$$–$$$
Choosing the Right Area for Your Boston Marathon Stay
The best area depends on what you want to make easiest: getting to the buses in the morning, walking back after the race, or staying close to the course. These are the main things we would consider before booking.
Think About the Race-Morning Buses
The official buses to Hopkinton leave from Boston Common, so your walking distance to the bus loading area matters. Hotels around Boston Common can be only a few minutes away, while staying in Fenway or Kenmore can mean a walk of around 35–40 minutes.
Consider the Walk After the Finish
Don’t look only at the distance to the finish line on Boylston Street. Runners continue through the secured finish area before exiting, and your walk back to the hotel starts from there. Some hotels around Berkeley Street, Park Plaza and Copley Square are particularly well placed.
Look at the Exact Part of the Area
Boston neighbourhoods cover a fairly large area, and two hotels listed as being in the same neighbourhood can have very different walking times. In Back Bay, for example, the walk to the race-morning buses can range from around 10 minutes on the eastern side to 30 minutes farther west.
Don’t Stay Near the Start Just Because It’s in Hopkinton
The marathon starts in Hopkinton, but that doesn’t make it the obvious place to book a hotel. Staying in central Boston gives you access to the official race-morning transport and puts you back near your hotel once you have finished.
Found the area that works best for you? See our recommended Boston Marathon hotels, with race-morning and post-finish walking times to help you compare the options.
