When I travel, one of my top priorities is finding a great place to run nearby. This is often easier said than done, especially for a new location that I know little about. Below are my top tips for finding great running, walking, and biking trails while traveling.

1. When booking a hotel, use the map feature.

When searching for a hotel on sites like Expedia, booking.com, or Travelocity, I use the map feature to get an idea of the geography of the place I’m traveling to. I specifically look for parks, often appearing as large green spaces on the map. I also look around bodies of water, like oceans, seas, or rivers, that are running through the city. There are often long trails located along these bodies of water, specifically designed for runners, walkers, or cyclists. And the best part: those paths are usually away from traffic, which makes them much safer and easier to use.

Below are some good examples of what those areas look like on a hotel booking site map:

Large parks can be found as large green spaces on the map. Below is an example of Central Park in New York City: 

 

Rivers often have long, uninterrupted trails alongside them and can be great options for city running. Below is an example of the Schuylkill Trail in Philadelphia, PA: 

 

2. Call the hotel to ask about trails nearby.

Another option is to call or email a hotel ahead of time, even before booking it, to find out about possible running and walking trails nearby. I will usually tell them that I’m a runner interested in running, and ask them if there are nearby trails or parks for runners. It also helps to ask them how far the trails or parks are from the hotel, as well as what the mileage of the trail is. Google maps can give you a better idea of this as well.

3. Use Google Maps.

Using Google Maps in conjunction with the hotel booking site map feature can be a great way to determine location and perspective.

I will often use a separate Google Maps session to gauge distances between a particular hotel I’m looking at, major attractions, and the nearest running trails. Some city distances can be deceivingly bigger than they appear on a map. 

A good way to do this is to enter the hotel address as the starting point, and then the nearest landmark near the running trail as the ending point. This will give you a good idea of how long it will take you to travel from your hotel to the running trail. You will likely want to select the “Walking” option on Google Maps, to figure out how long it would take you to walk to the location.

Below is an example of how I would do this, using the above map of Philadelphia as an example: 

First, find a hotel that you’re considering booking, and that is located close to a particular running trail.

Next, take that hotel address (taken from the hotel booking site) and enter it in Google Maps.

Then, find a landmark on Google Maps that is close to the running trail. In this particular example, I chose a Giant grocery store.

Then, enter that as the ending point in Google Maps. Select “Walking” at the top of Google Maps to calculate the distance to walk from the hotel to the Giant grocery store.

This will give you the general distance from the hotel to the running trail. It will also give you the walking route to get there, and give you a sense of how easy and straightforward it is to get from the hotel to the running trail: 

 

4. Google it.

Use Google to search for phrases like: “Runnings trails in New York City”, “Where to run in New York City”, etc. to get more ideas of specific neighborhoods and locations that have good running trails. I have definitely made use of this in the past, though it isn’t always the easiest to find and decipher the results, which is one of the reasons why I decided to start this blog! So check back here as I post more information on the best places to run all over the world!

Google Search phrases you can use to search for running trails when traveling are: 

• Where to run in …..
• Running trails in ….
• Top running trails in ….
• Top places to run in ….
• Trails in ….
• Paths in ….
• Running paths …. 

 

5. Just step outside your hotel, and run!

I have done this more times than I can count now. I will often go to the hotel concierge (or even just ask when I first check in) and ask for a map of the area, plus I ask them for advice about places to run. I will study the map a little to get my bearings, then fold it up in my pocket, and hit the pavement! This is a great way to beat jet lag, and to get a very unique, up close and personal, perspective of a new city.

The one negative with this approach: it will often require you to run in the middle of a city, often around congested areas with more traffic and pedestrians. In all scenarios, you need to be careful and be fully aware of your surroundings, but this is even more true when running around busy, congested areas. Running in these conditions can also be a lot more stressful, and it will definitely keep you on your toes. It can be exhilarating, but definitely use caution at all times, particularly when crossing streets. My rule of thumb when running around traffic is generally: always assume that cars don’t see you or aren’t going to yield to you. Be extra careful, even when you have the right of way.

Other things to consider:

Safety.

One of the top considerations when finding a good running spot, particularly in a city you’re not familiar with, is to be safe. Traffic and cars are often the biggest hazard when running. Always use caution. Obey street signs and pedestrian crosswalks. ALWAYS pay complete attention to your surroundings. I highly recommend never using a phone or headphones when running in a city. Be 100% vigilante all of the time.

When crossing streets, make sure you have the right of way, and even then, double check that no cars are turning. If you’re in a city that drives on a different side of the road from the one you’re used to, these rules and diligence are extra important. It’s always best to be extra safe and cautious.

This is why I often try my best to find running routes that avoid traffic and intersections. And this is another reason why parks, boardwalks, and riverside trails can often be the best places to run, with little, or even no, car traffic impeding the trail. 

Location and Convenience. 

Sometimes, finding a great place to run while traveling means making a compromise between being close to the running trails, but also being close to major attractions and transportation, as well as being within your budget.

For me, it’s often a balancing act of finding a hotel that is: 

1. Within budget.
2. In a safe neighborhood.
3. Close to major attractions, or to public transportation that will allow me to reach the major attractions.
4. Close(ish) to a good running trail, such as a large park, boardwalk, or river walk path. 

 

I hope the above suggestions are helpful! Happy running!

If you have more suggestions about how to find the best running trails when traveling, please leave a comment below! I’d love to hear them!