Run This City: Philadelphia
Our Philadelphia running map begins at Washington Avenue Pier and ends at Penn Treaty Park
This 7.5-mile, point-to-point route along the Delaware River Trail starts at Washington Avenue Pier, skirts out to Camden, New Jersey, and back along the Ben Franklin Bridge, and ends at Penn Treaty Park (skip the bridge to make it a 4.5-mile run). Find parking at the Walmart across from Pier 68. See maps below.
In the City of Brotherly Love, you’ll never run alone. Or drink alone, or eat alone, or karaoke alone…
With more than 30 organized running groups (and counting), Philly is indeed the City of Brotherly Love for runners. “The running culture in Philly is super welcoming,” says Jon Lyons, founder of Run215.com, a comprehensive site for info on local runners, group schedules, and races. “You can meet up with a group of people that you’ve never met before and have a great time.” From the South Philly Striders to the Fairmount Running Club to the Wissahickon Wanderers, you’ll find kindred spirits in nearly every neighborhood. And the fun rarely ends after the run: Many groups finish at a local pub—Philly consistently ranks as one of the top beer cities in the country, after all—and Lyons’s new 10 p.m. #nightshiftphl run culminates in anything from cheesesteaks to karaoke.
If you’re looking to mix up your terrain, Philly’s got you covered. Forbidden Drive, a shaded gravel track following Wissahickon Creek, is perfect for summer running; Pennypack Park is an oasis in the city’s crowded northeast; and trail runners can gut it out through the woods and hills of 9,200-acre Fairmount Park (check out runphil.ly for trail maps created by Alon Abramson of the West Philly Runners club).
For the competitive set, there’s an event nearly every month, from the new Philly 10K in August (started in 2014) and the 30,000-strong Philadelphia Marathon in November to May’s Broad Street Run, the largest 10-mile road race in the country. For updates on events and races, follow Philadelphia Runner—the city’s largest running store—@phillyrun and #myphillyrun.
And there’s more. The city is transforming its postindustrial landscapes into recreation areas such as the 7.5-mile (and growing) Delaware River Trail. A mile east of Center City, the route includes a must-run, out-and-back across the Ben Franklin Bridge and newly designed piers with bars and restaurants, food trucks, hammocks, and bike trails. It’s the newest running spot for a city that has truly embraced our tribe.
See the November 2015 issue of Runner's World for more Philly hotspots. And be sure to check out the entire Run This City collection.
Mile 0
Pier 68: This newly renovated pier features picnic tables, a wetland garden, and spaces for sunbathing and fishing. Park your vehicle in the Walmart parking lot.
Mile 0.6
Washington Avenue Pier: Formerly known as Philly’s Ellis Island (more than 1 million immigrants entered the U.S. here between the mid-1870s and 1915), the pier opened in 2014 as an ecological park, with native plantings, a boardwalk, and “Land Buoy,” an art installation by Jody Pinto that you can climb for river views.
Mile 0.7
Battleship New Jersey: Look right across the river at America’s most decorated battleship ship permanently docked on the Camden Waterfront.
Mile 1.3
South Street: The South Street pedestrian bridge to your left takes you to the quirkiest street in Philly, with punk shops and tattoo parlors sitting alongside chic, chef-driven restaurants. On Tuesday and Thursday mornings at 6:15 (and 8 a.m. on Saturdays), the South Philly Striders meet at Front and South for a 5.5-mile loop to Penn Treaty Park and back. South Street is also the end point—and party spot—for the Philly 10K.
Mile 1.4
The Moshulu: On your right is the Moshulu, a docked ship cum restaurant with an on-deck happy hour. Docked nearby are two of Philly’s historic ships: Submarine Becuna and the Olympia. You can take tours of both.
Mile 1.5
Spruce St. Harbor Park: One of the city’s hottest spots between Memorial Day and the end of September, the park features an arcade, an over-water bar, food trucks from some of the area’s best restaurants, and dozens of hammocks. Oh, and restrooms.
Mile 1.7
Independence Seaport Museum: Dive into Philly’s maritime history. The museum also offers boat-building classes, and rents out swan boats and kayaks.
Mile 2
Great Plaza at Penn’s Landing and Blue Cross RiverRink: Known as the place for festivals, concerts, movie nights (seasonal activities run early May to end of September) roller skating (Memorial Day until the end of September), and ice skating (end of November to beginning of March). Alongside the rink on the water is Philadelphia’s tall ship, the Gazela, a working ship that hosts sailing skills classes. Restrooms and water fountains here, too.
Mile 2.2
Waterfront Gourmet Café and Deli: Post-run sandwiches and salads—with a view.
Mile 2.3
Race St. Pier: Hang a right off the trail and loop to the end of this high-design pier. Opened in 2011, it was built by the same group that designed New York City’s High Line, and features free morning yoga (from mid-April to November 1). Water fountains here.
Mile 2.8
Ben Franklin Bridge: At 5th Street, turn left off the trail to enter the bridge walkway for the überpopular three-mile detour to Camden, New Jersey, and back. You’ll work for it: There’s a .75-mile climb on each side of the bridge.
Mile 6.4
Morgan's Pier: One of the city’s best outdoor spots for drinks, dancing, and a roster of internationally known DJs. The place has been known to give free beer to Broad Street Run participants.
Mile 6.8
Spring Garden Street: The 1400-foot stretch of trail from here to Ellen St. showcases what the entire trail will look like as it’s revamped over the next few years. There will be a bi-directional bike path with a separate walking/running section, solar lighting, and more landscaping between the path and the road.
Mile 7
Yards Brewing Company: Because all runs should pass a good brewery.
Mile 7.5
Penn Treaty Park: This is where William Penn signed a peace treaty with the Lenape tribe. Popular with picnickers—and a great spot for watching July 4th fireworks—the park sports great views of the city and the river, and a .36-mile paved loop you can run to add to your mileage.
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