Field guide
Practical running routes in Philadelphia for visitors
Find running routes in Philadelphia. This guide covers the Schuylkill River Trail, Fairmount Park's Kelly Drive, and Wissahickon Valley Park trails.
Visitors looking for a central, riverfront run can use the Schuylkill River Trail, which is accessible by many forms of public transit. For a car-free experience on weekends, the Kelly Drive and Martin Luther King Jr. Drive loop is another option.
For those interested in more natural settings, Wissahickon Valley Park offers several trails of varying lengths. Its Forbidden Drive has a wide, level surface, while other loops provide different distances for planned runs or hikes.
| Place | Distance (official) | Hours | Surface |
|---|---|---|---|
| Schuylkill River Trail | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed |
| Kelly Drive and Martin Luther King Jr. Drive loop | Not listed | Saturdays at 7 a.m. until Mondays at 7 a.m. | Not listed |
| Wissahickon Valley Park | about 3.5 miles; about 2 miles | Not listed | wide, level |
| Fairmount Park | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed |
Schuylkill River Trail
The Schuylkill River Trail provides a riverfront setting for running in the heart of Philadelphia. It is the southernmost portion of the larger trail network.
Access is available via public transportation. SEPTA's 30th Street Station and PATCO's Locust Street Station are access points. Multiple bus routes also cross the river near the trail. Bike share stations are located at several trail entrances.
- What it is
- riverfront setting
- What it is
- southernmost portion of the Schuylkill River Trail (SRT)
- Location
- in the heart of Philadelphia
- Public transit access
- SEPTA Regional Rail, Market Frankford Line, many bus and trolley routes, and PATCO
- SEPTA access point
- 30th Street Station (via Market Street Bridge ramp or JFK Boulevard Bridge stairs)
- Bus access
- Multiple bus routes cross over the tidal Schuylkill River
- PATCO access point
- Locust Street Station (via Locust Street Crossing)
- PATCO alternative access
- Spruce Street (via Schuylkill River Parks Connector Bridge) if Locust Street Crossing gates are closed
Sources: Explore the Trail (schuylkillbanks.org), Find Your Way to Schuylkill Banks (schuylkillbanks.org). Official pages, checked Oct 21, 2026.
Full notes: Schuylkill river trail running, access, and parking info
Kelly Drive and Martin Luther King Jr. Drive loop
This loop in West Fairmount Park offers increased recreational access on weekends. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive is closed to cars from 7 a.m. on Saturdays until 7 a.m. on Mondays.
During these hours, the road is open for walkers, joggers, and cyclists. The MLK Drive Bridge serves as a gateway from Center City into this part of the park.
- Recreational use
- Increases recreational access for walkers, joggers, and cyclists
- Location
- West Fairmount Park on MLK Drive
- Car-free hours
- Saturdays at 7 a.m. until Mondays at 7 a.m.
- MLK Drive Bridge significance
- A critical gateway from Center City into West Fairmount Park
Source: MLK Drive Open for Recreational Use on Weekends Starting April 1 (phila.gov). Official page, checked Oct 21, 2026.
Wissahickon Valley Park
This park offers several trail options. Runners can choose from loops of specific lengths, including the 3.5-mile Houston Meadow loop, the 2-mile Andorra Meadow loop, or the 1.5-mile Lavender Trail. Parking and public transit information is available for these trailheads.
Forbidden Drive provides a wide, level surface for a 4-mile out-and-back route. This path is a shared space for hikers, cyclists, dog walkers, and equestrians, so users should be aware of others.
- Type of park
- Wissahickon Gorge, preserved as part of Fairmount Park
- Houston Meadow loop length
- about 3.5 miles
- Andorra Meadow loop length
- about 2 miles
- Lavender Trail length
- about 1.5 miles
- Forbidden Drive (Bell's Mill to Valley Green Inn) length
- 4 miles (out-and-back)
- Forbidden Drive surface
- wide, level
- Non-resident permit fee
- $35
- Houston Meadow parking
- Houston Playground (900 Grakyn Ln., 19128)
Sources: Wissahickon Watershed (water.phila.gov), Top fall hikes in Wissahickon Valley Park (phila.gov), Get a trail permit (phila.gov). Official pages, checked Oct 21, 2026.
Full notes: Running and hiking on the Wissahickon trail
Fairmount Park
Fairmount Park is one of the oldest and largest urban parks in the country. The Kelly Drive and Martin Luther King Jr. Drive loop is located within West Fairmount Park.
- Park description
- One of the country’s oldest and largest urban parks
- Archive origin
- Grew out of the working documents of former Fairmount Park Commission staff and engineers
- Historical drawings in archive
- Hundreds of original architectural and landscape drawings from the 1876 Centennial Exposition held in Fairmount Park
- Historical reports in archive
- Fairmount Park Commission Annual Reports from 1869-1998 (excluding 1900-1912 and 1998-present)
- Engineering records in archive
- 230 field survey books, 20 engineering journals, 25 daily log journals, and hundreds of correspondence pieces related to land acquisition
Source: Philadelphia Parks & Recreation Archive (phila.gov). Official page, checked Oct 21, 2026.
Before you go
- Check the time before your run, as car-free access on the Martin Luther King Jr. Drive loop is limited to specific weekend hours.
- Be aware that some access points, like the Locust Street Crossing for the Schuylkill River Trail, may have gates that are sometimes closed.
- On shared-use paths like Forbidden Drive, expect to see cyclists, hikers, and equestrians.
- For trails in Wissahickon Valley Park, confirm the location of designated parking areas before driving.
- Plan your route to the trailheads, as many are accessible by public transit, including regional rail, subways, and buses.
More cities: City running and hiking guides.