Boston Marathon in Wellesley

Wellesley Square is at the mid-point of the annual Boston Marathon, but Wellesley claims bigger chunk of the course than that, starting just before the 12-mile mark near the Wellesley College entrance on Rte. 135 and stretching to the cusp of mile 16 near the Newton line. The 2024 Boston Marathon takes place on Monday, April 15.

Established Wellesley residents know the drill by now on Boston Marathon day, from where to catch the best action depending on your appetite for crowds to how to avoid getting trapped on either side of Rte. 135 or 16 if you need to get somewhere else. But for those new to the area or who need a refresher, here’s a quick primer on the Boston Marathon through the roughly 4.25 miles in Wellesley, the fifth town along the course.

Road & other closings

The course along Rte. 135 and Rte. 16 is typically off limits to non-official vehicles from 8:30am-3:30pm on marathon day, per Wellesley Police and the Boston Athletic Association. Connecting roads, such as Pond Road, also get closed to vehicular traffic during the race. Temporary “No Parking” signs will also be posted. Check Wellesley Police Twitter/X for updates.

All Wellesley municipal buildings and offices will be closed. Closures include the Tolles Parsons Center and the Wellesley Free Libraries. The Recycling and Disposal Facility will also be closed.

Where to watch

It depends on what you’re looking for. Big crowds will gather around mile 12 at the Wellesley College entrance for the “scream tunnel” lined with students, many holding funny signs and some smooching runners. Wellesley Square is also packed on race day, with town hall and the library making nice backgrounds for your photos.

Crowds are solid, but thinner along the rest of the Wellesley segment of the race. Watching from the 25K mark near the top of the hill across just before the Warren Center (Recreation building) can be exhilarating, especially when the wheelchair and hand cycle athletes fly downhill.

The wheelchair athletes start just after 9am and should be hitting Wellesley Square by 9:42am (men) and 9:50am (women), per the Boston Athletic Association. The runners start shortly after 9:30am, so should be hitting Wellesley Square by around 10:41am (men) and 10:58am (women).

BAA Boston Marathon spectator’s guide

Wellesley participants

More than 60 Wellesley residents are listed as official participants in the 2024 Boston Marathon:

Charity runners

We invited Wellesley residents and those participating in the race for Wellesley charities to share their info.