Here’s everything you need to know for Marathon Monday 2025

By Arthur Mansavage, Photo Editor & Audience Development Editor / 3 hours ago

The finish line of the 129th Boston Marathon. (Arthur Mansavage/ Beacon Staff)

On Monday, nearly 32,000 runners and an estimated half million spectators will descend on Massachusetts for the 129th Boston Marathon.

The race begins in rural Hopkinton and ends on Boylston Street in front of the Boston Public Library in historic Back Bay. There are runners from 127 countries and all 50 states.

Here is everything you need to know about start times, road and MBTA closures, and how to watch online and in person.

2025 Boston Marathon Start Times

Military March: 6:00 a.m
Men’s Wheelchair: 9:06 a.m.
Women’s Wheelchair: 9:09 a.m.
Handcycles & Duos: 9:30 a.m.
Professional Men: 9:37 a.m.
Professional Women: 9:47 a.m.
Para Athletics Division: 9:50 a.m.
Wave 1: 10:00 a.m.
Wave 2: 10:25 a.m.
Wave 3: 10:50 a.m.
Wave 4: 11:15 a.m.

Road Closures

Hopkinton [7:15 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.]
Ashland [7:15 a.m. – 1:20 p.m.]
Framingham [7:30 a.m. – 1:55 p.m.]
Natick [8:30 a.m. – 2:45 p.m.]
Wellesley [8:30 a.m. – 3:35 p.m.]
Newton [8 a.m. – 4:45 p.m.]
Brookline [9 a.m. – 5:45 p.m.]
Boston [Variable – 7 p.m.]

MBTA Closures

Copley Station [Closed all day]
Kent Street [10 a.m. – 6 p.m.]
South Street [10 a.m. – 6 p.m.]
St. Mary’s Street [10 a.m. – 6 p.m.]

Tune in to the Race Online

Boston: WCVB Channel 5 (ABC), beginning at 4 AM on Monday.
Regional: WCVB Channel 5’s Hearst Television sister stations:
- WMUR News 9 ABC
- WMTW Channel 8 ABC
- WPTZ NBC5.
National: ESPN2

How to Watch In Person

Finish Line:

The BAA encourages any spectator going to watch the race from or near the finish line to create a plan. Many roads surrounding the finish line will be closed to spectators and cars all day. Spectators are encouraged to take public transportation into the city.

The MBTA Green Line operations will be limited, but you can take outbound Green Line trains to the Arlington Street station. The inbound and outbound lines of the orange line will be going all day long. The Orange Line Back Bay station drops you just 2 blocks from the finish line and may be the easiest for getting into the publicly accessible viewing areas. The BAA says that if you are going to the finish line viewing areas, you may have to pass through security checkpoints. See a list from the BAA of discouraged items to take to the finish line on their website here.

(Courtesy of Boston Athletic Association)

Starting Line:

The Boston Athletic Association (B.A.A.) says Hopkinton Center will be very busy on race morning. Road closures start at 6:30 a.m., and no street parking will be available. If you are planning to watch from the start, there is limited spectator parking at Hopkinton State Park with shuttle buses to the starting line.

Race Course:

For specific information on where to watch in each town, go to the BAA website here. If you are planning to watch the race from anywhere along the course, check out this spectator guide from the BAA.

About the Contributor

Arthur Mansavage, Photo Editor & Audience Development Editor

Arthur Mansavage (he/him) is a junior Journalism major from Carmel, Indiana. Currently he serves as the Photography Editor and Audience Development Editor. As the Photo Editor he oversees all photo content for online and in-print and as the Audience Development Editor he oversees and manages reader experience and engagement.