Traveling? Here are 15 Hotels That Specifically Cater to Runners
Traveling? Here are 15 Hotels That Specifically Cater to Runners
A hotel that hands out a run map or points you to a local trail is good. But a hotel that offers a sampling of the Boston Marathon route with a group, loans you gear when your luggage gets lost, a private shopping experience at a local run store, or a recovery massage that targets your achy quads is better.
Those are the experiences we runners crave when visiting a new city. And what better way to explore a new city than to run it? We scoured dozens of traveler sites, consulted with industry insiders, and explored a number of custom offerings to find the very best hotels worldwide that meet (or dare we say, exceed) our running expectations. So whether you’re traveling for personal reasons and plan to make time for a run or you’ve signed up for a destination race, here are some of the places you can stay—both big name chains and individual properties—that offer tailored, standout experiences that you’ll never forget.
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Westin Hotels Nationwide
No other national hotel caters to runners quite like Westin does, with its 250+ “run concierges”—staff who lead individual or group runs past local landmarks and through lesser traveled trails—across the globe. In run-obsessed Boston, The Westin Copley Place has five people ready to go. Depending on where you are, you could tag along for a different kind of adventure, too—beach clean-ups paired with paddleboarding (The Westin Maui Resort & Spa) or guided hikes at nearby mountains like Camelback (The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa).
Worldwide, their Heavenly Beds offer refuge for tired bodies. If you’re traveling light for business, leave your shoes and workout clothes at home. Westin has a brand-wide gear lending program with New Balance, loaning out fresh kicks and attire to hotel guests.
JW Marriott Chicago, Illinois
Less than a block from miles 2 and 12 of the Chicago Marathon, this financial district hotel is a good pick for runners who want to bank a solid workout and recovery. The JW Fit Squad—a group of 14 top, local trainers led by a Nike master trainer—have 65 marathons and ultras under their belts and offer guided runs, gait analysis, and race coaching.
They also offer HIIT & Run—a class that combines high-intensity training and running. Afterward, you can skip foam rolling in your hotel room. The spa offers a variety of services, such as deep tissue massages and “Achy Feet Rescue” that you can pamper yourself with.
Kimpton Hotels Nationwide
At Kimpton, guests are guaranteed certain fitness amenities. There are complimentary bikes at every hotel and yoga mats in every room, convenient for cooldown stretching or an in-room workout. But on any given morning, you’ll find hotel general managers leading runs throughout their various cities—early morning miles along the Charles in Cambridge, Massachusetts, with Kimpton Marlowe or treks along the Palm Springs Museum Trail near the Kimpton The Rowan Palm Springs.
In New York at Kimpton Ink48, the hotel is situated near the popular West Side Highway running route. Plus, if you prefer to travel with Fido, the hotel chain is pet-friendly—at certain locations a pet concierge will greet you and your furry friend and suggest pet-friendly activities and locations.
Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows, Santa Monica, CA
In L.A., escaping the mayhem of the city is easy: Find the water, then run alongside it. (Pacific Palisades Park—which overlooks the ocean—and Venice Beach are both magnificent spots.) The Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows sit right on the park and mark the finish line of the Los Angeles Marathon, making it a top choice for marathoners and recreational runners alike. There’s also no shortage of solid spa treatments for your achy postrun muscles.
Ritz-Carlton Hotels Nationwide
Sure, it may seem like #luxury, but at the Ritz, run maps don’t quite cut it. On top of run-specific spa treatments and guided jogs around cities, guests at certain locations—including The Ritz Carlton, New Orleans—can enjoy a spin around the French Quarter and return back to a runner’s station with a welcome back sign, cold water bottles, and towels at the front door. Properties are often in prime locations for mileage, too. Take the New York hotels at both Battery Park and Central Park, which allow easy access to scenic routes even in the midst of a metropolis.
The Inn at the Presidio, San Francisco, California
You won’t get a closer hotel to the Golden Gate Bridge than The Inn at the Presidio, which sits right at the beginning of The Presidio—a national park and historic landmark at the Golden Gate. It’s a favorite spot of City Running Tours, a group that offers guided run outings throughout the U.S. But with quiet, preserved grounds that have rocking chairs on an open air front porch, a fire pit, and views of the bay, your rest days will feel as epic as your runs.
Even Hotels Nationwide
You focus on your run, and Even Hotels will take care of the rest—literally. Every room has a fitness space stocked with resistance bands, an exercise ball, a yoga mat so you can employ a dynamic warmup or cooldown, plus more than 18 on-demand fitness videos you can play if you’re craving a little more sweat. Same-day laundry services, hydration stations, and cooling eucalyptus-infused linens (no sweaty sheets here) are the things runners’ dreams are made of.
The Inn at Fifth, Eugene, Oregon
Runners with an interest in seeing TrackTown USA firsthand should consider The Inn at the 5th, within Eugene’s historic 5th Street Public Market. Here, hotel decor includes murals of runners, and the hotel GM leads runs on the European bark chip trails. The hotel can also set you up a personal shopping experience at Run Hub Northwest.
Vail Mountain Lodge, Vail, Colorado
On top of this spot having easy access to the village and the mountain, guests at this retreat also have the Vail Vitality Center—a full spa and an athletic facility—at their fingertips, which offers 60 classes a week, personal coaching services, and nutrition counseling. But the highlight for those who want to take advantage of Colorado’s peaks is that Ellen Miller, the coach of the U.S. Women’s Mountain Running Team, leads interval and endurance runs along nearby trails.
The Portola Hotel, Monterey, California
Favored by Marathon Tours & Travel, a group that curates trips to marathons around the world, this property is the number 1 pick for Big Sur since it’s connected to the expo location. But any time of the year provides easy access to stunning waterfront runs, Fisherman’s Wharf, and Cannery Row. Downtown Monterey is also filled with coffee shops and restaurants, as well as a Trader Joe’s and a Walgreens for any essentials runners might need. Rooms come with a mini fridge for storing your own goodies, too. (Oh, and ask for the warm cookie upon check-in.)
Turpin Meadow Ranch, Jackson Hole, Wyoming
While most people think of Jackson Hole as the ultimate destination for winter sports, runners can take advantage of the area’s incredible (and less busy) green season. Just a short drive from the town center sits Turpin Meadow Ranch with cozy cabin and chalet lodging options.
If you love trail, you may come for the terrain, but you’ll stay for the food. You’ll have endless options of distances and loops in the 2.5 million (yes, million) acres of the Bridger-Teton Wilderness right in your backyard or clock your daily miles along the scenic Buffalo Valley Road.
You can’t beat the scenic views of the Tetons, wildlife sightings, or overall tranquility. Refueling postrun is an absolute joy thanks to the farm-to-table menu with locally sourced ingredients. If you want to spend some time training at altitude (7,200 feet to be exact) or sign up for a destination race like the Jackson Hole Marathon, Turpin will not disappoint.
Glo Best Western
If your marathon entry fee ended up costing you more than you were anticipating and you’re looking for a room on a budget, even in a city like New York, Asheville, or Nashville, Glo Best Western will help you stick to your workout routine when traveling without breaking the bank.
The chain touts itself as being focused on wellness and offers a fitness center and breakfast. The rooms themselves have wood floors, making it easy to get in a total-body workout with a towel if you don’t want to leave your room.
Traveling? Here are 15 Hotels That Specifically Cater to Runners
Traveling? Here are 15 Hotels That Specifically Cater to Runners
Traveling? Here are 15 Hotels That Specifically Cater to Runners
These properties—from national chains to local gems—encourage their guests to explore on foot.