Best Running Routes in Atlanta 2026

Atlanta has quietly built one of the more distinctive urban trail networks in the United States, repurposing 19th and 20th century rail corridors into some of its best running terrain. Here are the best running routes in Atlanta for 2026.

The Atlanta BeltLine

The Atlanta BeltLine now offers 16.7 miles of continuous paved mainline trail forming "The U", part of a 22 mile former freight rail corridor connecting 36 neighbourhoods that encircles central Atlanta, with a full build-out planned at 33 miles including spur trails. It is a genuinely distinctive piece of urban infrastructure, repurposed from 19th and 20th century rail lines rather than purpose-built parkland.

Piedmont Park

Piedmont Park's main loop runs roughly 4 miles on paved and gravel path with real hills, or a shorter 0.97 mile Lake Loop around Clara Meer, plus a 0.52 mile gravel Active Oval for interval work. This iconic Midtown green space is the finish line of the AJC Peachtree Road Race.

The Chattahoochee River Trails

The Cochran Shoals Trail, part of the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area near Vinings, offers a nearly flat 5 kilometre riverside dirt and gravel path and is one of the most heavily used running trails in metro Atlanta, part of 66 miles of trails across 15 units along 48 miles of river. The nearby East Palisades Trail is more technical and hilly single-track, with a notable bamboo forest and river overlooks for trail runners wanting elevation and terrain variety.

Freedom Park Trail

Freedom Park Trail runs 2.5 miles one way on paved path from the Martin Luther King Jr National Historic Site to the Carter Presidential Library, part of a full linear trail of about 3.8 miles with roughly 262 feet of elevation gain, with a 3.6 mile loop option via Chandler Park.

Running the Peachtree Road Race Route

The AJC Peachtree Road Race, run every 4 July since 1970 when it started with 150 runners in a Sears parking lot, is now the world's largest 10K with roughly 60,000 participants, finishing in Piedmont Park.

Practical Guide to Running in Atlanta

The BeltLine and Piedmont Park are the most reliable choices for a straightforward run close to the centre; the Chattahoochee trails are the better option for anyone wanting genuine trail terrain and shade.

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