Great Runs in Miami
Sun, water, heat, and beach are the defining words of running in Miami. Considering the weather and the unique geography, Miami should be a running mecca, but finding good routes takes a little doing. Running options downtown are limited. Most of the ‘iconic’ runs in Miami incorporate the beach, or some of the unique bridges that connect the city to other pieces of land. Best bets are the several miles of running trail on Miami Beach. The bridge over to Key Biscayne and the Coconut Grove area, 5 miles south of downtownm are also great for running. Crodon Park and Oleta River Park are also good options.
Miami is very flat. Not the place for hill training. The weather is great. Sunny nearly every day. Given the strong sun, heat, and humidity, you’ll have to calibrate when you run, and pay extra attention to hydration.
The Iconic Routes
- Miami Beach
- Key Biscayne - Rickenbacker Causeway and Park
- Coconut Grove
- Venetian Causeway
- South Bayshore Drive (Bayshore Beauty)
Miami Beach
Boardwalk,23rd St. north to 46th St : 1.5 miles One-Way. MAP
Paved Path, 23rd south through South Point Park: ~2.75 miles MAP
Miami Beach is one of the great urban beaches. The wide sand beach stretches for nearly ten miles from south to north. South Beach is where the action is — great hotels, and a lively restaurant, shopping, and club scene. One can run along the beach at any time, but the sand is not always firm. There is a fairly seamless running path along the beach. There are a couple of sections where it’s broken up but for the most part you can run along the beach for about 10 miles.
The two best spots for running along Miami Beach is the near seamless path from 46th St. in the north to South Pointe Park, a little over 4 miles. The wooden Boardwalk runs between 23rd St. and 46th St., about 1.5 miles one way. From 23rd St. to South Beach there is a paved path, which runs mainly seamlessly along the beach except for a couple of small sections. The most beautiful part is South Point Park, which features great views of Biscayne Bay and the Miami Skyline. Tons of people and very festive. Slightly inland, running along A1A is an uneven experience — in some places there is no sidewalk, and it is quite built up so there are not typically views to the water.
Key Biscayne
Key Biscayne is an island connected to the southern part of Miami, connected by the Rickenbacker Causeway. There are two especially nice runs in this area. The run over the Causeway over to Key Biscayne is exhilarating, with great water views in every direction. There is a pathway for running over the bridge. It’s 3.1 miles one-way from the foot of the bridge in Miami to the Aquarium. It’s another 2.7 miles to the end of Crandon Park. Access the causeway from Brickell Ave. to the north (downtown) or Bayshore Dr. to the south.
Crandon Park is a great area for running on the northern part of Biscayne Bay. Accessed just past the Causeway (or left off the Causeway if you are running/driving), the 808 acre park features as well as a marina, golf course, tennis center, family amusement center, picnic shelters and a nature center. The beach on the Atlantic side is 2 miles long, and there are also miles of trails suitable for running.
Downtown Miami — Brickell
5 miles. Start: Brickell Ave. & 15th St. MAP
Running options in downtown Miami are limited. There are no major parks or running trails in the immediate vicinity of downtown. The best bet is the Brickell area, getting down to scenic Brickell Key. There is a short river walk trail off Brickell Ave./Rt.1 out to Brickell Point. Othwerwise it’s Rt. 1, with sections not having an especially good sidewalk. We’ve put together a 5-mile run incorporating the best option for running downtown.
Downtown: Venetian Causeway
3 miles, ONE WAY. Start on Miami or Miami Beach Side. MAP
There are several bridges and long causeways connecting the unique geography of the Miami area. The most interesting and runnable one is Venetian Causeway. The Venetian Islands were built in 1913 and feature gorgeous homes and views. It’s about 3 miles from one side of Biscayne Bay to the other, connecting Miami and Miami Beach. The beginning of the causeway on the Miami side is ~1.5 miles from the heart of downtown.
Oleta River Park
Many trail options. Access 163rd St. 15 miles north of downtown
At 1,043 acres, Oleta River State Park in North Miami is Florida’s largest urban park. There are 14 miles of recreational trails, highly used for mountain biking. The best option for runners is the 3-mile paved trail or the 4-mile ‘novice’ biking trail. We have unfortunately been unable to find a good trail map for the park. Access is via 163rd St.
Bayshore Beauty
~ 6 miles RT. Start: Brickell at Rickenbacker Br. or Peacock Park. MAP
A nice option connecting some of the pleasant street, paths, and parks of Coconut Grove is to run along S. Bayshore Dr. Start at Peacock Park and run through Kennedy Park, about 3 miles to Brickell, at the foot of the Rickenbacker Bridge, and back. Incorporate with the Commodore Trail and residential streets of Coconut Grove.
Coconut Grove
Option A: Commodore Trail, 5-mile bike path ONE WAY MAP
Option B: Parts of Bike Trail and Residential Streets. 6.6 mile loop. MAP
Coconut Grove is the one of the nicest neighborhoods in Miami. It is very lush and green, giving a sense of the ‘old Florida’. A pleasant run in Coconut Grove incorporates some of the residential streets, with their beautiful vegetation and grand old homes, and some of the waterfront sections of the neighborhood.
Another nice option is the 5-mile paved Commodore Bike Trail., which takes you along historic South Miami Ave., Bayshore Dr., Main Highway and Douglas Road. Alice Wainwright Park, Museum of Science/Planetarium, Vizcaya Museum, Kennedy Park, Peacock Park, and the Barnacle Historic State Park are along the way and worthy of checking out. Options A and B, above, overlap.
It is also possible to link to the Old Cutler Trail, a bike path that continues 11 miles north through lovely and affluent Coral Cables. MAP
STAY
There are tons of hotels in Miami. There are particular clusters in downtown Miami, and along stretches of Miami Beach. If you are at a downtown hotel, the running options aren’t great. Most folks point you to Brickell. But it’s not seamless or all that runner friendly, in parts. Miami Beach is very spread out. There are hotels all along the way, but a good cluster near running is South Beach. There are also hotels in the heart of Coconut Grove.
Stores
There is a good number of locally owned running stores in Miami. Here is a break down by area.
Downtown
Fit2Run. Great local store. 4 other locations in Miami. Group events nearly every day
The Athlete’s Foot. Vintage style. Location also in Miami Beach
Miami Beach
Fit2Run. Great local store. 4 other locations in Miami. Group events nearly every day
The Athlete’s Foot. In the Lincoln Mall
Footworks. South Beach. Fun runs Tues & Thurs. Calendar
North
iRun.
Runners’ Depot. Good local store around for 15 years.
Events
Community
Group Runs. Downtown and Miami Beach, Fit2Run has events almost daily.
Florida Running Calendar — comprehensive list of race events, from the Fit2Run web site
