Boston is a point-to-point on Patriots' Day, from Hopkinton to Boylston Street. The 2027 race is Monday, April 19. It is not a public lottery. Entry is a qualifying time, then a cutoff. About 1,000 extra spots are drawn from qualifiers who miss that cutoff. See lottery races: when each draw opens and closes.
What runners like
The towns. Wellesley is the scream tunnel around halfway. Newton is the hills, including Heartbreak, which is shorter and later than the story suggests. The last miles down Boylston are the part people remember if the hills did not empty them. The course drops more than it climbs. The early drop punishes anyone who runs the first 10K like a track.
Where to stay
Back Bay and the South End put the finish in walking range. Athletes ride official buses from Boston Common. A car to Hopkinton is not the plan. April can be cold at the suburban start and warm in the city. More Massachusetts races are on the Massachusetts race calendar.
Food worth the stop
The North End is a Friday reservation, not a Saturday experiment. Saturday is pasta you can walk to.
For the person not racing
Wellesley is loud and worth it. Boylston is the finish and it is walled off early. Meet a block off Boylston and stick to it. Course towns close roads for hours. Follow your runner on the free B.A.A. Racing App: search by name, bib or hometown, and turn on alerts for each checkpoint. The spectator guide has where to watch.