Greater Miami has everything from pristine beaches and two National Parks to the cultural epicenters of Brickell / Downtown, Coral Gables and Little Havana. There’s no secret that the best way to explore a city is on foot and there’s no one more qualified to be your local tour guide than the co-founder of the city. Miami Marathon & Half Marathon, Frankie Ruiz. Put on your sneakers and join Frankie as he takes you on a personal tour of the best running routes Miami has to offer. Get to know the best running routes in Miami
South Beach Hard-packed Sands
This route is by far my favorite! It takes you from 23rd Street south to the end of 1st Street to Government Cut. These compact sands provide the best viewing platform for all of Miami and its beaches. On Sunday and Friday afternoons you will be able to see the giant ships leaving the port, so I try to time my races during these times. The balance is exactly the way I like it, with some cushioning for my step and some stamina for strength building. This race is good in the mornings or afternoons, although in the afternoons you may have to dodge some of the bathers going home. The best part about this race is that after you finish you can go swimming!
Miami Beach Boardwalk
Miami Beach’s boardwalk is one of my favorite spots because of the perfect combination of ocean breezes and views of the Atlantic Ocean. It is here that, regardless of the time of year, you will have to wander among tourists and locals, giving you the feeling that you are on vacation. The balance is pretty good because the wood absorbs the impact of each step and the textured cobblestones of the newer sections of the path force you to pay attention to the ground from time to time. I usually park on 22nd Street and start the boardwalk north to 47th Street, but starting from north to south is also a good way to run it. There are a few places where you can even stop to get your head wet from a hotel or a public shower on a warm day.
South Pointe Park
Miami Beach has many places to run and this is one of the newest. You can park in South Pointe Park in one of the metered spaces, but arrive early because stains may become scarce as the day progresses. This park has the only mountain in Miami Beach, well… ok hill! I like to start my career at the top of the hill while watching the sights at the viewpoint. By the way, this is also a good place to end your career because there are some sun loungers to rest and rest a little. From this point, you can head to Government Cut via the popular Smith & Wollensky restaurant. This road then connects you to Baywalk along the Miami Beach Marina. The road ends at the base of the MacArthur Causeway. If I’m inspired to go longer and enjoy some of the views from the MacArthur Causeway, I could cross the bridge and turn around on Terminal Isle, which is where the Fisher Island Ferry goes. Don’t go past the Ferry Terminal because it can be a bit hectic to run along the Causeway bike lane without a sidewalk.
Venetian road
This place amazes me every time I drive it. There are 360-degree views from the bridges connecting the artificial islands that make mileage fly by. The sites of multi-million dollar houses and circulating yachts can certainly help the mind wander. Be careful, however, because these sidewalks and bike lanes get crowded sometimes due to their narrowness. Also, be prepared to take a mandatory break if the drawbridges go up to let a boat pass. The best kept secret: Take a side route on De Lido Island (the largest in the island chain along the causeway) to see some of the most amazing and expensive homes along the water.
Rickenbacker Causeway
The Rickenbacker Causeway is arguably Miami’s most popular destination area. This area is known to locals as “Key Biscayne“, but the truth is that it is officially known as the Rickenbacker Causeway. When I run this stretch I like to park at the west end at Hobie Beach, which is the first parking lot available on the right hand side after passing the toll plaza coming from mainland Miami. Parking is free, so you can take your sweet time in Miami to go for a run. There are toilets and showers along the way and public water fountains to keep you hydrated. In addition to the height of the corridor, you will experience from the point of view that the other reason why this place is so popular is that a mile from where you park there is our Goliath. The “Great Bridge” or more formally known as the William Powell Bridge will give you the highest elevation in South Florida available to runners. Get ready for 80 feet above sea level! I know it doesn’t sound like much, but the degree is challenging enough when combined with humidity and sunshine to give you more work. This is a 700-meter climb, so if you add a little to the extremes you can do mile intervals. It can get a little crowded on weekend mornings and weekday afternoons. When passing the bridge you can continue east for several miles. I suggest you turn around where the sidewalk ends which is near Crandon Park Marina if you want about 6 miles. If you’re feeling a little more adventurous and would like to see some of the Magic City’s greener nature, turn left at the crosswalk past the marina and take a curvy run on the Crandon Park Nature Trail. I look forward to this part of the race because of the tranquil nature and views of a completely restored mangrove habitat. It’s a bit quieter and a little lonelier as most people don’t even know it exists, so don’t say anything! Approximately
Lummus Park Sidewalk
You’ve seen this area in almost every movie that has been filmed in South Beach. Call me crazy, but I love running this route on long weekends. The interweaving in and out of touring groups and the occasional “Run Forrest Run” shouts from those sitting along the limestone beach wall only inspire that smile that propels him through a good while. I like to take this route from 5th Street and head north. This is one of the largest concentrations of Miami Beach’s Coconut Palms, which sets itself up as a kind of tropical curtain for the Art Deco buildings along the world-famous Ocean Drive. If you take this road north you can run almost all the way to Mid-beach near the Blue & Green Diamond Buildings, at which point you can jump on the soft sand or turn left and head to the red sidewalk of Millionaire Row. Collins Avenue. Here’s a fun fact, Lummus Park is part of the U.S. National Register of Historic Places and named after the Lummus brothers, one of the original developers of Miami Beach.
Downtown Miami Baywalk / Museum Park
I take this route often, as it is one of the newer sections of Baywalk in Miami and frankly one of the most populated areas. You can start at either end, but the section I use frequently is one that’s popular with our Tuesday night Baptist Health Brickell Run Club, one of the largest free weekly running clubs in the country. You can start running with a loop around Brickell key. You can stay hydrated at a public water source along this stretch next to the large statue in the northeast corner of the island. When exiting the Brickell Key Bridge, you can turn right and stay along the Baywalk and return to Brickell Avenue over the Brickell Avenue Bridge. Things here can be noisy and really give you the feeling of our tropical urban core. Stay on this road as it borders Biscayne Boulevard and passes Bayfront Park. After you’ve passed the Bayside Marketplace, you’ll cross the entrance to PortMiami and pass the AmericanAirlines Arena, home of our Miami Heat world champions. After passing the area, you’ll enter Museum Park, home to the Perez Museum of Art Miami (PAMM). This is one of Miami’s newest developed parks. You can run under a double row of Royal Palm Trees and feel what a finish line feels like in the tropics. I take this road to Museum Park and, for pure fun, I like to climb the steps of the museum and make my Rocky movie moment so good. The view from the PAMM gives you a great perspective of Government Cut-Basin and Port Miami. There are a few baths and water fountains in the park and museum, so take a sip and head the same way you came. To add some variety to the race, you can circle some of the trails within Bayfront Park for better views of Biscayne Bay and maybe even see one of our local dolphins swimming.
Oleta River State Park Trails
When I want to fully hit my legs and give them a totally different workout, I hit Oleta River State Park’s network of over 15 miles of multi-use trails for some long runs. When running on weekends, watch out for mountain bikers in the area because this is a favorite spot for them too. One interesting aspect I like is that the trails actually have some change in elevation with some man-made dredging and a nice canopy of foliage. Please note that there is a park charge per vehicle for admission. This is the best kept secret… There are toilets located in the camp halfway.
The Everglades – Long Pine Key Campground
This is my favorite destination. It can take about an hour to get there from downtown Miami, but the trip is worth every penny. You’ll need to pay admission to Everglades National Park near Homestead, which is about $10 per vehicle. After passing through the entrance, you will remain on Old Ingraham Highway and follow signs to Long Pine Key Campground, where you can park near the restrooms and start running. The signs to the trailhead are about a quarter mile to the campground. This trail most of the year has dry land, but it can be wet and wet. Also, if you do it during the summer and late evenings, mosquitoes will hit it, so the timing in this case is everything, but planning is worth it. This trail goes out into the pine forests for approximately 6 miles. It’s well lit, so you should be fine finding your way. Keep an eye out for wildlife, as I’ve seen everything around here except for the elusive and endangered Florida Panther, but you’ll be lucky enough to find one. I have to say that this is one of the few quality long unpaved trails that Miami-Dade County has to offer, but you won’t disappoint if you make the trek there.
Underlining to Coral Gables from Brickell / Downtown
Miami has an exciting trail that is currently being improved, but for now it offers a good opportunity from Brickell southward along our US 1 corridor. I like to run this route when I want shade because it’s almost entirely underneath the Metro Rail line, which is our version of an elevated lane. You can start this run from what’s known as the Brickell Metrorail Station and run south for nearly 9 miles in one direction only. Some of the locals might call this road the ‘MPath’, but the recent renaming of the road calls it Underlined. The only downside to this route is that there are no water fountains and restrooms that are located very close unless you enter the train stations located every two miles. Something I like to do at least once or twice a year is take the trail south from Brickell Station to Dadeland South Station, then take a few bucks to buy a ticket on the train. You can even do some stretching and some push-ups in the comfort of the air-conditioned train, as the return journey will take you about 20 minutes.
Tamiami Trail Levees
I head to this gravel road that sits above the levee containing a seemingly endless river of Everglades grass when I want to decompress and just run around without mundane distractions. Except for the occasional bird or even deer that cross your path, this is a very peaceful and stress-free environment. The ground can be a bit bumpy at times, but overall you can set a good pace on this path. I enjoy this race just as the sun starts to set. In the summer months, this can be the colorful spectacle in the sky after Miami’s famous storms. You can park along the canal road and just run north for miles and miles. There are no toilets or water fountains, so be sure to bring your own stand. You also have the option of the trail that runs south on the south side of Tamiami Trail. Keep an eye out for some crocodiles, too!