Charles River Esplanade

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The Charles River Esplanade (commonly referred to as “the Esplanade”) is a 64-acre riverfront park with pathways along the bank of the Charles River in Back Bay and Beacon Hill. It is well-suited for running, biking, and rollerblading, and has great views of the Charles River. Within the park are little league and soccer fields (Teddy Ebersol’s Red Sox Fields), the iconic Hatch Memorial Shell venue, and 3 different playgrounds along the main path. The Esplanade Association, the nonprofit organization that maintains, revitalizes, enhances, and programs the Esplanade, also hosts a variety of events and programs year-round including their River Front Summer Fitness Classes and GroundBeat Music Series. This is also a popular destination for tourists, particularly in spring, to see the cherry blossoms.

This Park is Best For:

The Charles River Esplanade is typically best used for the following:

Scenery

Walking

Running

Tourism

Rollerblading

Fitness Equipment

Outdoor Events

Beer Garden

Basic Info

Size: 64 Acres

Terrain: Flat
Transportation: the T
Path Types: Cement

Hours: 24 hours
Restrooms: Yes (Closed for Winter) 2 locations: near the Hatch Shell; Near the Dartmouth St Facility.
Drinking Fountains: Yes (4)

Benches: Yes
Lights: Yes

Park Amenities

Amphitheater

Live Music
Outdoor Fitness Equipment
Outdoor Brewery & Beer Garden

Outdoor Yoga & Fitness Classes
Little League Fields
Youth Soccer Field

Docks for Kayaking & Paddleboarding
Waterfront Views
Playgrounds (3)

Zipline (1, at Esplanade Playground)
Climbing Structures (1, at Esplanade Playground)

Park Photos:

Here are some recent photos of Charles River Esplanade.

Events

Here are some public events that are happening at Charles River Esplanade, including concerts, fitness classes and more:

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Add Your Event

Are you looking to organize your a public event at Charles River Esplanade? Add your own concert, fitness class or outdoor event using the button below:

Fast Facts About The Charles River Esplanade:

The Esplanade stretches for 3.2 miles one way along the Charles River on the Boston side, between the Museum of Science and the Boston University (BU) Bridge.

The Hatch Shell is the site many concerts and live music, including the nationally-broadcast Boston Pops July 4th concert & fireworks.
The Annual Head of the Charles Regatta is the world’s largest two-day rowing event that attracts tens of thousands of spectators every year and can be viewed from the Esplanade.

Directions

Visitors of the Esplanade can access the park via six different footbridges located along the 3.2-mile length of the Esplanade. The closest T stops within walking distance to the Esplanade are Charles/MGH on the red line or along the green line at Arlington, Copley, Hynes Convention Center, Kenmore (B, C, D,), Blanford Street (B), Boston University East (B), or Boston University Central (B).

Additionally, there are several BlueBikes docking stations located within walking distance of the Esplanade from Beacon Hill to Fenway/Allston. If visitors wish to drive to the Esplanade, recommended parking spots include the Boston Common Parking Garage, Newbury Street Garage, or finding street parking in Beacon Hill or Back Bay.

Use this map to find different amenities in at the Esplanade, including playgrounds, beer garden, workout station, sports fields and parking near the park.