A Glimpse at the 2026 Boston 3-Day Route

The 2025 Boston 3-Day was home to groups of walkers dressed in pink from head to toe.

Boston is gearing up to welcome the Pink Bubble back for another unforgettable Susan G. Komen 3-Day®. Whether you’re returning or experiencing the 3-Day route for the first time, Boston has something for everyone to enjoy.  

Boston is one of America’s oldest cities and rich with history at every turn. From its colonial landmarks to its iconic neighborhoods, every mile in Boston is memorable. This year, participants will also see the new Commonwealth Pier, which offers beautiful waterfront views and a new perspective on Boston’s harbor. 

Day 1: Landmarks & Neighborhoods We Love 

A group of 3-Day walkers at Graffiti Alley at the 2025 Boston 3-Day.

Your 3-Day journey will start bright and early with an exciting Opening Ceremony at the Marriott Copley Place, before you set out on your first 20 miles. You’ll pass Boston icons like the Citgo sign, a skyline staple since 1940, and wind through the tree-lined streets of Brookline, Chestnut Hill and Brighton with support from cheer stations along the way.  In Allston, you’ll walk along Boston University, a Komen Grantee advancing breast cancer research through groundbreaking studies in genetics, environmental risk factors, therapies and early detection methods.

Crossing the Charles River brings you to Harvard Square in Cambridge, home to historic Harvard Yard, eclectic shops, restaurants, bookstores and street performers. Don’t miss the photo op at Graffiti Alley, a colorful area where graffiti and street artists can legally express themselves.  

Participants are full of high energy as they walk into the Celebration of Champions at the 2025 Boston 3-Day.

You’ll end Day 1 taking your last steps at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, another incredible Komen Grantee and world leader in research and education. You’ll be tired after your first 20 miles, but also proud of the miles you powered through. Back at camp, be sure to take some time to relax in the Bank of America massage chairs, eat a delicious meal and sit and enjoy the Celebration of Champions with the rest of the Pink Bubble community.

Day 2: Art, Culture & Classic Boston Energy 

Fenway Park is a great photo op for 3-Day walkers along the Boston 3-Day route.

The second day kicks off through the Underground at Ink Block, an urban art park beneath the I-93 expressway transformed into an innovative community hub filled with murals and walking paths in Boston’s South End neighborhood. From there, you’ll pass the Fort Point Channel and Boston’s historic Old State House. Built in 1713, it’s one of the oldest public buildings in the United States and a powerful reminder of Boston’s role in early American history.  

Next, the Pink Bubble will walk to the iconic Cheers bar, made famous by the long-running TV sitcom, and then to Fenway Park, home of the Boston Red Sox since 1912 and America’s oldest Major League Baseball park.

The halfway point of the Susan G. Komen 3-Day on Day 2 of the Boston 3-Day.

You’ll then pass Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, where Komen-funded research pushes us closer to a world without breast cancer. From there, you’ll continue toward beautiful Jamaica Pond, a stunning 68-acre freshwater oasis. Next up is a stroll past the Samuel Adams Boston Brewery where the renowned beer is brewed daily, before walking past the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum and the Museum of Fine Arts, which collectively contain over 500,000 works of art. The day winds down through the lush Back Bay Fens, before ending at the 124-year-old Symphony Hall. Back at camp, you’ll enjoy a warm meal, the heartfelt Honor Ceremony and some quiet time to rest and relax before you take on the challenge of the last day.

Day 3: History & Heart 

The final day of the 2025 Boston 3-Day is rich in history.

On your final day, you’ll visit a variety of meaningful landmarks. First is the William Lloyd Garrison Memorial Statue, honoring one of America’s most prominent abolitionists. Then, you’ll see the Hatch Memorial Shell, a 40-foot semi-circular arch set into the ground of the Charles River Esplanade. This unique outdoor concert and performance venue makes for a great Pink Bubble team photo op. 

From there, you’ll explore the storied Freedom Trail that connects 16 sites which are historically significant to the American Revolution. Along the way, you’ll be able to admire the USS Constitution, the Bunker Hill Monument, Old North Church, Paul Revere’s House, and much more before immersing yourself in the stories of the Boston Tea Party.  

The giant Hood milk bottle along the Boston 3-Day route.

As you begin to wrap up your 3-Day journey, you won’t miss the giant Hood Milk Bottle, a beloved landmark with sweet treats for purchase. Continue your walk through South Boston, and see the Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum, the Boston Public Market and the Garden of Peace before heading to the Finish Line Festival at Boston Common Parade Grounds where the emotions and celebrations will be overwhelming in the best possible way. 

As you look ahead to this week’s Boston 3-Day, you can expect a route filled with deep history and unforgettable moments. And by the time you reach the finish line, you’ll have earned a deep sense of accomplishment and a celebration worthy of the journey.  

We can’t wait to see you on the route.

 

How the 3-Day Routes Come to Life

Participants walking along the shoreline at the 2025 San Diego 3-Day.

Planning the Susan G. Komen 3-Day® takes months of collaboration and careful coordination. Each route is carefully designed to be safe, challenging and memorable while taking participants on an unforgettable journey of up to 60 miles toward a world without breast cancer. 

This year’s Komen 3-Day Series will travel through four beautiful destinations — the historic streets of Boston, the charming neighborhoods of Dallas/Fort Worth, the waterfront in San Diego and the scenic paths of Tampa Bay. While each route and city offers its own unique experience, every mile is carefully planned long before the Pink Bubble arrives in town.  

Planning the Route 

A group of 3-Day participants walking through an intersection at the 2025 Boston 3-Day.

The route planning process of the three day, 60-mile walk is a year-round effort that requires collaboration between Komen staff, city officials, police departments, public works teams, chambers of commerce, visitor bureaus and other local partners.  

“We’re very lucky to have great relationships with every city that we’re in,” route planner Ethan P. said. “I really can’t thank the cities enough for what they do for us.” 

Planners aim for approximately 20 miles each day of the event while identifying parks and open spaces for pit stops and lunch, and ensuring major intersections are staffed by route safety.  

Walkers line a street at the 2025 Dallas/Fort Worth 3-Day.

Scenic paths, local landmarks and iconic attractions help shape the 3-Day routes, but planning also includes adapting to changing conditions. Construction projects, road closures, local events and even parking availability can impact where 3-Day participants walk from year to year. 

“When one event’s over, we’re already looking at next year and how to make the route better,” Ethan said. “It could be the smallest things like there’s not enough parking at this one spot to we just think that this area is much prettier.” 

The pink arrows are placed along the 3-Day route to keep participants on the right track throughout event weekend.

To help participants confidently navigate all 60 miles, the route planning team marks the course with pink arrows. They are placed along the route to keep participants moving in the right direction, along pit stops, to lunch and back on to the next portion of the day’s route. It is another behind-the-scenes detail that’s key to creating a safe, seamless 3-Day experience. 

It Takes a Village 

A successful 3-Day route also depends on the support of the communities that welcome the Pink Bubble each year. The 3-Day team spends several months doing outreach with local businesses, neighborhoods and community partners along the route.  

Businesses showing support for 3-Day walkers at the 2025 San Diego 3-Day.

“The 3-Day coaches do an amazing job at helping us and making sure we’re reaching out to everybody around where we’re walking,” Ethan said. “The support we have received from Boston, Dallas/Fort Worth, San Diego and now Tampa Bay has been truly amazing. “ 

The community spirit is part of what makes every 3-Day so special. From businesses decorating storefronts with pink decorations and snack stations to cheering spectators lining the sidewalks, the encouragement participants receive throughout the weekend happens because of the in-depth preparation that leads up to every event season. 

Every City Has Its Own Feel 

The 2025 Boston 3-Day had a historical backdrop for participants.

Each 3-Day route is different and that is what makes each city so special. This year, San Diego participants can look forward to a couple of new pit stops that Ethan described as “absolutely stunning,” though he is keeping the details a surprise. 

Tampa Bay returns to the 3-Day in February 2027 for the first time since 2013, giving many participants the opportunity to experience an entirely new route featuring waterfront views, downtown streets and scenic trails. 

“It’s going to be a very pretty route that’s also really diverse,” Ethan said.  

Boston will feature a new pier on Day 3 that participants will be able to walk around, while Dallas/Fort Worth’s new hotel and camp location has inspired thoughtful route updates that still preserve many of the familiar sights participants know and love. 

To learn more about the 3-Day routes, visit the3day.org. 

What to Pack in Your 3-Day Bag

Walkers at the 2025 Dallas 3-Day.

Whether you’re reuniting with teammates, meeting new friends or experiencing your first Susan G. Komen 3-Day® being prepared will help you focus on what matters most — walking to help end breast cancer. 

From veteran favorites to newbie essentials, here’s what participants recommend for packing for a comfortable 3-Day weekend. 

The Right Gear 

When you wear what works for you, it’s easier to power through 60, 40, or 20 miles. 

  • Moisture-wicking clothing (T-shirts, shorts, sweatpants, leggings). 
  • Broken-in walking shoes (never wear brand-new shoes to the 3-Day!). 
  • Hat or visor. 
  • Two pair of socks per day (veteran walkers recommend changing into fresh, dry socks at lunch). 
  • Light layer jacket/waterproof jacket/sweater.
  • A comfortable backpack or crossbody bag with a water bottle holder or a waist pack for carrying on-route essentials with a water bottle holder. 
  • A lightweight rain poncho or shoe covers (if rain is in the forecast). 

The Little Things 

Inside your backpack or waist pack, you might want to carry: 

  • Chapstick or lip balm 
  • Band-aids 
  • Hair ties 
  • Hand sanitizer or wipes 
  • Tissues 
  • Bite-size snacks 
  • Electrolyte packets 
  • Portable phone charger 
  • Sunglasses 
  • Identification, money and a credit card 
  • Wide-mouth water bottle (easily fillable at water/ice/Gatorade stations along the 3-Day route) 

Toiletries: Event hotels tend to have toiletries available to you, but we strongly recommend packing everything you might need for your hygiene and comfort. 

  • Sunscreen 
  • Toothpaste/toothbrush 
  • Moisturizer, facial cleanser 
  • Shampoo, Conditioner 
  • Deodorant, Razor 
  • Hairbrush 
  • Body glide  

First Aid: On event, the Medical Crew will have supplies to tend to any major medical issues, but we recommend bringing your own supplies for treating minor medical and personal problems you might need along the route like band aids, petroleum jelly, antacid, pain relievers and any prescription medication you take regularly.  

If you develop blisters, the medical crew will help you take care of them and give you much-needed relief so you can keep walking. Just ask them for help! 

If you’re looking for a more detailed packing checklist, check out our hotel and camping packing guides before your 3-Day event weekend. We’ll see you on the route soon!