Philadelphia was laid out on a grid back in 1682, which makes Center City one of the friendliest places in the country for Strava art. Straight streets, numbered blocks and two leafy squares to start from. William Penn did the hard part for you.
We ran these shapes through our free route engine on real Philadelphia street data, so you know where to start and what match to expect before you head out.
Updated October 2026
Quick answer
Center City Philadelphia is a great place for Strava art. In our test runs at a 5 mile target, a turkey scored 98% match starting on Spruce Street near 13th Street, a heart 97% from Walnut and 18th Street by Rittenhouse Square, a tree and a candy cane 97% each from Chestnut and 18th Street, and a star 96% from Locust and 13th Street. Open the free Run Art Route Maker with the shape picked, set your start there, download the GPX and go.
- Turkey route (free): 98% from Spruce and 13th, 5.0 miles.
- Heart route (free): 97% from Rittenhouse Square, 4.9 miles.
- Tree route (free): 97% from Chestnut and 18th, 4.8 miles.
Five Philadelphia shapes, with where to start
Every number here comes from running our route engine on real Philadelphia street data with a 5 mile target. Our street data did not fully cover Old City, so every start on this page sits between Rittenhouse Square and Washington Square. Your own score depends on your exact start, so the tool shows it to you before you run.
| Shape | Suggested start | Match in our test | Route length |
|---|---|---|---|
| Turkey | Washington Square West, Spruce Street near 13th Street | 98% | 5.0 miles |
| Heart | Rittenhouse Square, Walnut Street and 18th Street | 97% | 4.9 miles |
| Tree | Center City, Chestnut Street and 18th Street | 97% | 4.8 miles |
| Candy cane | Center City, Chestnut Street and 18th Street | 97% | 5.1 miles |
| Star | Locust Street and 13th Street | 96% | 5.1 miles |
Turkey: Center City's top score
The turkey was the cleanest shape in our Philadelphia tests at 98% and 5.0 miles, starting on Spruce Street near 13th Street. The legs are out and back, so you will run down a block and turn right around. Set the distance to 3.1 for a homemade turkey trot, and check the new score before you go. Our turkey running route guide has the full Thanksgiving plan.
Heart: 97% from Rittenhouse Square
The heart scored 97% at 4.9 miles from Walnut and 18th Street, right by Rittenhouse Square. It is the easiest first art run anywhere, and this one ends a short walk from a coffee. Run it for an anniversary, or as an apology for every dark 6 a.m. long run you dragged someone to.
Tree and candy cane: holiday art on Chestnut Street
Starting at Chestnut and 18th Street, the tree scored 97% at 4.8 miles and the candy cane scored 97% at 5.1 miles. Run the candy cane in December and tell everyone the extra corners were festive on purpose. Our Christmas Strava art guide has more holiday shapes.
Star: 96% from Locust and 13th
The star scored 96% at 5.1 miles from Locust Street and 13th Street. Five points, five miles, and a lot of right angles turned into sharp ones. Your Strava followers will assume you planned it for weeks.
Philadelphia Marathon week
The Philadelphia Marathon is Sunday, November 22, 2026, so marathon week is a great excuse for an art run. Want a 26.2 instead of a picture? It scored 93% at 4.9 miles in our tests, starting on Spruce Street near 13th Street. Numbers have more corners than pictures, so if it looks jagged, add a mile or slide the start a few blocks. Cheering instead of running? Our Philadelphia Marathon spectator guide has you covered, and our funny Philadelphia Marathon signs will get your runner past mile 20.
Philadelphia tips for cleaner art
Use the grid. Center City's streets run north to south and east to west, so the engine has plenty of straight lines to work with.
Watch the tiny streets. Center City is full of narrow side streets and alleys. They help the shape, but some are quiet or private, so check the route before you go.
Move the start, not the shape. If your score is low, slide the start a few blocks before you give up on the shape.
Check the route first. Some streets may be busy or closed, especially around race weekend. Stick to sidewalks and paths, and follow traffic rules. The tool does not know about construction, events or which crosswalk has the longest light.
Keep your home private. Start a few blocks from home or use a privacy zone in your app.
For the runner whose feed is now mostly art, the My Strava Has Better Art Than My Living Room tee says it best. And for the one who ran you a heart around Rittenhouse Square, the Ran 10 Miles to Draw You a Heart tee is the receipt.
Not affiliated with Strava, Inc. Strava is a trademark of Strava, Inc.
FAQ
Where is the best place for Strava art in Philadelphia?
Center City worked very well in our tests. Between Rittenhouse Square and Washington Square, a turkey, heart, tree, candy cane and star all scored 96% or better at a 5 mile target.
Can I run Strava art in Old City?
Probably, but we could not test it. Our street data did not fully cover Old City, so we have no scores to share there. Pick a start in the tool and it will show you the score before you run.
How long is a Philadelphia art run?
You choose, from 2 to 15 miles. All the shapes on this page were tested at a 5 mile target and came out between 4.8 and 5.1 miles.
Is the Run Art Route Maker free?
Yes. No app and no sign-up. Download the GPX for Strava, Garmin Connect or Coros.