About us
**FreeWalkers.org** is a social network dedicated to exploring life on foot, for walkers and hikers interested in participating in long-distance walking events in the Mid-Atlantic region. Membership is free and open to everyone. We support each member's effort to reach their own goals of fitness and enjoyment as we walk together, explore our surroundings, and promote pro-pedestrian interests.
FreeWalkers has thousands of members and hosts dozens of long-distance walking events each year in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and New York, as well as many in Maryland, Delaware and Virginia. Most walks are supported by mass transit for easy access and return, and are between ten and fifty miles in length. Some walks are longer multi-day or shorter distance events. We have all kinds of walks, but we are most known for our longer distance walking events. Some of our walks offer shorter 5k to 10k options.
Walkers are free to move at their own pace and distance. It is not necessary for a walk to be completed or timed, only enjoyed. Our walks expose members to countless locations of scenic beauty, historic importance, and pedestrian convenience, all with the benefit of social support, event organization and the opportunity to engage with interesting fellow walkers.
We are an IRS-approved 501(c)3 non-profit and your tax-free donations help us create free and low-cost walks that are interesting, challenging and open to everyone. We manage multiple regional FreeWalkers groups on Meetup. We do encourage joining freewalkers.org and actively supporting our partners and sponsors who help make these events possible. At our website, you can browse photos of our events, learn about our history and mission, and read about the experiences of some of our walkers.
Look for our many walks every year in greater New York City, many parts of New Jersey including Hudson, Union, Middlesex, Somerset, Union, Morris, Monmouth, Mercer and Burlington County; Southeastern Pennsylvania including Philadelphia, Bucks and Montgomery County; Delaware and greater Washington DC. Join us on nature hikes, city walks, history walking tours, long-distance walks, scenic walks and themed walking outings.
Why you might like to join the FreeWalkers:
• Did you ever wonder how far you could walk?
• Would you like to know more about the places you walk?
• Are you more interested in accomplishing personal goals than winning a race?
• Are you the type of person who can't pass up an interesting challenge or adventure?
• Have you ever longed to get out of your car and experience what a community is really like?
• Do you believe you spend nearly as many calories walking as running but over a longer period of time?
• Are you looking for a sport where social interaction is possible?
• Are you looking for an alternative exercise routine that's both easy on the body and builds endurance?
We look forward to seeing you at our next event. Walk the Walk! It's good for you, good for us and good for the greater community. Get out there for your first FreeWalk, and you will be glad that you did.
Upcoming events
24
Walk to the 1876 World's Fair
The Porch at 30th Street, 30th and Market Sts, Philadelphia, PA, USPlease register for FREE to attend.
Celebrate the 150th anniversary of the most massive world's fair in American history, explore its grounds and its forgotten history
Start: The Porch at 30th Street Station
Finish: Manayunk Station
Distance: 15mi
Where to find us: South side outside the station
Terrain: paved
Transit: Septa, Amtrak, NJ Transit
Return: Septa
Parking: 3001 JFK Blvd or Cira Centre South Garage
Difficulty: Average
Category: nature, history, urban
Coordinator: Charles UpdikeExplore some of the prettiest expanses of Fairmount Park, once home to one of the most amazing attractions in the nation's history. Finish with food and drink in Manayunk.
Highlights:
- Schuylkill Banks
- Art Museum
- Boathouse Row
- Lemon Hill
- Memorial Hall
- Shofuso
- Belmont Plateau
- Cynwyd Trail
- Manayunk
Partners:
Circuit Trails is 800 miles of interconnected trails in Greater Philadelphia in the making, already one of America's largest trail networks. Once connected, the Circuit Trails will be one of the nation's premier urban trail networks and it will provide multiple benefits to neighborhoods, communities and the region as a whole.More about FreeWalkers:
Our calendar of walks and hikes | About FreeWalkers | Walker stories | Walking tips
New Jersey walks | Pennsylvania walks | New York City walks12 attendees
The Summer Hudson River Loop Walk!
Exchange Place, 15 Exchange Place, Jersey City, NJ, USPlease register for FREE to attend.
A FreeWalker CLASSIC! Incredible views of NYC from the NJ side and of NJ on the NY side. There are many rest stops and options to shorten your walk if you choose, or challenge yourself and do it all!
Start: Exhange Place -
Finish: Exhange Place or wherever you choose.
Distance: 28 - 30 miles or less if you choose . You can duck out at any point.
Where to find us: On the plaza in front of Gregory's Coffee near the Path Train.
Optional endpoints: You can end your walk at any time in NJ or NYC - your choice.
Lunch Stop Optional: Whole Foods in Edgewater. Pack your own or purchase. Additional food options along the way.
Bathrooms: Several along the route.
Terrain: Sidewalk mostly flat with elevation on the GW bridge.
Public Transit: Subway to Path Station. In NYC Path or Ferry back to Exchange Place depending on finish time.
Driving: FREE street parking (check signs carefully).
Pet Policy: Please leave your dogs at home.
Difficulty: Beginner to Advance walkers, depending on your choice of distance.
Category: Urban
Coordinator: Sarahjane and Matt Rath/Risa OlinskyPartners:
The East Coast Greenway Alliance is a non-profit organization developing a public multi-use 3,000 mile trail from Canada to Key West through New Jersey and New York. Donations and memberships help make this dream trail a reality.35 attendees
Philly Freedom Tour guided history walk
Love Park, 16th and JFK Blvd, Philadelphia, PA, USPlease register for FREE to attend.
Enjoy a slow-paced history-rich guided exploration of America's most walkable downtown.
Start: Love Park (16th and JFK)
Finish: Love Park (16th and JFK)
Distance: 5 -15mi
Where to find us: 16th and JFK Blvd
Optional endpoints: Many
Terrain: paved
Transit: Septa, Amtrak or Megabus. Free transfer at 30th St to Suburban Station for Amtrak travellers
Return: on foot or via Septa
Parking: Many lots and garages including 17th and Market or 15th and Cherry
Difficulty: Beginner
Category: history, urban
Coordinator: Charles UpdikeWalk with us through the city of Brotherly Love and explore the scenery and oft-forgotten historic facets of a city that has shaped our modern world as much as any other. Where in history might one have seen the world's first steamboat, first computer, longest bridge, first television broadcast, first penitentiary, the tallest building, first department store, and much more? Join us and find out.
This scenic 15-mile walk through Philadelphia explores several neighborhoods and parks and visits a multitude of historic and cultural landmarks including: Fairmount Park, Philadelphia Art Museum, Boathouse Row, City Hall, South Street, Penn's Landing, Reading Terminal Market, Chinatown, Independence Mall, Elfreth's Alley, Eastern State Penitentiary, Society Hill and more.
The route is updated for 2026 and includes a lunch stop and lots of history and interetsing stories.
Free and open to public. Bring friends and family.Highlights:- Fairmount Waterworks- Art Museum - Eastern State Penitentiary- Ben Franklin Parkway- City Hall- Chinatown- Independence Hall- Liberty Bell- Christ Church - Elfreth's Alley- Race Street Pier- Penn's Landing- Spruce Street Harbor Park- South Street- Society Hill- Washington Square
and a lot more!Partners:
The East Coast Greenway Alliance is a non-profit organization developing a public multi-use 3,000 mile trail from Canada to Key West through New Jersey and New York. Donations and memberships help make this dream trail a reality.Circuit Trails is 800 miles of interconnected trails in Greater Philadelphia in the making, already one of America's largest trail networks. Once connected, the Circuit Trails will be one of the nation's premier urban trail networks and it will provide multiple benefits to neighborhoods, communities and the region as a whole.
More about FreeWalkers:
Our calendar of walks and hikes | About FreeWalkers | Walker stories | Walking tips
New Jersey walks | Pennsylvania walks | New York City walks29 attendees
Past events
573
Group links
Members
3,259
