What we’re about
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 (4+)
See all- Philly Freedom Tour - guided 11 to 15 mile historyThe Porch at 30th, Philadelphia, PA
Enjoy a slow-paced history-rich guided exploration of America's most walkable downtown.
Start: Porch at 30th St Station
Finish: Center City or 30th St
Distance: 11-15mi
Where to find us: Outside the south side of the station
Optional endpoints: Many
Terrain: paved
Transit: Septa, Amtrak or Megabus
Return: on foot or via Septa
Parking: Many lots and garages. Try 3101 Market St or Cira South Garage.
Difficulty: Beginner
Category: history, urban
Coordinator: Charles UpdikeBrowse our 2023 calendar of events.
Walk 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.
Arrive before 10am at the Porch at 30th Street Station to walk the Freedom Walk. 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.
We will make a lunch stop at Reading Terminal and finish in the evening with cheesesteaks.
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!Our walk will conclude in Center City with multiple easy transit options available.
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.![img](https://img.evbuc.com/https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.evbuc.com%2Fimages%2F202424489%2F18195534357%2F1%2Foriginal.jpg?h=2000&w=720&auto=format%2Ccompress&q=75&sharp=10&s=5eb4cd9997a6b192bc41789b33f29bac)
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