<p>Climate change has exacerbated urban PM_2.5 pollution, increasing the exposure risk for outdoor joggers. Nevertheless, the interaction of multiple factors makes it difficult to assess PM_2.5 exposure risk, posing challenges in reducing outdoor jogging exposure. The PM_2.5 exposure index for jogging routes in Xi’an was calculated, and wearable device measurements were used on three routes with relatively high exposure indices. The Kruskal–Wallis test was applied to assess exposure differences across different urban features, and a generalized linear mixed model was used to identify influencing built environment factors. Statistical analysis revealed that PM_2.5 concentration near intersections and construction sites was significantly higher than on sidewalks and in urban parks. High concentration zones were identified near restaurants, intersections, parking entrances, and construction sites. The maximum recorded PM_2.5 concentration in high concentration zone was up to 5.4 times higher than in low concentration zone on the same route. The generalized linear mixed model reveals that fixed effects explain 65% of the variation in PM_2.5 concentrations. When jogging routes were included as a random effect, the overall explanatory power increased to 88%, indicating that PM_2.5 concentrations vary across routes. Higher temperatures, humidity, and proximity to water bodies and emission sources increase PM_2.5 concentrations, while green spaces reduce them. The study recommends joggers to avoid identified high concentration zones. Urban jogging route planning should stay away from various emission sources, and utilize multi-layered green space configurations to reduce pollution exposure risk. This study offers practical guidance for designing healthier urban jogging environments.</p>