Iowa · 5K

2026-2027 5K Races in Iowa

Every upcoming 5K in Iowa, all 111 of them, sorted by date. Dates, entry fees, finish-time stats from past results, and start-line maps.

111 upcoming 5K races · 26 with finish-time stats

10K Races 57Half Marathons 52Marathons 10
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By the numbers

The Biggest and Longest-Running

The Iowa races that stand out on the numbers: the biggest field, and the longest unbroken run of editions.

Largest field1,747 finishersYMCA of the Iowa Mississippi Valley McCarthy-Bush Turkey Trotin the 5KLongest-running78th year78th Annual Pancake Day Fun Runannual tradition

Iowa 5K Races by City

Des Moines 21Bettendorf 14Iowa City 11Cedar Rapids 8Waterloo 4Council Bluffs 4Altoona 3Cedar Falls 2Osage 2West Des Moines 2Ankeny 2Waverly 2Marshalltown 2Marion 2Urbandale 1Waukee 1North Liberty 1Carlisle 1Clear Lake 1Coon Rapids 1Sioux City 1Danville 1Protivin 1Blue Grass 1

5K Races in Iowa by Month

October 2026 6November 2026 35December 2026 6January 2027 5March 2027 5April 2027 15May 2027 10June 2027 7July 2027 7

The Next 5K Runs in Iowa

111 total
Thu, Oct 29, 2026Haunted Hustle 5K 2026 Cedar Falls, IA5KFreeDetails Sat, Oct 31, 2026Lions on the Run 5K Urbandale, IA5KFrom $45Details Sat, Oct 31, 2026Jenny Buls Vrba Sugar Skull Halloween Fun Run 5k Osage, IA5KFrom $35Details Sat, Oct 31, 2026To Grandmother's House We Go West Des Moines, IA5K10K15KFrom $55Details Sat, Oct 31, 2026Medal Madness 5K, 10K, 13.1M & 26.2M Bettendorf, IA5K10KHalf MarathonMarathonFrom $30Register Sat, Oct 31, 20261st Annual Archie Lee Foundation Superhero 5k Waukee, IA5KFrom $35Details Sat, Nov 7, 2026Miles in the Maize North Liberty, IA5K1 Mile4 MilesFrom $45Details Sat, Nov 7, 2026Hillbilly Hike Half Marathon, 10k, & Greubel Memorial 5k Carlisle, IAHalf Marathon10K5KFrom $60Details Sat, Nov 7, 2026Live Your Best Life 5k Iowa City, IA5K1 MileFrom $40Details Sat, Nov 7, 2026Clear Lake Rotary Scholarship 5K "Hot Cocoa Hustle" Clear Lake, IA5KFrom $30Details Sat, Nov 7, 2026Iowa Trail Run Series: Whiterock Coon Rapids, IA5K10KHalf Marathon30KFrom $50Details Sat, Nov 7, 2026Scott Sterrett Memorial Races Cedar Falls, IA5K10KHalf MarathonFrom $30Details

How we calculate these stats: RunSesh calculates these figures from the most recent published results of past editions, sourced from RunSignup. We show aggregates only: field size, winning and median times, and the cutoff. We never publish individual finisher tables. Last updated Oct 25, 2026.

Common Questions About Running a 5K in Iowa

Which Iowa cities have the most 5K races?

Des Moines (21), Bettendorf (14), Iowa City (11), Cedar Rapids (8) lead the state for 5K races. Those give you the most dates to choose from if your schedule is tight.

When are most 5K races held in Iowa?

November is the busiest month for 5K races in Iowa, with 35 of the 111, followed by April with 15. If you are flexible on the date, that is the quickest way to narrow things down.

Are Iowa 5K races beginner-friendly?

Yes, for the most part. Across the 26 5K races in Iowa with published results, the typical median finish is around 35:13, which means half of every one of those fields came in slower than that. Recreational runners and walk-runners are the bulk of these fields, not the exception.

Are there trail 5K races in Iowa?

Yes, 4 races around Iowa get you off the pavement: 3 are trail races, and 1 mixes road and trail.