Race calendar · May 2027
480 5K races across the US in May 2027, sorted by date. Which weekends are busiest, what the fields actually run, entry fees, and where each one starts.
480 5K races in May 2027
What the field actually runs
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 Sep 22, 2026.
When in May
5K races do not spread evenly across May. The busiest weekend is May 8 and May 9, with 125 of them. Another 23 fall on a weekday.
By the numbers
The May 5K races that stand out on the numbers: the biggest field, and the longest unbroken run of editions.
It is a lean month for the 5K. May carries 480, against 3,345 in October and 163 in August, the quietest. A May race is worth planning around rather than picking late, because the one that fits your training block may be the only one within reach.
The busiest weekend is May 8 and May 9, with 125 5K races on those two days, and the single busiest day is Saturday, May 8 with 103. Another 23 fall on a weekday, which is worth knowing if you are traveling for one.
As early as you can. 259 of these May 5K races already have a price increase on the calendar, and 319 are open for entry right now. Another 159 have published an opening date and have not opened yet.
The typical entry is $30, with paid entries running from $5 up to $75, and 5 that are free to enter. Entry fees climb as race day gets closer, so the same race is usually cheapest the week it opens.
Across the 292 of these May 5K races with published results from past editions, the median finisher ran 36:26, and the median winning time was 18:56. So anything under 36:26 puts you in the faster half of a typical field. That is the middle of these RunSignup fields, walkers and charity entrants included, not a national average.
The median one finished 143 runners, across the 292 of these May 5K races with published results from past editions. Most are far smaller than the big-city events people picture, which means less crowding at the start and a friendlier field, with a last recorded finisher at 1:08:06.
Florida has 46, Texas has 43, California has 30, North Carolina has 27, Pennsylvania has 22. If you are willing to travel, those are the states where a May weekend gives you the most to choose from.
Yes, 18 races around the United States get you off the pavement: 9 are trail races, and 9 mix road and trail. Surfaces are not always published, so it is worth checking a specific race before you register.
April and June sit either side of May, which is where most people look next when a date does not fit.
