North Carolina · 5K

2026-2027 5K Races in North Carolina

Every upcoming 5K in North Carolina, all 547 of them, sorted by date. Dates, entry fees, finish-time stats from past results, and start-line maps.

547 upcoming 5K races · 376 with finish-time stats

10K Races 166Half Marathons 162Marathons 24Ultramarathons 13
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By the numbers

The Biggest and Longest-Running

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

Largest field2,769 finishersTrophy Trot 5kin the 5KLongest-running44th yearForum Fitness 44th Annual Winter Flight 8K & 5Kannual tradition

North Carolina 5K Races by City

Raleigh 39Charlotte 39Winston-Salem 31Wilmington 24Concord 21Greensboro 16Greenville 13Cary 13Hickory 13Durham 12Rocky Mount 12Winston Salem 11Statesville 9Jacksonville 9New Bern 8Salisbury 8Goldsboro 7Chapel Hill 7Boone 7Fayetteville 6Asheville 6Clayton 5Beaufort 5Elizabethtown 5

5K Races in North Carolina by Month

October 2026 32November 2026 157December 2026 63January 2027 28February 2027 36March 2027 51April 2027 66May 2027 45June 2027 21July 2027 18August 2027 11September 2027 9

The Next 5K Runs in North Carolina

547 total
Thu, Oct 1, 2026Craven Moves: October Run & Walk New Bern, NC5K1 MileRegistration closedPricing TBADetails Sat, Oct 24, 2026Surf to Sound 5K Surf City, NC5KRegistration closedFrom $30Details Sun, Oct 25, 202616th Annual Rowan Rotary Spooky Sprint 5K Run/Walk Salisbury, NC5K0.5 MilesFrom $30Details Sun, Oct 25, 2026Best Dam 5K Run/Walk in North Carolina Badin, NC5KFrom $25Details Sun, Oct 25, 2026Connor House "Think Pink" 5K Davidson, NC5KRegistration closedFrom $25Details Sun, Oct 25, 2026Round 2!- Woods Walk for Kerry Nags Head, NC5KRegistration closedFrom $23Details Sun, Oct 25, 2026Red Oak Race Fest Whitsett, NC5K1 MileFrom $17Details Sun, Oct 25, 2026Dash for DVA 5K walk/run Cullowhee, NC5KFrom $15Details Tue, Oct 27, 202614th Annual Iredell County Special Olympics Ghoulish Gallop Statesville, NC5K1 MileFrom $20Details Thu, Oct 29, 2026Miles for Mission 5K/2K Shelby, NC5K2KFrom $10Details Fri, Oct 30, 20268th Annual Aggie Pride 5K 2026 Greensboro, NC5K5KFrom $45Details Fri, Oct 30, 2026Perseverance: The V Foundation 5k Raleigh, NC5K1KFrom $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 North Carolina

Which North Carolina cities have the most 5K races?

Raleigh (39), Charlotte (39), Winston-Salem (31), Wilmington (24) 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 North Carolina?

November is the busiest month for 5K races in North Carolina, with 157 of the 547, followed by April with 66. If you are flexible on the date, that is the quickest way to narrow things down.

Are North Carolina 5K races beginner-friendly?

Yes, for the most part. Across the 376 5K races in North Carolina with published results, the typical median finish is around 35:24, 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 North Carolina?

Yes, 16 races around North Carolina get you off the pavement: 8 are trail races, and 8 mix road and trail.