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5K Races in North Carolina

North Carolina has 393 upcoming 5K races scheduled for 2026. The calendar runs year-round — busiest in July, September, and October, quietest in January, February, and April. No single city dominates the calendar. Charlotte leads with 39 races, followed by Raleigh (23), Winston-Salem (22), and Concord (17). The remaining 74% of the calendar is spread across smaller cities.

5K races by month in North Carolina

Oct (76) · Jul (62) · Sep (58) · Nov (54) · Aug (53) · Jun (30) · Dec (26) · Mar (12) · May (10) · Apr (8) · Jan (3) · Feb (1)

Showing 24 of 393

Nags Head Village 5k/1 mile Road Race series presented by Village Realty
Running

Nags Head Village 5k/1 mile Road Race series presented by Village Realty

June 18, 2026
Nags Head, NC
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Run Hatteras 5k Road Race Series June 19, 2026
Running

Run Hatteras 5k Road Race Series June 19, 2026

June 19, 2026
Avon, NC
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Medal Madness 5K & 13.1M at Wilmington, NC (25)
Running

Medal Madness 5K & 13.1M at Wilmington, NC (25)

June 20, 2026
Wilmington, NC
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Juneteenth Celebration 5k
Running

Juneteenth Celebration 5k

June 20, 2026
Fayetteville, NC
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Medal Madness 5K, 10K, & 13.1M at Winston-Salem, NC (25)
Running

Medal Madness 5K, 10K, & 13.1M at Winston-Salem, NC (25)

June 20, 2026
Winston-Salem, NC
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Medal Madness 5K, 10K, & 13.1M at Charlotte, NC (25)
Running

Medal Madness 5K, 10K, & 13.1M at Charlotte, NC (25)

June 20, 2026
Charlotte, NC
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Good Hops 5k'ish Beer Run 2026
Running

Good Hops 5k'ish Beer Run 2026

June 20, 2026
Carolina Beach, NC
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Braveheart 5K of NC
Running

Braveheart 5K of NC

June 20, 2026
Franklin, NC
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CORDUSA- 5K
Running

CORDUSA- 5K

June 20, 2026
Cary, NC
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Running

Medal Madness 5K & 13.1M at Wilmington, NC (25)

Wilmington, NC

Running

Medal Madness 5K & 13.1M at Wilmington, NC (25)

June 20, 2026
Wilmington, NC
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Running

Medal Madness 5K & 13.1M at Raleigh, NC (25)

Raleigh, NC

Running

Medal Madness 5K & 13.1M at Raleigh, NC (25)

June 20, 2026
Raleigh, NC
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Running

Medal Madness 5K, 10K, & 13.1M at Winston-Salem, NC (25)

Winston-Salem, NC

Running

Medal Madness 5K, 10K, & 13.1M at Winston-Salem, NC (25)

June 20, 2026
Winston-Salem, NC
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Running

Medal Madness 5K, 10K, & 13.1M at Charlotte, NC (25)

Charlotte, NC

Running

Medal Madness 5K, 10K, & 13.1M at Charlotte, NC (25)

June 20, 2026
Charlotte, NC
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Footsteps to Foundation 5K
Running

Footsteps to Foundation 5K

June 20, 2026
Knightdale, NC
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NC Blueberry Festival 5K
Running

NC Blueberry Festival 5K

June 20, 2026
Burgaw, NC
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Running

Run Hatteras 5k Road Race Series June 19, 2026

Avon, NC

Running

Run Hatteras 5k Road Race Series June 19, 2026

June 20, 2026
Avon, NC
Details →
Medal Madness 5K & 13.1M at Raleigh, NC (25)
Running

Medal Madness 5K & 13.1M at Raleigh, NC (25)

June 20, 2026
Raleigh, NC
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Nags Head Sunrise 5k Beach Race Series Epstein St. Beach Access June 25, 2026
Running

Nags Head Sunrise 5k Beach Race Series Epstein St. Beach Access June 25, 2026

June 25, 2026
Nags Head, NC
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Run Hatteras 5k Road Race Series June 26, 2026
Running

Run Hatteras 5k Road Race Series June 26, 2026

June 26, 2026
Avon, NC
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Running

Nags Head Sunrise 5k Beach Race Series Epstein St. Beach Access June 25, 2026

Nags Head, NC

Running

Nags Head Sunrise 5k Beach Race Series Epstein St. Beach Access June 25, 2026

June 26, 2026
Nags Head, NC
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Running

Run Hatteras 5k Road Race Series June 26, 2026

Avon, NC

Running

Run Hatteras 5k Road Race Series June 26, 2026

June 27, 2026
Avon, NC
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Firecracker 10k, 5k and Kids Fun Run
Running

Firecracker 10k, 5k and Kids Fun Run

June 27, 2026
Lenoir, NC
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Shiloh 5K Mission Run/Walk & 1/2-Mile Fun Run
Running

Shiloh 5K Mission Run/Walk & 1/2-Mile Fun Run

June 27, 2026
Faith, NC
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Medal Madness 5K, 10K & 13.1M at Boone, NC (26)
Running

Medal Madness 5K, 10K & 13.1M at Boone, NC (26)

June 27, 2026
Boone, NC
Details →

Top Cities for 5K Races in North Carolina

Charlotte (39)Raleigh (23)Winston-Salem (22)

5K Races in Nearby States

GeorgiaSouth CarolinaTennesseeVirginia

Frequently asked questions

How long is a 5K race?▾
A 5K is 3.1 miles (5 kilometers). It is the most popular race distance in the US and a great starting point for new runners. RACE lists thousands of 5K events across all 50 states.
What is a good 5K time for beginners?▾
A good beginner 5K time is 30-35 minutes. Many first-time runners aim to complete the distance without stopping. The average US 5K finish time is around 28 minutes.
How do I find a 5K near me?▾
Use the RACE search bar to enter your zip code or state and filter by distance. You can also browse by month to find races that fit your schedule. Turkey Trots in November and charity 5Ks are especially popular.
How long does it take to train for a 5K?▾
Most couch-to-5K programs are 6-8 weeks long with 3 runs per week. If you can already jog for 10-15 minutes, you could be ready in 4-6 weeks with consistent training.
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