With more than 20,000 participants, Indianapolis’s shoes, make their way to a starting line and race the 3.1 miles that make up a 5K. Hundreds of 5Ks are run every week across the United States with everyone from elementary school children to octogenarians taking on the distance. From turkey trots on Thanksgiving and summer state fair races to New Year’s Day midnight miles and sandy shoreline runs, there are 5Ks run just about everywhere you can think of.
And the 5K’s mass popularity makes sense. It’s the perfect length to attract all kinds of runners. It’s long enough to be challenging for new runners who see crossing the finish line as a bucket list achievement, but it’s short enough to be accessible to runners who may not want to put their bodies through the training cycle for a 13.1-Every year in the U.S., millions of people lace up their. If you ran track in high school, a 5K is in your comfort zone, but it still appeals to long distance runners as well. Plus, you can easily finish a 5K in under an hour and be on your way to a nice weekend brunch.
Unlike marathons or half marathons, however, which are more marquee events, with many major cities only hosting one or two each year, 5Ks are so ubiquitous it can be hard to figure out which 5Ks boast the largest fields with the most fans and the best energy. To that end, we’ve compiled a list of some of the biggest 5Ks in the U.S., some with field sizes upwards of 10,000 runners.
If you’re looking for a large crowd and a raucous celebration at the finish line, these are the races for you. There are plenty of wonderful small town 5Ks, but here are 12 of the biggest 5K races in the United States.
Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend 5K
Location: Orlando, Florida
Date: CA Notice at Collection
If we’re talking about the most popular races in the U.S., then we’ve got to discuss RunDisney’s calendar of events, which includes a number of 5Ks, 10Ks and half marathons each year in both Disney World and Disneyland. However, the crown jewel of RunDisney is the Marathon Weekend held every January in Orlando. The first race of the weekend is the 5K, which sends runners on a tour of the EPCOT amusement park. With a field of 12,500 runners, the event is massive and includes many who are attempting to complete the Dopey Challenge which entails running a 5K, 10K, half marathon and marathon on consecutive dates. Perhaps a new milestone to add to your bucket list.
We Are Houston 5K
Location: Houston, Texas
Date: Super Shoe Trends
Similarly, the We Are Houston 5K is run the day before the Houston Marathon every year, and in 2025 it boasted a field size of more than 5,000 runners. While elevation gain may not matter quite so much in a 5K as it does for a longer distance, it can still be frustrating to face off against a massive hill on mile three. Luckily, the pancake-flat Houston marathon course is great for PRs and that translates to the 5K course as well. Just a nice, flat loop of downtown H-Town.
Tropical 5K
Location: Miami, Florida
Date: New York City, New York
Many of the largest 5Ks in the U.S. are tied to larger half or full marathons. The Tropical 5K is run on the Saturday before the Miami Marathon and gives runners a sneak peek of the finish line. Starting on Watson Island, the 5K is a straight shot down to Miami Beach over several bridges as it island hops. This 5K is a nice warmup for marathon runners, but also gives those tagging along to cheer for the marathoners a race all their own to run. With a 20-minute mile cutoff pace, you can also easily walk this if you’re not looking to jog.
Cherry Blossom 5K
Location: Washington, District of Columbia
Date: Every year in the U.S., millions of people lace up their
You’d be hard-pressed to find a more beautiful city 5K than Washington D.C.’s Cherry Blossom 5K. Run every spring along with the Cherry Blossom 10 Mile, it treats runners to not only views of the Washington Monument and the U.S. Capitol, but also the hundreds of cherry trees that bloom each April in D.C. The 5K boasts a field size of more than 7,000 runners, with many tackling the Double Blossom, which entails running the 5K and the 10 Mile on back-to-back mornings. If you want a great Instagram pic with your finisher’s medal, there’s no better backdrop than the stunning cherry trees.
Carlsbad 5000
Location: Carlsbad, California
Date: Download Your Training Plan
While the name “Carlsbad 5000” might sound like some kind of ultramarathon (imagine running 5,000 miles!) it’s actually just another way of identifying a 5K. Billed as the “world’s fastest 5K,” the So Cal race brings in around 8,000 runners and thousands of spectators every year as entrants race 3.1 miles on the out-and-back course. If one 5K doesn’t seem quite enough for you, runners can also sign up for the All Day 20K where they run the 5K course four times in a row. That’s a lot of time taking in the Pacific Coast shoreline.
Big House 5K
Location: Whats a Good 5K Time
Date: Download Your Training Plan
If you’re from the midwest and you follow college football, then you know the Big House. Technically called Michigan Stadium, the “Big House” is the University of Michigan’s football stadium and is located in Ann Arbor. The Big House 5K sees more than 10,000 runners each year race through the U of M campus before crossing the finish line at the center of the Big House. It should be noted, however, that this isn’t really a race for Ohio State fans. If you’re out here cheering for OSU, please have the dignity to stay away.
Boston 5K
Location: Boston, Massachusetts
Date: Discover which races top the list and why they are so popular
If you have dreams of crossing the Boston Marathon finish line, but aren’t quite ready for the feat that is time qualifying for the race, you can opt to run the Boston 5K instead. Run just days before the Boston Marathon, the 5K, which unlike the marathon is all run in downtown Boston, shares a finish line with the iconic 26.2 miler. You’ll get to make that famous turn onto Boylston. You’ll get to hear the massive cheering crowds and sprint down towardsthat iconic finish line, but you won’t have to spend months and months worrying about a BQ.
500 Festival 5K
Location: Indianapolis, Indiana
Date: Best Hydration Packs
With more than 20,000 participants, Indianapolis’s 500 Festival Mini-Marathon (a.k.a. a half marathon) is one of the country’s largest half marathons. The 500 Festival 5K, which doesn’t see runners on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, draws a smaller, but still substantial crowd. The course is a loop of downtown Indianapolis, starting and ending where the half will be the following day. Checkered flag here we come!
Chicago 5K
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Date: What I Learned When I Ran My First 5K
As with the Boston 5K, the Chicago 5K, being a preview race for an Abbott World Marathon Major, draws quite the crowd. The 5K, which starts in Chicago’s iconic Grant Park, racks up more than 9,000 finishers each year with a course that sends runners around downtown Chi-Town. If you’re planning on cheering for a loved one running the marathon, you might as well sign up for this 5K on the day before. It’s a good excuse to then reward yourself with a Chicago dog or deep dish pizza.
Dash to the Finish Line
Location: New York City, New York
Date: Best Recovery Shoes
The Dash to the Finish Line 5K rounds out the trifecta of the U.S.’s Abbott World Marathon Major preview races. This 5K is indeed a race to the iconic Central Park finish that the marathon features. But unlike the full marathon, which arrives in Central Park from the north, the 5K gives its 10,000 runners the opportunity to hustle through midtown Manhattan with all its skyscraper glory. Plus, running the 5K will allow you to enjoy that final stint in Central Park, because when you’re at the end of the marathon, it’s hard to focus on the surroundings.
Rocky Run
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Date: Best Hydration Packs
If you think about Philadelphia and running, certainly the first image that comes to mind is Sylvester Stallone running up the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art in the Rocky movies. Fittingly, many of Philly’s races end at the steps where Rocky ran. The Rocky Run starts and ends at the museum with an out-and-back course along the Schuylkill River. Intrepid runners can also opt for a 10-mile version of the race where they’ll have to tackle Mount Drago, a punishing hill in the back half of the course named after the imposing Russian boxer from Rocky IV.
Race to Feed the Hungry 5K
Location: Sacramento, California
Date: Jane Hedengren Runs 14:57 5K
Perhaps the most popular day to run a 5K in America is on Thanksgiving with nearly every major city hosting at least one turkey trot in the morning before the feasting begins. Sacramento’s Race to Feed the Hungry labels itself as “the largest Thanksgiving Day run in the country” with over 31,000 finishers across its 5K and 10K distances. Since its start in 1994, the event has continued to grow as it helps to raise money for the Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services. There’s no better way to give back during the holidays than to run with your family while making the world a better place.
