Rankings · updated November 5, 2026

Best Races in North Carolina

Ranked by composite score from public signals — no pay-to-play, ever. How scoring works →

Best Half Marathons in North Carolina

  1. 1 Parkway Subaru Battleship Half Marathon & GFL 10K|5K Wilmington, NC Nov 2026 55.4/100
  2. 2 20th Annual IDNutrition Lake Norman Half Marathon Turkey Trot 10K & 5K Cornelius, NC Nov 2026 44.9/100
  3. 3 10th Annual Holly Springs Half Marathon, 10k & 5k Holly Springs, NC Nov 2026 USATF 42.9/100
  4. 4 8th Annual Lean30 Lake Norman Half Marathon Forest Run & 5K Statesville, NC Jun 2027 USATF 38.5/100
  5. 5 5th Annual Rocket Man Pole Vault Lake Norman Half Marathon Wildman, 10K & 5K Mooresville, NC Mar 2027 37.4/100
All US half marathons rankings →

Best 5Ks in North Carolina

  1. 1 Asheville Turkey Trot Asheville, NC Nov 2026 56.0/100
  2. 2 Cape Fear Habitat Turkey Trot Wilmington, NC Nov 2026 55.4/100
  3. 3 Beau's Buddies Turkey Trot Greenville, NC Nov 2026 USATF 51.7/100
  4. 4 5 Before the Feast High Point, NC Nov 2026 USATF 50.4/100
  5. 5 22nd Annual Bear Foot 5K and Half Mile Fun Run Bostic, NC Mar 2027 49.1/100
  6. 6 19th Annual Butterball 5K Salisbury, NC Nov 2026 48.4/100
  7. 7 Colors 4 Cancer 5K/1M/Virtual New Bern, NC Nov 2026 USATF 48.0/100
  8. 8 2026 Veterans Salute 5K and 10K Presented by: American Legion Post 51 Concord, NC Nov 2026 USATF 47.5/100
  9. 9 Beaufort Bridge Run 5K & 1+ Mile Dog Strut Beaufort, NC Nov 2026 USATF 46.1/100
  10. 10 Cures for the Colors Glow Run Goldsboro, NC Nov 2026 USATF 45.3/100
All US 5ks rankings →

The Starting Line The BestRaces newsletter · Free · Once or twice a month

Races worth traveling for

  • The races our numbers say are worth the trip
  • First word on free race-entry and gear giveaways
  • A heads-up when your race's week arrives

Unsubscribe in one click.

Every ranked race in North Carolina

Composite /100 · FLD field · HST history · CRD credentials · CHR character

  1. 1 Asheville Turkey Trot Asheville, NC Nov 2026 56.0/100
  2. 2 Parkway Subaru Battleship Half Marathon & GFL 10K|5K Wilmington, NC Nov 2026 55.4/100
  3. 3 Cape Fear Habitat Turkey Trot Wilmington, NC Nov 2026 55.4/100
  4. 4 Beau's Buddies Turkey Trot Greenville, NC Nov 2026 USATF 51.7/100
  5. 5 5 Before the Feast High Point, NC Nov 2026 USATF 50.4/100
  6. 6 22nd Annual Bear Foot 5K and Half Mile Fun Run Bostic, NC Mar 2027 49.1/100
  7. 7 19th Annual Butterball 5K Salisbury, NC Nov 2026 48.4/100
  8. 8 Colors 4 Cancer 5K/1M/Virtual New Bern, NC Nov 2026 USATF 48.0/100
  9. 9 Emerald Isle Marathon, Half Marathon and 5K Emerald Isle, NC Oct 2027 USATF 48.0/100
  10. 10 2026 Veterans Salute 5K and 10K Presented by: American Legion Post 51 Concord, NC Nov 2026 USATF 47.5/100
  11. 11 Elm Street Athletic Festival Greensboro, NC May 2027 USATF 46.6/100
  12. 12 Beaufort Bridge Run 5K & 1+ Mile Dog Strut Beaufort, NC Nov 2026 USATF 46.1/100
  13. 13 Cures for the Colors Glow Run Goldsboro, NC Nov 2026 USATF 45.3/100
  14. 14 20th Annual IDNutrition Lake Norman Half Marathon Turkey Trot 10K & 5K Cornelius, NC Nov 2026 44.9/100
  15. 15 Eastern NC Run/Walk for Autism Greenville, NC Apr 2027 USATF 43.9/100
  16. 16 16th Annual Twinkle Toes 5K and 1 Mile Fun Run Star, NC Dec 2026 43.8/100
  17. 17 6th Annual St Patrick’s Day 5K and Pub Crawl Washington, NC Mar 2027 43.0/100
  18. 18 10th Annual Holly Springs Half Marathon, 10k & 5k Holly Springs, NC Nov 2026 USATF 42.9/100
  19. 19 6th Annual Shamrock Shuffle 5K at The Hasentree Club Supporting WWP Wake Forest, NC Mar 2027 39.4/100
  20. 20 8th Annual Lean30 Lake Norman Half Marathon Forest Run & 5K Statesville, NC Jun 2027 USATF 38.5/100
  21. 21 7th Annual Mangum Marathon & 1/2 Marathon Ellerbe, NC Jan 2027 38.0/100
  22. 22 5th Annual Rocket Man Pole Vault Lake Norman Half Marathon Wildman, 10K & 5K Mooresville, NC Mar 2027 37.4/100
  23. 23 2nd Annual Blue Comet Turkey Trot Asheboro, NC Nov 2026 36.8/100

Longest-running in North Carolina

9 races we can date but haven't measured enough of to score. Oldest first. What we measure →

  1. 1 17th Annual Camp Chestnut Ridge Trail Run Efland, NC Nov 2026 2010 16 years running
  2. 2 15th Annual Old North State 5K Turkey Trot Run New London, NC Nov 2026 2012 14 years running
  3. 3 15th Annual Surfin' Turkey 5K and Puppy Drum Fun Run Hatteras, NC Nov 2026 2012 14 years running
  4. 4 Ainsley's Angels 13th Annual Run With Your Heart 5K/10K/15K Jacksonville, NC Mar 2027 2015 11 years running
  5. 5 10th Annual Iredell County Special Olympics Thanksgiving Turkey Chase 5k / 10k / Fun Run Statesville, NC Nov 2026 2017 9 years running
  6. 6 10th Annual Lions Club Vision 5k Statesville, NC Apr 2027 2018 8 years running
  7. 7 Ainsley's Angels 9th Annual Frosty 5K Wilmington, NC Jan 2027 2019 7 years running
  8. 8 3rd Annual Santa Beach Run/Walk at Atlantic Beach, N.C. Atlantic Beach, NC Dec 2026 2024 2 years running
  9. 9 3rd Annual Triple Nickle Remembrance Run Fort Bragg, NC Aug 2027 2025 1 year running

Also listed, not yet ranked

101 races we list but haven't measured enough of to score. By date. What we measure →

  1. Ache Around the Lake Tryon, NC Nov 2026 Not yet rankedno verified data
  2. Bradford Park Turkey Trot Harrisburg, NC Nov 2026 Not yet rankedno verified data
  3. Cane Creek Mtn Trail Run Snow Camp, NC Nov 2026 Not yet rankedno verified data
  4. Charlotte Empower Walk & 5K Run Charlotte, NC Nov 2026 Not yet rankedno verified data
  5. Cholangiocarcinoma Crushers 5k Winston Salem, NC Nov 2026 Not yet rankedno verified data
  6. Conquer the Coaster 5K Bostic, NC Nov 2026 Not yet rankedno verified data
  7. FAM JAM 5K Locust, NC Nov 2026 Not yet rankedno verified data
  8. Cape Fear River Run Fayetteville, NC Nov 2026 Not yet rankedno verified data
  9. Eve Carson Memorial 5K for Education Chapel Hill, NC Nov 2026 Not yet rankedno verified data
  10. 5K Run / Walk for Clean Water Salisbury, NC Nov 2026 Not yet rankedno verified data
  11. Blackhawk Bolt 5K & Fun Run at North Buncombe High School Weaverville, NC Nov 2026 Not yet rankedno verified data
  12. DART Abersham Free 5k Davidson, NC Nov 2026 Not yet rankedno verified data
  13. ATD 5K for Heroes Huntersville, NC Nov 2026 Not yet rankedno verified data
  14. Breaking Barriers 5k Fundraiser Charlotte, NC Nov 2026 Not yet rankedno verified data
  15. Cherokee 5K Turkey Strut Bryson City, NC Nov 2026 Not yet rankedno verified data
  16. Fall Frenzy 5K Troutman, NC Nov 2026 Not yet rankedno verified data
  17. 2026 Davidson Turkey Trot Davidson, NC Nov 2026 Not yet rankedno verified data
  18. 2026 Duck NC Turkey Trot 5K Presented By Carolina Designs Realty Duck, NC Nov 2026 Not yet rankedno verified data
  19. 2026 University City Turkey Trot Charlotte, NC Nov 2026 Not yet rankedno verified data
  20. 2026 Willow Spring High School Turkey Trot Fuquay Varina, NC Nov 2026 Not yet rankedno verified data
  21. A.M.Y. Wellness Foundation YMCA of Mitchell County Turkey Trot 5K and 1-Mile Fun Run Spruce Pine, NC Nov 2026 Not yet rankedno verified data
  22. ACC Turkey Trot 5K & Fun Run benefiting the David N. Levinson Memorial Scholarship Fund Spring Lake, NC Nov 2026 Not yet rankedno verified data
  23. Birds of a Feather Trail Trot Chapel Hill, NC Nov 2026 Not yet rankedno verified data
  24. Black Mountain Turkey Trot 5k Black Mountain, NC Nov 2026 Not yet rankedno verified data
  25. Calabash Turkey Trot Calabash, NC Nov 2026 USATF Not yet rankedno verified data
  26. Cape Carteret Turkey Trot Cape Carteret, NC Nov 2026 Not yet rankedno verified data
  27. Chick-Fil-A Turkey Trot Lumberton, NC Nov 2026 Not yet rankedno verified data
  28. Cold Turkey 5K and Little Turkeys Fun! Run/Walk Franklin, NC Nov 2026 Not yet rankedno verified data
  29. Corolla Thanksgiving Day Wild Turkey 5k/1 Mile 2026 Corolla, NC Nov 2026 Not yet rankedno verified data
  30. CPI Security Charlotte Turkey Trot Charlotte, NC Nov 2026 Not yet rankedno verified data
  31. Black Friday Relays Leftover Race Winston Salem, NC Nov 2026 Not yet rankedno verified data
  32. Black Toenail Friday Half Marathon and 7.5 Miler NC Snow Camp, NC Nov 2026 Not yet rankedno verified data
  33. Brooks South XC Championships Charlotte, NC Nov 2026 Not yet rankedno verified data
  34. Burn The Bird Fletcher, NC Nov 2026 Not yet rankedno verified data
  35. ChristmasTown 5K McAdenville, NC Nov 2026 Not yet rankedno verified data
  36. Craven Smart Start Holiday Hustle New Bern, NC Dec 2026 Not yet rankedno verified data
  37. 2026 Jingle Bell Run - Raleigh, NC Cary, NC Dec 2026 Not yet rankedno verified data
  38. Downtown Jingle Jog 5K Greensboro, NC Dec 2026 Not yet rankedno verified data
  39. 2026 Jingle Bell Run - Charlotte, NC Charlotte, NC Dec 2026 Not yet rankedno verified data
  40. Dashing Thru The Glow Wilmington, NC Dec 2026 Not yet rankedno verified data
  41. Dirty Santa Trail Run Lenoir, NC Dec 2026 Not yet rankedno verified data
  42. BCA Polar Plunge Buxton, NC Jan 2027 Not yet rankedno verified data
  43. Charlotte New Year's Day 5K 2027 Charlotte, NC Jan 2027 Not yet rankedno verified data
  44. Carolina Beach State Park Trail Half Marathon & 5K Carolina Beach, NC Jan 2027 Not yet rankedno verified data
  45. 49 Miles of Hope 5k/10k/49 Miler/Relay/Fun Run Winston Salem, NC Jan 2027 Not yet rankedno verified data
  46. Be Their Voice 5k Fayetteville, NC Jan 2027 Not yet rankedno verified data
  47. Beat the Bridge 10k/5k presented by Marine Chevy Jacksonville, NC Jan 2027 Not yet rankedno verified data
  48. Cupid Dash 5K/10K Jacksonville, NC Feb 2027 Not yet rankedno verified data
  49. Crystal Coast Indoor Triathlon Cape Carteret, NC Feb 2027 Not yet rankedno verified data
  50. Duke Time for Time 5K Color Run Durham, NC Feb 2027 Not yet rankedno verified data
  51. "Miles 4 Moore" Moore County Trail Marathon, Half, 10K, and 5K Pinehurst, NC Mar 2027 Not yet rankedno verified data
  52. 2027 Shamrock Shuffle 5K Lillington, NC Mar 2027 Not yet rankedno verified data
  53. CoopStrong Four Miler Greenville, NC Mar 2027 Not yet rankedno verified data
  54. Azalea Sprint Triathlon Wilmington, NC Mar 2027 Not yet rankedno verified data
  55. Cary Greenways Half-Marathon Cary, NC Mar 2027 Not yet rankedno verified data
  56. Badwater Cape Fear Bald Head Island, NC Mar 2027 Not yet rankedno verified data
  57. Blackbeard's Revenge 100 Ultra & Relay Corolla, NC Mar 2027 Not yet rankedno verified data
  58. Chasing The Legend Jonesville, NC Mar 2027 Not yet rankedno verified data
  59. Deacon Dash for Down Syndrome Winston Salem, NC Mar 2027 Not yet rankedno verified data
  60. Ella's Race Raleigh, NC Mar 2027 Not yet rankedno verified data
  61. Charlotte Craft Beer Half Marathon - Relay & 5 Miler Charlotte, NC Mar 2027 USATF Not yet rankedno verified data
  62. Crystal Coast Cancer Rehab Center 5K Run & 1 Mile Cancer Survivor Walk Beaufort, NC Mar 2027 Not yet rankedno verified data
  63. Easter Rabbit Hop 5k Statesville, NC Mar 2027 Not yet rankedno verified data
  64. Coast Guard Marathon Elizabeth City, NC Apr 2027 USATF Not yet rankedno verified data
  65. Core Sound Run Harkers Island, NC Apr 2027 Not yet rankedno verified data
  66. CraftHalf Half Marathon & 5K Winston Salem, NC Apr 2027 Not yet rankedno verified data
  67. 2027 Run Sunset Beach Sunset Beach, NC Apr 2027 USATF Not yet rankedno verified data
  68. Cowboy Ramble Run & Rhythm Washington, NC Apr 2027 Not yet rankedno verified data
  69. Donate Life Hero Run East! Greenville, NC Apr 2027 Not yet rankedno verified data
  70. 2027 Union Grove Elementary Tiger Trot Union Grove, NC Apr 2027 Not yet rankedno verified data
  71. Band on the Run 5k and 1 Mile Fun Run Reidsville, NC Apr 2027 Not yet rankedno verified data
  72. Catamount Climb Half Marathon & 5K Cullowhee, NC Apr 2027 Not yet rankedno verified data
  73. ECU Oral Cancer 5k Greenville, NC Apr 2027 Not yet rankedno verified data
  74. 2027 Cal Tri Charlotte - 4.18.27 Statesville, NC Apr 2027 Not yet rankedno verified data
  75. Angel Run Winston Salem, NC Apr 2027 Not yet rankedno verified data
  76. Burst of Color Run Goldsboro, NC Apr 2027 Not yet rankedno verified data
  77. Coastal Run/Walk for Autism 5k Wilmington, NC Apr 2027 Not yet rankedno verified data
  78. 5k for 5p- Pikeville, NC May 2027 Not yet rankedno verified data
  79. AIMHigh-Keep Pressing 5K/10K/13.1M Henderson, NC May 2027 Not yet rankedno verified data
  80. ATRIUM Health: Trauma Survivors Network's Race to Rebuild: 1 mile Run/Walk/Cycle/Roll Charlotte, NC May 2027 Not yet rankedno verified data
  81. Bloom & Zoom Cary, NC May 2027 Not yet rankedno verified data
  82. Cherokee Choices Mother's Day 5K Bryson City, NC May 2027 Not yet rankedno verified data
  83. Biltmore Kiwanis Classic Asheville, NC May 2027 USATF Not yet rankedno verified data
  84. 5K Walk to SOAR Winston Salem, NC May 2027 Not yet rankedno verified data
  85. Beer City 20k Relay & 5k/10k Asheville, NC May 2027 Not yet rankedno verified data
  86. 2027 Healthy Achievement 5K | 8K --- Run | Walk | Ruck Charlotte, NC Jun 2027 Not yet rankedno verified data
  87. Beaufort Historic Rotary Road Race Beaufort, NC Jun 2027 Not yet rankedno verified data
  88. Asheville Independence Day 5k Asheville, NC Jul 2027 Not yet rankedno verified data
  89. Cook Medical Beat the Heat 5K Winston Salem, NC Jul 2027 USATF Not yet rankedno verified data
  90. Biltmore Forest 5k/10k Asheville, NC Jul 2027 Not yet rankedno verified data
  91. Dark Horse Trail Series (26.2 - 13.1 - 10k) Mill Spring, NC Aug 2027 Not yet rankedno verified data
  92. Asheville Craft Beer Half Marathon & 10K/5K Asheville, NC Aug 2027 Not yet rankedno verified data
  93. Blue Ridge Relay Asheville, NC Sep 2027 Not yet rankedno verified data
  94. Athena's Run for GYN Cancer Clemmons, NC Sep 2027 Not yet rankedno verified data
  95. YMCA Wrightsville Beach Sprint Triathlon Wrightsville Beach, NC Sep 2027 Not yet rankedno verified data
  96. She Tris Sprint Triathlon- Huntersville (NC) Huntersville, NC Sep 2027 Not yet rankedno verified data
  97. Hinson Lake 24 Hour Ultra Classic Rockingham, NC Sep 2027 USATF Not yet rankedno verified data
  98. Divine Llama Haunted Wine Run 5k East Bend, NC Oct 2027 Not yet rankedno verified data
  99. Bit of Hope Ranch: 5K Trail Run, 2K Walk, & Half-Pint Run Gastonia, NC Oct 2027 Not yet rankedno verified data
  100. Cape Fear Marathon & Half, powered by Mount to Coast and hosted by Badwater® Bald Head Island, NC Oct 2027 Not yet rankedno verified data
  101. Dare to Scare 5k & Sweet Treat Fun Run Manteo, NC Oct 2027 Not yet rankedno verified data