Iowa · 5K
5K Races in Iowa
Iowa currently has 74 upcoming 5Ks with a confirmed date listed in RaceRove. Des Moines, Bettendorf, Iowa City and Cedar Rapids have the largest concentration of events.
November (19), April (8) and September (8) are the busiest months on the calendar right now. Another 105 annual 5Ks are waiting for next year's date to be announced.
- Upcoming, date confirmed
- 74
- Active listings
- 179
- Cities with races
- 95
More ways to browse Iowa
Upcoming 5Ks in Iowa
All 74 with a confirmed date, soonest first.
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Hillbilly Hike Half Marathon, 10k, & Greubel Memorial 5kCarlisle, IA5K10KHalf Marathon ~5,097 runners
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Christmas in LeClaire Ugly Christmas Sweater 5k Run/WalkLe Claire, IA5KBecome a SponsorKids Reindeer Dash Fun RunSecret Santa Sleep-In
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Des Moines St. Paddy's Marathon, Half Marathon & 5KDes Moines, IAMarathonHalf Marathon5K ~1,000 runners
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Lewis & Clark Marathon, 1/2 Marathon, 5k and 1-Mile Fun RunCouncil Bluffs, IAMarathonHalf Marathon5KKids 1-Mile Fun Run
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Cedar Rapids Marathon WeekendCedar Rapids, IAMarathonHalf MarathonTeam Relay10K +2 more ~2,500 runners
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University of Okoboji Homecoming RacesArnolds Park, IAMarathonHalf Marathon10K5K +1 more ~1,500 runners
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Golden Harvest Half Marathon & 5k/10k - Des MoinesDes Moines, IAHalf Marathon50m1 Mile5K +1 more ~10 runners
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Hy-Vee Greater Des Moines Half Marathon, 10K & 5KDes Moines, IAHalf Marathon10K5KKids One Mile Fun Run ~2,500 runners
Dates come from each race's own listing. Always confirm on the organiser's site before you book travel.
Largest 5K events in Iowa
By estimated field size across all distances at the event.
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Especially for You Race Against Breast CancerCedar Rapids, IA Usually held in October · next date not announced5K Run (timed)5K WalkFamily Fun Walk (~1 mile) ~16,679 runners
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Hillbilly Hike Half Marathon, 10k, & Greubel Memorial 5kCarlisle, IA5K10KHalf Marathon ~5,097 runners
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Des Moines Marathon & HalfDes Moines, IA Usually held in October · next date not announcedMarathonHalf5K ~5,000 runners
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IMT Des Moines MarathonDes Moines, IA Usually held in October · next date not announcedMarathon10K5K1 Mile ~5,000 runners
When 5Ks happen in Iowa
- January
- 1 upcoming race
- February
- 2 upcoming races
- March
- 1 upcoming race
- April
- 8 upcoming races
- May
- 6 upcoming races
- June
- 4 upcoming races
- July
- 6 upcoming races
- August
- 5 upcoming races
- September
- 8 upcoming races
- October
- 7 upcoming races
- November
- 19 upcoming races
- December
- 7 upcoming races
Iowa cities with the most 5Ks
- Des Moines
- 16 upcoming races
- Bettendorf
- 6 upcoming races
- Iowa City
- 5 upcoming races
- Cedar Rapids
- 3 upcoming races
- Marion
- 3 upcoming races
- Council Bluffs
- 2 upcoming races
- Arnolds Park
- 2 upcoming races
- Cedar Falls
- 2 upcoming races
Running in Iowa cities
Annual events awaiting their next date
These 5Ks are held every year, but the next date isn't in the listing yet. The month shown is when each is usually held.
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Especially for You Race Against Breast CancerCedar Rapids, IA Usually held in October · next date not announced5K Run (timed)5K WalkFamily Fun Walk (~1 mile) ~16,679 runners
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Des Moines Marathon & HalfDes Moines, IA Usually held in October · next date not announcedMarathonHalf5K ~5,000 runners
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IMT Des Moines MarathonDes Moines, IA Usually held in October · next date not announcedMarathon10K5K1 Mile ~5,000 runners
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Run for the SchoolsIowa City, IA Usually held in October · next date not announced10K5K1 MileHalf Mile ~2,000 runners
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Ditmars Spiked Apple 5kCouncil Bluffs, IA Usually held in October · next date not announced5K ~1,000 runners
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Wabash Trace Running Festival (Marathon & Half)Shenandoah, IA Usually held in September · next date not announcedMarathonHalf MarathonMarathon Relay10K +1 more ~600 runners
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Step Up Storm Lake Half Marathon, Relay & 5KStorm Lake, IA Usually held in September · next date not announcedHalf MarathonRelay5KYouth races ~500 runners
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Pufferbilly Days 5K & 10KBoone, IA Usually held in September · next date not announced5K10K ~400 runners
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The Driftless Half MarathonLansing, IA Usually held in October · next date not announcedHalf MarathonRelay10K5K ~400 runners
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Alzheimer's 5K & Half Marathon DubuqueDubuque, IA Usually held in August · next date not announcedHalf Marathon5K ~330 runners
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Geode Challenge RacesDanville, IA Usually held in October · next date not announced25K12K5K ~64 runners
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Atkins Watermelon Days 5k Walk/Run or 1-Mile Fun RunAtkins, IA Usually held in August · next date not announced5K1 Mile
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CKS Move for a Mission: Cohen Francis 5k & 1 Mile Fun Run/WalkSheldon, IA Usually held in September · next date not announced5K1 Mile
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Corpuscle Shuffle 5K Run/WalkDavenport, IA Usually held in October · next date not announced1 Mile5K Run/ WalkSleep In
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Corydon Old Settlers Race (2-mile walk / 5K / 10K)Corydon, IA Usually held in August · next date not announced5K10K
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Dallas Center Fall Festival Road Race - 5K, 1 Mile and Tot TrotDallas Center, IA Usually held in August · next date not announced1 Mile5KTot Trot
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DMACC 5K Walk/Run and Kids Fun RunAnkeny, IA Usually held in September · next date not announced5K
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Dubuque Benefit Classic - 48th AnnualDubuque, IA Usually held in September · next date not announced5KHalf MarathonHalf Marathon RelayMerge 1-Miler (ages 12 & under)
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Durant Dusk Hustle 1 Mile and 5K Run/walkDurant, IA Usually held in August · next date not announced1 Mile5K
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Eager Beaver RunWilton, IA Usually held in August · next date not announced5K Run/WalkKids (14 & Under) 1 Mile
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Ely Fall Fest 5K and 1 Mile RunEly, IA Usually held in September · next date not announced1-Mile Fun Run5K Run/Walk
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Germanfest 5K Run/Walk/DashGuttenberg, IA Usually held in September · next date not announced5KKids Fun Run (with inflatables)
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Great River Bridge RaceBurlington, IA Usually held in September · next date not announced10K5K1.5 Miles
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Haunted 5K, 10K, & 13.1M at Iowa City, IA (40)Iowa City, IA Usually held in October · next date not announced5K10K
5Ks in nearby states
Guides from the RaceRove blog
- 7 min read How to Find a 5K, 10K, Half Marathon or Marathon Near You A practical way to find running races near you: pick a distance, decide how far you'll travel, read the listing properly and confirm the details before you register.
- 4 min read Diplo's Run Club 2026-27: Every City, Date and Course Diplo's Run Club is a 5K with a post-race concert. Every US date for 2026-27 (San Francisco, New York, Los Angeles, San Diego and Phoenix), start times and courses.
- 9 min read What's a Good 5K Time? Average Running Speed by Age and Sex Good 5K times by age and sex, from beginner to elite, and the average running speed in mph and km/h from the mile to the marathon, from the standards our free tool uses.
- Blog All guides Planning advice for finding, choosing and travelling to races.
5K Races in Iowa: common questions
- How many 5Ks are there in Iowa?
- RaceRove currently lists 74 upcoming 5Ks in Iowa with a confirmed date, plus 105 annual events whose next date hasn't been announced yet.
- How long is a 5K?
- A 5K is 3.1 miles (5 kilometres).
- Which Iowa cities have the most 5Ks?
- By upcoming events listed in RaceRove: Des Moines (16), Bettendorf (6), Iowa City (5), Cedar Rapids (3) and Marion (3).
- When is 5K season in Iowa?
- Of the upcoming 5Ks listed, the busiest months are November (19), April (8) and September (8).
- What is the biggest 5K in Iowa?
- By estimated field size, the largest event with a 5K listed in Iowa is the Especially for You Race Against Breast Cancer, with about 16,679 runners across all of its distances.
Search every 5K in Iowa
Filter by month, course profile and field size, save races to a shortlist and compare them side by side in the interactive search.