5K Races in Hilton Head Island
The 5Ks that come around every year on the island, from the Fourth of July Firecracker to the Christmas Eve Bridge Run.
- When: Races run through the second half of the year, with the next on Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026; each card below has its own date
- Where: Around the island: Sea Pines, Honey Horn, Crossings Park, Palmetto Dunes and the Island Rec Center
Hilton Head has a handful of 5K races that repeat every year, and most of them are tied to a holiday: the Fourth of July, Thanksgiving week and Christmas Eve. They run on beaches, in parks, through Sea Pines and over the Cross Island Parkway bridge. The cards below go in calendar order, with the real date of the next one.
Registration is on RunSignup or Race Roster for each, and most price in tiers, so signing up early saves money. For runners based on the island, Palmetto Running Company in Shelter Cove Towne Centre hosts group runs and is a packet-pickup spot for some races.
5K races through the year
Hilton Head Firecracker 5K
Each Fourth of July, 8 a.m., Honey Horn
A flat mix of paved road and gravel path through Honey Horn's live oaks and marsh views, with food trucks and live music after. The most recent race was Saturday, July 4, 2026, and it sold out online, so register early. There has been a free kids' fun run too, and packet pickup was at Palmetto Running Company the day before.
Half marathon weekend 5K
Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026, 8 a.m., Harbour Town
The 5K start of the Hilton Head Half, Quarter Marathon & 5K in Sea Pines, finishing with the Harbour Town celebration. Registration is $50. Race details.
Sea Pines Dolphin Dash 5K
Wednesday, Nov. 25, 2026, 9 a.m., Sea Pines Beach Club
The Sea Pines Resort's pre-Thanksgiving 5K along the hard, flat beach. Registration is online only and closes at 8:45 a.m. on race day. Fees, packet pickup and the Dec. 30 Last Dash are on our Dolphin Dash page.
Hilton Head Turkey Trot
Thursday, Nov. 26, 2026, 8 a.m., Island Rec Center
The Rec Center's 5K from the Boathouse parking lot into Hilton Head Plantation and back, with a shirt, a medal and an afterparty. Race details.
Palmetto Dunes Turtle Trot
Thursday, Nov. 26, 2026, 8 to 10:30 a.m., Palmetto Dunes
A beach 5K the same morning, benefiting the Sea Turtle Patrol. Race details.
Jingle Jingle Bridge Run
Thursday, Dec. 24, 2026, 8 a.m., Crossings Park
The Hilton Head Island Bridge Run, a 5K run or walk and a 10K, goes over Broad Creek on the Cross Island Parkway bridge in holiday costumes. The 5K is $35 for early registration and rises through December; the 10K starts at $45 and has a 90-minute limit. No pets or baby joggers. Finishers of the 10K get a Bridge Run ornament this year. Run by Bear Foot Sports; packet pickup is Dec. 23 and from 6:30 a.m. at the park on race day.
Looking for more than a 5K?
The Sea Pines race above also has a half and quarter marathon: see the Hilton Head half marathon. The Hilton Head Bridge Run has a 10K. The February marathon is also covered on that page, with its current status.
Choosing between the Thanksgiving races
Three 5Ks fall within 24 hours: the Dolphin Dash on Wednesday morning, then the Turkey Trot and the Turtle Trot at the same time on Thursday. The Turkey Trot is inland, with a start and finish at the Rec Center. The Turtle Trot and Dolphin Dash are on the beach. If you want the one with the most room to bring a stroller, the Turkey Trot says strollers are welcome at the back.
Race pages
Frequently Asked Questions
What 5K races are on Hilton Head Island?
The regular ones are the Firecracker 5K (July 4), the half marathon weekend 5K (early November), Sea Pines' Dolphin Dash (the day before Thanksgiving), the Turkey Trot and the Turtle Trot (Thanksgiving morning) and the Jingle Jingle Bridge Run (Christmas Eve).
What is the next 5K on Hilton Head?
The 5K at the Hilton Head Half, Quarter Marathon & 5K on Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026, at Harbour Town in Sea Pines. Then the Dolphin Dash on Nov. 25, the Turkey Trot and Turtle Trot on Nov. 26 and the Bridge Run on Dec. 24.
Is the Bridge Run the same as the half marathon?
No. The Bridge Run is a 5K and 10K at Crossings Park in December. The half marathon is a separate race in Sea Pines in early November.
What is the difference between the Turkey Trot and the Turtle Trot?
Both are on Thanksgiving morning. The Turkey Trot is the Island Rec Center's race into Hilton Head Plantation. The Turtle Trot is on the beach at Palmetto Dunes.
Can walkers do the island's 5Ks?
Yes. The Bridge Run asks walkers to enter the 5K rather than the 10K, and the Turkey Trot and Turtle Trot are described as run-or-walk family events.
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