Dana Point Turkey Trot
Dana Point, CA
- Double 15K (10K + 5K), 10K, 5K, Kids Run
- Road (Paved)
- Official race website
The Dana Point Turkey Trot has become an Orange County tradition! Located in the beautiful Dana Point Harbor, this flat, scenic race attracts over 20,000 participants and spectators over 2 days each year and features a 5K 10K, Combo 15K and Kids 1-mile Gobble Wobble. Registration includes a race t-shirt, … MORE
Local Historical Weather (Nov 27):
| 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | |
| H (°F) | 75 | 71 | 74 | 71 | 78 |
| L (°F) | 50 | 57 | 48 | 43 | 46 |
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Kind of a beautiful mess
Beautiful scenery but watch out for the strollers. I literally saw 2 double Bobs running side by side and made a 9 year old trip and fall. They didn’t care … MORE
Beautiful scenery but watch out for the strollers. I literally saw 2 double Bobs running side by side and made a 9 year old trip and fall. They didn’t care just kept pushing people out of the way. I checked on the boy and he was ok. Poor security, people at the packet-pick up stations look very unenthused and wadded the shirts up. But the race is so so beautiful, I would do it again for this reason alone.
A true Trotter..
Fun run, would do it again. Great run if you want to compete for first, but also a fun to do with your family and friends. For me this was … MORE
Fun run, would do it again. Great run if you want to compete for first, but also a fun to do with your family and friends. For me this was a trotting race, full of family and scenery.
Beautiful Dana Point
Well put together and a Southern California tradition for 40yrs. Great support from the shops and the community. The race announcers are top notch! The course is fairly flat and … MORE
Well put together and a Southern California tradition for 40yrs. Great support from the shops and the community. The race announcers are top notch! The course is fairly flat and what “Hills” are there are tiny. I seem to get a PR every year.
New! Still two 5ks but now open runs
I reviewed this last year and that review will follow. Here are some updates to that review: I registered on site and the price went from the advertised $50 to … MORE
I reviewed this last year and that review will follow. Here are some updates to that review:
I registered on site and the price went from the advertised $50 to $52 (the “2” was written over the “0” on the signage) to a tacked on $3.10 to make the final cost of late registration $55.10. My intended time of 8:30am was full but I ran then rather 9:30am.
So this means they have finally done away with the “Master” and “Open” runs they had in the past. Any age can run either the races. But given it was getting late and this was the hottest Thinksgiving in local history I ran at 8:30am – which I found out later that my time was not recorded (since I didn’t run at 9:30am as I signed).
Other then that the run was still fine – with Rudy as MC, the wonderful ocean views… still the premier event at Thanks giving in OC… I was actually very aware, however, that many people I know ran in many parts of my location. I will look forward to other reviews of those races…
Here this my review last year:
“This was the 39th running of the Turkey Trot in beautiful Dana Point. It’s a well organized event featuring a 10K, two 5k’s and a 1 mile kids run. The course is almost completely flat with plenty of scenic views of the harbor.
The 10k ran at 7am with the first half of the run traveling east and the second half follow the route of the regular 5K.
The first 5k is at 8:30 am and is the billed the “Masters 5K” and is for runners 40 and above. The 2nd 5K is 9:30am and is the “Open 5k” for those 39 and younger. You can run in either race but you can only be eligible for age group prizes if you run in your appropriate run.
I ran the Master’s 5k and here’s my tip. Be lingering around the start around 8 or 8:15am to be one of the first to line up for the start (the organizers wait until the last of the 10k runners pass that half way point). This run has many participants and you want to get in front of as many dogs, strollers, children and people dressed as turkey as possible. This is a fast course but these obstacles can really hamper on your run.
***Time to line us up by Time!***
The expo is pretty good. with over 10,000 runners it never seemed crowed and there were plenty of porta potties.
I stuck around for the kids’ 1 mile run and it was oddly disorganized for something they do every year. They were supposed to start at 10:15am but started later. They stagger times in 3 age groups and my friend’s 5 year old snuck into the 6 to 9 group and ran at 10:50am.
The biggest headache is parking – I arrived extra early and parked on a residential street a half a mile away. I saw they had free shuttles this year and I may try that sometime.
The charity is local: Family Assistance Ministries
Need to Line Us Up By Time
This was the 39th running of the Turkey Trot in beautiful Dana Point. It’s a well organized event featuring a 10K, two 5k’s and a 1 mile kids run. The … MORE
This was the 39th running of the Turkey Trot in beautiful Dana Point. It’s a well organized event featuring a 10K, two 5k’s and a 1 mile kids run. The course is almost completely flat with plenty of scenic views of the harbor.
The 10k ran at 7am with the first half of the run traveling east and the second half follow the route of the regular 5K.
The first 5k is at 8:30 am and is the billed the “Masters 5K” and is for runners 40 and above. The 2nd 5K is 9:30am and is the “Open 5k” for those 39 and younger. You can run in either race but you can only be eligible for age group prizes if you run in your appropriate run.
I ran the Master’s 5k and here’s my tip. Be lingering around the start around 8 or 8:15am to be one of the first to line up for the start (the organizers wait until the last of the 10k runners pass that half way point). This run has many participants and you want to get in front of as many dogs, strollers, children and people dressed as turkey as possible. This is a fast course but these obstacles can really hamper on your run.
***Time to line us up by Time!***
The expo is pretty good. with over 10,000 runners it never seemed crowed and there were plenty of porta potties.
I stuck around for the kids’ 1 mile run and it was oddly disorganized for something they do every year. They were supposed to start at 10:15am but started later. They stagger times in 3 age groups and my friend’s 5 year old snuck into the 6 to 9 group and ran at 10:50am.
The biggest headache is parking – I arrived extra early and parked on a residential street a half a mile away. I saw they had free shuttles this year and I may try that sometime.
The charity is local: Family Assistance Ministries
Fun race--lots of energy!
This is a crowded race, but not unmanageable--you can still have a good race. The course is beautiful and has several turns and a couple of long stretches. As big … MORE
This is a crowded race, but not unmanageable–you can still have a good race. The course is beautiful and has several turns and a couple of long stretches. As big as this race is, race-day packet pickup is a breeze. There’s also a shuttle that takes you from Dana Hills High School to a couple of blocks up the hill from the expo/start. However, the stunning view of the Dana Point Harbor as you get off the shuttle more than makes up for having to walk a little bit. I’ll be back again next year.
Flat course, but not very scenic
Well run race. Kind of crowded where they located the finish line. Flat course mostly around parking lots. Not very scenic. I did not like the T-shirt design. MORE
Well run race. Kind of crowded where they located the finish line. Flat course mostly around parking lots. Not very scenic. I did not like the T-shirt design.
King of the Turkey Trots - 38th year
This is the 38th running of the Turkey Trot in beautiful Dana Point. It's a well organized event featuring a 10K, two 5k's and a 1 mile kids run. The … MORE
This is the 38th running of the Turkey Trot in beautiful Dana Point. It’s a well organized event featuring a 10K, two 5k’s and a 1 mile kids run. The course is almost completely flat with plenty of scenic views of the harbor.
The 10k ran at 7am and was essentially the 5K course repeated twice. The first 5k is at 8:30 am and is the billed the “Masters 5K” and is for runners 40 and above. The 2nd 5K is 9:30am and is the “Open 5k” for those 39 and younger. You can run in either race but you can only be eligible for age group prizes if you run in your appropriate run.
The expo is pretty good. with over 10,000 runners it never seemed crowed and there were plenty of porta potties.
The biggest headache is parking – I arrived extra early and parked on a residential street a half a mile away.
The charity is local: Family Assistance Ministries
Gobble Wobble to the Finish Line
This race is a great way to get family involved in running. The course is mostly flat, and many racers are decked out in full attire. I will say though … MORE
This race is a great way to get family involved in running. The course is mostly flat, and many racers are decked out in full attire. I will say though that the start time is a little late, but that’s personal preference.
Quick peaceful 5k course
I love this series for the 5k, though it starts a bit too late. Most of the course is flat, shaded, and borders the DP Coast. Families attend decked out … MORE
I love this series for the 5k, though it starts a bit too late. Most of the course is flat, shaded, and borders the DP Coast. Families attend decked out in costume, and it’s a great way to kick off the Holiday.
A Classic "Turkey Day" Course
I have run this race a few times. The 10K starts a little late for my taste, when the heat is already appearing, and family is almost ready for the … MORE
I have run this race a few times. The 10K starts a little late for my taste, when the heat is already appearing, and family is almost ready for the meals to begin! 🙂 The 10K course is the 5K course, plus an additional out and back at the start to equal 3.1 extra miles. Those three miles are OK, mostly a parking lot with some ocean possibly visible. Once back out on the “5K” course, you pass the DP Village and head past the harbor over a bridge to another parking lot. Enjoy some water views, and head back out a little further, and then make your way back.The finish line village gets really packed, but there are some good vendors there.