The North County Turkey Trot Is $54 Until Saturday Night, Then It Isn't

Overview

The San Diego–North County Turkey Trot runs on Thanksgiving morning, Thursday, November 26, at 4S Ranch Sports Park.

And there's a deadline this week, which is the only reason to read this today rather than in three weeks.

Prices for the 5K and 10K go up after 11:59 p.m. on Saturday, October 31.

Right now the 5K is $54 and the 10K is $64.60. After Saturday, both rise — and the organisers don't publish what to. So the move is to register before the weekend is out, whether or not you've decided how seriously you're running it.

That's the whole urgent part. Here's everything else.

The Races

• 10K — $64.60. Starts 7:15 a.m.
• 5K — $54.00. Starts 7:30 a.m.
• Kids 1K — $27.50. Starts 8:45 a.m.
• Virtual 5K — $54.00, run wherever you are

All prices include fees. The 5K and 10K are the two with the Saturday deadline.

And there's a costume contest, which on Thanksgiving morning in North County means the field will be about half turkeys.

How to Go

• When: Thursday, November 26, 2026 — Thanksgiving Day
• Where: 4S Ranch Sports Park, 16118 4S Ranch Pkwy, San Diego, CA 92127
• Start times: 10K 7:15 a.m. · 5K 7:30 a.m. · Kids 1K 8:45 a.m.
• Entry: 10K $64.60 · 5K $54.00 · Kids 1K $27.50 · Virtual 5K $54.00
• Register through the event's RunSignup page
• Price rises after 11:59 p.m. PDT on Saturday, October 31 for the 5K and 10K

Good to Know

• Register before Saturday night. It's the same race for less money.
• The 10K goes first, fifteen minutes ahead of the 5K.
• 4S Ranch Sports Park is the venue, not a road course through the village — easy parking by North County standards, but go early on a holiday morning.
• There's a Kids 1K at 8:45, after both adult races, so you can run and then watch.
• Wear a costume. There's a contest and people take it seriously.
• A virtual option exists at the same price as the 5K if you're travelling for the holiday.
• This isn't the Coronado one. There are two San Diego turkey trots on the same morning — see below.

Why It's Worth It

A Thanksgiving 5K is the easiest good decision available on the fourth Thursday in November. You're up early anyway, the weather in North County that week is usually perfect, and you get to spend the rest of the day eating without any accounting.

4S Ranch is a genuinely pleasant place to do it — a sports park rather than a street course, flat, family-heavy, with a kids' race timed so parents can do both.

Sign up before Saturday night, then forget about it until the morning.

One scheduling note if you're choosing between events: the Coronado Turkey Trot runs the same morning at Tidelands Park, and so does the Run for Hope 5K in Balboa Park. Three turkey trots, one morning. 4S Ranch is the North County answer; the other two are central and south.

For more things worth doing, browse our events calendar.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the North County Turkey Trot? Thursday, November 26, 2026 — Thanksgiving Day. The 10K starts at 7:15 a.m., the 5K at 7:30 a.m., and the Kids 1K at 8:45 a.m.

Where is it? 4S Ranch Sports Park, 16118 4S Ranch Pkwy, San Diego, CA 92127.

How much does it cost? $64.60 for the 10K, $54.00 for the 5K, $27.50 for the Kids 1K and $54.00 for the virtual 5K, all including fees.

When does the price go up? After 11:59 p.m. PDT on Saturday, October 31, 2026, for the 5K and 10K. The organisers don't publish the post-increase prices.

What distances are offered? A 10K, a 5K, a Kids 1K and a virtual 5K.

Is there a costume contest? Yes.

Can I do it from out of town? Yes — the virtual 5K is $54.00, the same as the in-person entry.

Are there other turkey trots in San Diego? Yes, at least two others the same morning: the Coronado Turkey Trot at Tidelands Park and the Run for Hope 5K in Balboa Park.