The 2026 Dana Point Turkey Trot schedule lists five start times, the first at 7:00 a.m. and the last at 10:30 a.m. The 49th annual race is on Thursday, November 26, at Dana Point Harbor. This year the harbor it runs past is a construction site, and one of last year's shuttles is missing from the race-day directions. Your start time affects more than your pace. It also decides where you can park, how you get home, and whether you're back in time to put the turkey in the oven.
Five start times, one long morning
Here's the full race-day lineup posted on the official Turkey Trot race info page:
- 7:00 a.m. 10K
- 8:30 a.m. 5K Race #1
- 9:00 a.m. Costume contest at the start line
- 9:30 a.m. 5K Race #2
- 10:00 a.m. 5K Race #3, billed as "Walk the Trot"
- 10:30 a.m. Kids' 1-Mile Gobble Wobble, ages 2 to 12
The OC Register reported that some 12,000 runners turned out for the 48th race in 2025, and the paper called it a record. This year's schedule spreads a crowd that size over three and a half hours of starts.
Each wave suits a different kind of morning. The 7:00 a.m. 10K is the only one with prize money: $1,000 each to the first-place man and woman, $500 for second and $250 for third. The 10:00 a.m. wave is set up for walkers. The 9:00 a.m. costume contest falls between the first and second 5Ks, so the 8:30 group finishes as the costumes arrive and the 9:30 group lines up right after.
The 10K/5K combo is the 15K option. Combo runners do the 10K at 7:00 and then run or walk one of the three 5Ks. They choose that 5K time when they register, not on race morning. For families, the Gobble Wobble lets you add an Adult Gobble Buddy to your child's registration. Buddies get a bib and a finisher medal but aren't chip-timed, and the race says spots are limited. Dogs aren't allowed on the course in any wave.
The harbor around the course has changed since last year
Last year's race ran through a harbor that still had its familiar Wharf. This year's runs through one in the middle of its rebuild. The Dana Point Harbor construction schedule says Phases 3 and 5 are underway. A new fence line marks the Phase 5 work zone, and the public boardwalk and boater docks stay open. Phase 4 starts this fall. Wind & Sea's last day on the Wharf was September 15, and the rest of the Wharf's shops and restaurants in Buildings 2 through 5 close on October 31. Dana Wharf Sportfishing & Whale Watching and Catalina Express are staying open from temporary trailers.
That puts Thanksgiving about four weeks after the Wharf buildings close. Even so, the race keeps its home base. Packet pickup and the Festival Expo are again at Dana Marina Plaza, 25001 Dana Point Harbor Drive, at the corner of Golden Lantern, on Wednesday, November 25, and on race morning. Visit Dana Point mentions the construction in its race guide and suggests allowing extra time.
The route is still to be confirmed. The organizer's course map page says the 2026 map is "coming soon." It describes a harbor-based course with part of the 10K on Doheny State Beach, and the map now posted is the 2025 version. No 2026 road-closure notice with street names and times had been published when we wrote this. Anyone whose driveway or usual route borders the harbor should check back closer to the day before assuming last year's closures apply.
Getting there: what changed between 2025 and 2026
The transportation plan is where your wave matters most. Here are the race-day directions for the last two years, side by side:
| 2025 race listing | 2026 race listing | |
|---|---|---|
| Dana Hills High School shuttle | Yes, 5:30 to 11:15 a.m. | Yes, 5:30 to 11:15 a.m. |
| Costco lot shuttle, Doheny Park Road, San Juan Capistrano | Yes | Not listed |
| Harbor parking structure | Free for first 4 hours, limited | Listed at 799 Harbor Way |
| Golden Lantern harbor-lot access | Closed 6:30 to 8:30 a.m. for the 10K | No closure times posted yet |
| Free e-bike corral | Not in the race listing | Harbor lot, 6:30 to 11:00 a.m. |
| Del Prado and Lantern District lots | Yes | Yes |
The 2026 Race Roster listing names a single free shuttle. It runs from Dana Hills High School, 33333 Golden Lantern, to Del Prado and Golden Lantern, one block from the race and expo. Last year there was a second shuttle from the Costco lot at 33961 Doheny Park Road in San Juan Capistrano. If you came from the Capistrano Beach side and liked that pickup, it isn't in this year's directions.
Each option fits some waves better than others:
The parking structure and the four-hour window. The harbor's construction page lists free parking for up to four hours in the Dana Point Harbor Parking Structure. The 2026 race listing doesn't say whether that changes on race day. If you're running only the 10K, four hours covers the race easily. A combo runner who parks at 6:30 a.m. and picks the 10:00 a.m. 5K reaches the four-hour mark at 10:30, which is about when the last 5K is finishing. Choosing the 8:30 or 9:30 5K leaves more room.
The e-bike corral. The free corral in a harbor lot is open 6:30 to 11:00 a.m. You bring your own lock and park at your own risk. For a 10K or an early 5K, those hours work well. The Gobble Wobble starts at 10:30, so the corral closes half an hour after the kids' mile begins. Families riding in for that wave will have to move quickly.
The shuttle. It runs until 11:15 a.m., 45 minutes after the Gobble Wobble start. It has the longest hours of any listed option, which helps families with a late wave and anyone who wants to stay at the expo.
Street parking. Del Prado and the city's public lots in the Lantern District are listed again for 2026, one block up from the race. They're the most flexible choice if you live close enough to walk part of the way.
What the entry fee covers, and where it goes
As of mid-October, standard pricing is in effect. Early-bird rates ran July 14 through August 16, and standard rates run from August 17 to race day. Current prices are $48 for the 5K, $54 for the 10K and $63 for the 15K combo. Early-bird prices were $43, $49 and $58. The Gobble Wobble is $25 in both periods. If you'll be away for the holiday, there's a virtual 5K for $45. Race Roster recommends registering by November 8 to be sure the race kit arrives by Thanksgiving.
At pickup, you get your T-shirt and a bib number assigned at check-in. Medals are handed out at the finish line.
The money stays in the area. The official charity page names the Boys & Girls Clubs of Capistrano Valley and the RH Dana Elementary School Booster Club as 2026 beneficiaries, and says the race has raised more than $500,000 for nonprofits since it began. The Daily Pilot reported that the Dana Point Chamber of Commerce hosted the 2025 race with Dana Point Harbor Partners as sponsor. The 2026 registration contact is still a Chamber email address.
The dates between now and the start line
- November 8: Register for the virtual 5K by this date to be sure your kit arrives by Thanksgiving.
- Before race week: Check the course maps page for the 2026 map, which is listed as coming soon.
- Wednesday, November 25: Packet pickup and expo at Dana Marina Plaza.
- Thursday, November 26: Shuttles start at 5:30 a.m., the e-bike corral opens at 6:30, and the 10K starts at 7:00.
If you're choosing a 5K time this week, the 8:30 a.m. wave fits inside every listed transportation window with the most room to spare.
At Zoch Real Estate Group, we've watched this race grow up alongside the harbor, and we'll be keeping an eye on the 2026 course map and closure notices as they come out. If you're thinking about how the rebuilt harbor will change your corner of Dana Point, from race mornings to resale value, we're happy to talk it through over coffee. When you're ready for a number, start with an Instant Home Valuation.
