The Des Moines Turkey Trot
About this race
Named as one of the "Top Turkey Trots In The Country" by Runners World Magazine, the Des Moines Turkey Trot is Iowa's largest Thanksgiving Day Tradition.
The run is like a highlight reel of Des Moines so get ready to experience downtown Des Moines, or show it off to your visiting family and friends, while burning off some holiday carbs.
Athletes will start their Thanksgiving run with the Des Moines Courthouse as their backdrop in the heart of the Court Ave Entertainment District. From there, both 5K and 5-mile runners will make their way across the Des Moines River and through the center of the Historic East Village. A slight uphill will run athletes around the whole of the State Capitol Complex which offers the most famous view of downtown Des Moines. From there, it's downhill for home!
5 Mile Athletes will finish their holiday "tour" with a scenic jaunt to the Botanical Center before returning across the Women's Achievement Bridge and finishing by running through the heart of downtown.
Join fellow runners on November 28, 2024 for the The Des Moines Turkey Trot. It's a fantastic 5K, Des Moines Turkey Trot - Tot Trot, Special Olympics Trot Division featuring a flat and fast course in Des Moines.
Pick your distance
Running
The Des Moines Turkey Trot 5K + 5 Mile
Athletes will start their Thanksgiving run with the Des Moines Courthouse as their backdrop in the heart of the Court Ave District. From there, both 5K and 5-mile runners will make their way across the Des Moines River and through the center of the Historic East Village. A slight uphill will run athletes around the whole of the State Capitol Complex which offers the most famous view of downtown Des Moines. From there, it's downhill for home!
Family of 4 Turkey Trot Entry
Des Moines Turkey Trot - Tot Trot
Virtual Des Moines Turkey Trot
Special Olympics Trot Division
New for 2024 the final race of the day will see our charity partners at Special Olympics take complete a 400 meter dash starting west of the Des Moines Civic Center
RaceJoy 5k Course
Weather Overview
These values reflect historical conditions on the race dates in Des Moines in 2024, from Open-Meteo archive data.
About Des Moines
The Des Moines Turkey Trot takes place in Des Moines, Iowa, United States. The local timezone is America/Chicago.
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🏃 Plan Your Next Race in Des Moines
Find upcoming events by distance:
- Des Moines 5K Races Best Des Moines routes for beginners and speed work.
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- Des Moines Running Calendar 2026 See all upcoming race dates.
Race information has been sourced from the event's official website and other publicly available resources. For the most up-to-date details, please refer to the official website directly. If you notice any incorrect or missing information, don't hesitate to reach out to us by email.