Dana Point Turkey Trot 2026: Book the Room, Not Just the Race

• Date: Thursday, November 26, 2026 (Thanksgiving Day).
• Where: Dana Point Harbor, on a USATF-certified course along the water.
• Races: 10K, 5K, Combo 15K (run both) and the Kids' 1-Mile Gobble Wobble.
• Start times: the 10K starts at 7 a.m.; 5K waves start at 8:30, 9:30 and 10 a.m.
• Extras: a costume contest and a health and fitness expo.
• Good cause: the race supports local charities, including the Boys & Girls Clubs of Capistrano Valley. Register on Race Roster or visit the official Dana Point Turkey Trot site for course maps and FAQs.

Most Turkey Trot runners drive in at dawn and drive home by lunch. That means a 5 a.m. alarm, a parking scramble and Thanksgiving dinner eaten in race-day fog. Stay nearby and the whole day changes: pick up your bib the day before, walk to the start, and spend the rest of the long weekend on the coast instead of on the freeway.

It also solves the drive home. The Sunday after Thanksgiving is one of the busiest travel days of the year. Stay Sunday night and head home Monday, after the traffic clears.

Wednesday, November 25: arrive and pick up your bib

Check in, then grab your race packet at packet pickup, noon to 6 p.m. at Dana Point Harbor (25001 Dana Point Harbor Dr.). Walk the harbor at sunset and keep dinner simple: you have an early morning.

Thursday, November 26: race, then feast

Race-morning packet pickup runs 6 to 11 a.m. for anyone who couldn't make it Wednesday. After the finish, head back for a shower and a nap, then sit down to a Thanksgiving dinner you don't have to cook. Browse Dana Point restaurants and ocean view restaurants, and reserve early: holiday tables fill fast.

Friday, November 27: skip the mall, see a whale

Late November is when the first gray whales start their southbound migration, and dolphins are here all year. Book a whale watching trip from the harbor, then stretch your race legs on a paddleboard at Baby Beach or a walk on the bluff-top trails.

Saturday, November 28: Small Business Saturday in the Lantern District

Do your holiday shopping at independent boutiques, galleries and surf shops in the Lantern District. See our guide to shopping in Dana Point, then book a spa treatment for those tired legs.

Sunday, November 29: slow morning, easy drive

Brunch with an ocean view, one last beach walk and checkout. Better yet, add Sunday night and beat the traffic home Monday morning.

• Laguna Cliffs Marriott Resort & Spa (official race hotel): holds the official Turkey Trot room block for November 25 to 29, on the bluff above the harbor. See the Laguna Cliffs Turkey Trot page.
• Hilton Garden Inn Dana Point Doheny Beach: the Experience the Stay package adds an on-property credit and perks like early check-in, handy for a Wednesday packet pickup. See Hilton Garden Inn offers.
• Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach: Cozy Days, Longer Stays gives you the third night free, which covers Wednesday to Saturday. See Waldorf Astoria offers.
• The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel: stay three nights or more and earn 5,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points per night with code B9248. See the Ritz-Carlton offer.

Compare all places to stay in Dana Point and current hotel offers.

• Free race-day shuttles run 5:30 to 11:15 a.m. from Dana Hills High School.
• Public parking is available in the Dana Point Harbor parking structure and on Del Prado Avenue. Arrive early: the harbor is under construction, so allow extra time and follow event signage.
• Staying at Laguna Cliffs or another nearby hotel? Walk or bike down and skip parking entirely.
• Late November mornings are cool on the water. Bring a throwaway layer for the start line.