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35th Annual River to Bay 5K 2027

Date
Saturday, May 1, 2027
Start time
8:15 AM start (New York)
Entry fee
From $10 · goes up to $40 on Apr 6, 2027
Included with entry
Includes a shirt
Fundraising
Takes optional donations when you register
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Registration is open.

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Official race website

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Events and entry fees

EventDistanceWhenEntry feeCap
1 Mile Fun RunKidsMay 1, 20278:15 AM$10–
1 Mile Health Walk1 MileMay 1, 20278:15 AM$15–
5K Health Walk5KMay 1, 20279:00 AM$20–
5K Run5KMay 1, 20279:00 AM$30$40 after Apr 6, 2027–
T-Shirt OnlyOtherMay 1, 20279:00 AM$20–

Entry fees exclude processing fees. Prices and dates come from the race's registration page and refresh nightly.

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The 5K fee goes up to $40 on Apr 6, 2027.

Race day planning

Entry fee schedule

  • 1 Mile Fun Run: $10 until May 1.
  • 1 Mile Health Walk: $15 until May 1.
  • 5K Health Walk and T-Shirt Only: $20 until May 1.
  • 5K Run: $30 until Apr 5, then $40 until May 1.

Online registration closes May 1, 2027, unless the race fills first.

How the price compares

At $20, entry is about 43 percent below a typical 5K in New Jersey, which costs $35 right now.

What a typical finish looks like

A typical finisher at a 5K in New Jersey runs 32:16, about 10:23 a mile, based on 598 races with published results. Women typically finish in 35:02 and men in 29:30.

Light and altitude

Sunrise on race morning is at about 5:57 AM, and the 1 Mile Fun Run starts at 8:15 AM. The start sits about 50 feet above sea level.

Fees exclude processing fees. Comparisons use current entry fees and published results from races nearby.

Start location and course

1 Wanamaker Municipal Complex, Island Heights, NJ 08732

The pin marks the address the race lists, which is usually the start. The organizers have not shared a course map with us yet.

5K Run

291
finishers
31:33
median (10:09 /mi)
16:48
winning time
53% / 47%
women / men
median 31:3318:141:00:11
Finish times, fastest to slowest. Each bar is a slice of the field; the dashed line is the median.

1 Mile Fun Run

37
finishers
11:09
median (11:09 /mi)
7:27
winning time
46% / 54%
women / men

Aggregated from official results (CompuScore) for 35th Annual River to Bay 5K. Individual finisher names are not stored here.

How fast do you need to be at 35th Annual River to Bay 5K?

At the 2026 5K Run, the fastest tenth finished in 22:19 or better, the top quarter in 26:38, and half the field in 31:33; the last tenth came in after 55:46.

At the 2026 1 Mile Fun Run, the fastest tenth finished in 8:00 or better, the top quarter in 9:01, and half the field in 11:09; the last tenth came in after 13:27.

Third place by age group, 2026 5K Run
AgeWomenMen
Under 2022:3521:35
20-2927:3020:59
30-3926:4419:51
40-4923:1622:19
50-5924:4921:07
60-6929:1623:35
70+34:5630:50

Groups with fewer than five finishers are left out. Awards vary by race; check the race's rules.

What would my time get me?

Where a finish time would have placed in 2026.

Finishers by year

Up 84 percent since 2022.

All events combined, from official results.

35th Annual River to Bay 5K 5K year by year

From 2022 to 2026, the field went from 171 to 291 finishers, and the median time dropped from 34:04 to 31:33.

YearFinishersMedianFastest tenthWinner
2026291 (+1%)31:33under 22:1916:48
2025288 (-7%)32:04under 23:4716:43
2024311 (-3%)33:09under 23:4117:34
2023322 (+88%)33:12under 22:5516:23
202217134:04under 23:3717:01

From each year's official results for the 5K; virtual options are left out.

How fast is it?

About average for New Jersey 5Ks

The fastest quarter of the 2026 5K field finished under 26:38, against 27:09 in a typical New Jersey 5K, so times here are about average.

Compares the fastest quarter of each field, so walkers and first-timers do not skew it. It reflects the course and the field together: a flat course, cool weather, or a competitive crowd all make times faster.

Typical race-day weather

Around May 1 the day usually runs from 48°F at dawn to 65°F in the afternoon, with measurable rain on about 28% of days. Cold snaps dip to 39°F and hot years reach 81°F.

Based on 75 days within a week of the date over the last 5 years, from historical weather for the start area. Not a forecast.

From the race's page

What the organizers of 35th Annual River to Bay 5K cover on their registration page, in brief.

Awards

Race Times and Awards

Race Day (Saturday): 7:30 AM - Check In begins for all events at 1 Wanamaker Plaza; Island Heights, NJ 08754. 8:15 AM - 1 mile fun run. 8:15 AM - 1 mile health walk. 8:55 AM - Check-In Concludes. 9:00 AM – 5K (3.1 mile) Run. 9:00 AM – 5K…

Full details on the race's RunSignup page

Race details

Where
1 Wanamaker Municipal Complex, Island Heights, NJ 08732Map
Course
Road
Start elevation
About 50 feet
Included with entry
T-Shirt
Donations
Accepted when you register
Distances
1 Mile, 5K, Kids, Other
Editions
2027 (May 1, 2027), 2026 (May 2, 2026), 2025 (May 3, 2025), 2024 (May 4, 2024), 2023 (May 6, 2023), 2022 (May 7, 2022)

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Quick answers

When is 35th Annual River to Bay 5K?
Saturday, May 1, 2027, starting at 8:15 AM.
How much does it cost?
Entry starts at $10 before processing fees, and rises to $40 on Apr 6, 2027.
When does registration close?
Online registration closes May 1, 2027, unless the race fills first.
Is the entry fee high for New Jersey?
At $20, entry is about 43 percent below a typical 5K in New Jersey, which costs $35 right now.
Do runners get a shirt or medal?
Entry includes a shirt, according to the race's registration page. Check it for sizes and whether kids' races get the same.
Can I donate to a cause when I register?
Yes. The registration form offers an optional donation, usually for the charity or nonprofit the race supports. The race's own page names the cause.
What distances can I run?
1 Mile, 5K, Kids, Other.
How big is it, and how fast?
In 2026, 291 runners finished the 5K Run; the median finish was 31:33 and the winner ran 16:48.
Is it a fast course?
The fastest quarter of the 2026 5K field finished under 26:38, against 27:09 in a typical New Jersey 5K, so times here are about average.
Where does it start?
1 Wanamaker Municipal Complex, Island Heights, NJ 08732.

From the organizers

The 2027 River to Bay 5K is scheduled as an In-Person Race on May 1, 2026, rain or shine.

Please join us on Saturday May 1st, 2026 for the 35th Annual River to Bay 5K Classic, presented by the Kiwanis Club of Greater Toms River on its beautiful Island Heights course. This race is a USATF certified course. All participants must agree to the terms of the USATF Waiver as a condition of registration.

All proceeds benefit local youth and charitable organizations. Visit our website at http://tomsriverkiwanis.org/ and click the History tab to see some of the organizations we support.

Read the full description on RunSignup