Turtle Crawl 2026

The fan-favorite annual race event returns to the road on Saturday, April 25th, 2026! Race with us on Jekyll Island as we mark the start of sea turtle nesting season on the Georgia coast. This important fundraising event supports the lifesaving work of the Georgia Sea Turtle Center, through the Jekyll Island Foundation. Your support helps continue the Center’s mission of sea turtle rehabilitation, research, and education.

***PETS ARE NOT ALLOWED TO RUN/WALK IN ANY OF THE EVENTS***

Register to participate in one of this year’s races:

• 10K Race                               7:00 a.m.
• 5K Race                                 7:20 a.m.
• Fun Run (1 kilometer)          8:30 a.m.
• Ghost Crawler (Virtual)

Registration includes a 2026 Turtle Crawl t-shirt for their support*! Runners placing in their age group will also receive a medal.

ONLINE RACE REGISTRATION WILL CLOSE WEDNESDAY, APRIL 22nd AT 11:59 PM – registration will be available during packet pick up and on-site the morning of the races, closing 30 minutes prior to race start.  CASH OR CHECK ONLY.  Prices for packet pick up and race day registration: 10K $65,  5K $55 FUN RUN $35.  Race Shirts are not guaranteed at time of registration and you'll need to check after all the races are complete to see if one is available.

*To guarantee your race T-shirt size, complete your online registration NO LATER THAN FRIDAY, APRIL 10th.  Anyone that registers after April 10th is not guaranteed to receive a shirt.  April 10th will also serve as the deadline for anyone wishing to switch their registration to virtual.  Changes after the 10th will not be accepted. 

The deadline to switch races online is April 21st, 2026.  In person changes can be done on race day and must be communicated to the timer.

Race participants can pick up their t-shirts at packet pickup (details below) or on the morning of the Turtle Crawl. For Ghost Crawlers, every effort will be made to deliver your t-shirts by race day however delivery could be delayed due to mail carrier shipping and production delays.  

Become a sea turtle ambassador and race for a cause. 

Additional details and course maps will be posted soon.

Packet pick up on Friday April, 24th from 2:00 PM - 7:00 PM at Beach Village Green
Race Day packet pick up Saturday April 25th 5:30 AM - 6:30 AM at Georgia Sea Turtle Center Lawn

Turtle Crawl was created in 2003 as a fundraiser for the Georgia Sea Turtle Center to support its mission of sea turtle research, rehabilitation, and education. In more than a decade of operation, the Georgia Sea Turtle Center has provided care for more than 3,000 patients, including various sea turtle species and other coastal wildlife. Turtle Crawl participants have raised more than $100,000 to help save sea turtles and we sincerely appreciate your support for this event!