Turtle Crawl 2026 2027

Turtle Crawl is a spring race on Jekyll Island, Georgia, tied to the start of sea turtle nesting season on the Georgia coast. The event offers a beachside 10K, a beachside 5K, and a one-kilometer fun run, with morning starts from the race site on James Road. It is an annual fundraiser for the Georgia Sea Turtle Center, so the entry fee supports sea turtle rehabilitation, research, and education rather than just paying for a race shirt and timing mat. The event began as a fundraiser for the Center, and runners have raised more than $100,000 for sea turtle work. The Georgia Sea Turtle Center has cared for more than 3,000 patients, including sea turtles and other coastal wildlife. Families can join the short fun run, meet the Center’s mascot Scute C. Turtle, and stay after the races for Shell-e-brate, a family event with staff, educational activities, and animal ambassadors. Participants receive a commemorative shirt, age-group placers get medals, and supporters who cannot travel to Jekyll Island can still join through the virtual Ghost Crawler option.