
Rhode Island Half Marathon & 5K
Rhode Island Half Marathon offers scenic coastal views along East Bay Bike Path.
Race Date
May 16, 2027
Location
East Providence, RI
Quick facts
- Date
- Sunday, May 16, 2027
- Location
- East Providence, Rhode Island
- Distance
- Half marathon (13.1 mi) + 5K, 13.1 Miles
- Course
- Loop Course
- Terrain
- Road
- USATF certified
- Yes
- Finishers on record
- 4,131
Highlights
Good For
Atmosphere
Course
The Experience
The Rhode Island Half Marathon & 5K serves up a scenic tour of Narragansett Bay and the Providence skyline, starting and finishing at Pierce Memorial Stadium in East Providence. The USATF-certified course follows the East Bay Bike Path, a paved route that offers water views and a mostly flat profile after the first few miles. Recent fields have drawn around 1,400 finishers from roughly 35 states, with about 17% returning year after year.
The race has a welcoming, community feel with solid crowd support through neighborhoods. Post-race, runners enjoy a party featuring live entertainment, a beer garden, and food trucks—plus a free beer and breakfast sandwich. While some reviewers note limited pre-race bathrooms and a tiny medal, the overall atmosphere is festive, and the course is considered a good opportunity for a PR. With a 3.5-hour time limit and a cap of 2,000 half marathoners, it's accessible for runners of various levels.
Race-provided description
The Rhode Island Half Marathon and 5K is BACK and set for Sunday, May 16th, 2027. Choose from either the half marathon or 5K, which offer some of the best views in Rhode Island, including scenic views of Narragansett Bay and the iconic Providence skyline along the East Bay Bike Path. Both USATF-certified courses conveniently start and finish at Pierce Memorial Stadium in East Providence, RI. Each Participants Can Enjoy: 🌊 Event-specific Finisher's Medal for all race participants 🌊 Choose from scenic, coastal and USATF-certified half marathon or 5K courses 🌊 A FREE Chair 2 beer (21+) at the Post-Race Party 🌊 A FREE breakfast sandwich at the Post-Race Party FIELD AND COURSE LIMITATIONS The Rhode Island Half Marathon will be capped at 2,000 participants and the course limit will be 3.5 hours. The Rhode Island 5K will be capped at 1,500 participants. Once the fields are sold out, a waitlist will be opened in the event more slots become available. COURSE CERTIFICATIONS The Rhode Island Half Marathon and the Rhode Island 5k are USATF certified. Rhode Island Half Marathon USATF Certification number: RI25003JK
Rhode Island 5K USATF Certification number: RI25004JK CLICK HERE to View the Rhode Island Half Marathon Course via Mapmyrun CLICK HERE to View the Rhode Island 5K Course via Mapmyrun Event Information: Date: Sunday, May 16th, 2027 Start Times: Half Marathon Start Time: 7:30 AM // 5K Start Time: 7:30am *Races will start together and 5K Runners will turn onto the East Bay Bike Path off of Veteran’s Memorial Parkway Start Location: Pierce Memorial Stadium, 201 Mercer St, East Providence, RI 02914 HALF MARATHON PACE GROUPS The Pacers from the experienced team at Marathon Sports will be leading six groups in the RI Half Marathon. Full details can be found below. PACE TIMES We will have pace groups for the following finishing times: 1:45, 2:00, 2:15, 2:30, 2:45, and 3:00. HOW TO JOIN Sign up is not required to join a Pace Group. Simply meet your Pace Lead on race morning! FINDING THE PACERS ON RACE DAY To meet up with the pacers on race day, head to the start line at least 15 minutes before the start of the race. Your Pacer will be holding up signs with the finishing times printed on them. Five to 10 minutes before the start, your Pace Group Lead will give you their final instructions. ONLINE ENTRY FEES
Online registration will close on Saturday, May 15th, 2027 at 7pm. Rhode Island Half Marathon $75 to 12/31/2026 $80 1/1/2027 to 2/28/2027 $85 3/1/2027 to 3/31/2027 $90 4/1/2027 to 5/15/2027 $100 Walk Up Registration Race Weekend All participants will be chip-timed. The time limit for the half marathon will be 3.5 hours and the field will be capped at 2,000 participants. Once the field is sold out, a waitlist will be opened in the event more slots become available. Rhode Island 5k Run/Walk $34 to 12/31/2026 $36 1/1/2027 to 2/28/2027 $38 3/1/2027 to 3/31/2027 $40 4/1/2027 to 5/15/2027 $45 Walk Up Registration Race Weekend No refunds. No pets. If you are running or walking with a stroller, we ask that you start in the back for safety purposes. PACKET PICKUP INFORMATION
We encourage everyone who is able to pick up their race number before race day to make for a stress-free race morning! Pre-Race Packet Pickup Saturday, May 8th, 2027 // 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Location: Marathon Sports, Providence Place, Level One, 1 Providence Place, Providence, RI Friday, May 14th, 2027 // 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Location: Marathon Sports, Providence Place, Level One, 1 Providence Place, Providence, RI Saturday, May 15th, 2027 // 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Location: Marathon Sports, Providence Place, Level One, 1 Providence Place, Providence, RI Race Day Packet Pickup Race day, Sunday May 16th, 2027. Starting at 6:15am. Pierce Memorial Stadium, 201 Mercer St, East Providence, RI 02914 BAG DROP There will be a bag drop at a labeled tent near the finish line. You can drop your bag in the fenced-off area before you proceed to the start line. No tickets will be given for the baggage claim and it will operate under the honor system. Do not leave valuables behind as the race is not liable for any lost or stolen items. Remember to pick up your bag immediately after you finish running. Bag check closes at 11AM. PRIZE STRUCTURE
See below for prize structure for the RI Half Marathon & 5K races. Individual Awards Overall winners based on gun time. Age group winners based on chip time. Top 3 Overall, Women/Men/Non-Binary Winners (Under 19) Men/Women Winners (age 20-29) Men/Women Winners (age 30-39) Men/Women Winners (age 40-49) Men/Women Winners (age 50-59) Men/Women Winners (age 60-69) Men/Women Winners (age 70+) Men/Women Team Awards Top Family and Friends Team(Unlimited team entries. Top 3 score). Entry fee is same as individual fees shown above. Teams must use the online system for team entries. Team awards are based on chip times.
Logistics
Race Day
Sunday, May 16, 2027
Start Time
7:30 AM
Giveaway
T-Shirt
Start Location
Pierce Memorial Stadium, East Providence, RI, 02914
Course Info
USATF CertifiedCourse Type
Loop Course
Terrain
road
Scenery
Coastal, Urban
Surface
Paved
Difficulty
Rolling Hills
Net Drop/km
+0.14 m
Separation
1.1%
Also Offers
USATF Certified Course
RI25003JK · Rhode Island Half Marathon
Relatively flat with minimal net elevation change. Loop course — start and finish are close together.
Course Map
1 other map for this race
Quality Score
Standout773 years running
~2,681 finishers a year
shrinking
17% returning runners
USATF certified · 6 timing sources · 8 photos
runners from 35 states
winner 1:14:00
typical high 70°F
Race Day Weather
5-year historical avgStart (Low)
53°
Afternoon (High)
70°
Pleasant conditions — light layers at start, comfortable by finish
0.1"
Precipitation
12 mph
Wind
68%
Humidity
Historical Finish Times
How 4,131 finishers actually crossed the line across 3 years.
Most recent
2026
Total finishers
4,131
Median time
2:12:40
Latest turnout
1,378
States
43
Turnout by year
2024–2026
Hover the histogram to inspect specific finish times.
Race Photos
Frequently asked
When is the Rhode Island Half Marathon & 5K?
The Rhode Island Half Marathon & 5K is held on Sunday, May 16, 2027, starting at 7:30 AM.
Where does the Rhode Island Half Marathon & 5K take place?
It takes place in East Providence, Rhode Island.
What distances does the Rhode Island Half Marathon & 5K offer?
The half marathon (13.1 miles), plus 5K, 13.1 Miles.
Is the Rhode Island Half Marathon & 5K course flat and good for a PR?
The Rhode Island Half Marathon & 5K is a rolling hills, loop course course. The course is USATF-certified, so finish times can be used for qualifying.
How many people run the Rhode Island Half Marathon & 5K?
HalfRuns has finish records for 4,131 runners who have completed the Rhode Island Half Marathon & 5K.
HalfRuns editorial — independent, no paid placement.
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