Upcoming Swimming Races

Endurance Grid lists 138 swimming races across the US, from August 2026 to October 2027 across 34 states.

Find Swimming races near you

138
Races
34
States

In the water

What open water swimming is

Open water swim races take place in lakes, rivers, bays, and oceans. The course is marked by big buoys, with kayaks and lifeguards shadowing it the whole way. The water is the variable: currents, chop, temperature, and the need to sight and navigate for yourself.

There’s a distance for every level. A 500 to 750m swim is a good starting point to learn the sport, and most events stack several distances — a mile, 5K, 10K — on the same day, so you can start on the same course as the veterans.

500–750m
0.3–0.5 miles

Best starting point. Enough open water to learn the sport without a heavy training load.

Browse 500m Swims
1 Mile
1.6K

The classic open water distance — a natural step up once shorter races feel comfortable.

Browse 1 Mile Swims
5K
3.1 miles

The mid-distance step once a mile feels comfortable.

Browse 5K Swims

Explore Swimming

By distance

500m1000m1500m1 mi2 mi5K10K

By state

CaliforniaConnecticutFloridaIllinoisIowaMarylandMichiganNew JerseyNew YorkNorth CarolinaOhioPennsylvaniaTennesseeTexasVirginiaWisconsin

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How many swimming races are there in the US?+
Endurance Grid's Race Calendar lists 138 upcoming swimming races across 34 states.
Which states have the most swimming races?+
The states with the most swimming races on Endurance Grid's Race Calendar are California, Michigan, Florida, New York, Pennsylvania, and Iowa.
What are the swimming distances?+
Swimming races are held at 1 Mile, 1 mi, 1000m, 10K, 1500m, 15K, 2 mi, 25–50 mi, and more distances.
What is a swimming race?+
A swimming race is an open-water or pool race held over a set distance, such as a 1-mile or 10K swim. To learn more about what a swimming race is, check out Endurance Grid's sports guide.
How is open water swimming different from pool swimming?+
The water is the difference. Open water races are held in lakes, rivers, bays, or oceans, so you sight off buoys to navigate for yourself and contend with currents, chop, and changing temperature — none of which exist in a pool. The swimming is the same; the environment is what you learn.