Upcoming Swimming Races

Endurance Grid lists 85 swimming races across the US, from September 2026 to October 2027 across 33 states.

Find Swimming races near you

85
Races
33
States

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

CaliforniaFloridaIllinoisIowaMarylandMichiganNew YorkNorth CarolinaPennsylvaniaTexasVirginia

By month

September 2026October 2026November 2026December 2026January 2027February 2027March 2027April 2027May 2027June 2027July 2027August 2027

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many swimming races are there in the US?
Endurance Grid's Race Calendar lists 85 upcoming swimming races across 33 states.
Which states have the most swimming races?
The states with the most swimming races on Endurance Grid's Race Calendar are California, Florida, Michigan, Virginia, Maryland, and New York.
What are the swimming distances?
Swimming races are held at 1 mi, 1000m, 10K, 1500m, 2 mi, 25–50 mi, 500m, 50–100 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.