Traveling with the Family to Alaska’s Iditarod

When you think of the Iditarod, you may think of adorable dogs running for hundreds of miles through the Alaska bush while mushers drive toward victory and, honestly, who doesn’t love snow dogs?

The race kicks off in Anchorage and runs north to Nome. This year, the race kicks off March 7 with 57 confirmed mushers. For families who don’t mind watching the festivities from afar, the race offers a live stream on its website for subscribers.

For families ripe for a travel experience, there are a few places travelers can go to make the most of this annual race. No matter which route the race follows, it begins and ends in Nome and Anchorage. The race usually takes 8–15 days, but it is common for some teams to finish later.

On even years, like this one, the race kicks off in Anchorage. For travelers who want to see the end of the race, Nome is the city. When the race begins in Anchorage, there are plenty of festivities celebrating the beginning of the race. The race kicks off right in the middle of downtown Anchorage. Once the mushers leave town, there is still plenty to do.

Iditarod Race. Photo: Nela Petria | Dreamstime.com

Before the race kicks off, guests and travelers can attend The Mushers’ Banquet. This party is the perfect time to meet the race participants and learn more about the race. Many local mushers also open their kennels in the weeks leading up to the race. Visitors can learn about team management and sometimes even go dogsledding themselves.

If traveling alongside the race is something you want to do, it is possible to book a tour along the route to keep tabs on racers. Visitors can also book snowmobile tours to follow the teams for a bit. Winter Lake Lodge is a checkpoint and perfect spot to visit while the racers make their way through.

Anchorage makes an incredible destination in itself for the race. It is possible to get a full experience without traveling all the way to Nome. The Lakefront Anchorage Hotel acts as the official headquarters for the race. It is an excellent place for fans who want to follow the action from the city as well.

If you want to see the end of the race, head to Nome, Alaska, to watch the racers finish at their own pace.