Where to Stay in Nome

Most visitors to Nome need overnight accommodations so they can explore the area fully. Rooms book up well in advance during peak times (birding in the summer and Iditarod in the winter), so we recommend you make reservations early.

Expect to “rough it” a little bit, with slower wi-fi access as a rule and older furnishings in some locations. This is rural Alaska. Even though it’s developed, you’ll be more satisfied if you don’t compare your lodging with what you expect in a larger city. Just think of those tents the gold miners stayed in on the Nome beach in the early 1900s, and you’ll appreciate just about anything!

Hotels – Around 130 rooms/suites are available at three different hotels: The Aurora Inn & Suites, Dredge 7 Inn, and the Nome Nugget Inn (located on Front Street right at the finish of the Iditarod Sled Dog race). Most rooms include a private bathroom. Aurora Inn and Dredge 7 Inn offer vehicle rentals.

Bed & Breakfast – There are eleven B&Bs in Nome and another in Solomon (34 miles up the Nome-Council Road). Staying with small B&B proprietors gives you a chance to learn more about the way of life in this historic area. Some proprietors will rent you a vehicle, too.

Single rooms – Some local residents are willing to rent rooms, couches or floor space. Inquire at the Nome Visitor Center, which coordinates this overflow housing option. (This is especially helpful during March, when the Iditarod and the Lonnie O’Connor Iditarod Basketball Classic lure about 1,000 visitors to Nome.)

Camping – Between late June and mid-October (depending on snow and road conditions), you can check out the campground and recreational opportunities at Salmon Lake, 40 miles up the Nome-Kougarok Road. Six campsites offer fire pits and picnic tables, and there’s even an outhouse!