The Iditarod: How to Experience Alaska's Biggest Winter Event

Alaska plays host to one of the world’s most challenging and exciting events: the Iditarod sled dog race. Every March, mushers and their canine teams speed across some 1,000 miles of frozen terrain—from the town of Willow to the northern city of Nome. And whether you’re a die-hard fan or a curious traveler, experiencing the Iditarod is not only a thrill, but also a way to get an insider’s look at Alaskan culture and adventure.

Here's everything you need to know about experiencing the Iditarod in Alaska.

Attend the Ceremonial Start in Anchorage

The world’s most famous sled dog race kicks off on the first Saturday of every March with a spectator-friendly ceremony in downtown Anchorage. The first mile and a half happens on city streets lined with thousands of spectators; then the mushers head through a winter wonderland on the city’s greenbelts and parks before ending at the Campbell Airstrip, next to the Bureau of Land Management Visitors Center.

Pro tip: Throngs of visitors descend on the city for this iconic event. Book flights and accommodations several months in advance and arrive an hour or two before the start to stake out a good viewing spot.

Next Stop: The Official Race Start in Willow

The official race begins the next day—the first Sunday in March—about 90 minutes north of Anchorage in the town of Willow. Get there by car or, for a small fee, take one of the shuttles that depart from Anchorage and Wasilla. The action kicks off at 2 p.m., with mushers leaving the start gate every two minutes, but plan to arrive a few hours early, as you’ll be joining several thousand fans in cheering on the dog teams. Ever tailgated at a football game? The vibe is similar. Don’t miss the vendors selling food and souvenirs at the Willow Community Center.

Checkpoint Visits and Flightseeing Tours

Between the Iditarod start and finish, serious Iditarod fans can splurge on tours that may include checkpoint visits. Here are some options:

• Book the Iditarod package at Rainy Pass Lodge. You’ll experience the race’s ceremonial start in Anchorage, then fly to the lodge in time to watch the racers come through.

• Rust's Flightseeing Tours’ offers a “Chase the Race” tour that begins in Anchorage on the Monday after the official start in Willow. You'll get a bird’s eye view of race trail and stop at the Rainy Pass checkpoint for a closeup look at the mushers and the chance to cheer them on. Rust’s sister company, K2 Aviation, offers a similar trip from Talkeetna.

• Regal Air has day trips where you’ll fly to the official start in Willow, spend time at Rainy Pass Lodge, and travel to the Nikolai Checkpoint—a popular spot for mushers to take their mandatory 24-hour rest.

• Talkeetna Air Taxi offers a 9-day “Chase the Race” tour from Talkeetna. You’ll visit multiple checkpoints on the ground or watch mushers and dogs from the air on your way to Nome, where you’ll see them finish. The company also offers shorter, fly-in tours. Choose to land on the Yentna River and watch the mushers go by, or fly to Rainy Pass for the day.

Add some more winter fun to your Iditarod adventure with Salmon Berry Tours. The company offers two trips that include the Iditarod and other iconic experiences, like looking for the mesmerizing aurora borealis. The 10-day Aurora Iditarod Tour includes the ceremonial start in Anchorage, the official start in Willow, northern lights viewing opportunities, dog sledding, and a soak in Chena Hot Springs. You can also join Salmon Berry on a day tour to catch the official start in Willow.

Iditarod Finish in Nome

About 1,000 people descend on the coastal Alaskan town of Nome for the Iditarod’s finish—a two-week-long party often called the “Mardi Gras of the North.” You’ll find dog sled rides, snowmobile races, arts and crafts, a poker tournament, a dart tournament, and more. And it’s all just a 90-minute nonstop flight from Anchorage.

Nome has far fewer accommodations than Anchorage, so book really early—even a year in advance—if you want to watch the mushers pass under the famous Burled Arch finish line. Many residents of Nome also open up their private homes to visitors during these exciting weeks. To be put on a list for a home stay, fill out this form on the Nome Visitor Center website.

Other Iditarod Experiences

Here are some other ways to experience the Iditarod—or simply to learn more about the exciting sport of dog mushing:

• Volunteer. Some 1,500–1,800 volunteers are needed each year to help make the Iditarod a success, and there are positions available for every skill set. Volunteers in Anchorage may work at the call center, help sell merchandise, set up for the banquet, or assist with the ceremonial start. They also accept volunteers to staff the official start in Willow, the finish in Nome, and checkpoints along the trail.

• Attend the Musher’s Banquet. This prestigious event lets fans mingle with the race’s heroes over a delicious meal. The banquet takes place the Thursday before the race begins; the evening’s big event is watching the mushers pick their starting order. You can also buy tickets for just the pre-banquet meet and greet.

• Go dog sledding. Learn about this sport first-hand, by visiting kennels in communities around Anchorage like Willow, Big Lake, and Talkeetna. Many of the kennels that offer tours are home to Iditarod mushers. Chances are they’ll be out racing, but if you visit at other times of the year you may hear stories from them directly.

• Visit Iditarod headquarters. This year-round Iditarod hub, located in Wasilla, lets you delve into interactive exhibits that capture the race’s storied past, see trophies, and purchase Iditarod memorabilia. In summer, you’ll also find sled dog cart rides where you can experience the thrill of being pulled by a team of dogs!

• Become an Iditarod insider. Sign up on the Iditarod website for exclusive live stream videos, track your favorite mushers, and get alerts when they enter different checkpoints.

Full winter itineraries. Browse all of the winter itineraries that coincide with the Iditarod. Go dog sledding, snowmobiling, view the northern lights, and more as you explore Southcentral Alaska.

What to Pack and Wear

Early March is still full winter in Alaska, but the days are longer and there’s a chance you’ll feel the warmth of the sun. Still, come prepared for unpredictable Alaskan weather so you can fully enjoy the Iditarod experience. Dress in layers, starting with a light- to mid-weight wool or synthetic base layer, followed by an insulating layer, such as a fleece, then add a nylon jacket or ski parka to trap in the heat and repel moisture. Get our complete guide about dressing for winter in Alaska.

History of The Iditarod

In the early 1900s, Nome’s residents learned how to have fun during the long, dark winter months. Skiing and skating were popular, and kids found heroes in long-distance runners (who would run laps in the local gym) and sled dog racers. Racing events were veritable holidays—schools, businesses, and even the courts would close early or not open at all.

The first notable sled dog race, the All Alaska Sweepstakes, was held between 1908 and 1917. Sponsored by the Nome Kennel Club, this 408-mile race went from Nome to Candle and back. The course was laid out along a telephone line so that bulletins from the race could be transmitted back to Nome and posted in public places. The All Alaska Sweepstakes offered purses of $3,000–$10,000 and made household names of its champions, notably Scotty Allan and Leonhard Seppala.

The Iditarod Sled Dog Race carries on the racing tradition from those early days. But there’s also a deeper meaning: It commemorates the intrepid mushers and their dogs who fought through blizzard conditions to bring a life-saving diphtheria serum to Nome in 1925. And it captures the spirit of a long-ago mushing lifestyle, which began to fade as airplanes and snowmachines made travel between villages and larger towns faster and more convenient.

Joe Redington, Sr. (known as the “Father of the Iditarod”) and Dorothy Page (Chair of the Wasilla-Knik Centennial Committee) started advocating for an Iditarod Trail race in the late 1960s to preserve the trail, which historically connected remote Alaskan villages and served as their main supply route in winter. They also wanted to keep Alaska’s mushing and sled dog culture alive. The Iditarod Sled Dog Race is the product of their vision and persistence. For 10 days each March, the long journey from Anchorage to Nome turns the world’s attention to today’s sled dog heroes and the Iditarod National Historic Trail.

As in Nome’s early days, the whole community celebrates during Iditarod week. You’ll find a full schedule of activities such as educational talks, sporting competitions, concerts, dances, and more. But the highlight, of course, is the race itself. And these days, technology makes it easy for everyone to track all the racers from checkpoint to checkpoint. The excitement grows to a fever pitch as the lead racers near the finish line on Front Street—just as they did during the All Alaska Sweepstakes!