The Iditarod, Explained: A First-Timer's Guide

If you've heard of the Iditarod but never followed it, here's everything you need to make sense of "the Last Great Race on Earth."

What it is

The Iditarod is a roughly 1,000-mile sled dog race across Alaska, from Anchorage to Nome. Mushers and teams of up to 14 dogs cross mountain ranges, frozen rivers, and the wind-blasted Bering Sea coast — often in temperatures far below zero.

Two starts

The ceremonial start in downtown Anchorage (first Saturday of March) is a parade — fun to watch, but it doesn't count. The official restart the next day in Willow is where the race clock begins.

How long it takes

The winning team usually reaches Nome in about 8–10 days. The rest of the field finishes over the following week. The final musher to cross is honored with the Red Lantern — a symbol of perseverance, not a consolation prize.

The rules, briefly

Teams must take mandatory rest: one 24-hour layover plus two 8-hour stops. Dog care comes first — veterinarians check teams at the checkpoints, and mushers can drop dogs that need rest. A team starts with up to 14 dogs and must finish with at least five on the line.

Northern and southern routes

The trail alternates yearly: the northern route in even years, the southern route in odd years. The first ~350 miles are the same; the routes split near Ophir and rejoin at Kaltag on the Yukon. 2027, an odd year, runs the southern route through the historic Iditarod ghost town.

Go deeper

See the 2027 dates, the full checkpoint map, and where to watch on our Iditarod hub. Curious how it started? Read the history of the Iditarod and meet the legendary champions.