Here’s how to track Santa this Christmas Eve with NORAD’s 2024 tracker

On December 24, 2024By Littum

Sailing around our planet with toys and joy is no simple task for Santa and his high-flying reindeer, and whether or not Rudolph’s red nose is needed this year, it’s still a miraculous annual mission that requires expert mapping and some cooperation from Mother Nature.

For eager eyes anticipating his arrival NORAD Tracks Santa website and the app is here to bring Christmas cheer by tracking exactly where in the world the big red guy is and where his course will take him next. This interactive simulation app is available for Android or Apple iOS devices and can be downloaded for free from NORAD’s official site.

Built into the NORAD Tracks Santa website, which counts Santa’s shots down from the North Pole and provides an updated location spotter from Christmas Eve, Christmas Eve users can explore the North Pole, play fun daily games in The Arcade, listen to Santa’s favorite Christmas tunes on the Music Stage, read stories about Santa’s magical sleigh and holiday traditions in the library, watch films about Santa Claus and NORAD at The Teater, buy Santa-themed items and NORAD gear in The Gift Shop and learn all about NORAD’s history and its ongoing mission.

“While the tradition of tracking Santa began purely by accident, NORAD continues to track Santa,” the website states. “We’re the only organization with the technology, the skills and the people to do it. And we love it! NORAD is honored to be Santa’s official tracker!”

Kris Kringle fans can track Santa’s annual flight on the official website, Facebook, X, Instagram, YouTube and the NORAD Tracks Santa Claus mobile app. Children (and childlike adults) can also call a volunteer-staffed hotline number to reach the NORAD Tracks Santa Operation Center on December 24: 877-HI-NORAD (877-446-6723).

Based in Colorado Springs, Colorado, the North America Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) has been tasked with tracking Santa Claus as he circles the globe for nearly 70 years.

A festive room filled with people tracking down Santa Claus

NORAD tracks the Santa Operations Center at Peterson Space Force Base in Colorado. (Image credit: NORAD)

By some accounts, this Santa Tracker initiative started quite by accident in 1955, when a Colorado Springs Sears printed a newspaper notice telling children to call a specific phone number to chat with Santa. This number was misprinted and the connection was actually routed to NORAD’s predecessor, the Continental Air Defense Command (CONAD). Crew commander Col. Harry Shoup made the wrong call, but realizing the positive PR factor involved, asked his officers to provide fictitious tracking updates about Santa and his sleigh.

Today, NORAD uses its North Warning System radar system, early warning satellites and 47 installations along North America’s northern border for high-tech Christmas detection. Candy canes and hot chocolate are not required.

NORAD Tracks Santa is live online and begins watching Santa at 4 ET (0900 GMT) on December 24.