NORAD, Google Santa Trackers: How to keep up with the jolly old elf’s Christmas Eve trek
As we head closer to Christmas, it's almost time for one of our favorite seasonal activities — loading up the Santa tracker!
The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and Google have already powered up their radars for the holiday season, ready for Santa Claus's annual flight around the world.
Here's how to see when St. Nick and his reindeer are coming to town on Christmas Eve.
Guide for 2023 holiday season shipping: How long does it take to ship presents from Florida?
How to find NORAD's Santa Claus Tracker
For the 68th year in a row, NORAD is using its tracking capabilities to follow the progress of Santa Claus and his reindeer as he takes flight on Christmas Eve to deliver toys around the world.
The NORAD Tracks Santa website launched on Dec. 1, featuring Santa’s North Pole Village. The website includes a holiday countdown, games, movie theater, holiday music, web store, and more.
When will Santa get to Florida?
Have a question? Like when will Santa make his way to Florida?
Trackers can also follow Santa on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and other social media platform. The official NORAD Tracks Santa app is also in the Apple App and Google Play stores, to count down the days until Santa’s journey on mobile devices.
Click here to visit NORAD's Santa Claus Tracker in another browser.
What is NORAD Santa Tracker phone number?
On Christmas Eve, trackers worldwide can call 1-877-HI-NORAD to ask live operators about Santa’s location from 6 a.m. to midnight MST. Also on Dec. 24, website visitors will see Santa’s flight from 4 a.m. to midnight MST.
If callers are unable to reach a live volunteer, a recorded update on Santa’s location will be available, according to the website.
How to find Google's Santa Claus Tracker
Google's Santa tracker is newer to the scene, debuting the first time in 2004.
Google operates the actual Santa tracker on Dec. 24 and 25. They have calculated that Santa's Christmas Eve journey takes 25 hours to get the job done. "He makes his first stop just after 10 p.m. local time in far eastern Russia, when it’s 5 a.m. in New York and 11 a.m. in Paris," Google says.
Throughout December, trackers can head to the website to explore "Santa’s Village." There is a countdown clock to Santa's arrival, as well online holiday games and educational activities for kids of a variety of ages.
Click here to visit Google's Santa Claus Tracker in another browser.
Where does Santa leave from?
Santa Claus begins his journey at his home in the North Pole.
What time will Santa come to the U.S.?
According to NORAD, it seems Santa arrives between 9 p.m. and midnight on Christmas Eve. If children are still awake when Santa arrives, he moves on to other houses.
How fast does Santa have to travel to deliver presents?
While we all know the big man is magic, how does he get it done so fast?
In a Forbes piece from 2018, experts did the math and found that "with 500 million households to visit and 42 hours to do it in, that means Santa has a total of just 300 microseconds (0.0003 seconds) to accomplish everything he needs to accomplish per household."
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: NORAD Santa tracker and Google working to follow 2023 Florida path
