NORAD has launched its annual Santa tracker for 2025 at NORADSanta.org, featuring a live, animated map of Santa’s Christmas Eve route and a running total of gifts delivered — more than 1.3 billion at the time of publication. The tracker began in 1955 after a child accidentally dialed a military operations center; volunteers now staff a hotline at 877-HI-NORAD, which handled over 300,000 calls last Christmas Eve. NORAD notes it can track Santa but cannot predict the exact moment he will reach an individual home.
NORAD’s 2025 Santa Tracker: Follow Santa’s Christmas Eve Flight in Real Time
NORAD’s Santa tracker. (NORAD via AP)
It’s back for 2025: the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) is once again tracking Santa Claus’s journey from the North Pole as he delivers gifts across the globe on Christmas Eve. Visit NORADSanta.org to see an interactive map and animated sleigh route in real time.
How the Tracker Works
Beginning at midnight on Christmas Eve, NORAD’s Santa tracker combines satellite mapping data with digital animation to portray the path taken by Santa’s reindeer and sleigh. The site also displays a live tally of gifts delivered — at the time of publication the counter had surpassed 1.3 billion — and draws tens of millions of visitors each year.
Origins of the Tradition
The tradition began in 1955 when a child accidentally dialed the unlisted telephone number for the Continental Air Defense Command Operations Center and asked for Santa Claus. Not wanting to disappoint the child, Air Force Col. Harry Shoup, then the command center’s director of operations, instructed staff to check radar for indications of Santa making his way south from the North Pole. NORAD has continued to report Santa’s whereabouts every Dec. 24 since that first call.
Hotline, Volunteers and Special Guests
The binational military organization, headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colorado, eventually recruited volunteers to staff a dedicated hotline and provide live updates on Santa’s progress. In recent years volunteers have included pop stars, presidents and first ladies. The hotline is still active: callers can reach an operator at 877-HI-NORAD (877-446-6723). Last Christmas Eve the line handled more than 300,000 calls.
Note: From time to time, prominent figures are scheduled to answer calls as part of the festivities; for example, a high-profile public figure was scheduled to field NORAD Santa calls from Palm Beach, Fla., during this year’s event.
"NORAD tracks Santa, but only Santa knows his route, which means we cannot predict where and when he will arrive at your house," the organization states on its FAQ page. "We do, however, know from history that it appears he arrives only when children are asleep!"
How To Follow Along
To follow Santa in real time, go to NORADSanta.org, view the interactive map, or call the hotline. The tracker is family-friendly and designed for children and adults to enjoy together.
