If you’re a parent with young children, chances are you’ll hear one big question on Christmas Eve: “Where’s Santa right now?” Thanks to technology, and now AI, tracking Santa Claus has become more fun, interactive, and magical than ever.
Two major platforms, NORAD Santa Tracker and Google Santa Tracker, are leading the way with real-time tracking tools, games, videos, and AI-powered features designed for the whole family.
Track Santa Claus With NORAD
NORAD (North American Aerospace Defense Command) launched the world’s first Santa tracker in 1955. What started as a simple animation has evolved into a fully interactive experience packed with holiday content.
This year, NORAD introduced new AI-powered features in partnership with OpenAI, including:
- An AI image generator that turns your selfie into an animated elf
- A toy idea generator that converts ideas into printable coloring pages
- A fill-in-the-blank storytelling tool that lets families personalize holiday stories with names and locations
Unlike basic 2D trackers, NORAD’s platform offers a 3D visualization of Santa’s journey, built using Cesium’s open-source 3D mapping library and Bing Maps satellite imagery for a more realistic globe view.
Users can also enjoy:
Related: AI Santa Returns With More Realism
- Santa Cam videos showing Santa delivering gifts worldwide
- The North Pole Village, featuring a countdown to Christmas, arcade-style games, festive music, videos, and a kid-friendly online library
Santa can be tracked via:
- Website: noradsanta.org
- Mobile apps: Apple App Store and Google Play Store
- Social media: Facebook, X (Twitter), and Instagram
For a more personal touch, families can also call NORAD directly at 1-877-HI-NORAD (1-877-446-6732) to speak with a volunteer who provides live updates on Santa’s location.
Track Santa Claus With Google
Google launched its Santa Tracker in 2004, offering a playful and interactive way to follow Santa’s Christmas Eve journey.
The tracker includes:
- A live map showing Santa’s current location
- His next destination and estimated arrival times
- A counter displaying distance traveled and number of presents delivered
Throughout December, Google’s Santa Tracker doubles as Santa’s Village, filled with games, quizzes, animated videos, and educational activities. Highlights include:
- Elf Maker, where kids design their own elf
- Elf Jamband, a fun virtual concert experience
- Code Boogie, an easy and entertaining way for kids to learn coding basics
Google Assistant also joins the fun. Users can say:
- “Hey Google, where’s Santa?”
- “What’s new at the North Pole?”
You can even call Santa directly using Google Assistant for an extra dose of holiday magic.
