Overview
Nome is a city in the Arctic region of Alaska. It is a town of about 4,000 people, about half of whom are Alaska Natives. It is the transportation and commerce center for Northwest Alaska. It is also the western terminus of the Iditarod Trail.
6 sights · 2 things to do · 4 places to eat · 3 bars & cafés · 4 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Nome
The Iditarod Sled Dog Race
Finishes in mid-March in Nome. Iditarod events take place during the whole month.
The Iron Dog Snomobile Race
Runs from Wasilla to Nome and back in February. Snowmobile races are also held most weekends in winter.
Bering Land Bridge Visitor Center
Carrie M. McLain Memorial Museum
The world's largest gold pan
(18 ft) in Anvil City Park.
Katirvik Cultural Center
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: Jul–Aug. Summer highs reach about 58°F; winter lows dip to about -2°F. Cold months (Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Oct, Nov, Dec) can bring snow and ice; check road conditions. Wettest: Aug and Jul.
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- OME Nome Airport, Nome — 1 mi away. Directions
- EMK Emmonak Airport, Emmonak — 122 mi away. Directions
Cruise Ship: There are a couple cruise ships a year that stop in Nome as part of a trip through the Northwest Passage.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Sample 2-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Bering Land Bridge Visitor Center, The world's largest gold pan
- Lunch Subway
- Afternoon The Iditarod Sled Dog Race, Bering Sea Ice Golf Classic
- Dinner Milano's Pizzeria
- Evening Gold Dust Saloon
Day 2
- Morning Carrie M. McLain Memorial Museum, The Iron Dog Snomobile Race
- Lunch Polar Café
- Afternoon Katirvik Cultural Center, Nome Discovery Tours
- Dinner Airport Pizza
- Evening Safety Roadhouse
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Photos
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Understand
Climate
The Nome region has a tundra climate, with cool summers and very cold winters.
History
Nome's main claim to fame is a gold rush that happened at the turn to the twentieth century and caused the population to grow to over 20,000. There is still gold and mining, with the area being the home base for the reality TV series Bering Sea Gold, but the gold lying openly on the beaches is a thing of the past. It was the end point of the 1925 serum run to Nome from the port city of Seward to fight a diphtheria epidemic in town, an event which inspired the 1995 animated film Balto. Nome has also historically been a settlement of the local Indigenous population of Inupiat.
Visitor information
Get in
By plane
Go Nome Airport (OME)
This is the only way to get into Nome other than the Iditarod Trail, as the rest of the roads in Nome do not connect to other parts of Alaska. Nome Airport offers flights to Anchorage and Kotzebue with Alaska Airlines, Bering Air, Pathfinder Aviation, and Ryan Air operate to many smaller communities in Alaska. Bering Air operates charters to the Russian Far East.
By ship
Cruise Ship: There are a couple cruise ships a year that stop in Nome as part of a trip through the Northwest Passage.
Get around
Nome is a fairly small town, and you can easily get around it by walking, however this may not be the best option in the winter. You can also rent a car from JB Rentals or Aurora Inn.
See
Do
Do Nome Discovery Tours
Pan for gold, historical or tundra tours, Eskimo village visits or customize.
Buy
Shop Maruskiyas of Nome
Eat
Eat Airport Pizza
Airport Pizza serves pizza as the name would suggest, but also has great burgers and ramen. Definitely worth a visit for lunch or dinner.
Drink
Drink Safety Roadhouse
Safety Roadhouse is the last checkpoint of the Iditarod trail. Enjoy a cold drink, play pool or darts, and sign a dollar bill with where you're visiting from to leave on the wall.
Sleep
Stay Bering Sea Bed & Breakfast
Stay Sweet Dreams B and B
Go next
- Council — No-one has lived in Council since 1990. However, the population can pass 100 in summer, when inhabitants of Nome drive to Council to stay in one of the abandoned homes as a vacation home. It is accessible via the Nome-Council Highway, a 72-mile dirt road, in a pretty wooded valley.
- Solomon — a tiny town that is next on the Iditarod Trail.
- Teller — at 200, a sizable town for this part of Alaska, near the Bering Strait and accessible via the beautiful 70-mile dirt Nome-Teller Highway.
Nearby
My experience
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