Getting to Willow for Sunday’s 2024 Iditarod restart

The restart of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race begins Sunday afternoon at Willow Lake — and that’s when the real racing begins.

The Willow restart provides one more chance for spectators to watch mushers and their teams before they venture to more remote sections of trail on their nearly thousand-mile journey to Nome.

Dog teams will be staging at Willow Lake before departing in two-minute intervals starting at 2 p.m. Sunday. The Iditarod’s official website will host a livestream of the restart, for those who can’t make it in person.

Iditarod parking in Willow costs $20 per vehicle, cash only. Look for electronic sign boards on the Parks Highway in Wasilla and at Houston High School describing parking availability in Willow. Members of the public won’t be allowed to park at the Willow Community Center lot.

Race organizers are also encouraging fans to make use of shuttle bus services from Anchorage and Wasilla.

Here are the 2024 shuttle schedules and prices, according to the Iditarod website:

Anchorage

Cost: $30 round trip for spectators, $20 round trip for Iditarod volunteers; buy passes at the Iditarod volunteer registration desk at The Lakefront Anchorage hotel

Location: Departing from The Lakefront Anchorage hotel, 4800 Spenard Road

Departure times: 8 a.m. (for Iditarod volunteers only), 9:30 a.m. (volunteers and spectators; two buses) and 11 a.m. (for spectators)

Return times from Willow to Anchorage: 4, 5 and 8 p.m.

Wasilla

Cost: $5 round trip; tickets available on site

Locations: Depart from Wasilla High School, 701 E. Bogard Road, or the Curtis D. Menard Memorial Sports Center, 1001 S. Clapp St.

Departure times: Wasilla High — 11 a.m., 11:30 a.m., noon, 12:15 p.m., 12:30 p.m., 12:45 p.m. and 1 p.m.; Menard Center — 8:45 a.m. (for Iditarod volunteers only), and 11 a.m., 11:30 a.m. and noon (for spectators)

Return times from Willow to Wasilla: 4, 5, 6 and 8 p.m.

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