One year after receiving a lump of coal for Christmas, 11-year-old Cole McCarthy hatches a plan to get back on Santa's nice list. Faking illness to avoid a snowboarding trip with his cousins, Cole sneaks out on an epic adventure to the North Pole.

His parents, Ken and April, are separated, and once he's missing, are forced to come together to track Cole down as he journeys through various cities and landmarks across the U.S., including sightseeing at the Space Needle, rockin’ and rollin’ through the Museum of Pop Culture, mischief in the Mall of America, and miracles in Madison Square Garden.

Encountering law enforcement, professional athletes, and rock stars along the way, the family’s paths converge in a heartwarming and magical confrontation with Kris Kringle himself. Through this wild journey, Cole learns invaluable lessons about love, friendship, and the true meaning of Christmas.