Naval Submarine Base New London by the Submarine Escape Immersion Equipment in the 2000s. On January 21, 1954 the first nuclear-powered submarine, , was launched from Groton. "Nautilus" became the first vessel to transit the North Pole during a historic trip across the Arctic in 1958. "Nautilus" spent most of her career assigned to Submarine Squadron 10 located at State Pier in New London. It was retired from service in 1980. In 1982 "Nautilus" was designated a National Historic Landmark in Groton. It is permanently moored south of the main gate, attached to the U.S. Submarine Force Museum. Self-guided tours are available to the public
Road to the North Pole described the episode as "Christmas comedy gold", praising the 'Christmastime is Killing Us' song and Boreanaz's cameo. The Parents Television Council, a conservative campaigning critic of Seth MacFarlane works, named "Family Guy" its "Worst TV Show of the Week" for "Road to the North Pole" for the week ending on December 17, 2010. It got this rating due to sexual content and excessive violent scenes including the scene in which Stewie beats a man to death with a baseball bat, and the scenes featuring Seth MacFarlane's father, Ron, while also stating, "Forget naughty or nice. This show was simply nauseating."