Step-by-Step Guide to Configure AWS Route 53 for Domains
Amazon Route 53 is a highly scalable and reliable Domain Name System (DNS) web service provided by AWS. It allows you to register domains, manage DNS records, route internet traffic to applications, and perform health checks. Whether you host your website on AWS or externally, Route 53 can manage DNS routing efficiently.
This guide walks you through the step-by-step process of configuring a domain using AWS Route 53, from creating a hosted zone to adding DNS records and testing your configuration.
What is Amazon Route 53?
Amazon Route 53 is a cloud-based DNS and domain management service. It is designed for high availability and integrates seamlessly with AWS services like S3, CloudFront, Elastic Load Balancing, and API Gateway.
Key Capabilities
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Domain registration
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DNS record management
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Health monitoring and failover routing
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Integration with AWS services
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Traffic routing across regions
Prerequisites
Before you begin, ensure you have:
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An AWS account
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A registered domain name (with AWS or another registrar)
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Basic understanding of DNS concepts such as A, CNAME, and MX records
Step 1: Create a Hosted Zone
A Hosted Zone stores all DNS records for your domain.
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Sign in to the AWS Management Console
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Go to Route 53
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Select Hosted Zones
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Click Create Hosted Zone
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Enter your domain name
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Choose Public Hosted Zone for public-facing websites
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Click Create
AWS will generate Name Server (NS) and Start of Authority (SOA) records automatically.
Step 2: Update Name Servers at Domain Registrar
If your domain is registered outside AWS (e.g., GoDaddy, Namecheap), you must update its DNS to point to Route 53.
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Copy the four NS values from the hosted zone in Route 53
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Log in to your domain registrar
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Find DNS / Name Server Settings
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Replace the existing name servers with the four Route 53 NS records
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Save changes
It may take up to 24–48 hours for DNS propagation, though often much faster.
If your domain is registered with AWS, this step is not required.
Step 3: Add DNS Records in Route 53
Once your hosted zone is created, you can add DNS records to route traffic.
Common DNS Records to Add
| Record Type | Purpose | Example |
|---|---|---|
| A Record | Points domain to IP address | example.com → 54.12.34.56 |
| CNAME | Alias to another domain | www → example.com |
| MX | Mail server configuration | For Gmail or Microsoft 365 |
| TXT | Domain ownership validation | For SSL, email verification |
| CAA | Allowed SSL issuers | restricts which CAs can issue certs |
Example: Add an A Record
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Click Create Record
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Select Simple Routing
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Choose A – IPv4 address
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Enter your server IP or ALB DNS name
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Save
Step 4: Configure Records for WWW and Root Domain
Most websites require both root domain (example.com) and www (www.example.com) routing.
Option A: Route to a Web Server or Load Balancer
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Create an A record for example.com
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Create a CNAME record for www → example.com
Option B: Using S3 Static Website Hosting
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Create an S3 bucket named your domain
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Upload website files
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Create an A record alias targeting the S3 bucket
Step 5: Enable HTTPS with SSL/TLS (Optional but Recommended)
You can use AWS Certificate Manager (ACM) to issue free SSL certificates.
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Go to AWS Certificate Manager
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Request a certificate for your domain (example.com and *.example.com)
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Validate domain ownership by adding the Route 53 TXT record ACM provides
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Attach the certificate to CloudFront or Load Balancer
Step 6: Choose a Routing Policy
Route 53 offers different routing policies depending on traffic strategy.
| Policy | Usage |
|---|---|
| Simple | Standard single server routing |
| Weighted | Split traffic for A/B testing |
| Latency-based | Route users to nearest region |
| Failover | Health-check-based redundancy |
| Geolocation | Route traffic by country/region |
| Multi-value answer | Basic load balancing with multiple IPs |
For most beginners, Simple Routing is sufficient.
Step 7: Test DNS Configuration
Use these tools to verify DNS is correctly configured:
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Route 53 Console Health Checks
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nslookup example.com -
dig example.com -
Online tools like DNS Checker or What's My DNS
If records are correct and propagation is complete, your site will resolve successfully.
When to Use Private Hosted Zones
Private Hosted Zones are used for DNS within Amazon VPC networks, not the public internet. Use them when:
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Running internal applications
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Configuring custom domains for VPC workloads
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Replacing internal DNS servers
Best Practices for Route 53 DNS Management
| Best Practice | Benefit |
|---|---|
| Use alias records instead of hardcoded IPs | Avoids managing IP changes |
| Enable DNSSEC for domain security | Protects against DNS spoofing |
| Use health checks with failover | Increases application availability |
| Limit TTL for frequently changing services | Faster DNS updates |
| Group records with meaningful naming | Easier management |
Conclusion
Configuring AWS Route 53 for domain management is a straightforward process that allows you to leverage AWS’s scalable and reliable DNS infrastructure. From creating a hosted zone and updating name servers to adding records and enabling routing policies, Route 53 gives users full control over how traffic is directed to their applications.
Whether you are running a simple website or a global multi-region architecture, Route 53 offers the flexibility and performance needed for modern cloud applications.
