Described herein are methods, systems, and software for accommodating failover of a content node in a content delivery network. In one example, a method of operating a control node includes receiving content requests issued by end user devices. The method further provides, for at least a first content request, mapping a first connection between a first end user device and a first content node, the first connection defined by at least a network address of the first end user device and a virtual next hop network address, and directing traffic associated with the first connection to the first content node using at least the virtual next hop network address. The method also includes identifying a service interruption associated with the first content node and, responsive to the service interruption, identifying a second content node to handle the communications for the first connection.