Juneau AK is known for being the only capital city w/o a road in or out. It had one of the largest gold mines (Alaska Juneau Gold Mine). It has a popular glacier for tourists called the mendenhall Glacier. It is the largest city in the SouthEast Alaska region and is the capital of Alaska.
Juneau is incredibly spread out, so if you're staying outside downtown, you'll need a car (or a serious appetite for hiking). There are, of course, numerous chain hotels near the airport, but you can do better than that.
We do know, however, that the northern lights are best seen in Alaska between 65° N and 70° N latitude. Fairbanks is about 180 miles south of the Arctic Circle and enjoys sporadic northern lights, though it's best to forget the more southerly destinations of Anchorage and Juneau, which see dramatically fewer displays.
Average Weather in Juneau Alaska, United States. In Juneau, the summers are cool; the winters are long, freezing, and windy; and it is wet and overcast year round. Over the course of the year, the temperature typically varies from 20°F to 61°F and is rarely below 2°F or above 70°F.
Alaska is busiest from mid-June through mid-August, which is also when you will likely experience the best weather. If you're worried about crowds, your best bet is to visit in April through May and September. During these months, the days are still long and good weather windows are still probable.
The summer time in Alaska (June – August) is the most expensive season but of course, also the most popular time to visit. Alaska self-drive tours with a rental car, moderate hotels, and a few excursions are usually a bit less expensive at around $250 per person per day.
In May, in Juneau, it doesn't snow. April is the latest month when it typically snows.
20 Things Everyone In Alaska Should Avoid At All Costs
- Farmed seafood. Flickr - Judi Knight.
- Or buying fish in general. Flickr - Alaska Region U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.
- Even feeding your dogs farmed fish.
- Eating hot dogs.
- Camping without a view.
- Snacking on chips from the lower 48.
- Shopping at big corporate box stores.
- Drinking wine that isn't from Alaska.
Juneau, Alaska
Alaskan cities are generally more expensive than other U.S. cities. The costs associated with housing, utilities and health care are 40-100% higher than the national average, and transportation and grocery items are 25% higher than in other major cities.Here Are The Most Beautiful, Charming Small Towns In Alaska
- Talkeetna. Tony Cyphert | Flickr.
- Skagway. Beaster725 | Flickr.
- Sitka. USDA Forest Service Alaska | Flickr.
- Homer. Gavin Clabaugh | Flickr.
- Gustavus. Gavin Clabaugh | Flickr.
- Girdwood. readlistendream | Flickr.
- Seward.
- Ketchikan.
Never keep food in a tent overnight (not even toothpaste or bug spray), and don't camp along animal paths, especially near a lake or river. Bears use these trails. Do try the local berries, but avoid the poisonous baneberry—it looks like a red black-eyed pea when ripe.
The 10 Most Beautiful Towns in Alaska
- Sitka. Just getting to Sitka is an adventure in and of itself, as the town is only accessible by air or sea.
- Gustavus. Not far from Alaska's capital of Juneau, Gustavus feels a world away.
- Girdwood. Girdwood is located about 30 miles outside of Anchorage, on Turnagain Arm.
- Seward.
- Valdez.
- Fairbanks.
- Ketchikan.
Anchorage, mainly because it has more interesting scenery and walking trails, and it also gives you quite a few more options since it is 10 times the size of Fairbanks. Fairbanks pleasantly surprised me though, and if you're into touristy things, it does have enough to fill a day.
The calculated flying distance from Anchorage to Juneau is equal to 573 miles which is equal to 923 km. If you want to go by car, the driving distance between Anchorage and Juneau is 1365.64 km. If you ride your car with an average speed of 112 kilometers/hour (70 miles/h), travel time will be 12 hours 11 minutes.
Juneau is a great place for people who love the outdoors, beautiful scenery, and a community. The community is big enough to support a decent gathering and small enough to still have that small town vibe. You'll always see someone you know, no matter where you go. Juneau has something for everyone.
By Car or “Road”
You can't drive to all the way to Juneau without taking the ferry, but you can get much of the way along the 1,500-mile Alaska-Canadian Highway (ALCAN).The Mendenhall Glacier is located just 12 miles outside of Juneau and you can get there by taking a bus from downtown for $30 roundtrip. A taxi will cost you around $35 one-way.
Enjoy Juneau's walkability.
Partly due to its geography—it's surrounded by mountains and water—Juneau is a compact city. So it's more walkable than most. Cruise ships dock right downtown, and nearly everything worth visiting is within walking distance from the docks.Worth seeing the glacier and the falls. The Mendenhall Glacier has nice walking trails and a visitor center and if the fish are running, the most likely place in Juneau for tourists to see bears.
There are plenty of things do in Juneau if you have time, but if your time is limited, here is how you can spend your day:
- • Walk to the Mendenhall Glacier and Nugget Falls.
- Ride the Tramway to the Top of Mount Roberts.
- Have Lunch at the Red Dog Saloon.
- Take a stroll through the historic town and do some shopping.
Juneau is the capital of Alaska, and is also the second largest city in the US by area (largest is Sitka, Alaska, which happens to be one of the safest places in Alaska). The good news for Juneau residents and tourists alike is the both violent and property crime are down in recent years.
11 Free and Cheap Things To Do In Juneau
- Hiking Trails. The outdoors enthusiast will find themselves in great company here in Juneau.
- The Mendenhall Glacier and Mendenhall Glacier Visitors Center.
- Twin Lakes Park.
- Celebration Festival.
- The Juneau-Douglas Museum.
- The Alaskan Brewing Company.
- First Fridays.
- State Office Building Concerts.
Cruise port location
Ships dock along and just off South Franklin Street, southwest of the city's downtown area. Larger ships dock at two floating berths at the main terminal close to the Mount Roberts Tramway (see below), around half a mile (800m), or 10 minutes' walk from the heart of downtown.Best Juneau Tours & Excursions:
- Juneau Dog Sledding Tour.
- Mendenhall Glacier.
- Juneau Whale Watching Tour on Auke Bay.
- Mendenhall Lake.
- Salmon Bake.
- Juneau Icefield Helicopter Tour.
- Taku Glacier Lodge.
- Zipline Adventure.
Yes, Uber and lift are in Juneau as of May 2017.
Flights from Seattle to Juneau
Amtrak is a rail service that connects the US and three Canadian provinces. Covering 21,000 route miles (34,000km) Amtrak operates more than 300 trains daily. These medium and long distance intercity services operate at speeds of up to 240km/h, to more than 500 destinations.Here are some of the best ways to enjoy Juneau on your next Alaskan cruise for an unforgettable vacation:
- Explore Juneau Town.
- Tour Alaska State Museum.
- Hike Mount Roberts.
- Go Ziplining on Douglas Island.
- Take A Road Trip.
- Explore Mendenhall Glacier.
- Visit the Mendenhall Ice Caves.
- Hike to Nuggets Falls.
The primary benefit of booking excursions through the cruise line is that they guarantee your return to the ship. This generally means that if you're on a tour that's scheduled to finish 30 minutes before sail-away and the tour is in some way delayed, the ship will wait until you're safely back onboard to set sail.
Alaska Ferry
| Bellingham | Ketchikan |
|---|
| Wrangell | 44 hrs | 6 hrs |
| Petersburg | 47 hrs | 9 hrs |
| Sitka | 57 hrs | 19 hrs |
| Juneau | 55 hrs | 17 hrs |
In general from the United States, American Airlines, Alaska Airlines and British Airways fly the most to Juneau. The most popular route is from the United States, and American Airlines, Alaska Airlines & British Airways fly this route the most.
The best time to whale watch is from April to November, when approximately 600 humpbacks inhabit the waters of the northern Inside Passage. Whale watching tours are offered in Juneau and near Glacier Bay. Daily boat tours to Tracy Arm rarely return without whale sightings - and you'll often spot many on a single trip.
You can certainly drive from Seattle to Alaska - just not to Juneau or Ketchikan. As others have stated, with a vehicle, you can only take the ferry there.
The distance between Juneau and Sitka is 93 miles. How long does it take to get from Juneau to Sitka? It takes approximately 14h 9m to get from Juneau to Sitka, including transfers.
Sheltered from the Pacific Ocean by a belt of islands 75 miles (120 km) wide, it lies at the foot of Mounts Roberts (3,819 feet [1,164 metres]) and Juneau (3,576 feet [1,090 metres]). Juneau, AlaskaJuneau, Alaska, U.S. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
