Getting Around, Juneau Travel, Transport and Car Rental

(Juneau, Alaska - AK, USA)

Sited in between the Pacific Ocean and an imposing mountain range, the fact that Juneau is relatively isolated is all part of its charm. The transport connections to Alaska's state capital are surprisingly limited to planes, cruise ships and ferries (via the Alaska Marine Highway). It is not possible to travel to this appealing Alaskan city directly by road, although there is a reasonable network of roads once you are here, which connect neighboring towns and villages.

Huge cruise ships regularly dock at Juneau and the city's ferry terminal is to be found roughly 14 miles / 23 km from the downtown district. From here, regular state ferries transport passengers to and from Angoon, Hoonah, Kake and Tenakee Springs. There are also further ferries which travel to both Gustavus and the Glacier Bay.

Sightseeing passengers debarking from a cruise ship can jump aboard the Juneau Tours Glacier Shuttle and head straight to the Mendenhall Glacier. These shuttle buses travel along this route twice an hour, all through the busy summer season. The local Alaskan government provides inexpensive bus transport (Capital Transit) around the city, and taxi cabs are also on hand, being a firm favourite with cruise ship visitors.

Juneau International Airport (JNU) / Arriving by Air

Address: 1873 Shell Simmons Drive, Juneau, Alaska (AK), 99801, USA
Tel: +1 907 789 7821
Juneau International Airport is conveniently close to the center of Alaska's state capital, just under 8 miles / 13 km to the northwest of the city center and linked via Egan Drive. The airport stands just past the Glacier Gardens Rainforest Adventure attraction and is a hugely important regional transport hub, offering scheduled passenger airlines such as Air Excursions, Alaska Airlines, Alaska Seaplane Services, Ward Air and Wings of Alaska.

Top destinations around Alaska include Anchorage, Gustavus, Haines, Hoonah, Ketchikan, Petersburg and Sitka, while Seattle (WA) is the most popular port of call. Arriving passengers looking to travel into downtown Juneau can choose between taxi cabs (Capital Cab, EverGreen, Glacier Taxi Tours and Juneau Taxi Tours), rental cars (Alamo, Avis, Budget and Hertz), and public bus transport provided by Capital Transit and hotel shuttles.

Car Rental

If you are hoping to explore Juneau and this part of Alaska, then renting a car at the airport is advisable and will be sure to meet any of your travel needs. However, drivers should note that not all of the roads are in a good condition, due to the freezing winter weather, rock falls and avalanches that often hinder road maintenance. The Juneau-Douglas Bridge is heavily used by locals, since it spans the Gastineau Channel and connects the city's main communities with Douglas Island itself. Egar Drive (State Highway AK-7) is also of note, since it runs along much of the waterfront and offers scenic vistas, passing by Harris Harbor Way and Aurora Harbor Way.

Book your Juneau Car Rental here.

Buses

Tel: +1 907 789 6901
Public bus transport in Juneau is operated by the Capital Transit System agency, which serves both the city and the borough. There are three busy bus routes, two of which travel seven days a week, while the third is geared more at commuters and runs Monday through Friday. Amongst the most popular bus stops are the Bartlett Regional Hospital, Juneau International Airport, the Lemon Creek area, the Mendenhall Mall, the Mendenhall Valley, the Nugget Mall and the campus of the University of Alaska Southeast. Tourists wishing to travel to the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center should note that the closest bus stop is approximately 1 mile / 1.6 km away, roughly a 20-minute walk.

Taxis

Taxis are a reliable mode of transport in downtown Juneau, since the city is fairly compact and cruise ship visitors are plentiful. If you are in a small group, then taxi vans can be an especially inexpensive way to travel to your destination, since the cost can be shared. Taxis operate on a metered-fare basis, with rates being monitored by the city.

Taxis can often be found close to the Mount Roberts Tram, although most travelers simply choose to phone ahead to book a cab in advance. Local cab companies in Juneau include:

• Alaska Cab - tel: +1 907 780 6400
• Capital Cab - tel: +1 907 586 2772
• EverGreen Taxi - tel: +1 907 790 5555
• Glacier Taxi Tours - tel: +1 907 796 2300
• Juneau Taxi & Tours - tel: +1 907 790 4511

Ferries / By Sea

Tel: +1 907 465 3941
Since Juneau is rather isolated, ferry transport provides an important way to reach Alaska's capital city, via the Inside Passage. The state's car / passenger ferries are run by the Alaska Marine Highway System and sail to ports all along the coastline of Southeast Alaska, docking at Ketchikan (the Salmon Capital of the World), Petersburg (the Steamboat Canyon), Wrangell (on Wrangell Island), Sitka (on Baranof Island), Haines (located in the northern part of the Alaska Panhandle, close to the Glacier Bay National Park) and Skagway (just a short distance from Haines). Throughout the spring and summer months (from May to September), Juneau's major port welcomes an endless stream of cruise liners and other ships.