Where to stay
Juneau’s hotels are spread along one coastal road, from downtown to Auke Bay. Choose the right area and your days get easier. Here are the four areas worth considering, with the trade-offs for each.
The areas
Most choice
Walk to the docks, restaurants and the tram
Juneau’s historic centre has the widest choice of hotels, from older landmark buildings to modern chains. You can walk to the waterfront, museums and tour pickups. The glacier is about 30 minutes away by bus or shuttle.
Best for: First-time visitors without a car, and pre- or post-cruise stays
Closest to the glacier
Near the glacier and the airport
The residential valley below the glacier has airport hotels, inns and vacation rentals, with supermarkets and restaurants nearby. It is the best base for early starts on the trails.
Best for: Hikers, early flights and travellers with a rental car
Quiet
A harbor village north of the glacier
A smaller selection of lodges, B&Bs and rentals around the harbor where most whale-watching boats leave. The ferry terminal is close by.
Best for: Whale watching, ferry arrivals and a quieter stay
Views
Across the channel from downtown
Mostly vacation rentals and B&Bs, a short drive over the bridge from downtown, with views back across Gastineau Channel. Eaglecrest ski area is on the island.
Best for: Longer stays, families and winter visits
Most hotels are downtown or near the airport. Expect comfortable, practical rooms rather than resorts. Many include breakfast or have a restaurant on site.
Smaller B&Bs and lodges are scattered across the valley, Auke Bay and Douglas Island. Hosts are a good source of local tips, and some can arrange tours.
Apartments and houses suit families and longer stays, and give you a kitchen, which helps with Juneau’s restaurant prices.
The Forest Service rents rustic public-use cabins in the forest around Juneau, some reached only on foot, by boat or by floatplane. Book well ahead; summer dates go quickly.
Summer is short and demand is high, so prices peak from June to August. May and September are cheaper and quieter, with most tours still running. In winter many smaller properties close, but downtown hotels stay open and rates drop.
Good to know
Downtown is best if you do not have a car: tours and shuttles pick up there and you can walk to restaurants. The Mendenhall Valley is better for hikers and early flights, and is usually quieter.
For June to August, book as early as you can. Juneau has a limited number of hotel rooms and summer weekends fill up, especially around big events and peak cruise weeks.
Not if you stay downtown and use tours, shuttles, taxis and the city bus. A car is useful for the valley, Auke Bay, the Shrine of St. Therese and the trails north of town.
The Forest Service runs the Mendenhall Lake Campground near the lake in summer. Sites can be reserved in advance through the federal recreation booking system.
Plan your Mendenhall trip
Once you have a base, compare glacier tours that pick up from your hotel or the cruise docks.