What to do in Juneau Alaska in One Day From the Cruise Port
Juneau was one of our favorite stops on our cruise ship – despite it being POURING rain. We visited mid September, so we were expecting some rain. But we definitely didn’t let the rain slow us down! We rented a car through Turo, but I’ll tell you in this post what your options are for a car rental in Juneau and how to get around if you don’t have a car. We’ll outline all of our favorite stops for what to do in Juneau, Alaska in one day – like the Mendenhall Glacier, the best place to grab a local beer, and some more off the beaten path stops.
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How to Find a Car Rental in Juneau, ALaska
It can be difficult to find car rentals in such a remote town in Alaska, here are a few options so you can explore Juneau. In general, Juneau has less options for easy transportation from the cruise port than some of the other Alaska towns and it’s a bit more spread out! So we found it really worthwhile to rent a car here.
Turo
Turo is a car rental platform that allows you to rent cars from locals instead of rental car agencies. Sometimes it’s much cheaper, and you can find a car with more flexible drop off or pick up locations. Turo was how we found our rental car and it was great!
Renting a car through Turo also helps support local residents!
Car Rental Companies
There are a few places you can get a rental car in Juneau. One is at the Juneau Airport; however, that is quite a ways away from the cruise port so don’t rent a car from there.
Two good options for car rentals in Juneau near the cruise port (other than Turo) is at the Avis Rental Car in downtown Juneau or by filling out a form on this website to check for car availability.
Juneau Car Rental Company also has a shuttle that will take you from the cruise ship to your rental car.
Can I Explore Juneau Without a Car?
Yes you definitely can visit Juneau without a car! Here I’ll outline the ways to get around Juneau, Alaska without a car. It’s easier to have a car in Juneau (in our opinion) if you are traveling with kids. But it’s definitely possible to explore this beautiful town without a car.
Things to do in Juneau, Alaska from the Cruise Port (in Walking Distance!)
Wondering what to do in Juneau, Alaska in one day if you’re walking? There are several of the activities that are on this one day in Juneau itinerary that you can do if you’re willing to walk a little bit. The following are activities that can be reached by walking a short distance from the cruise port.
- Alaskan Brewing Company
- Tahku Whale Statue
- Shopping downtown
- Goldbelt Tram
And of course, you can still always enjoy the beautiful views of the town, the oceans, and mountains!
Book a Shuttle!
The best way to get to the Mendenhall Glacier without a car is to book a shuttle ahead of time. You could chance it and wait until the last minute, but I wouldn’t recommend it as they can fill up quickly! Most of the tours you book will have a shuttle included.
Click here to book an affordable shuttle tour to the Glacier. You’ll get about three hours to get there, explore and hike, and get back to downtown Juneau for more exploring.
Capital Transit is Not Recommended
Generally Capital Transit is for local residents to use. It doesn’t go all the way to the Mendenhall Glacier, and there can be long wait times in between buses.
Use Uber or Lyft
Both Uber and Lyft exist in Juneau. Unfortunately, it’s a bit more up to chance and you could end up waiting a little longer if there is high demand for a ride. However, this is an option if you’re looking for a ride in Juneau.
Take a Taxi
Juneau has several taxi companies that you can call for a ride! Glacier Taxi & Tours is one of the options that you can call at (907) 796-2300. Consider calling ahead if you can to make sure you’re able to get a ride when you want and don’t end up waiting too long.
Map of Things to do in Juneau, Alaska from the Cruise Port
One Day in Juneau Itinerary from the Cruise Port
1. Explore the Shrine of St. Therese
Distance from the cruise port to the Shrine of St. Therese: 22 miles, about 30 minutes drive
The first stop on your one day in Juneau itinerary is the Shrine of St. Therese. Here you’ll find a beautiful stone chapel, a garden, memorial, water access, and more. We really enjoyed walking around the grounds and exploring outside with our kids.
Many of the trails around the grounds are paved, so it would be the perfect place for a stroller friendly walk in Juneau! There are also some short trails through the woods that were really fun. We found some cool fungi along the trail as well in the fall.
2. Hike to the Mendenhall Glacier
Distance from the cruise port to Mendenhall Glacier: 12 miles, ~20 minute drive
Distance from the Shrine of St. Therese to the Mendenhall Glacier: 15 miles, ~23 minute drive
Likely the most popular place to visit in Juneau from the cruise ship is the Mendenhall Glacier. At this stop, there are both short and longer hiking trails, a visitor center, and a paved path to an overlook of the Glacier. The visitor center is staffed with U.S. Forest Service Rangers that will be able to answer all of your questions about trails, climate change, and the massive glacier you see from the visitor center.
The Mendenhall Glacier is also a spot where you can get your National Parks Passport stamped! Make sure to check the hours for the visitor center before you visit, they do have different seasonal hours if you are visiting in the off season.
You will need to pay to visit the Mendenhall Glacier. There are automated payment machines in the parking lots or you can pay inside the visitor center. It costs around $5 per person (free for kids) and grants you access to the Pavilion, Photo Point, and Steep Creek Trails. If you have an America the Beautiful Pass, this will grant you access as well.
We didn’t actually get to experience the trails (except to Photo Point) because it was POURING rain. But here are some of the beautiful trails you can access here:
- Photo Point: Easy, Paved, 0.3 miles
- Nugget Falls: 2.0 miles, 100 feet elevation gain
- Moraine Ecology Trail: 1.5 miles, flat
If you’re feeling more adventurous – check out a Mendenhall Glacier Lake Canoe Tour! You’ll get to skip the crowds at the photo points and get up close to the beautiful blue glacier.
3. Have a Snack at Forbidden Peak Brewery
Distance from the cruise port to Forbidden Peak Brewery: 12 miles, ~18 minute drive
Distance from the Mendenhall Glacier to Forbidden Peak Brewery: 5 miles, 10 minute drive
After these stops, it’ll probably be time for a snack! We love stopping by local breweries when we travel because they are usually very kid friendly places. On your way back from the Mendenhall Glacier, you’ll find the Forbidden Peak Brewery. They have great beer, a fun little store, lots of room for kids to roam, and some quick food options as well.
4. See the Tahku Whale Statue
Distance from the cruise port to the whale statue: ~1 mile, 4 minute drive
Distance from Forbidden Peak Brewery to the whale statue: ~11 miles, ~17 minute drive
Tahku is the famous whale statue in downtown Juneau. It looks really realistic and it’s huge! Seeing our little kids next to this giant whale was really cool and it was a fun photo opportunity. Also, look for the signs near the statue to learn a little bit about Humpback Whales!
The Tahku statue commemorates the 50th anniversary of Alaska’s statehood and celebrates the amazing Humpback Whale species that spends their summers in Southeast Alaska, but then travel 2800 miles to warmer water in the Winter. It was also sculpted by a Juneau resident, R.T. Wallen
Learn more about the history of the statue here!
5. Go Shopping for Souvenirs
Downtown Juneau has some fun (and admittedly touristy) shops to browse. It may be busy, depending on how many ships are in port, but it’s still a fun activity for your one day in Juneau itinerary. We always get a magnet and a kids book when we travel, and we were able to find some affordable souvenirs at the Alaska Shirt Company. There are a ton of other small stores in downtown that you can explore!
6. Grab dINNER & a Beer at Alaskan bREWing Company
For dinner in Juneau, and another beer if you’d like – Alaskan Brewing Company. You can visit Alaska’s oldest continuously operating brewery in downtown Juneau. They also have some room to roam for kids, beer flights, and a full tasty menu. We loved the Seafood Chowder, but they also have King Crab legs if you want to try some Alaskan Crab.
7. Enjoy the Views of Juneau from the Cruise Ship
One amazing thing about cruises is the view that you get from the ship is truly incredible. Since the cruise ships are so tall, you get some really epic views of Juneau. Make sure you take some time to walk around the deck and take in the beautiful town of Juneau and the surrounding wilderness.
If you’re looking for guidance on other Alaska Cruise Ports, here are some of our favorites!
14 Things to do in Skagway, Alaska With Kids
The Best Day in Sitka, Alaska from the Cruise Port
Victoria, BC Cruise Port with Kids: One Fun Day!
If you’re planning your Alaska cruise with your kids, make sure to check out some of the other resources we have for you! There is a lot of planning that goes into taking a cruise with kids, so you’ll want to make sure you’re prepared so you have the best vacation ever.
