In planning a trip to Alaska, visions of untamed wilderness twinkling under sunny skies fills my imagination. Arriving to visit Juneau, Alaska’s capital city, from the peacefulness of Glacier Bay, I begin to think the plane has taken a very wrong turn. The city of just over 30,000 is swarming as if we are standing gobsmacked in New York’s Times Square.
Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) states that over one million cruise ship passengers visit Juneau each summer. That number is expected to rise for the unforeseeable future. That’s a fabulous figure for Juneau Alaska tourism.
Five cruise ships in port visiting Juneau Alaska
For those of us who came to visit Alaska by plane and car, the Juneau cruise excursions pouring off five cruise ships docked in port this day, it feels more like Pamplona’s running of the bulls.
Now before Juneau tourism has our heads let us be clear about the beauty of Juneau Alaska. The amount of stunning things to do in Juneau far outweighs the issue of over crowding. It is home to some of the most magnificent scenery in all of North America.
However unless you adore standing in line and jostling about viewpoints like desperate salmon in spawning season, we have some Alaska travel tips for you to remember for future Alaska trips.
No time to read this now? Pin it for planning your trip to Alaska.
Before you visit Juneau we invite you to be far wiser than we. Planning your Juneau sightseeing will keep you from wanting to pull your hair out and from being trampled by a mob for that matter.
5 Tips to Avoid Crowds When You Visit Juneau Alaska
Mount Roberts Tramway
One of the do-not-miss Juneau excursions is the Mount Roberts Tramway rising to 1800 feet above sea level. The dazzling views of the Gastineau Channel and Chilkat mountains are postcard worthy.
With the loading point of the tramway being at the cruise ship dock, the line up for a great deal of the day winds endlessly likely a sleepy snake. What goes up must come down and the line up for the return trip matches in patience-testing length.
Crowds outside Mount Roberts Tramway Juneau Alaska
Tips for Juneau sightseeing via Mount Roberts Tramway
The tramway is open May to September, usually until 9:00 pm. (Be sure to check on the day you purchase your ticket.) By 5:30 pm-6:00 pm the line lessens dramatically as many cruise ship visitors are headed back for dinner.
Explore the trails above the exit of the tram for one to two hours. There you will find far fewer people. Amazing how some steep climbing decreases the enthusiasm of Juneau visitors. By 8:00 pm – 8:30 pm the line returning to Juneau will be far shorter.
Take a hike above the tramway for beautiful views of Juneau and fewer people
Hiking up and down is another option. The trail begins on Basin Road approximately one mile (1.6 km) away from the Mount Roberts tram station. The trail is reported to be often muddy and uneven. Be prepared for rapid changes in weather on Mount Roberts. This is Black Bear habitat and although attacks are rare bears can be dangerous.
Mendenhall Glacier
As south east Alaska’s only glacier accessible by road, the Mendenhall is a big winner in Juneau Alaska tours. Thirteen miles from Juneau, the tour buses transporting cruise ship visitors arrive in diesel-fuelled convoys. We park up the road from the visitor center to avoid being caught in the parking lot crush. Potentially literally.
Crowds streaming in to see Mendenhall Glacier near Juneau Alaska
The Mendenall Glacier sees 400,000 visitors each year. Possibly all are present on the day we visit Juneau.
The river of blue ice is fed by 1500 square miles of the Juneau ice field. Icebergs bob in the crystal clear water of Mendenhall Lake providing an obstacle course for kayakers clearly not afraid of the frigid waters. The kayakers may be on the least crowded of the tours in Juneau.
Tips for visiting Juneau’s Mendenhall Glacier
Thread your way through the masses of visitors throughout the Mendenhall Visitor complex. Deep breathe as necessary and know this tip is going to get you out of the fray shortly.
You do not need to buy a visitor pass for where we are directing you.
Map of Mendenahll Glacier and Visitor Center. The areas in yellow require you to buy a pass which you do not need.
Follow the signs for Nugget Falls Trail which will end at a five story high waterfall and the nearby glacier. After crossing a wooden bridge there will be a sign for Nugget Falls instructing you to turn right. Go left on to the dirt path that will lead you to the shoreline of the lake. Follow the path and shoreline to Nugget Falls.
From sharing paradise with hundreds if not thousands to a few, explore the views along the quiet shore and sand bar.
Walk along the quiet shoreline to Mendenhall Glacier and Nugget Falls
For the more adventurous the West Glacier Trail ends at the Mendenhall Glacier face. Note the trail head can not be reached from the Mendenhall Visitor Center.
Get off the cruise ship tour itinerary and do your own private tours in Juneau
It would be a shame to miss the view from the top of the Juneau tramway or the glorious sight of Mendenhall. Still there are fabulous gems that the cruise ship tours in Juneau Alaska are not visiting. One of our top finds that qualifies is a stop at the Alaskan Brewing Company.
Juneau’s Alaskan Brewing Company beer sampler
The tradition of brewing beer in Alaska took a strong foothold in the gold rush days of 1700. Centuries later, in 1986, Marcy and Geoff Larson opened the first brewery in Juneau since prohibition. Still located where they opened, we heard from the staff about the addition of Sitka spruce tips and alder smoked malts.
Best of all the atmosphere was genuine Alaska where friendly conversation flows instead of crowds.
The only other visitors that sunny Juneau afternoon was an experienced cruise ship couple and their grown sons. They had taken a ride share car from Juneau’s cruise dock to the brewery knowing how to avoid the crowds in a busy port.
We spent a great deal of time congratulating each other on how clever we were to escape the mobs.
Avoid the Juneau crowds and stay in Mendenhaven
Crowds of tourists in downtown Juneau
Just 2 miles (3km) north of Juneau International Airport and 8 miles (13km) from Juneau you will find Mendenhaven. With the Mendenhall Glacier and Visitor Center up the road this quiet location provides quicker access to the ice marvel. We chose to stay at a bed and breakfast that also served dinner. The majority of restaurants in the area are in Juneau along with the crowds.
We stayed at Grandma’s Feather Bed Mendenhaven Alaska
Compare prices of accommodations in Mendenhaven OR Juneau
Tour Juneau Alaska outside of cruise ship season
As with many parts of the world the best time to travel is low or at least shoulder season. The cruises ships begin visiting Juneau at the end of April and finish in early October. You can check the Alaska cruise ship schedule here.
Cruise ship docked in Juneau
The challenge with avoiding crowds is that some services may not be open in off season. The tramway does not run year round. The outdoor trails of the Mendenhall Glacier remain open year round but the Visitor Center does not.
Our best advice is to check the cruise ship schedule. In spring and fall fewer ships will dock in Juneau and some days none at all. I wish I had done this research ahead of our visit. The next time we visit Juneau Alaska I will.
Do let us know if the tips help you to enjoy your Alaska travel.
Do you have any tips for avoiding crowds in a cruise ship destination? Have you been to Alaska?
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Now that post here does come in handy. We’re planning to go to Alaska next year for our 10th wedding anniversary, and we’re figuring out where to go and what to see, Glad I found this here. I saved it to my computer for further reference. 🙂
Pit I am so glad to pass on this information. We had absolutely no idea Juneau would be this packed. We aren’t saying you shouldn’t go but you will definitely want to do some research. We were there coming back from Glacier Bay which we would highly recommend. If you like you can read about that here. https://traveltalesoflife.com/glacier-bay-lodge-alaska-best-kept-secret/
Hi Pit, my husband and I just spent 4 months working in Alaska. While we spent most of our time on the Kenai Peninsula, we did also visit Denali. I wrote several posts about our adventures at http://www.TheWanderingRVer.com. You might find a few places to visit.
Juneau is a great place. We visited on a cruise but took an early one, I think it was early May, and it wasn’t very crowded. Alaska is so picturesque. Great tips as always.
Darlene I think that is the key. Looking at the cruise ship schedule and going early or late in the season or on a day when just one or two ships dock in port. The day we were there having five in port made for a packed little city.
Wow, it looks like you guys have this all figured out! I have never been to Alaska, you guys are much closer. ❤️
John I would like to say that we had researched this ahead of time but other than choosing to stay outside of Juneau in Mendenhaven we had to learn on the go. This was our first trip to Alaska and we would love to return.
Lots of great information here and I love the photos. Make me want to head north 🙂 Mendenhaven– and a bread and breakfast that also serves dinner. I’m there!
Wendy a photographer’s dream world sums up Alaska. We’ll meet you at the bed and breakfast but let’s check that cruise ship schedule before we go!
Excellent advice and tour of this area of Alaska, Susan. I, too, am always trying to find ways to escape the crowds. Places this beautiful, like Juneau, cannot be missed, regardless of crowds. How cool that glacier looks, waterfalls, shorelines, and mountains — all so breathtaking. You make it so accessible with your gorgeous photos and creative alternatives — thank you.
Jet I agree that Juneau is not to be missed. so much amazing beauty. I wish we had done more research prior as I had absolutely no idea that this little place would see that kind of cruise ship traffic. i appreciate your kind words about the photos and post. We are hoping for anyone heading to Alaska it gives them a heads up in their planning.
Great post! We did a cruise there 2 years ago (3rd week of Aug), so it was nostalgic to see your pictures. With young kids, we don’t have a choice but to take vacation mostly during high season unfortunately. The cruise was a good format for us because we went with another family and the grandparents, so it was hassle-free not having to co-ordinate so many people and worry about meal planning. I don’t recall crowds being a big annoyance at the time…either we lucked out with the docking schedule or I’ve become de-sensitized vacationing mostly during high season 🙂 We hired a taxi van after disembarking rather then book through the cruise line, so that may have helped to avoid the crowds as well.
Another advantage of the cruise format for us were the stunning views of the Inside Passage and constant whale sightings which we were able to enjoy without kids whining about being bored since there were tons of other activities on the boat for them.
Seattle being the launching point for the cruise was also a bonus as it stood out for me as one of my favorite cities to visit, with so many diverse attractions (Glass, Music, Tech, Aviation museums, beaches, aquarium, old harbourfront, etc.).
Ted it’s great to have your perspective as one coming off of the cruise ship. The family with grown sons that we met at the brewery had done the same thing and rented or hired their own vehicle. A great tip for anyone going on a cruise. I do think that for us coming from the quiet of Glacier Bay and feeling like we were some of the only people in Alaska to Juneau with five cruise ships in port that day was a bit of a culture shock. I can totally understand why a cruise would work so well for a multi-generational trip. How fabulous to see the whales as well as have activities for the kids while travelling.
We too spent some time in Seattle, our first visit, and absolutely loved it. So many unique things to do and such a great vibe to the city.
thank you for this very informational post, Sue. Alaska is in our bucket list and your tips will come in handy for sure. thanks again! 🙂
Lola I think you would love Alaska and I’m glad the tips may be helpful. We came to Juneau after being at our primary destination which was Glacier Bay. I can’t say enough about the thrill of being there. If you are interested this is our article. https://traveltalesoflife.com/glacier-bay-lodge-alaska-best-kept-secret/
it is magical Sue! thank you so much 🙂
Juneau is very beautiful. Just finding a way to stay out of the crowds is the trick.
What a beautiful place to visit. Alaska has a bit of everything to enjoy! I’ll have to “pin” this for possible future reference! 😁
Alaska is just stuffed with natural beauty Linda. thank you for taking the time to read and for pinning the article. Much appreciated.
In some places, avoiding the cruise ships and their throngs can get to be a competitive activity! (Dubrovik – ugh.) I would not have put Juneau on that list, so thanks for the heads-up. I keep putting other places ahead of Alaska, and I simply must focus and get there soon!
Lex I never even gave it a second thought. It’s Alaska land of wilderness right? We would love to return to Alaska. So much incredible beauty. Next time I will be definitely checking cruise ship schedules though.
We took a cruise that stopped in Juneau and enjoyed it. But since then, we have thought the next time would be on our own. These are good tips.
I can see some advantages to the cruise trip but having the flexibility to move at your own pace really appeals to me. Glad to know the tips would be helpful for a future adventure.
We’ve found that cruise ship visitors tend move on fairly quickly because they’re usually on a tight timetable, so the afternoon is better for sightseeing than the mornings.
That’s a good tip to be sure. I think in Juneau since there were five ships in that day they had staggered arrivals and sightseeing to try to balance out the throngs. But by late afternoon, 5:30pm, one could see a decrease.
Reading your post I was not expecting you to say there were crowds in Juneau and you tried to avoid crowds. Then again, I know little about Alaska and it hasn’t been on my mind as a place to visit… It looks like you had a good time there and the places you visited comes across as every bit memorable. Thank you so much for directing us around Mendenall Glacier to where we don’t need to buy a visitor pass…and Nugget Trail sounds every bit the delicious trail with great scenery 🙂 Though you mentioned you didn’t do much research ahead of your visit, it sounded like it was well planned and you saw what you came to see. Nothing less from you, Sue, even if you feel a little under-prepared 🙂
Mabel I think over our years of travel we have learned to ask locals always when not knowing what to do. Many of the tips here came from us approaching Juneau locals with a desperate look in our eyes. They gave us tips on timing, parking, where to go, what to avoid. some of it we discovered by pure yearning to be away from the mobs. I had no idea Juneau would be so busy, especially coming from the tranquillity of Glacier Bay prior.
Brilliant tips Sue, never been to Alaska but really fancy a visit and these would all make the Juneau trip so much better. Big problem with all cruises and cruise stops though I suppose.
Jonno I do think one has to be more and more mindful of cruise ship ports when travelling. As the cruise industry grows so does the challenge of crowd management. We do think Juneau is definitely worth a visit but do check those schedules ahead of time. We hope to return to Alaska one day. Such a paradise, especially when one gets into the wilderness.
Thank You for this post.
I wish that someday I could visit there. Sigh!
Have a good day!
I think you would enjoy Alaska very much. Hopefully one day and thanks so much for your visit.
We found the same thing on the Kenai. Hard to get away from the throngs of tourists, but with a little planning it can be done. e didn’t get to visit the Juneau area – next time! Great hints.
Laura I have no doubt that with your time spent in Alaska you can relate to the contrast of pristine wilderness and cruise ship crowding. I had not been prepared for that and hopefully these tips will help others planning a trip to Alaska.
I would love to go to Alaska! It is on the list. Someday I hope to get there.
Oh Nicole imagine all the amazing hikes you would do! Keep Alaska on the list and just be mindful of the cruise ship stops.
Alaska is one of the few cruises I’d actually be interested in – it sounds amazing. I’ll be sure to bookmark this post just in case (’cause you know how I feel about crowds)! 😉 Thanks, Sue!
I’ve reached this stage in travelling where I’m simply not interested in navigating through crowds of people all swarming to see the same tourist attractions. I’ve been reading and hearing about Alaskan cruises for a number of years and this post has certainly been an eye-opener.
Joanne I was incredibly surprised at the five cruise ships in port. Coming from undisturbed Gpa uber Bay it was quite the shock. Like you I am getting far less tolerant of the mob scene as I mature. Alaska is well worth seeing but some research is a good idea.
Dear Sue
This is wonderful. Excellent advices and beautiful pictures. I love the name of the hotel you stayed – Grandma’s Feather Bed. Thanks a lot .
That is a great name isn’t it? Thank you for the kind feedback.
Madhu I noticed that the link to your website atta he’d to your Gravatar is not working. You may want to check that.
I will be going, so I will do my research 🙂 Thanks Sue!
A good plan Amy. Have a wonderful time when you go.
Stunning photos, Sue! I’m glad to see that the glaciers in Alaska are still pretty intact, unlike the ones in New Zealand. I can’t believe how many cruise ships arrive in Juneau! They can get bad in the Caribbean; the best tip is to stay away when the mobs arrive. 🙂 I was in Alaska on a summer RV trip 14 years ago, but never made it to this part. Maybe because there are no connecting roads. 🙂
It is a wonder at the growth of the cruise ship industry I must say. This was a big learning for us to check cruise ship schedules before going to a cruise ship port.
Great tips 🙂
Thank you Joshi. Juneau is beautiful but in summer some planning is a good idea.
These are WONDERFUL tips, Sue. I will never take a cruise because of (1) extreme sea sickness and (2) claustrophobia in crowds, but after reading your post, I definitely would like to visit Juneau. Or maybe better – Mendenhaven.
My guy and I always do our best to avoid crowds when we travel. When we go to Europe, it’s been in July, when it’s (too) hot thus less tourists, although of course in Florence and all over Italy it’s always crowded in the summer, but not as bad as spring or early summer. In the US, we try to travel after school has begun and kids are back in school. When we go to San Francisco, it’s in early December before the crowds for Christmas shopping, and late January. Yes, that’s the rainy season, but it also can be 60 degrees and sunny!
P.S. Been thinking of your mom and hoping she’s doing okay.
Pam I can definitely relate to the seasickness and although I wouldn’t say I am claustrophobic I certainly am less and less tolerant of crowds. Thanks for sharing these great tips about timing of travel. Aren’t we lucky ot have the flexibility to make the choices! Mom is doing well and thanks so much for thinking of her. We will be with her next week for follow up appointments and will have a better sense of the path forward from there.
Great tips Sue! As we plan to visit by sailboat in the coming years, we will need to travel there in the most favorable weather (e.g. height of the cruise ship season) but you’ve given us lots of ideas how to make the visit a tourist free as possible. Big hugs to Shirley and Dave.
Lisa I certainly would never discourage anyone from visiting Alaska. So much pristine wilderness and beauty to be had. I know you will have an incredible adventure. It all just requires some planning around cruise ship schedules. that was not something I knew prior to our visit. Thank you for the hugs. We will be seeing Mom next week and will deliver them in person. Hugs back to you and the Captain too and thank you for the love on Twitter. Much appreciated. xo
We have just spent time talking to our travel agent friend about a trip to Alaska, actually an “Uncruise” along the Inner Passage, smaller boats for more active trips, then a discussion of where to go for an additional week. This is a very timely post Sue. Thanks for the great tips. Gotta love Pinterest!
I have a blogging friend who did the Uncruise adventure in Alaska and it looked astounding. I’ll very much look forward to reading about that LuAnn. Yes for that additional week there are so many possibilities. We loved our time in Glacier Bay. As to Pinterest yes I do love it although I keep seeing so many ideas I will need to live for another 75 years. 🙂
I have been there on 4 cruise ship days and been lucky to visit on days with no ships. It is amazing how many people flood that little town. Your advice is spot on – do something active and a little farther afield and you’ll have far fewer tourists.
Another tip is to go on an evening or night walk around the harbor and downtown. She ships usually leave in the evening and the locals reclaim the city. It can be a pleasant time for a stroll since it doesn’t get dark until late mid-summer.
That is an excellent tip Jeff. When we go off the tram at about 8:30pm we did meander in the downtown area for a time. One or two of the ships didn’t leave until midnight so although there were still crowds it was definitely thinner than mid afternoon.
Grandma’s feather bed looks like a quaint place to stay Sue. I remember a friend of mine visiting Alaska with her family when we were at school and my grandparents went, twice. It’s always fascinated me.
Shannyn it is definitely worth going to. Most of Alaska is completely wild. It is the cruise ship destinations where one has to really do some planning. I hope you get there one day.
Never been but would love to go one day. If and when we do, I’ll be back for all these great tips.
Peta
Alaska is utterly beautiful and we were totally unprepared for the crowds of Juneau. We had spent time in Glacier Bay which was one of the highlights of all of our travels. Ten minutes in Juneau and I felt strongly about the need to let others know they needed to be far better prepared than we were.
Plenty of great information, Sue! Alaska is still on my bucket list. Thank you!
You will love Alaska. Our time in Glacier Bay was beyond incredible. The crowds in Juneau came as a huge surprise. I hope the tips help because it truly is worth visiting at least for a day or two.
Thanks for the tips. Alaska is a beautiful place. My wife and I are planning to go next year.
Excellent post Sue, which brought back a lot of memories. Although I didn’t spend a lot of time in Juneau, I spent 2 full summers working at a wilderness youth camp north of Juneau and Auke Bay. The road continued past Mendenhall Glacier access roads, turned into a gravel road and eventually ended at Berners Bay 30 miles north. Then it was a 2 mile hike during low tide to the camp.
It was in 1984 and 1988. I don’t remember a lot of cruise ship crowds the few times I was in Juneau (am very fortunate to visit when I did) I am wondering if it had not yet taken off. What great tips to visit spots not offered in the cruise ship like the Alaskan Brewing Company. The East Glacier Trail with the visitor centre did not seem have the crowds like in your picture as well. Been on that trail a couple of times and the West Glacier Trail a half dozen times. It gives access to Mt. McGinnis, which is the snow capped peak in your picture west of the glacier. Supposed to be great views up there, but it poured rain both times I climbed it.
I took the Alaskan State Ferry from Prince Rupert to Juneau both times and absolutely loved it. The same scenery without the cost! 🙂
What wonderful memories Carl. My guess is that you visited Juneau before the cruise ship industry really took off. Your descriptions sound blissful. You have seen a great deal in your days. Thanks for sharing this experience with us.
Thank you Sue. My visits must have been before the cruise ship industry took up. I don’t remember cruise ships, and II don’t ever recall locals talk about cruise ships. I am very fortunate for the experiences I have had! 🙂
Great tips as always… you do such a great job. Will we ever get to Alaska? Who knows? But if we do.. at least I know where to go for the information that we would need to make the trip easier. Crowds are such a deterrent for me, we always try to select places in off season for that very reason, but of course its not always possible…
Peta
Peta you may remember our post on Glacier Bay Lodge which definitely would be more to your liking than Juneau I think. However one almost has to go through Juneau to get there so good to know.
Hubby and I are flying in in July and staying 5 nights. We are staying at the Beachside Villa across the water from town (looking at Juneau). I booked all of our tours (a glacier float, flight seeing and salmon bake, whale watching etc) with small, local companies. I’m glad I did. I looked at the cruise schedule and there are 4 ships in a day and many don’t leave until well after dinner and no place takes reservations!
Sounds like you made some great decisions Vikki. Good for you to do the research well in advance!
Which company or tour group should I book through for a tour of Mendenhall Glacier via kayak? All the sites I’ve looked all seem to be associated with the cruise ships..
Helen we didn’t do any kayaking in Juneau so I am unable to make a personal recommendation. When I did a quick search I found quite a few on Trip Advisor that weren’t specific to cruises. I’d do a search there and read reviews. I hope that helps.
Very true about not needing to purchase a pass to see Mendenhall Glacier and Nugget Falls. We took a cab up to the park, got charged $17 per person admission to the park ( in addition to the cab fare). There is a ticket dispensing machine in the parking lot. A one day pass is $5. As the author says, you can see the glacier and falls without a pass. The things you don’t know on your first trip. We felt very ripped off by the cabbie but I understand all the cabs in Juneau charge the $17 park entrance fee. The cabs have to pay something to the national park for the privilege of dropping tourists in the park but I was told it is about 60 cents per passenger. Better off to get a small group together and rent a car.
Kathy many thanks for sharing your experience as it will be a help to others who find themselves in a similar situation. Much appreciated.
Aw I just stumbled across your article and although it provides great information it is bittersweet. Dang COVID has definitely taken its toll in Juneau where I would have loved to see the downtown booming with tourists. It’s September 2021 and it’s an amazing experience to have this town to yourself but I feel for all the business owners that are dependent on the cruising industry and have struggled during this time. We have been told by locals that this year is much better than 2020 but still at 10-15% of their previous tourism rate. Cheers it return to its former tourism grandeur! It is truly an amazing and beautiful place
I can only imagine the huge change for the businesses of Juneau. Hopefully 2022 will be the comeback year for them. Juneau is an extraordinary place. It must have been amazing to be there without the crowds.