Juneau
Alaska's capital sits at sea level under steep mountains, with glaciers nearby and no road connection to the rest of the state.
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Juneau is the capital of Alaska, on the Gastineau Channel in Southeast Alaska. Government moved here from Sitka in 1906. Downtown sits at sea level, below mountains roughly 3,500 to 4,000 feet high. The city has no road connection to the rest of Alaska or North America, so you arrive by air or by sea. Vehicles travel by barge or state ferry.
Visitors come for the glaciers, the mountains and the Tlingit history. The Mendenhall Glacier can be reached by the local road system. The Alaska State Capitol, an Art Deco building dedicated on February 14, 1931, stands downtown, and St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church was completed in 1894. Summer is the busy season: cruise ships bring 16,000 or more people a day between May and September. Expect rain or snow, since precipitation falls on about 230 days a year.
Juneau in five
- Book whale watching and glacier trips earlyHumpback whales feed in the channels from spring to early autumn, and cruise ships fill tours on busy days. Reserve in advance for May to September.Tours and tickets
- See Mendenhall Glacier away from ship hoursThe glacier is a short drive from downtown and gets crowded when several ships dock. Check the Tongass National Forest page for current fees and access rules before you go.
- Arrive by air or boatNo road leads out of Juneau. Fly from Seattle or Anchorage, or arrive by ship or Alaska Marine Highway ferry. Check ferry schedules, which are limited.Anchorage
- Pack waterproofsJuneau is cool and wet even in summer, with rain on many days. A rain jacket and waterproof shoes matter more than extra layers.
- Add Ketchikan on an Inside Passage tripKetchikan is the other main Southeast Alaska stop, reachable by air or ferry.Ketchikan
Things to do in Juneau
See all attractions in Juneau
Need to know
- Airport
- Juneau International (JNU), about 15–20 min by car from downtown
- Getting there
- Flight from Seattle or Anchorage; cruise ship or ferry; no road
- Getting around
- Walk downtown; buses and taxis to Mendenhall Valley
- Best base
- Downtown, near the docks and tours
- Time needed
- 2–3 days; 1 day from a cruise
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Snowy days
- Days with storms
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuarySnow21 rainy days13 snowy daysHigh-2°Low-6°Cold, darkJanuarySnow
Poor
- High
- -2°
- Low
- -6°
- Precipitation
- 325 mm
- Rainy days
- 21
- Snowy days
- 13
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, dark
- FebruarySnow16 rainy days11 snowy daysHigh-2°Low-6°Cold, snowFebruarySnow
Poor
- High
- -2°
- Low
- -6°
- Precipitation
- 217 mm
- Rainy days
- 16
- Snowy days
- 11
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, snow
- MarchSnow18 rainy days12 snowy daysHigh1°Low-4°Late winterMarchSnow
Mixed
- High
- 1°
- Low
- -4°
- Precipitation
- 192 mm
- Rainy days
- 18
- Snowy days
- 12
- Days with storms
- 0
Late winter
- AprilRain20 rainy days5 snowy daysHigh5°Low0°Spring, quietAprilRain
Mixed
- High
- 5°
- Low
- 0°
- Precipitation
- 201 mm
- Rainy days
- 20
- Snowy days
- 5
- Days with storms
- 0
Spring, quiet
- MayRain19 rainy daysHigh10°Low4°Season startsMayRain
Good
- High
- 10°
- Low
- 4°
- Precipitation
- 222 mm
- Rainy days
- 19
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Season starts
- JuneRain20 rainy daysHigh14°Low8°Long daysJuneRain
Best
- High
- 14°
- Low
- 8°
- Precipitation
- 173 mm
- Rainy days
- 20
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Long days
- JulyRain19 rainy daysHigh16°Low10°Cruise, whalesJulyRain
Best
- High
- 16°
- Low
- 10°
- Precipitation
- 217 mm
- Rainy days
- 19
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cruise, whales
- AugustRain20 rainy daysHigh16°Low10°Cruise, rainAugustRain
Good
- High
- 16°
- Low
- 10°
- Precipitation
- 323 mm
- Rainy days
- 20
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cruise, rain
- SeptemberRain21 rainy daysHigh12°Low7°Rain, fewer shipsSeptemberRain
Mixed
- High
- 12°
- Low
- 7°
- Precipitation
- 383 mm
- Rainy days
- 21
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Rain, fewer ships
- OctoberRain22 rainy days3 snowy daysHigh6°Low2°Wet, quietOctoberRain
Poor
- High
- 6°
- Low
- 2°
- Precipitation
- 408 mm
- Rainy days
- 22
- Snowy days
- 3
- Days with storms
- 0
Wet, quiet
- NovemberSnow21 rainy days11 snowy days1 day with stormsHigh1°Low-3°Cold, darkNovemberSnow
Poor
- High
- 1°
- Low
- -3°
- Precipitation
- 309 mm
- Rainy days
- 21
- Snowy days
- 11
- Days with storms
- 1
Cold, dark
- DecemberSnow21 rainy days15 snowy daysHigh-3°Low-6°Cold, holidaysDecemberSnow
Poor
- High
- -3°
- Low
- -6°
- Precipitation
- 348 mm
- Rainy days
- 21
- Snowy days
- 15
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, holidays
Average daily high and low in Juneau, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Juneau
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
2
- Feels like
- 1°
- Humidity
- 100%
- Wind
- 6 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 94%
Juneau
11:36 AM
Monday, November 2
- Today6°3°94%Monday: Snow. High 6°, Low 3°. Chance of rain 94%.
- Tue5°3°98%Tuesday: Rain. High 5°, Low 3°. Chance of rain 98%.
- Wed5°3°100%Wednesday: Snow. High 5°, Low 3°. Chance of rain 100%.
- Thu5°2°100%Thursday: Rain. High 5°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 100%.
- Fri5°1°96%Friday: Rain. High 5°, Low 1°. Chance of rain 96%.
- Sat2°0°91%Saturday: Snow. High 2°, Low 0°. Chance of rain 91%.
- Sun5°1°90%Sunday: Snow. High 5°, Low 1°. Chance of rain 90%.
Updated 11:36 AM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 EUR = 1.116 USD
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Day trips by train
- Mendenhall Glacierabout 25 min by car or busViewpoints and trails. Check the Forest Service page for fees and access.
- Glacier Bay via Gustavusabout 30 min by air, or longer by ferryA national park trip that needs a flight or boat; plan and book ahead.
- Ketchikanby air or ferry; check schedulesSoutheast Alaska's other major stop on the Inside Passage.Read the guide
Before you go to Juneau
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Rules for Juneau, checked
- US entry rules apply in Juneau, so carry a valid passport and check visa requirements for your nationality on the US State Department site (travel.state.gov).
- Visa Waiver Program travelers need an approved ESTA before they board a flight to Juneau. Apply only through the official CBP site at esta.cbp.dhs.gov.
- Juneau has no road link to the rest of Alaska or North America. Cars arrive by barge or on Alaska Marine Highway state ferries.
- Alaska Marine Highway ferries to Prince Rupert, British Columbia, leave US waters, so keep your passport with you on board.
- Glacial outburst floods from Suicide Basin affect the Mendenhall River. Check City and Borough of Juneau notices before you walk near the river.
Plan around Juneau
Parks, cities and trip planning for visitors
Read the guideKetchikanTotems and salmon, the next stop on the Inside Passage
Read the guideAnchorageAlaska's biggest city, the usual flight connection
Read the guideDenali National ParkInterior Alaska, reached from Anchorage or Fairbanks
Read the guideESTA explainedWho needs it, the fee and how to apply
Read the guideTravel insuranceMedical cover for visitors to the US
Read the guideJuneau FAQ
How many days do you need in Juneau?
Two days covers the glacier, a whale watching trip and downtown. A cruise stop gives one day, so book the tour you want before you arrive.
Can you drive to Juneau?
No. The city has no road connection to the rest of Alaska or Canada. Fly in, or arrive by cruise ship or Alaska Marine Highway ferry.
When is the best time to visit Juneau?
June to August has the longest days and the most tours, and May and September are quieter. Winters are cold and dark with few visitor services.
Is Juneau worth visiting without a cruise?
Yes. You get a glacier and whales without the crowds of cruise days, and prices for hotels can be lower in the shoulder months. Book tours ahead.
Do you need a car in Juneau?
Not for downtown, where tours and the cruise docks are close. Buses, taxis or tours cover Mendenhall Valley, and a rental car helps if you want to move freely along the road system.