Sandi

Any suggestions or opinions about going from Vancouver to Juneau? Can you drive it? Take a train? Flying is how expensive in the summer or fall? I really have no idea and was just wondering if anyone could comment.

Thanks

John

Hi, Sandi,
It's a chronic problem with southeast Alaska - virtually surrounded by Canada but minimal transportation links.
Some basics: there is no ground transportation from Juneau to anywhere else. All travel is (at least initially) by sea or air. While most of the cruise ships calling at Juneau start and end in Vancouver (foreign flags hence barred by federal law from intra-US traffic) the only easy way for non-cruisers to travel between the 2 cities is flying via Seattle, with a plane change in Seattle (and pretty costly, too). Or, you can take the Alaska State ferry, then a drive or train to/from Vancouver. The good news is that the ferry ends in Bellingham, WA, about an hour's drive from Vancouver (depending on customs delays); the bad news is it takes a couple of days, although of course the trip is wonderfully scenic.

heather

We took the Alaska State Ferry this past summer (from Prince Rupert, but you could board in Bellingham) and it was wonderful. We planned our trip in stages so as to spend time in several ports along the way - we stayed overnigh in Ketchican, Petersburg and then arrived in Juneau. However, youl could book a stateroom and travel directly to Juneau. We found the ferries to be very good and very reasonable in price (at least without a stateroom) The scenery is spectacular and the ferries get in closer to many areas that the cruise ships cannot go. The food on board was very tasty and the crew were very pleasant.
We were told the airport at Juneau is often fogged making air travel somewhat unreliable at times. I would vote for travel by sea!

Uwe

Hi Sandi,
we just returned from our trip leading us to the opposite dircetion(Juneau to Vancouver) and it ws fabulous!
I give you the way we took and you can take the other direction.
With the Alaska Marine Highway System(AMHS) from Juneau to Port Hardy.
From Port Hardy you have different possibilties to come to Vancouver.
With VIA Rail or change the Ferrie to BC Ferries going to Prince Rupert at the north shore of Vancouver Island and then take a car to Victoria or Schwartz Bay and the next ferry to Tsawanssen(north of Vancouver).
The Ship Cruise(itīs not a classical cruise ship) called the Inside Passage is the most incredible you can do in Southeast Alaska and BC.
Breathtaking scenery while the ship is cruising through the Islands and the Granville Channel. Whales to see and on Vancouver Island black-bears.
I defenitly will do this cruise again in one of the next summers.

youngtom2910

uwe--

can you clarify what you meant by the "Ship Cruise"--is that something other than the ferry? If os, where does itleave from?

eleo

Hi heather and Uwe,
how long did you spend in the whole trip? I mean, how long do you suggest to spend there, including Vancouver and Juneu?

explorenorth

Heather and Uwe posted their last comment 12 years ago! (June 4, 2000)

NorthwestMale

These people possibly aren't even ALIVE anymore, let alone together enough to coordinate a response to your questions.

Although, on the positive side, Juneau remains as stuck in the dark ages, without land transportation, as it was way back then.

But do check back after the 2024 presidential election in case they've answered.