Mendenhall Glacier Transportation: Shuttle, Bus, Taxi & DIY Options
Mendenhall Glacier is about 13 miles from Downtown Juneau, so you need to plan transportation before your visit. The main options are a glacier shuttle, public bus, taxi, rideshare, rental car, tour, or bike, and each works better for a different type of traveler. For cruise passengers, the dedicated Mendenhall Glacier shuttle is usually the easiest option because it travels directly from the downtown cruise area to the Visitor Center in about 30 minutes. Public transportation is much cheaper, but the nearest bus stop is still 1.5 miles from the Visitor Center. In this guide, we compare the best ways to get to Mendenhall Glacier on your own, including shuttle, bus, taxi, Uber or Lyft, rental car, and biking options, with practical tips based on our own visits.
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Our Experience Getting to Mendenhall Glacier
We have visited Mendenhall Glacier several times and have used different transportation options, including a dedicated shuttle, taxi and a rental car.
For a first visit, we found the Mendenhall Glacier shuttle tour especially convenient. It picked us up near the cruise area, took us directly to the Visitor Center, and gave us enough time to explore the main viewpoints and hike to Nugget Falls without worrying about parking or return transportation.
On another visit, we wanted more flexibility, so we rented a car for the day. Traditional rental options were limited for our dates, so we used Turo. It cost us around $200 for the day, but it gave us the freedom to spend more time at Mendenhall and combine the glacier with other places around Juneau.
For cruise passengers who mainly want to see Mendenhall Glacier, we would usually choose the shuttle or taxi.
If you want to explore Juneau independently and visit several places in one day, having your own vehicle gives you much more flexibility.
Mendenhall Glacier Transportation: Quick Comparison
There is no single best way to reach Mendenhall Glacier. The right choice depends on your budget, how much time you have, and how much flexibility you want once you arrive.
| Transportation | Best For | Approximate Time | Main Consideration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mendenhall Glacier shuttle | Cruise passengers and first-time visitors | About 30 minutes each way | Easy and direct, but you have a fixed return time |
| Capital Transit | Budget travelers | Up to about 1.5 hours each way, including walking | Cheapest option, but the bus stops 1.5 miles from the Visitor Center |
| Taxi | Couples, families, and small groups | Usually about 20–30 minutes | More flexible, but arrange your return |
| Uber or Lyft | Travelers comfortable using rideshare | Varies | Availability and return service can be less predictable |
| Rental car | Travelers exploring more of Juneau | Usually about 20–30 minutes | Best flexibility, but more expensive |
| Bike or e-bike | Active travelers with plenty of time | About 26 miles round trip | Scenic but requires several hours and suitable weather |
| Guided Mendenhall Glacier tour | Travelers who want transportation + an activity included | Varies by tour | Easiest all-in-one option, but usually the most expensive |
For most cruise passengers spending one day in Juneau, we think the dedicated shuttle offers the best balance of convenience and time. Current Mendenhall Glacier shuttle tours take about 30 minutes to reach the Visitor Center.
The best shuttle options are the Mendenhall Glacier Trolley Tour and the Mendenhall Glacier Express. Both give you about two hours to explore the Mendenhall Glacier area on your own.
For families or larger groups, the Private Roundtrip Transport to Mendenhall Glacier may be the best choice because you can travel together and enjoy a more flexible, private transfer.
Capital Transit is much cheaper, but it requires considerably more time. The closest stop is still 1.5 miles from the Visitor Center, and Capital Transit advises that the one-way journey from downtown can take up to 1.5 hours including the walk.
For active travelers, biking is another option. The self-guided route from downtown is approximately 26 miles round trip, mostly on bike lanes and paved paths with little elevation change.
If you prefer to have transportation and sightseeing arranged together, a Mendenhall Glacier tour can be the easiest option. Many tours combine the glacier with whale watching, kayaking, or other Juneau experiences, although they usually cost more than visiting independently.
How to Get to Mendenhall Glacier From the Cruise Port
Mendenhall Glacier is about 12–13 miles from Juneau’s downtown cruise area, so you cannot walk there from your ship. For most cruise passengers, the main choices are a dedicated glacier shuttle, taxi, rideshare, rental car, organized shore tours, or Capital Transit.
The easiest option is usually a Mendenhall Glacier shuttle. Private shuttles leave from the downtown cruise area near the Goldbelt Tram and travel directly to the Visitor Center in about 30 minutes. Some services give you around two hours at Mendenhall, which is enough for the main viewpoints and a hike to Nugget Falls. The best shuttles are: Mendenhall Glacier Trolley Tour and Mendenhall Glacier Express.
For families or larger groups, Private Roundtrip Transport to Mendenhall Glacier can be a more convenient option, especially if you prefer traveling together on your own schedule.
Because the Juneau cruise port uses several different berths, check where your ship will dock before planning transportation. Some terminals are only a short walk from the shuttle departure area, while AJ Dock is farther south. The city’s designated AJ Dock shuttle unloads passengers at the Columbia Lot beside the Goldbelt Tram.
A taxi or rideshare gives you more control over how long you stay, while Capital Transit is the cheapest option. However, the public bus does not go to the Visitor Center. It stops at Dredge Lake Road, leaving a 1.5-mile walk each way, and the total one-way trip from downtown can take up to 1.5 hours.
For a typical cruise visit, we prefer the direct shuttle, especially if Mendenhall Glacier is your main priority. It saves valuable port time and removes the uncertainty of arranging transportation back to your ship.
If you are planning an Alaska cruise, arrange your Mendenhall transportation before sailing, especially during the busiest summer months when shuttles and tours can sell out.
Mendenhall Glacier Shuttle From the Juneau Cruise Port
For most cruise passengers, a dedicated Mendenhall Glacier shuttle is the simplest way to reach the Visitor Center. You avoid arranging a taxi, worrying about parking, or spending valuable port time on the public bus.
The Mendenhall Glacier Shuttle Tour operated by Juneau Tours currently starts at around $79 per person for the 2027 season. The full experience lasts about three hours, including a narrated drive of approximately 30 minutes each way and two hours to explore Mendenhall Glacier on your own. The Visitor Center entrance fee is included.
Pickup and drop-off are conveniently located at the cruise-ship terminal area beside the Goldbelt Tram, at 492 South Franklin Street. The operator currently offers departures almost every hour, which makes the shuttle relatively easy to fit into a cruise-port schedule.
Two hours at Mendenhall works very well for a first visit. You can walk to Photo Point, explore the Visitor Center, and complete the Nugget Falls Trail without rushing. However, it is not enough time for longer hikes such as East Glacier Loop.
One detail we particularly like is that your return seat is confirmed. You still need to pay attention to the departure time printed or given for your return shuttle, but you do not have to search for transportation back to downtown.
For travelers visiting Juneau for the first time, this is the transportation option we recommend most often. It costs more than the public bus, but the direct access and two hours at the glacier make much better use of a limited cruise day.
Is There a Free Shuttle to Mendenhall Glacier?
No. There is currently no free shuttle from Downtown Juneau or the cruise port to Mendenhall Glacier.
The cheapest option is Capital Transit, but it is not a direct glacier shuttle. Public buses stop about 1.5 miles from the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center, so you still need to walk roughly 3 miles round trip in addition to the bus ride. Capital Transit notes that the full one-way journey from downtown can take up to 1.5 hours, including the walk.
For travelers with limited port time, we think paying for a dedicated shuttle is usually worth it because it takes you directly to the Visitor Center and avoids the long walk from the public-bus stop.
Capital Transit: The Cheapest Way to Get to Mendenhall Glacier
If your priority is keeping costs low, Capital Transit is the cheapest way to reach the Mendenhall Glacier area from Downtown Juneau.
The current Capital Transit adult fare is $2 each way. Youth ages 6–18 pay $1, and children 5 and younger ride free. Routes 3, 4, and 8 serve the Dredge Lake Road stop, which is the closest public bus stop to the Visitor Center. Route 8 is the fastest option during the summer season.
You can catch the bus from the Downtown Transit Center, which makes Capital Transit convenient to access from central Juneau. If you pay your fare in cash, bring the exact amount in U.S. bills or coins, because drivers cannot make change. You can also purchase fares through the Token Transit app before boarding.
The important drawback is that the bus does not go directly to the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center. From Dredge Lake Road, you still need to walk about 1.5 miles each way on a mostly flat paved path. The walk takes around 30 minutes in each direction.
Capital Transit advises allowing at least 4–5 hours round trip from downtown once you include the bus rides, walking, and one to two hours at the glacier. That makes this option much less practical for travelers with a short cruise stop.
Use the interactive map below to see the Capital Transit route from the Downtown Transit Center to Dredge Lake Road, the closest public bus stop to Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center. Route source: Google Maps, using the origin and destination recommended by Juneau Capital Transit.
If you have plenty of time and do not mind the extra 3 miles of walking, the bus is by far the most budget-friendly transportation option. For cruise passengers who want to maximize sightseeing time, we would usually pay more for the direct shuttle instead.
If you choose the Capital Transit bus, use the Google Map below to follow the walking route from the Dredge Lake Road bus stop to the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center.
Taxi to Mendenhall Glacier
A taxi is another flexible way to reach Mendenhall Glacier, especially for couples, families, or small groups who want to decide how long they spend at the recreation area.
Taxis can drop off and pick up passengers in the designated commercial transportation area near the Visitor Center. Unlike the shuttle, you are not tied to a fixed two-hour visit, so this option works well if you want more time for hiking or exploring.
Several Juneau taxi companies serve the Mendenhall Glacier area. Options worth checking include:
However, based on our experience, we strongly recommend booking your return taxi in advance. We once had difficulty finding transportation back to downtown later in the day, even though getting to Mendenhall Glacier had been easy.
Taxi fares are metered, so the final price depends on distance, traffic, and waiting time. If you are traveling with several people, it is worth comparing the total taxi cost with the per-person price of a glacier shuttle.
For cruise passengers, tell the driver your ship’s all-aboard time when arranging the return and leave a comfortable time buffer.
Juneau Taxi & Tours specifically lists Mendenhall Glacier service, Glacier Taxi & Tours offers transportation to the glacier area, Mendenhall Rides specializes in glacier transportation, and EverGreen allows advance scheduling for Mendenhall Glacier trips. Our advice is to reserve both directions, not just your ride to the glacier.
Can You Take Uber or Lyft to Mendenhall Glacier?
Yes, you can use Uber or Lyft to get to Mendenhall Glacier, but based on our experience, getting there is not the part we would worry about most.
We have used both rideshare and taxi services around Mendenhall Glacier. Finding transportation from downtown to the glacier was easy, but we had trouble arranging a ride back to Downtown Juneau later in the afternoon and early evening.
That is why we strongly recommend arranging your return transportation before you leave downtown, especially if you are visiting from a cruise ship. Do not assume an Uber, Lyft, or taxi will be immediately available when you finish exploring.
If you have a strict ship all-aboard time, give yourself a generous buffer. For cruise passengers, a dedicated shuttle with a confirmed return is usually less stressful than depending on a last-minute rideshare.
Renting a Car to Visit Mendenhall Glacier
Renting a car gives you the most flexibility, especially if you want to spend more than two hours at Mendenhall Glacier or combine it with other places around Juneau.
We used a rental car on one of our visits because we wanted to explore at our own pace. Traditional rental options were limited for our dates, so we booked through Turo instead. We paid around $200 for the day, but it gave us complete freedom over our schedule.
Major rental companies currently operate at Juneau International Airport, including Alamo, Enterprise, Avis, Budget, and Hertz. The airport is only about 5 miles from the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center, so renting a car is especially convenient if you are flying into Juneau.
From Downtown Juneau, the drive is about 12 miles and usually takes around 20–30 minutes. Parking is available at the Visitor Center area, so once you arrive, you can explore without worrying about a fixed shuttle return time.
A rental car makes the most sense if you want to hike longer trails, spend several hours around Mendenhall, or combine the glacier with other sights outside downtown. For a short cruise visit focused only on Mendenhall, the dedicated shuttle is usually simpler.
Biking to Mendenhall Glacier
If you enjoy cycling and have enough time, you can also reach Mendenhall Glacier by bike or e-bike from Downtown Juneau.
The self-guided route is about 26 miles round trip and follows a mix of paved bike paths and roadside bike lanes. The terrain is mostly flat, with only a small amount of elevation gain.
For cruise passengers, Cycle Alaska has a rental shop at 255 Marine Way, directly across from the cruise docks. They rent regular bikes and e-bikes and specifically recommend Mendenhall Glacier as one of their most popular self-guided routes.
On an e-bike, allow roughly three hours for the riding itself, plus whatever time you want to spend at Mendenhall Glacier. If you use an e-bike, conserve battery power during the ride because the full round trip is longer than the maximum range when using full assistance continuously.
This option works best for active travelers with a longer port day and decent weather. Juneau is in a temperate rainforest, so rain is always possible; bring waterproof layers and check the forecast before committing to a 26-mile ride.
Getting to Mendenhall Glacier From Juneau Airport or the Ferry Terminal
Mendenhall Glacier is also easy to reach if you are arriving in Juneau by plane or ferry rather than on a cruise.
From Juneau International Airport, the Visitor Center is only about 5 miles away. A taxi, rideshare, or rental car is usually the easiest option, and the drive is much shorter than from Downtown Juneau.
From the Alaska Marine Highway ferry terminal in Auke Bay, Mendenhall Glacier is about 7 miles away. You can continue by taxi, rideshare, or rental car.
If Mendenhall Glacier is one of your priorities, visiting it before heading downtown or immediately after leaving the ferry terminal can save time and unnecessary backtracking.
What Is the Best Way to Get to Mendenhall Glacier?
For most visitors, the best transportation option depends on how much time you have and how independently you want to explore.
For cruise passengers, we recommend the Mendenhall Glacier shuttle. It is direct, easy to arrange, and gives you about two hours at the glacier without worrying about parking or finding a ride back to your ship.
If you want more flexibility, especially for longer hikes or additional sightseeing around Juneau, renting a car is the better choice. You control your schedule and can stay at Mendenhall as long as you want.
For budget travelers, Capital Transit is by far the cheapest option, but you need enough time for the bus journey and the additional three miles of walking.
A taxi or rideshare can work well if you arrange transportation in both directions. Based on our experience, we would not leave the return trip until the last minute.
Finally, biking or using an e-bike is a fun alternative for active travelers with a long port day, but we would choose it only when the weather is favorable and you have plenty of time.
Final Thoughts on Mendenhall Glacier Transportation
Mendenhall Glacier is only about 13 miles from Downtown Juneau, but transportation is something we recommend planning before the day of your visit, especially during the busy cruise season.
Based on our experience, the part you should never leave to chance is the return trip. If you are not using a shuttle with a confirmed return, arrange your taxi, rideshare, or rental car plans in advance and leave a comfortable buffer before your ship’s all-aboard time.
Once your transportation is sorted, visiting Mendenhall Glacier independently is straightforward and gives you much more freedom to explore the area at your own pace.
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