Approximate Travel Time

Capital Transit buses do not have a stop at the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center. The closest bus stop is 1.5 miles (2.4 km) away from the Visitor Center.

The one-way trip with Capital Transit from downtown Juneau to the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center can take up to 1.5 hours, which includes a walk of about 30 minutes. The bus ride can take up to 1 hour, and the closest bus stop is 1.5 miles (2.4 km) away from the Visitor Center.

There are several Cruise Ship terminals in the downtown area. Some are quite close to the Downtown Transit Center, but some terminals are up to 1.5 miles (2.4 km) away, which could result in an additional 30 minute or more walk in each direction.

NOTE: Various private tour companies offer “Glacier Shuttle” bus service or other tours from the downtown Cruise Ship terminals directly to the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center. These private buses normally only take about 30 minutes of total travel time from downtown to the glacier. Tickets for these private shuttles and tours can be purchased from vendor booths near the Cruise Ship terminal or on board the cruise ships, or tours can be booked in advance. Trip Advisor is just one of many sites that offer a list of tours that include the Mendenhall Glacier.

Cost

For a single ride on a Capital Transit bus, the fares are:

• $2 for an adult (19 or older, including seniors)
• $1 for a youth (6 – 18 years old)
• FREE for children 5 or younger.

Fares may be purchased with the Token Transit app before boarding the bus, or may be paid in cash on the bus (coins or bills, US currency only).

If paying cash, please have the correct fare ready when boarding the bus. Drivers are not able to make change. Larger bills may be used to pay for groups: for example, if you have a group of 2 adults plus 1 youth, the total fare for the group is $5, and you may pay the fare for the entire group with a five-dollar bill.

Please see the fares page for more information on fares and passes.

Riding the Bus to the Dredge Lake Road bus stop

The following routes provide service to Dredge Lake Road, which is the closest bus stop to the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center:

• 8 VALLEY EXPRESS (Fastest service)
• 3 MENDENHALL VALLEY (Slower service with many stops)
• 4 MENDENHALL VALLEY (Slower service with many stops)

You can use Google Maps transit directions from the Downtown Transit Center to Dredge Lake Road to plan your bus ride.

Depending on which route you take, the bus ride can take about 1 hour. Please let the bus driver know that you are going to the glacier when you board the bus, and listen for the announcement for “Dredge Lake Road” so that you do not miss your stop.

Walking between Dredge Lake Road & the Visitor Center

After getting off the bus, walk about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) to the Visitor Center, which takes approximately 30 minutes. You can follow the Google Maps walking directions from Dredge Lake Road to the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center. The walk is flat, and follows a paved bike path which is wheelchair accessible.

Note: there are public restrooms at the Downtown Transit Center and at the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center, but there are not any restrooms available on the walk between the Dredge Lake Road bus stop and the Visitor Center.

Riding the Bus back to Downtown

You can catch a bus back to the Downtown Transit Center from the Dredge Lake Road bus stops on either side of the road, after walking back from the Visitor Center:

• 8 DOWNTOWN EXPRESS : Fastest service, buses depart from Stop ID 439.
• 3 DOWNTOWN TC Slower service with many stops, buses depart from Stop ID 439.
• 4 DOWNTOWN TC Slower service with many stops, buses depart from Stop ID 469.

You can use Google Maps transit directions from Dredge Lake Road to the Downtown Transit Center to return to downtown.

NOTE: The last bus to downtown departs from Dredge Lake Road at approximately 10:25 PM.

Please be at the bus stop 5 minutes before the listed departure time so that you do not miss the bus.

Information Card & Schedules

A printed information card with a summary of this information and bus route time-tables are available on the bus, or are as a PDF download. For all bus schedules and the Rider Guide, please see the schedules page.

If you have any additional questions, please call Capital Transit at 907-789-6901, or check out the links below.