Alaska Vacation by Rail and Road from Juneau
Have a look at our top Alaska self drive and railroad combination tours - starting in Juneau. The team at Alaska Active Tours have put to use their years of experience travelling the length and breadth of Alaska to create most memorable driving tours. Juneau is Alaska’s small but busy capital, a haven of narrow streets, museums, bars and art galleries. The city was founded in 1880 by Joe Juneau and Richard Harris as they prospected for gold in the wilderness. Today the buildings here seem to rise with the mountains from the sea, and hardly seem to have changed in the last 100 years. Arrive by the Alaska Ferry or Air into Juneau and start your stunning self drive tour. Popular attractions are the day tours to Glacier Bay National Park, a glacier cruise into Tracy Arm Fjord and fascinating bear viewing tours to Pack Creek on Admiralty Island. Feel free to contact our friendly support staff and we are here to help to get your journey started.
Weather in Juneau
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44°F | 44°F min | 45°F max |
RSJU01 - Best of Alaska Holiday
RSJU02 - Alaska Wilderness Spirit Holiday
Frequently Asked Questions About Alaska Rail & Drive Tours from Juneau
Our Alaska Rail & Drive tours from Juneau combine independent driving with scenic railroad travel, Alaska Ferry journeys and, depending on the itinerary, domestic flights and sightseeing excursions. These carefully planned itineraries allow you to experience Southeast Alaska, the Interior and Southcentral Alaska while having your transportation, accommodations and major activities arranged in advance.
How do Alaska Rail & Drive tours from Juneau work?
Our Juneau Rail & Drive tours combine several ways of exploring Alaska. Depending on the itinerary, you may travel by air from Juneau to Anchorage, take the Alaska Railroad through Denali and Fairbanks, or pick up a rental car in Juneau and travel by ferry to Skagway before continuing by road and rail. Your hotels, rental car, train reservations, ferry travel and included sightseeing are arranged in advance according to the selected itinerary.
How do I arrive in Juneau for a Rail & Drive tour?
Juneau is not connected to Alaska's road system. You can arrive in Juneau by air or by the Alaska Marine Highway. Depending on your itinerary, your tour may begin with your arrival in Juneau and continue by rental car, ferry, flight and railroad.
Where do I pick up my rental car?
The rental car pick-up location depends on the itinerary. On some Juneau Rail & Drive tours, you pick up your rental car at Juneau Airport. On other itineraries, such as our Best of Alaska Holiday, the rental car is picked up in Fairbanks after traveling there by Alaska Railroad.
Is the rental car included in a Juneau Rail & Drive tour?
Yes. Our Juneau Rail & Drive packages include a mid-size rental car for the self-drive portion of the itinerary. The rental period, pick-up and return locations depend on the individual tour. Rental car upgrades are available, including full-size cars, minivans and SUVs.
Can I take my rental car on the Alaska Ferry from Juneau to Skagway?
Yes. The rental car travels with you on the Alaska Ferry from Juneau to Skagway or Haines. This allows you to continue your self-drive journey after arriving in Skagway or Haines without having to arrange another rental car.
Where do I return the rental car?
The rental car return location depends on the tour. Our Juneau Rail & Drive itineraries may use one-way rentals, allowing you to pick up the vehicle in one location and return it in another. For example, the Best of Alaska Holiday includes a one-way rental from Fairbanks to Anchorage.
Can I drive on gravel roads with my rental car?
Rental car restrictions apply to gravel roads and highways in Alaska. Rental car insurance is generally void on roads such as the Denali Highway, Dalton Highway, Top of the World Highway, Taylor Highway, McCarthy Road, Dempster Highway and other gravel roads.
Our Juneau Rail & Drive itineraries are planned around permitted routes. Please check with us before adding a remote or gravel-road detour to your itinerary.
What type of train seating is available?
Depending on the itinerary and hotel category, you can travel in Adventure Class or upgrade to premium dome-car seating. Adventure Class provides comfortable reserved seating with large windows, while dome-car service offers panoramic views from the upper level and additional onboard amenities.
Our First Class hotel category includes reserved seats in the upper-level panorama dome car, while the Comfort hotel category includes reserved Adventure Class seating, with an option to upgrade where available.
Is luggage included on the Alaska Railroad?
Yes. Checked Luggage: Each ticketed passenger can check up to two pieces of luggage. No single checked bag may weigh more than 50 pounds. Up to two extra bags can be checked for an additional fee.
Carry-On Luggage: Each passenger is allowed one small personal item or daypack to bring into the passenger coach. It must fit under your seat. Standard wheeled airline carry-on rollers are generally too large for the passenger seating area and must be checked.
Checked Baggage Access: You will not have access to your checked bags while the train is moving, so pack all essentials (medications, electronics, valuables, and extra layers) in your small carry-on.
Can I customize a Juneau Rail & Drive tour?
Yes. Our Rail & Drive tours are flexible and can be customized with additional nights, activities, excursions or changes to the routing where possible. Some adjustments need to take ferry schedules, railroad schedules and seasonal availability into account.
Are Juneau Rail & Drive tours suitable for first-time visitors to Alaska?
Yes. These tours are a good choice for first-time visitors who want to experience several different parts of Alaska without having to arrange every flight, ferry, train, rental car and hotel reservation themselves. The transportation between major destinations is organized in advance, while the self-drive portions give you the freedom to explore at your own pace.
How far in advance should I book a Juneau Rail & Drive tour?
We recommend booking as early as possible for summer travel, particularly from late June through August. Rental cars, hotels, ferry space and popular excursions can sell out during Alaska's short summer season. Booking early also provides the best choice of travel dates, accommodations and train seating.
