The only direct flights to Juneau are from Seattle (SEA) or Anchorage (ANC).

Flights are offered year-round by Alaska Airlines, and Delta Airlines operates seasonally in summer.

We recommend booking roundtrip through Juneau Airport (JNU) — ferry back from Haines on Sunday, May 31 (4:45 PM-9:30 PM), then fly out Monday, June 1 morning. If you need to fly out Sunday, May 31, you'll probably have to fly through Alaska Seaplanes to get from Haines to Juneau in time!

If connecting through Seattle or Anchorage on a different airline, allow extra time to collect and recheck any checked bags with Alaska Airlines for your final flight to Juneau.

Ferry from Juneau to Haines

Group Sailing Date: TUESDAY, MAY 26 at 7:00 AM (be at the ferry terminal at 6:00 AM, closer to 5:30 AM if ferrying a car).

Book here: https://bookamhs.alaska.gov/book/sailing-search/chooseJourney/

If you can't make the ferry on Tuesday, the only other option to ferry up that week is on Friday, which will have you in town for the Sea-of-Plaid Square Dance, Friday night!

For more flexibility in travel date/time, consider booking a flight through Alaska Seaplanes! See more info under "Flying Into Haines (Alternative to Ferry)"

Route: Juneau (Auke Bay) → Haines

Tickets are currently available!

Book here: Alaska Marine Highway

Fare: ~$58 (discounts for seniors & children)

Note that there will be an additional fee for bringing your rental car on the ferry. We recommend letting the car rental company know if you're planning on ferrying your rental car!

IMPORTANT RENTAL CAR NOTE: Ferries can only accommodate 2 electric vehicles per ferry - if you're planning on ferrying your rental car, we recommend steering clear of EV's or hybrid cars.

Onboard amenities: food service (snacks to full meals) and Wi-Fi.

Ferry info & policies: AMHS Policies

Flying to Haines (Alternative to Ferry)

Alaska Seaplanes flies from Juneau International Airport → Haines Airport.

The flight is about 45 minutes, and usually costs ~$200 one way, or ~$400 roundtrip.

Book here:

https://alaskaseaplanes.tflite.com/Public/ASP/Booking/Search

FAQs: Alaska Seaplanes Info

When it's time to leave, here are some details to keep in mind:

The only Alaska Marine Highway System ferry for Haines to Juneau on Sunday, May 31st leaves at 4:45 PM and arrives in Juneau ~9:30 PM. That arrival is into the Auke Bay ferry terminal, rideshare (Uber/Lyft/taxi) services should still be operational at that time of day!

PLEASE NOTE: There is no Haines➝Juneau ferry on Monday, June 1st!

If you need to get back sooner to make a flight, you might need to book Alaska Seaplanes. There are a few different time options for Seaplane flights, some leaving as early as 8:35 AM! Alaska Seaplanes land at the airport, so you're right there for your flight connection! AK Seaplane flights are weather dependent and there are baggage weight limits to look into. See the Alaska Seaplanes section of this page for more info!

Summary:

Ferry (4:45 PM departure)

- Most affordable

- Smooth sailing

- Arrives ~9:30 PM

Alaska Seaplane (multiple departure times available)

- 35-minute flight

- Multiple departure times (arrival in Juneau can be early as ~9:10 AM)

- More expensive

- Bumpier ride

- Weather dependent

Packing & Weather

Expect 40–60°F, humid air, and frequent drizzle - it can feel cooler than it reads!

Bring high-quality rain gear (rain jacket, boots, rain pants). If you're looking to invest in some new raingear, we recommend anything made with Gore-Tex material!

Hiking gear and walking sticks recommended - local trails are beautiful but steep! We recommend packing lots of layers - it's good to have options!

Bring plaid for the Sea-of-Plaid Squaredance!

Bring outdoor formalwear for the wedding ceremony and reception - be sure what you're wearing is warm enough! There's a chance it could be windy and a bit chilly on the channel.

We will have tents for the outdoor area at the venue, but the ground could be muddy if we get rain.

Getting Around

Juneau: limited rental cars available; also Uber, Lyft, and taxis. We do have a public transportation bus as well that runs reliably but not frequently, with multiple stops all throughout town!

Most hotels in Juneau offer a shuttle service to the ferry terminal.

Haines: rideshare options are very limited. More details TBD!

Downtown: close to restaurants, bars, and museums.

Hotels: Ramada, Four Seasons, Baranof, Juneau Hotel

Mendenhall Valley: quieter, nature-focused, near the glacier (and our home!).

Hotels: Aspen Suites, Travelodge, Best Western, Grandma's Feather Bed

Everything is within 10–20 minutes driving; the city is fairly small and easy to get around.

Airbnbs widely available; pretty much everything’s within a 5-minute drive.

Great options:

Hotel Halsingland – historic, located in old Fort Seward.

Captain’s Choice Motel – comfortable with harbor views.

Aspen Suites

Please note: both black bears and brown (grizzly) bears are common in Juneau and Haines, Alaska. Southeast Alaska is home to approximately 17,000 black bears and 4,000 brown bears.

Black bears are generally smaller with a smoother frame. Brown/grizzly bears are much larger and have a distinct hump on their shoulders. Despite their names, color is not a reliable way to tell them apart - black bears can appear light, and brown bears can look quite dark.

Bears should always be viewed from a safe distance. Please do not approach or encroach on their space.

We strongly recommend hiking in groups. Bears will usually avoid people if they can hear them coming, so make noise while hiking: talk, sing, or whistle, especially if you’re alone.

Many people in Alaska carry bear spray (a very strong pepper spray) while hiking. If you’d like to borrow some instead of purchasing it, feel free to reach out to Ben & Lena - we’re happy to lend some out. Bear spray cannot be flown with or shipped home after your trip. Costco sells it in two-packs if you still would like to buy your own.

If you do encounter a bear, do not run. Running can trigger a bear’s chase instinct.

Neither Ben nor Lena have had any truly dangerous bear encounters, though we do see bears regularly while adventuring in the wilderness.

For more information, visit here: https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=livingwithbears.bearcountry