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Screen-printed illustration: A passenger boat arriving at the public dock at Bartlett Cove, the park’s maritime gateway

How to Get to Glacier Bay: Airports, Access, and Transportation

By Erika Müller · Data: National Park Service · ← Complete guide Glacier Bay

Glacier Bay is one of the few U.S. national parks with no road access at all. No road connects it to the rest of Alaska or the mainland, so you have just two options: fly or travel by boat. The nearest airport is in Gustavus (GUS), 10 miles from park headquarters at Bartlett Cove. From Juneau, Alaska's capital, a small plane gets you there in 20 minutes.

Airports around the park (5)

  • Airport Gustavus Airport GST · 48 miles from the park · regional Directions ↗
  • Airport Haines Airport HNS · 56 miles from the park · regional Directions ↗
  • Airport Juneau International Airport JNU · 87 miles from the park · international Directions ↗
  • Airport Yakutat Airport YAK · 111 miles from the park · regional Directions ↗
  • Airport Sitka Rocky Gutierrez Airport SIT · 133 miles from the park · regional Directions ↗
Map: Airports around the park Base map © OpenStreetMap · © CARTO

Where to Land: Which Airport for Glacier Bay

Gustavus, the Direct Gateway

Gustavus Airport (IATA code: GUS) is your final destination if you're staying in the park. It's just 10 miles from Bartlett Cove, the park's only developed and inhabited area. Regional airlines such as Alaska Seaplanes and Wings of Alaska offer daily service from Juneau during the season, from May through September. The flight takes 20 minutes. The airport is small, with no rental cars available, but taxis and shuttles connect it with Bartlett Cove.

Juneau, the Essential Regional Hub

If you're coming from a major U.S. city or abroad, you'll need to connect through Juneau International Airport (JNU). Alaska Airlines serves Juneau from Seattle (SEA) with several nonstop flights a day, each taking about three hours. From Anchorage (ANC), the flight takes 1.5 hours. In Juneau, you have two options: a regional flight to Gustavus or the Alaska Marine Highway ferry.

Getting to Glacier Bay from France: Connecting Flights

There are no nonstop flights from Paris (CDG) to Alaska. The standard route has three legs: Paris to Seattle (SEA) or Anchorage (ANC), then Seattle or Anchorage to Juneau (JNU), and finally Juneau to Gustavus (GUS). Plan on 20 to 25 hours of door-to-door travel, depending on your departure city and connections.

Seattle is the most convenient hub for travelers starting in France. Air France offers CDG to SEA flights, and Alaska Airlines has onward flights directly to Juneau. From Juneau, the flight to Gustavus completes the journey in another 20 minutes.

Here's one practical tip: book your Juneau to Gustavus flights as soon as you have your international tickets. These small regional aircraft have limited capacity, and seats fill up quickly in July, the busiest month.

By Boat: Ferry and Water Access

The lack of road access doesn't close off the water route. Quite the opposite.

The Alaska Marine Highway Ferry

The Alaska Marine Highway System (AMHS) connects Juneau and Gustavus by ferry during the summer season. The trip takes several hours and offers beautiful views of the fjords along the Inside Passage. This option is especially popular with travelers carrying bulky gear such as kayaks, bikes, and large camping packs. The ferries accept oversized luggage that small regional planes categorically refuse. Schedules are seasonal and change every year, so check the official AMHS calendar before planning your itinerary.

Cruises: Seeing the Park Without Staying There

Many cruise ships include Glacier Bay on their Alaska itineraries. Ships enter the bay with a special permit issued by the NPS, with no more than two large vessels allowed each day to protect marine wildlife. If you're on a cruise, the logistics are all taken care of: you travel to the glaciers without arranging your own transfers. You won't, however, go ashore at Bartlett Cove.

Glacier Bay Entrances

Glacier Bay has no entrance gate or booth to pass through. You enter the park when you reach Bartlett Cove, its only developed visitor area. That's where you'll find Glacier Bay Lodge, the visitor center, which is open daily in summer and staffed by rangers, along with NPS offices and the park's only dock.

The bay itself, with its glaciers including Margerie Glacier, Johns Hopkins Glacier, and Grand Pacific Glacier, is explored by boat. The most spectacular glaciers lie dozens of miles from Bartlett Cove, farther into the bay. No trail reaches them on foot.

Admission to the park is free, and there is no entrance ticket. For entrance fees and national passes, see our Fees and Passes page.

Once you arrive at Bartlett Cove, the various ways to get around the park, including daily boats to the glaciers, kayaking, trails, and taxis from Gustavus, are covered in the Glacier Bay transportation guide.

Other Options: Scenic Flights and Air Tours

If a boat cruise isn't enough, seaplane or small-plane flights from Gustavus or Juneau make an excellent addition. Flying over the bay gives you a true sense of the glaciers' scale, a perspective that's impossible to grasp from the water. Several operators offer these scenic flights during the season, lasting 30 to 60 minutes.

These flights don't replace a boat cruise. Nothing compares with approaching a glacier face from just a few dozen yards away. But they complement a cruise perfectly if you've got two days in the area. To plan your day-by-day schedule in Glacier Bay, see the itinerary guide.

In Summary: Which Route to Take from Your Starting Point

  • From France: Fly from Paris to Seattle or Anchorage, then Juneau and Gustavus, followed by a taxi or shuttle for the 10-mile trip to Bartlett Cove. Plan on a full day of travel.
  • From Seattle: Take a nonstop flight to Juneau, about 3 hours, then a regional flight to Gustavus, 20 minutes. This is the simplest connection from a major U.S. hub.
  • From Juneau: Take a regional flight, 20 minutes, or a seasonal ferry, which takes several hours. Flying is the fastest and most reliable option.
  • By cruise: Enter the bay without landing in Gustavus. It's convenient, but you won't stay overnight or have the freedom to set your own itinerary.

To plan your entire stay, see the Glacier Bay overview and the guide to lodging in Bartlett Cove and Gustavus.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you get to Glacier Bay, Alaska?

You can't reach Glacier Bay by road because the park isn't connected to any road network. The standard route goes through Juneau (JNU), via Seattle or Anchorage, followed by a 20-minute regional flight to Gustavus Airport (GUS), and then a 10-mile taxi ride to Bartlett Cove.

How do you access Glacier Bay itself?

You can only reach Glacier Bay itself by boat from Bartlett Cove. Daily cruises leave each morning during the season and travel dozens of miles up the bay to active glaciers. Kayaking is an alternative in the areas near Bartlett Cove.

How much does it cost to enter Glacier Bay National Park?

Admission to Glacier Bay National Park is free, and there is no entrance ticket. The cost of a trip to Glacier Bay comes from flights, especially Juneau to Gustavus, lodging, and boat or seaplane excursions. For entrance fees and annual passes, see the national parks Fees and Passes page.

How can I get to a glacier?

To reach a glacier from Bartlett Cove, you'll need to board a boat. The most impressive glaciers lie dozens of miles inside the bay, with no hiking trail leading to them. Daily cruises from Bartlett Cove are the most accessible and popular option.