June self drive itinerary

Question

We will be arriving Juneau at 8:00 am and doing a whale watch tour in the morning. We have arranged to pick up our Turo car rental at Auke bay when we are finished with the whale watching tour at 11:00. Would like to visit Shrine of St Terese and Eagle beach, salmon hatchery, Mendenhall Glacier, and any other sites we can fit in. We will return the car at 4:30 by the cruise ship dock. Please help me arrange the order for best timing. I know we are trying squeezing in a lot, but any insight you can offer would be greatly appreciated.

Answer

It sounds like you're planning an exciting day in Juneau with a lot of great sights to see! Given that you only have a short amount of time from 11:00 AM to 4:30 PM, it’s important to organize your itinerary for efficiency. Below is a suggested itinerary that should allow you to visit all the key spots you mentioned while making sure you’re not rushing too much. I’ll also add some extra suggestions for places you can see if time allows.

Here’s a recommended order and timing:

Pick up your Turo car rental at Auke Bay (11:00 AM - 11:15 AM): After your whale watching tour, head straight to Auke Bay to pick up your car. This should only take about 15 minutes or so. Auke Bay is located a little outside of downtown Juneau, but it's a good base for visiting the attractions around the area.
Visit Shrine of St. Therese (11:30 AM - 12:00 PM): This is a beautiful and peaceful spot with fantastic views of the water. It's about a 15-minute drive from Auke Bay, and it's a great spot for a short visit. The shrine is a nice place to relax for a bit, and the drive to get there gives you a chance to enjoy some scenic views of the coastline.
Eagle Beach (12:15 PM - 12:45 PM): After visiting the shrine, head to Eagle Beach, which is just a short drive from the shrine. You’ll likely have time for a short stroll along the beach or just to enjoy the view. Eagle Beach is a great place to see wildlife and get a feel for Alaska’s natural beauty. Plan for about 30 minutes here to keep things moving.
Salmon Hatchery (1:00 PM - 1:30 PM): The Macaulay Salmon Hatchery is located on your way back toward downtown Juneau. This spot offers a fascinating look into the salmon lifecycle, and you might even see some salmon in the hatchery’s tanks. It’s a quick stop, and you can plan for about 30 minutes here.
Mendenhall Glacier (1:45 PM - 3:00 PM): The Mendenhall Glacier is one of Juneau’s top attractions, and you’ll want to give yourself a bit more time to explore here. The Visitor Center is a great place to start for some information on the glacier, and then you can take a short walk to the glacier’s viewpoint or even hike on the Nugget Falls Trail (if time permits). Depending on your interest in hiking and the trail conditions, plan about 1 to 1.5 hours here to fully enjoy the experience.
Return the car at the cruise ship dock (3:30 PM - 4:30 PM): Aim to leave Mendenhall Glacier by 3:00 PM to ensure you have enough time to get back to the cruise ship dock by 4:30 PM. The drive back to downtown Juneau is about 20 minutes, so you’ll have time to return the car and make your way back to the ship.

Additional Tips:

If you're in a rush and would like to combine two activities, you could consider visiting the Salmon Hatchery and Mendenhall Glacier in the same stop (the hatchery is located just before you reach Mendenhall Glacier, so you can visit them back-to-back without losing much time).
Consider the time of year and weather when deciding on your hikes. Juneau can be rainy in the summer, so bring waterproof gear just in case!
If time allows and you’re interested in something different, you could stop by the Juneau-Douglas City Museum for a bit of local history on your way back to the dock.

With this schedule, you should be able to see all the attractions you want while leaving some breathing room in between for travel and exploration. Make sure to adjust based on how much time you spend at each location. Enjoy your time in Juneau!

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