Alaska
Arriving in Juneau, AK with a rented RV
Juneau is the only US state capital with no road to the outside world — every RV here arrived on the Alaska Marine Highway System (AMHS) ferry from Bellingham, Prince Rupert, Skagway, or Haines, and that ferry math drives every other decision.
Sourced to municipal code, park-service and operator pages · last reviewed 2026-06-04
Arrival briefing · AK
Your Juneau arrival, on one dashboard
Every figure below is counted straight from this guide's sourced entries — parking rules that bite, where to dump and refill, and the campgrounds that actually take a rig. Nothing invented; a dash means we haven't sourced one yet.
RV campgrounds
3
Dump stations
3
Propane / diesel
2
Parking rules
3
11 field-sourced facts · last reviewed 2026-06-04
A 25-ft motorhome on the Bellingham-to-Juneau run costs roughly $1,800-$2,400 one-way plus walk-on fares, and AMHS sells out summer sailings 4-6 months ahead per their published reservation window. Once on the road system (about 45 miles of driveable highway running from Tee Harbor to Thane), CBJ Code Title 72 (Traffic) caps continuous street parking at 72 hours and Title 19 Land Use prohibits human habitation of vehicles on public ROW.
There are only two truly RV-ready full-hookup options: Auke Bay RV Park (north of downtown near the AMHS terminal) and Mendenhall Glacier RV Park. USFS Mendenhall Lake Campground inside Tongass National Forest is the prized dry-camping option with direct views of the glacier face, but it caps at 45-ft sites with no hookups. Cruise-season congestion (May through September) gridlocks Egan Drive between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. when up to 5 ships are in port. Plan errands at 7 a.m.
or after 6 p.m. and treat the rig as your home base while exploring via the Capital Transit bus system.
Alaska scenery
Timing your trip
When should I plan my trip to Juneau?
Best season to come
May 15 through September 15: 55-68 F highs, all USFS campgrounds open, AMHS full schedule. Trade-off: cruise crowds and high ferry costs.
Season to skip
November through March: 25-38 F highs, persistent rain (Juneau averages 90+ inches annually), most USFS sites closed, AMHS reduced winter schedule.
Read before you park
Parking ordinances that bite RVs
Vehicles cannot be parked on a CBJ public street for more than 72 consecutive hours.
Citation: CBJ Code Title 72 (Traffic)
What this means for you: Move every 72 hours or invite a $50 citation plus tow risk. Egan Drive shoulders are not legal RV parking despite the open space.
Human habitation of vehicles on city streets and rights-of-way is prohibited.
Citation: CBJ Code Title 19 (Land Use Code)
What this means for you: Sleeping in a rig parked on any street, even legally parked, is citable. Use one of the two full-hookup parks or Mendenhall Lake CG.
Oversize vehicles must use designated truck/RV parking; no on-street oversize parking in downtown Juneau historic district.
Citation: CBJ Title 72 + downtown overlay
What this means for you: Park rigs at Auke Bay or Mendenhall; ride Capital Transit Route 3 or 4 into downtown. South Franklin and Marine Way will not accommodate a Class C.
Tanks + water
Where can I dump tanks in Juneau?
Auke Bay RV Park Dump
11930 Glacier Hwy, Juneau, AK 99801
Mendenhall Glacier RV Park Dump
9105 Mendenhall Mall Rd, Juneau, AK 99801
Savikko Park RV Dump (Douglas)
Sayeik Way, Douglas, AK 99824
Fuel + propane
Where do I top up propane and diesel?
Taku Oil Sales
9182 Mendenhall Loop Rd, Juneau, AK 99801
Offers: Propane refill (RV onboard tanks + DOT cylinders); diesel delivery
RV access: Mendenhall Valley industrial lot; pull-through workable for rigs to 38 ft
Petro 49 / Petro Express (Lemon Creek)
5400 Glacier Hwy, Juneau, AK 99801
Offers: Diesel + DEF at the pump
RV access: Cleanest big-rig diesel access on the road system
Where to sleep
Which campgrounds actually take RVs?
Mendenhall Lake Campground (Tongass NF)
USFS Tongass National Forest (Recreation.gov)
No hookups; vault toilets; direct view of Mendenhall Glacier face from select sites
Operator siteAuke Bay RV Park
Private
Full hookup (W/E/S, 30/50 amp); 5 min from AMHS Auke Bay Ferry Terminal
Operator siteMendenhall Glacier RV Park
Private
Full hookup; long-stay rates; 4 mi to glacier visitor center
Operator sitePublic-land hubs near this city
State parks, National Forests, and NPS units around the city are the anchors for an RV or boat trip — check each unit's official site for current access, fees, and seasonal rules before you go.
On the road in Alaska
Plan around the crowds
Which local events will move Juneau RV supply?
Alaska Marine Highway Summer Reservation Window
Vehicle berths for May-September Juneau sailings (especially Bellingham route) sell out within 4-6 weeks. Reserve by mid-January for best chance.
Event sourceCruise ship peak (5-ship days)
Egan Drive between downtown and Mendenhall jams 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; plan errands before 8 a.m. or after 7 p.m.
Event sourceCelebration (Sealaska Heritage festival)
Centennial Hall and downtown fill; Auke Bay and Mendenhall Glacier RV Parks book out 60 days ahead.
Event sourceArrival playbook
Your first hour in Juneau
Before you leave the lot
- Confirm AMHS ferry reservation 90 days before sailing; vehicle berths are non-transferable and rebooking incurs a $25-$50 fee.
- Reserve Auke Bay or Mendenhall Glacier RV Park before boarding the ferry — both fill summer weekends 60+ days ahead.
Within the first hour
- Top off propane at Taku Oil (9182 Mendenhall Loop Rd) within 48 hours of arrival — only attended refill on the road system.
- Do not attempt to drive South Franklin or downtown historic streets in any Class A — narrow corners and cruise-passenger pedestrian flow.
Before bed
- Buy a Capital Transit day pass ($3) and ride Route 3 or 4 between Auke Bay and downtown instead of moving the rig.
- Confirm Mendenhall Glacier USFS visitor center day-use parking quota — overflow parking is at the back lot off Mendenhall Loop.
Before departure
- Check NWS Juneau marine forecast before AMHS sailing day; ferries divert to Hoonah or Petersburg for weather and that delays vehicle disembarkation.
The mistake renters make
Avoid this trap
Assuming an AMHS reservation guarantees same-day onward driving — Juneau-to-Skagway and Juneau-to-Haines ferry timing can leave a rig at the AMHS terminal at 1 a.m. with no in-town RV park staffed for late arrival.
Auke Bay RV Park front office closes 8 p.m.; Mendenhall Glacier RV Park 9 p.m. After-hours arrival means a 7-10 hour wait in the AMHS terminal lot until office opens, with no hookups, in 50 F drizzle.
Read the sourceReady to roll
See what's available in Juneau
Make it a trip
Rent an RV or boat in Alaska
The rigs here are owned by local hosts. Browse what fits your Juneau trip, or reach Alaska owners directly.
Browse Alaska rigsEditorial sourcing
How we know — the sources we checked
- CBJ Code Title 72 — Traffic(opens in new tab)
- Alaska Marine Highway System(opens in new tab)
- USFS Mendenhall Lake Campground (Recreation.gov)(opens in new tab)
- CBJ Tourism Best Practices(opens in new tab)
- City and Borough of Juneau Engineering and Public Works(opens in new tab)
Last reviewed 2026-06-04
For RV owners in Juneau
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Nearby cities in Alaska
If your trip crosses Alaska, these neighbouring city guides cover the parking, dump, propane, and campground details you'll need.
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Before you arrive
Alaska state guide
OpenWhat's happening
Alaska events calendar
OpenStay legal
Alaska RV laws
OpenAlaska rules · last verified 2026-05-10
- Rental tax
- 2.50%
- Min driver age
- 18+ std · 21+ Class A
- Gravel roads
- Allowed — disclosure required
- Generator quiet
- 22:00-08:00
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