Juneau, Alaska's capital city with a population of over 31,000 residents is the largest community on the North American continent not connected to the continental highway system.
How long is the ferry ride to Juneau Alaska?
Sailing from Bellingham, Wash., to Juneau can take up to three days while sailing from Juneau to Ketchikan can be done in 18 hours. Nearby Skagway is less than six hours from Juneau, while Petersburg is an eight-hour trip.
Why is there no highway to Juneau?
Juneau is located on the mainland but is surrounded by the Juneau Ice Field. Any road in or out of Juneau would have to cross numerous rivers and obstacles and would be very prone to avalanche closures. It would have to run the thin line between ocean and mountain peaks. Salmon habitat and wildlife would be impacted.
Is there road access to Juneau Alaska?
Why is Juneau inaccessible by car?
The absence of a road network is due to the extremely rugged terrain surrounding the city. This in turn makes Juneau a de facto island city in terms of transportation, since all goods coming in and out must go by plane or boat, in spite of the city's location on the Alaskan mainland.
Why are there no roads out of Juneau?
The absence of a road network is due to the extremely rugged terrain surrounding the city. This in turn makes Juneau a de facto island city in terms of transportation, since all goods coming in and out must go by plane or boat, in spite of the city's location on the Alaskan mainland.
Why is Juneau not accessible by road?
The absence of a road network is due to the extremely rugged terrain surrounding the city. This in turn makes Juneau a de facto island city in terms of transportation, since all goods coming in and out must go by plane or boat, in spite of the city's location on the Alaskan mainland.
How much of Alaska is not accessible by road?
20 percentOnly 20 percent of Alaska is accessible by road. Despite a land mass of 586,412 square miles, Alaska only has 12 numbered highways. This means most of Alaska is wilderness – untamed, untouched wilderness, rare to find anywhere else in the US. When planning your Alaska vacation, distances can be deceptively large.