If you’ve taken a boat tour through the Inside Passage of Alaska’s Panhandle, you’ve likely passed the towns of Ketchikan, Wrangell, and Sitka. At the northern end of the Inside Passage is the remote town of Gustavus, AK.
Although not large in size or population, this town offers tourists a chance to explore one of America’s national treasures at Glacier Bay. Let’s take a closer look at Gustavus so you can decide if you want to visit during your next Alaskan road trip!
Gustavus sits in the panhandle of Alaska near the top of the Inside Passage. It’s directly west of Juneau, although you can’t drive a car to the capital city.
Numerous islands and small communities dot this region of Alaska: Skagway and Haines to the north and Sitka farther south. Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve sit north and northwest of Gustavus, AK.
According to the 2020 Census, approximately 655 people live in Gustavus, AK. It’s a small city but has grown by 50% over the last ten years.
The total land area measures about 36 square miles, while the total water area measures about 20 square miles. The Salmon River runs straight through the city to Glacier Bay National Park.
As mentioned, you can’t drive to Juneau from Gustavus, AK. This is because no roads lead in or out of either city. Juneau and Gustavus are only accessible by boat or plane.
During June, July, and August, you can buy a ticket on Alaska Seaplanes or Alaska Airlines to visit Gustavus. Or you can board a ferry and travel the Alaska Marine Highway any time of the year. You can read more about this marine highway system in our article “The Alaska Marine Highway: Know Before You Go.”
Once you arrive in Gustavus, AK, public transportation isn’t available. You can rent a car, bring your vehicle aboard the ferry, call a taxi, or rent a bicycle.
The entire road system in Gustavus is only about 20 miles. You’ll need to plan ahead should you want to visit Glacier Bay National Park. The ferry dock sits nine miles from the park entrance should you arrive via the Alaska Marine Highway.
The only camping in Gustavus, AK, is Hollywood Farms RV Park. This brand-new campground offers nine RV sites with electric and water hookups. There’s a bathhouse, laundry, and dump station on the property.
Bartlett Cove Campground in Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve is a free, walk-in campground. However, you must complete a Bartlett Cove Campground Permit Application before arriving. There are no RV sites or car camping areas here.
The Tlingit people used to harvest salmon in this community, and white people settled around 1917, with the first homestead built in 1923. The first post office was established in 1925.
But it has always been a remote area. Only recently, with the Alaska Marine Highway System ferry route, have tourists started to visit this wilderness.
Today, Gustavus, AK, is known as the gateway to Glacier Bay National Park. The receding glaciers have created this small town and given way to a relatively flat plain. Mountains, ice fields, and the Pacific Ocean surround Gustavus.
Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve is one of the largest national parks in the country. Its 3.3 million acres protect rugged mountains, glaciers, fjords, rainforests, and coastlines.
It sits at the northern end of the Inside Passage and is part of a 25 million-acre World Heritage Site. Birdwatching, hunting, kayaking, rafting, fishing, hiking, and flightseeing are the most popular activities here.
Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve is one of the most remote parks in America. Not only is it inaccessible by car, but once you arrive, there are also very few roads within the park.
Bartlett Cove is the only developed area in the national park with the Glacier Bay Lodge, the Visitor Center, the Park Headquarters, several trails, a public dock, kayak rentals, and a walk-in campground. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t some fantastic ways to explore this national treasure.
You can take a boat or plane from Gustavus, AK, to Bartlett Cove. Once you arrive, you can walk the Forest Trail to the beach. We encourage you to visit the Visitor Center to learn more about the park through the exhibits. Also, stop by the Xunaa Shuká Hít, a Huna tribal house that offers insight into the cultural heritage of this region.
Sea kayaking is one of the best ways to explore Glacier Bay National Park. If you travel to the park aboard the ferry system, you can bring your kayak.
Additionally, you can rent a kayak at Barlett Cove. Book a guided kayak tour or explore the tidewater glaciers on your own. You can also arrange pick-up and drop-off services at the Glacier Bay Lodge during the summer.
If you can’t go sea kayaking, another great way to take in the sights of Glacier Bay National Park is on a boat cruise. These day tours dock at Bartlett Cove during the summer and take visitors on a full-day excursion to the tidewater glaciers.
It’s best to stay in Gustavus or at the Glacier Bay Lodge to allow yourself plenty of time to arrive for the morning departure.
Keep in Mind: Looking to see the biggest glaciers while in Alaska? Then make sure these are on your itinerary!
There aren’t many camping options in Glacier Bay National Park or Gustavus, AK. But if you want to enjoy the park’s wilderness, you can get a backcountry camping permit to stay overnight.
You’ll need to stop by the Visitor Information Station to process the permit and get up-to-date information on regulations, closures, and logistics. The permit is free, but all campers must complete a mandatory orientation at the Visitor Information Station.
Finally, there’s nothing more magical than flying above massive glaciers and rugged peaks in Alaska. Book a flightseeing tour to experience the immensity of this national park.
Alaska Seaplanes, Seaport Airlines, Harris Air, Drake Air, Mountain Flying Service, Ward Air, Yakutat Coastal Airlines, and Gulf Air provide flightseeing tours over Glacier Bay.
Keep in Mind: During our Alaska getaway, we went on an Alaska Bear Adventures flight seeing tour. Click to see if it was worth it!
May through September is the best time to visit Gustavus, AK, because all the services, tours, and attractions operate. Also, whale viewing is extremely popular during these months because a large concentration of humpback whales migrate here. Since transportation is limited, you’ll want to make your reservations and plans early.
Will you add a visit to Gustavus, AK, to your next Alaskan road trip?
Gustavus, AK is unique. It takes some planning to spend a few days here, but it’s well worth it. You’ll find that even though it’s a small town, Gustavus has everything you need. And the residents welcome visitors as tourism is a huge economic industry.
You’ll find outfitters that provide kayak, boat, hiking, and whale-watching tours, shops with local trinkets and souvenirs, lodging accommodations for a comfortable stay, and local dining options.
So don’t skip out on this remote town. Take a 30-minute flight from Juneau and spend a few days in Gustavus, AK. What will you do first?
