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Voykit pocket guide · United States
Gustavus
Spend 1–2 nights in Gustavus as a gateway to Glacier Bay; one night covers most tours, add a second for extra wildlife trips.
Gustavus is a tiny port town (pop. ~460) on Icy Strait, 50 mi NW of Juneau. It is the main access point for Glacier Bay National Park, with limited services and a short summer season. One night lets you join a boat tour and explore the town; a second night adds flexibility for extra tours or wildlife watching.
- Country
- United States
- Best months
- Jun–Sep (full‑season tours, mild temps)
- Avoid
- Oct–May (limited services, colder weather)
- Stay
- 1–2 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- USD
- Money
- Currency is the US dollar (USD, $). Cards and phone payments work almost everywhere; carry a little cash for tips and small vendors.
- Daily spend
- Budget $70–$100 excl. bed · Mid $100–$150 excl. bed · High $150+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile cover the country; prepaid SIMs at their stores and Walmart/Target (passport required), or an eSIM before you fly.
- Emergency
- Police/Fire/Ambulance 911
- Plugs
- Types A, B · 120 V · 60 Hz · Chargers are dual-voltage; hair dryers and straighteners from 230 V countries need a converter.
- Tipping
- Sit-down restaurant: 18–22% of the pre-tax bill.; Bar: US$1–2 per drink or 20% of the tab.; Taxi / ride-hailing: 15–20%, in the app.; Hotel housekeeping: US$3–5 a night.; Porter / valet: US$2–5 per bag or car.; Tour guide: US$10–20 per person for a day tour.; Counter service / tablet prompts: Optional; 0–15%.
- Water
- Tap water is drinkable nearly everywhere; boil or treat water from streams in parks.
- Toilets
- Free public toilets are scarce in big cities; use cafés, department stores, libraries, stations. Rest areas on highways are free.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee at inn café | $3–$5 |
| Salmon dish at Gustavus Inn | $15–$25 |
| Taxi (town to dock, 5 min) | $10–$15 |
| Boat tour (half‑day) | $150–$300 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- GST · Gustavus Airport
- Flights to Juneau (daily summer) and seasonal Seattle route
Typical fares
- GST → Juneau (air)
- about $250 one‑way, summer schedule (check)
- Taxi town → dock
- $10–$15 (5 min)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
One paved road links town to Bartlett Cove (Glacier Bay). Taxis and rental cars available; most visitors walk to the dock.
See and do
Known for
- Gateway to Glacier Bay National Park
- Wild Alaska Charters tours
- Glacier Bay Country Inn
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Glacier Bay National Park (Bartlett Cove) | Taxi or shuttle 5 min from town; boat tours depart from dock | ≈30 min to dock, then 1–3 h boat tour |
Sleep
- Glacier Bay Country Inn
- Open mid‑May to mid‑Sept; 14 rooms, restaurant, bike rentals
- Gustavus Inn at Glacier Bay
- Open mid‑May to mid‑Sept; 14 rooms, homestead meals, reservation required
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | Sorrysorry |
| Thank you | Thank youthank you |
| How much is it? | How much is it?how much is it? |
| Where is the dock? | Where is the dock?where is the dock? |
| Can I have a reservation? | Can I have a reservation?can i have a reservation? |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake and 'hi, how are you?' — reply 'good, thanks'; avoid: Treating the question as a real health enquiry
- Restaurants: Tip 18–22% and wait for the check; avoid: Leaving without tipping
- Personal space: Keep an arm's length in queues; avoid: Standing close to strangers
- Politics and religion: Listen more than you speak; avoid: Opening with hot-button topics
- Smoking: Smoke only in marked areas; avoid: Smoking near doors or in parks where banned
Scams and watch-outs
- Cell coverage is spotty due to tree cover – plan offline maps.
- Summer is the only season with regular flights and tours; check schedules before travel.
Gustavus is low‑crime; main risks are weather‑related boat delays and limited cell service – plan accordingly.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Gustavus yet. Suggested stay: 1–2 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Gateway to Glacier Bay National Park
- Wild Alaska Charters tours
- Glacier Bay Country Inn
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Gustavus, revision 5244300 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5244300
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Gustavus
To this address, please
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police/Fire/Ambulance911
US consulate in Juneau (check address).
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/gustavus). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.