A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Juneau vs. Maui for Hiking, Families, Couples, and Attractions

Should you visit Juneau or Maui?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit Juneau or Maui? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Juneau

Juneau is a breathtaking, historic, and scenic city. The famous beauty of Juneau is one of the main draws. And you can't forget about the shopping, museums, and food. See Juneau travel costs.

Maui

Maui is a idyllic, adventure-filled, and breathtaking island. You'll find world class beauty in Maui as well. And you can't forget about the scuba diving and snorkeling, beaches, and hiking. See Maui travel costs.

Juneau and Maui: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Juneau or Maui?

Visitors will usually find more to do in Maui than Juneau, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. Maui is better known for its resorts, scuba diving & snorkeling, and beaches, while Juneau is more popular for its museums and attractions, food, nightlife, and shopping. Maui is more touristy than Juneau and is known for its beach-filled coastline, world-class snorkeling and scuba diving, dramatic landscapes, and paradise environment. Also, Maui is famous for Haleakala National Park. Juneau is well known for its wildlife, natural beauty, and Gold Rush in 1880.

How is Juneau different from Maui?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Maui and Juneau. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Juneau or Maui?

Juneau is a great destination for its museums and landmarks. However, Maui is a island with minimal options for its historical sights.

Juneau offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. Many museums focus on the history in the area, including the Gold Rush and the mining industry. You can visit several historic mines as well as the Last Chance Mining Museum. Other museums around town include the Juneau-Douglas City Museum, the Walter Soboleff Building, and the Alaska State Museum.

While most people don't head to Maui specifically for the museums and attractions, it does offer a few options. Most people prefer not to spend their time inside or at a museum, but for a rainy day you can check out the Maui Ocean Center.

Is the Food Better in Juneau or Maui? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Juneau is a great destination for its restaurant scene. However, Maui is a island with minimal options for its local flavors and cuisine.

Eating is part of the travel experience when you visit Juneau. The seafood is superb and visitors will regret if they miss out on the salmon, halibut, and crab. There are many local restaurants and local chefs serving up the freshest caught fish. For the best seafood, head to the waterfront, and if you're looking for something other than seafood, the downtown is where you'll want to be.

Maui may not make the list for most foodies, but you'll find what you need while you're in town. Like the other Hawaiian islands, food is expensive and of varying quality here, but the food scene continues to grow and improve. There are eclectic food trucks where you can try local flavors. There's also plenty of fresh tropical produce like mangos, avocadoes, and coconuts. Seafood is common on many menus as well.

Is Juneau or Maui Better for Nightlife?

Juneau is a city with a few options for nightlife and partying. However, Maui is a island with minimal options for its evening party scene.

Juneau is generally a quiet destination but there are options around. There are a couple of bars and breweries, but most people relax in the evening.

The nightlife scene is quiet in Maui The island is not known for its nightlife, but the limited activities that do exist you'll find in Kaanapali and Lahaina.

Is Juneau or Maui Better for Resorts?

Maui is a well-known place for its resorts. However, Juneau is not a resort destination.

Maui is known as a popular and fun resort destination. There are a number of nice resorts, but there are also VRBOs, condos, and local hotels where you can stay. High-end luxury resorts on the island include The Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua and Grand Wailea, A Waldorf Astoria Resort. There are also more reasonable priced resorts without all of the glitz and glam.

Juneau is not a resort destination.

Is Juneau or Maui Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Maui is a well-known place for its diving and snorkeling. However, Juneau is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Many visitors partake in scuba diving or snorkeing while visiting Maui. The island has excellent snorkeling and scuba diving. You can really find it anywhere on the island, but some places are more crowded than others. Some of the best beaches for snorkeling include Honolua Bay, Slaughterhouse (Mokuleia Bay), DT Fleming Beach, and Kapalua Bay.

Juneau is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Juneau or Maui Better for Beaches?

Maui is an amazing island to visit for the beach. However, Juneau is not a beach destination.

Travelers come from around the world to visit the beaches in Maui. The island has stunning beaches and more miles of swimmable beach than any of the other Hawaiian islands. One of the best swimming beaches is Kapalua Beach, but other favorite beaches include Makena Beach State Park, Ka'anapali Beach, Baldwin Beach Park, and Wai'anapanapa State Park.

Juneau is not a beach destination.

Is Juneau or Maui Better for Hiking?

If you're looking to go hiking, Juneau and Maui both have first-rate trails.

People visit Juneau specifically for its hiking, as the natural beauty is well-known. You'll find more than 250 miles of hiking trails in the area, and this really is the best way to experience Alaska. The area is known for its wildlife, but there are also glacier hikes, meadows, mountains, and more. In downtown Juneau there's the Perseverance Trail, the Granite Creek Trail, and the Mount Roberts Trail. From the Mendenhall Visitor Center there's the East Glacier Loop Trail, the West Glacier Trail, and the Nugget Falls Trail. There are also trails on Douglas Island and many options just outside of town.

Many people visit Maui specifically for its hiking. There are many diverse hikes on the island that pass through different landscapes and ecosystems. Hikes range from easy to challenging and are of varying length. Some of the favorites include 'Iao Valley State Park, Haleakala's Sliding Sands Trail (in Haleakala National Park), and The Pipiwai Trail.

Is the Shopping Better in Juneau or Maui?

Juneau is a great destination for its shopping opportunities. Also, Maui is still popular, but not quite as popular for its shopping areas.

Juneau is a popular shopping destination with plenty of stores. There's a mix of contemporary art and traditional artisan crafts. You'll find gift shops and art galleries around, particularly downtown and in the Mendenhall Valley business district. Visitors often enjoy buying art, wood carvings, jewelry, pottery, quilts, or dolls.

Maui has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. There are many shopping centers where you'll find souvenirs, Hawaiian clothing, and even handmade crafts. If you forgot something from home, you'll also find many of the major chains that are common on the mainland.

Is Juneau or Maui More Beautiful?

Juneau and Maui are somewhat similar when it comes to the first-rate scenery.

You'll find world class beauty in Juneau as well. The landscape is filled with glaciers, mountains, and fjords, making it a dramatic and beautiful destination.

Maui is considered by many to be an absolutely beautiful destination, too. With its dramatic mountains and beautiful blue water, this island offers stunning beauty.

Is Juneau or Maui Better for Families?

Maui is an amazing island to visit for its family-friendly activities. Also, Juneau is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its kid-friendly activities.

As it has a large number of activities for kids, Maui is a very family-friendly destination. It is one of the best of the Hawaiian islands to explore with kids. There's plenty of snorkeling, outdoor adventure sports, and hiking that are great for kids of all ages. There are some kid-friendly beaches where kids can play in the water. There's also the Maui Ocean Center, Ali'i Kula Lavender Farm, and 'Iao Valley State Park.

You'll find plenty of family-friendly things to do in Juneau. Its is filled with adventure that the whole family will enjoy. There's whale watching, dog sled tours, helicopter rides, hiking, and the Goldbelt Mount Roberts Tramway. This bucket-list destination will have an impact on kids and adults alike.

Is Juneau or Maui Better for Couples?

With fun activities for couples, both Juneau and Maui make for a first-rate place to visit.

Juneau makes for a terrific place to visit as a couple. Couples who enjoy exploring and adventuring will be in awe of this destination. Glacier trekking, superb gardens, and romantic helicopter rides will leave you feeling like a contestant on "The Bachelor". There are also opportunities for romantic evenings out and cozy hotels where you can stay in.

For those traveling as a couple, Maui has plenty to offer. Couples will enjoy the outdoor sports, excellent snorkeling and diving, and beautiful waterfalls that make for a romantic getaway. There are world-class resorts and breathtaking scenery that attract honeymooning couples from around the globe.

Is Juneau or Maui Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Juneau is a great destination for backpackers. However, Maui is a island with minimal options for backpackers and budget travelers.

Juneau is a great city to visit for backpackers. It's a popular destination with budget hotels and even a hostel or two.

Maui is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. Like most of the Hawaiian Islands, everything is expensive here and even though there are a couple of hostels, you can still expect to pay high prices for them. Public transportation is also limited so you'll really need to rent a car if you hope to explore the island in depth.

Is Juneau or Maui Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Both Juneau and Maui offer respectable public transit options.

Public transit is generally limited in Juneau. You can only reach Juneau by boat or plane and there are three bus routes through town.

Public transit is mostly limited in Maui. The island does have a bus system with 14 routes, but most visitors prefer to have their own transportation to get around.

Is Juneau or Maui a more walkable city?

Juneau is a great destination for its high level of walkability. However, Maui is a island with minimal options for its ease of walking around.

Juneau is a very walkable city. The downtown is very walkable and many places can be reached within a reasonable walk.

Maui is not a very walkable city. The island is large enough that you'll want to have access to a car if you hope to explore it in its entirety.

For even more information, also check out Is Juneau Worth Visiting? and Is Maui Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Maui or Juneau?

How long in Juneau or Maui?

Both Juneau and Maui have a number of activities to choose from. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Maui than in Juneau. Usually, 2-3 days is a good amount of time for Juneau, and 3-7 days is enough time in Maui.

Families should spend more time in Maui than Juneau. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Maui, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Juneau than Maui. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Juneau that are great for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Juneau than Maui if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Juneau.

One day in Juneau or Maui?

Visitors enjoy the museums and food when visiting the destination of Juneau. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything.

Many travelers enjoy the shopping and scuba diving and snorkeling when visiting the destination of Maui. Hikers are also drawn to this area. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

A weekend in Juneau or Maui?

Juneau is a fun place to experience. Most people visit for the hiking. If you have a weekend, this is a great place to go. Hikers are also drawn to this area. A weekend is often enough time to do most activities. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

Maui is a great place to explore. With so much to do, a weekend is probably not enough time to see everything. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Five days in Juneau or Maui?

You'll find shopping and museums around the scenic destination of Juneau. This city offers something for everyone. Many visitors also spend a good bit of time hiking. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Maui. For many, it makes a great getaway for five days. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. With all of its activities, you can easily fill five days here. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A week in Juneau or Maui?

The historic city of Juneau offers museums and food. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. One week is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips.

Many travelers enjoy the scuba diving and snorkeling and shopping when visiting the stunning destination of Maui. This island offers a variety of activities to choose from. Many travelers plan to spend time hiking while in the area. If you have one week, this is a great place to go. This would be the perfect place to spend one week, as it has just the right amount of activities.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Las Vegas, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Anchorage, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Los Angeles, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from New York City.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Juneau and Maui, we can see that Maui is more expensive. And not only is Juneau much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Juneau would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Juneau and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Maui would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Maui than you might in Juneau.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Juneau Expensive? and Is Maui Expensive?.

When is the best time to visit Juneau or Maui?

Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Juneau or Maui in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Juneau and Maui. The summer months attract visitors to Juneau because of the hiking and the family-friendly experiences. Furthermore, the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Maui this time of year.

Juneau is much colder than Maui in the summer. The daily temperature in Juneau averages around 56°F (13°C) in July, and Maui fluctuates around 79°F (26°C).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Maui this time of the year. Juneau usually receives less sunshine than Maui during summer. Juneau gets 179 hours of sunny skies, while Maui receives 290 hours of full sun in the summer.

Juneau gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Juneau usually receives more rain than Maui. Juneau gets 4.2 inches (106 mm) of rain, while Maui receives 0.4 inches (10 mm) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Juneau or Maui in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Juneau as well as Maui. The hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Juneau this time of year. Additionally, many travelers come to Maui for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.

In the autumn, Juneau is much colder than Maui. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Juneau in October average around 42°F (6°C), and Maui averages at about 78°F (26°C).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Maui. In the autumn, Juneau often gets less sunshine than Maui. Juneau gets 69 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Maui receives 245 hours of full sun.

Juneau receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Juneau usually gets more rain in October than Maui. Juneau gets 7.8 inches (199 mm) of rain, while Maui receives 1.2 inches (31 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Juneau or Maui in the Winter?

Both Maui and Juneau are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Juneau for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, many visitors come to Maui in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Juneau. In January, Juneau is generally much colder than Maui. Daily temperatures in Juneau average around 24°F (-4°C), and Maui fluctuates around 72°F (22°C).

It's quite sunny in Maui. Juneau usually receives less sunshine than Maui during winter. Juneau gets 87 hours of sunny skies, while Maui receives 217 hours of full sun in the winter.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Maui. It's quite rainy in Juneau. In January, Juneau usually receives more rain than Maui. Juneau gets 4.6 inches (116 mm) of rain, while Maui receives 4.1 inches (105 mm) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Juneau or Maui in the Spring?

Both Maui and Juneau during the spring are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Juneau in the spring for the natural beauty. Also, most visitors come to Maui for the beaches and the natural beauty during these months.

Juneau can get quite cold in the spring. Juneau is much colder than Maui in the spring. The daily temperature in Juneau averages around 40°F (4°C) in April, and Maui fluctuates around 74°F (24°C).

In Maui, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the spring, Juneau often gets less sunshine than Maui. Juneau gets 185 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Maui receives 231 hours of full sun.

Juneau usually gets more rain in April than Maui. Juneau gets 2.7 inches (68 mm) of rain, while Maui receives 1.8 inches (47 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Maui and Juneau