Can You Spend the Night in the Juneau Airport?

Many airports throughout the country close for a few hours overnight while there are no incoming or outgoing flights scheduled. And while flight delays can lead to unloading passengers during those closed hours, that’s the only airport activity that the airport approves of during those hours.

So can you spend the night in the Juneau Airport? The online guide Sleeping in Airports reports that Juneau staff and security are friendly toward overnight sleepers. That doesn’t mean you have a seal of approval to sleep there overnight, but you might not get ushered out as you would at other airports and be required to stay the night last minute at a hotel.

Here’s some information to help should you find yourself stranded or otherwise spending the night in the Juneau Airport.

Why You Might Spend the Night at the Juneau Airport

On the surface, the concept of staying overnight at an airport might sound odd. But as you start planning your travels and evaluating the best way to get around Juneau, you might find it works best for your travel plans. 

• If you have a long layover. Juneau Airport is a connection to many other Alaskan destinations. So you might find yourself in a situation where you have several hours between an evening landing and a morning takeoff. That might mean spending 6-8 hours overnight in the airport or finding your way to a local airport hotel down the street. In these situations, there’s generally little sleep for travelers regardless of how they handle it. That’s why some opt to save money and just stay at the airport overnight.
• You have an early morning flight and want to save a little on the last night of hotel bills. Many flights take off early in the morning between 5 and 6 a.m. And with such an early flight, that means getting up in the middle of the night, checking out of your hotel, hiring a rideshare or taxi to transport you to the airport because shuttles don’t run yet, and getting to the airport groggy to prepare to fly. Instead, some just opt to get to the airport the evening before and try to rest at the airport.
• Your travel budget doesn’t have enough for another night of hotel but flights didn’t fit your schedule. Overnight accommodations and flights are the most expensive part of travel. And when you’re managing a budget, you might need to cut your travels a day short. But then flights don’t line up well for that and you find yourself looking for ways to save. The better option is to book your travel well in advance to get the best rates. But when you can’t do that, you might find yourself getting creative with your final night at the hotel.
• Flight delays have led to awkward layover times. When your flight to Juneau gets delayed but your connecting flight stays on time, you might find you now have an awkward layover situation. And last-minute hotel plans are proving to be costly. Staying the night – or in many flight delay scenarios, a few hours in the middle of the night – at the airport might make more sense based on your circumstances.

Tips for Staying Overnight or Several Hours at an Airport in the Evening 

No matter your reason for considering staying overnight at an airport, you should consider a few safety tips to make the process as safe and enjoyable as possible.

Know When Security Closes/Opens

If you’re planning to arrive early for your flight, check to see if security closes. At Juneau Airport, security is open 24 hours because it is a 24-hour airport. Just be aware that some airports only allow you through security within a certain timeframe of your flight’s departure. So if you’re planning to arrive the night before your flight, check to see if you can rest near your terminal or if you’ll need to wait and go through security in the morning. 

Choose a Comfortable Spot

Some airports feature a lounge where you can purchase space to relax during long layovers. However, Juneau does not have this service. But there are airports within a half mile that you can safely walk to and from if you decide you need overnight accommodations.

Instead of an airport lounge, you’ll need to scout out a nice spot. Many of the chairs have armrests, which aren’t ideal for relaxing. You’ll need to scout out a couch, which means you might need to walk around for a bit to find the most relaxing location possible.

Protect Your Belongings

Keep your belongings close while you rest in the airport. If you can, stow them under the bench where you’re resting so that anyone who would mess with them would be so close to you that you’d wake up. You also want to keep them close because airport security has strict instructions to remove unattended baggage.

Plan to Carry on Your Luggage

If you’re arriving at the airport long before your flight takes off, you won’t have an opportunity to check your luggage yet. Generally, airlines will not allow you to check your luggage more than four hours before your flight’s departure. But this does vary by airline.

When you stay in the main part of the airport overnight instead of past security, this does allow the opportunity to still check luggage. But if you’ll be staying at your terminal, your luggage will need to stay with you throughout your travels.

Travel with Someone

It’s unlikely that you’ll encounter issues with staying in the airport since there is so much security and surveillance to keep passengers safe. But you might find that traveling with someone when you plan to stay overnight at an airport is more enjoyable. For example, if you’re traveling alone, you’ll need to pick up all your belongings and carry them with you to the bathroom. Having someone else there means you could walk away for a few moments without the need to haul all your belongings with you.

Plus, extended travel is just more enjoyable with a companion. Exploring Juneau will be far more fun if you have someone to share the experiences with.

Bring Something Soft to Rest Your Head on

Don’t expect a complimentary pillow from airport security like you would from your flight attendant on a plane. If you want a pillow, you’ll need to bring it with you.

You likely don’t want to carry a pillow throughout your travels, but having something soft to rest your head on will make your overnight experience more comfortable. This might be a backpack that you’ve strategically packed to be softer on one side to lay your head on. Or bring a neck pillow that is easy to carry and makes your flights more enjoyable as well.

Wear Noise-Canceling Headphones

To get the most rest and not get interrupted by every PA announcement or passerby, wear noise-canceling headphones. This will help you tune out airport noises even during the slow time at the airport.

Even if you don’t play any music or sounds through the headphones, you can take advantage of their noise-canceling properties by wearing them while you rest.

Hotels Near Juneau Airport

As you read through these tips, you might be starting to think that an overnight stay in an airport isn’t for you. That’s understandable. If you’re looking for a hotel near Juneau Airport, you have many outstanding options. 
Juneau Hotel is a downtown hotel that offers shuttles to and from the airport from 5:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. during the summer. Just call 907-586-5666 to check availability during your travels. Book your stay now for a comfortable place to rest and relax throughout your Juneau travels.

Further reading:

• The 10 Best Inns and Bed & Breakfasts in Juneau Alaska
• Real Challenges of Extended Travel to Juneau Alaska
• Don’t Miss these Top Juneau AK Events in 2023
• The Best Places for Juneau Coffee
• Family-friendly Things to Do in Juneau Alaska On Bad Weather Days