A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Reno vs. Juneau for Couples, Attractions, Food, and Nightlife

Should you visit Reno or Juneau?

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

Should I visit Reno or Juneau? 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.

Reno

Reno is a vibrant, energetic, and growing city. And you can't forget about the nightlife, food, and shopping.

Juneau

Juneau is a historic, scenic, and breathtaking city. It's considered by many to be an absolutely beautiful destination, too. It's also popular because of the hiking, shopping, and museums.

Reno and Juneau: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Reno or Juneau?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Juneau. Although Reno and Juneau are both popular with visitors, Juneau has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Juneau is more popular for its museums, food, hiking, shopping, and impressive beauty, while Reno is known for its nightlife. Juneau is more touristy than Reno and is popular for its wildlife, natural beauty, and Gold Rush in 1880. It is also home to the Mendenhall Glacier. Reno is popular for its casinos and nightlife scene.

How is Reno different from Juneau?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Juneau is an excellent place to visit for its museums and history. Also, Reno is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its museums and landmarks.

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.

Reno is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. Museums in town range from art and history to local or quirky. The National Automobile Museum, the Nevada Museum of Art, Fleischmann Planetarium, and the Anthropology Museum are some of the favorites.

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

Juneau is an excellent place to visit for its restaurants. Also, Reno is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its restaurant scene.

Juneau has a number of nationally recognized food spots and restaurants. 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.

Reno offers number of good local restaurants to choose from. The food scene has been growing in recent years and you'll find plenty of casual restaurants that serve hearty and filling comfort foods.

Is Reno or Juneau Better for Nightlife?

Reno is a well-known place for nightlife and partying. However, Juneau is not a good city for its evening party scene.

Reno offers plenty to do in the evening. There's a big nightlife scene with a huge number of bars and entertainment options. There are also a growing number of breweries in town.

Those looking for nightlife will find a few places to hang out in Juneau. There are a couple of bars and breweries, but most people relax in the evening.

Is Reno or Juneau Better for Hiking?

Juneau is renowned for its hiking trails. However, Reno is not a hiking destination.

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.

Reno is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Reno or Juneau?

Juneau is an excellent place to visit for its shopping areas. Also, Reno is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for shopping.

Many visitors explore the shopping areas in Juneau. 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.

Reno is a great destination for shopping. In addition to your standard suburban shopping malls and strip malls, there's the Midtown District, which has local retail shops and an eclectic and alternative vibe. The area has thrift shops, music vendors, and more.

Is Reno or Juneau Better for Families?

Juneau is an excellent place to visit for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Reno is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its family-friendly activities.

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.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Reno. You'll find some arcades and entertainment options for kids in some of the casinos. There's also the Terry Lee Wells Nevada Discovery Museum, which has kid-friendly, hands-on exhibits, and the largest zoo in Nevado, the Sierra Nevada Zoological Park.

Is Reno or Juneau Better for Couples?

Juneau is renowned for couples. Also, Reno is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for romance.

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.

Reno is a nice destination for couples. There are outdoor parks and scenic walks like the Truckee River Walk or the Rancho San Rafael Regional Park. There's also several great museums and some interesting restaurants.

Is Reno or Juneau Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Juneau is an excellent place to visit for backpackers and budget travelers. However, Reno is lacking in options for backpackers.

Plenty of budget travelers and backpackers visit Juneau. It's a popular destination with budget hotels and even a hostel or two.

Reno is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. It's not really on the backpacker circuit so you won't find any real hostels in town.

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

Visitors will find decent public transit in both Reno and Juneau.

Public transit is mostly limited in Reno. There's a public bus system with routes around town.

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

Is Reno or Juneau a more walkable city?

Juneau is an excellent place to visit for its ease of walking around. However, Reno is lacking in options for its walkability.

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

Reno is generally not very walkable. While there are some reasonably walkable neighborhoods, you really need a car to get around town.

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

Should I spend more time in Juneau or Reno?

How long in Reno or Juneau?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Reno and Juneau. In our opinion, Juneau has more to see and do, so we recommend spending more time in Juneau than Reno. In general, 1-3 days is a good amount of time for Reno, and 2-3 days is enough time in Juneau.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Juneau than Reno 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 Reno or Juneau?

Many travelers enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of Reno. One day is often enough time to do most activities.

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.

A weekend in Reno or Juneau?

Reno is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

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.

Five days in Reno or Juneau?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Reno. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

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.

A week in Reno or Juneau?

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the growing destination of Reno. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

The breathtaking 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.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Camping Tours in United States of America, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in United States of America, The Best Polar Tours & Cruises in United States of America, and The Best Walking Tours in United States of America.

When comparing the travel costs between Reno and Juneau, we can see that Juneau is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in North America, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

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

Which is Bigger, Reno or Juneau?

Reno has a larger population, and is about 7 times larger than the population of Juneau. When comparing the sizes of Reno and Juneau, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.