When you’re planning your trip to Mount Rainier National Park, one of the things you’ll need to decide is where to fly into.
In this guide, we’ll look at the nearest airport to Mount Rainier National Park.
It’s worth noting that although this is the closest airport to Mount Rainier National Park, it may not be the best for your trip. For more detailed information about other nearby airports, read my Guide to all the Airports Near Mount Rainier National Park.
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Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA)
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) located in Seattle, Washington is not only the closest airport to the national park, it’s also the busiest airport in the Pacific Northwest, which makes it a very convenient option.
Serving 31 airlines with over 90 domestic and 28 international flights to major cities, Sea-Tac Airport has plenty of options. You can also choose from several car rental agencies at this airport. It’s the nearest airport to Mount Rainier National Park, giving you easy access to all of Mt. Rainier’s entrances in less than 200 miles.
The airport is situated between Portland and Vancouver. From Mount Rainier National Park to Seattle is just 85 miles from the town of Ashford, near the park’s Nisqually entrance. You can take I-5 South from Seattle to Exit 127 or SR 512. From there, drive south on SR 7 to Elbe. Once you get to Elbe, the entrance is less than 15 miles east on SR 706.
To get to the northwest entrances, you can take SR 165 from Wilkeson.
The east entrances, which are most accessible during the warmer months, are a bit over a two-hour drive via Chinook Pass.
Location:
The airport is located south of downtown Seattle and northeast of downtown Tacoma.
Distance from Seattle to Mt Rainier National Park
- Distance from Seattle to Mount Rainier National Park, USA (White River Ranger Station): 71 miles
- Distance from Seattle, WA to Mt Rainier National Park (Paradise): 94 miles
Travel time from Seattle to Mount Rainier National Park:
- Time Seattle – Mount Rainier National Park (White River Ranger Station): 1 hour 30 minutes
- Time Seattle to Mount Rainier, Washington (Paradise): 2 hours 15 minutes
What airlines have flights to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport? Which airports connect to there?
Multiple domestic and international flights are available to and from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.
Rental car options:
- Offsite (Car Rental Facility): Alamo, AVIS, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Fox Rent a Car, Hertz, National, Payless, Rent-A-Wreck, Sixt, Thrifty
Getting from Seattle to Rainier National Park:
- Car rentals and bus and shuttle tours are available at the airport.
Pros
- Nearest Seattle Airport to Mount Rainier
- Plenty of domestic and international flights are available
- Options for cheaper and budget flights
- Visit and see the city of Seattle
Cons
- Can have long wait times at bust peak periods
Map of Airports Near Mount Rainier National Park
Travel Insurance for Mount Rainier National Park
When you’re flying to Washington State (Mount Rainier National Park) consider getting travel insurance too. Make sure it includes trip cancellation, in case you need to cancel your flight before your travel, so that you can get a refund.
A great insurance option is Travelex. It has coverage for all you’ll need. You can swap this link for either choose the best travel insurance plan for your trip here or get a quote right now:
Have a great trip to Mount Rainier! I hope this guide has helped you decide what airport to fly into for your trip to Mt Rainier National Park, WA.
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About the Author
James Ian is a national park, camping and hiking expert.
He has dedicated his life to travel, visiting more than 80 countries, all 7 continents and most of the national parks in the United States. With over 35 years experience in the travel industry, James has worked on cruise ships, at resorts and hotels, and as a travel planner who’s helped hundreds of people plan successful trips to US national parks.
Based on his experience visiting our national parks multiple times, in-depth research and expertise as a travel planner, James has published detailed itineraries for most of the major national parks in the US. These itineraries, as well as in-depth park guides, comprehensive camping and hiking gear reviews and buying guides, and helpful packing lists and gift guides will help you have your own incredible trip to US national parks without stress and hassle.
As a national park expert, James has contributed to many publications, including USA Today, Time Business News, Savoteur, Best Trip, and Wired.
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