On a clear day, Mount Rainier is hard to miss. You can see the stunning, snow-capped peak easily from nearby Seattle and the entire surrounding area.
The national park is famous not only for the beautiful mountain that lies at its center, but also the the meadows of wildflowers that burst into bloom in late spring. There are dozens of hiking trails, and plenty of viewpoints to soak in the beauty of this area. At lower levels, there are old growth forests with towering trees, beautiful lakes and stunning waterfalls.
Table of Contents
Mount Rainier National Park at a Glance
⭐ State: Washington
⭐ Main attractions: Mountain Views, wildflowers, waterfalls
10 FUN FACTS ABOUT MOUNT RAINIER NATIONAL PARK
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Mount Rainier National Park Itineraries
*** Available for purchase ***
These are not your average blogger itineraries, which tend to be short summaries of things that they did on their one visit there. These itineraries are all about YOU and helping you have the best time.
They will take away the overwhelm that often accompanies planning a trip to Mount Rainier National Park. They’re a combination detailed hour-by-hour itinerary (with options for different activity levels), guidebook, hiking guide, driving directions, travel tips, and more. You’ll need nothing else to plan your trip – it’s all done for you (but you still have choices).
One-day, two-day, and three-day detailed itineraries for Mount Rainier National Park available for purchase:
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Mount Rainier National Park Travel Guide
Planning a trip to Mount Rainier National Park can be overwhelming – but it doesn’t have to be. Use this Mount Rainier National Park guide for all your trip planning. Click on the links below to go to detailed guides and answers to your questions.
How to Plan a Trip to Mount Rainier National Park
Because the park has a big mountain in the middle, planning a trip can be tricky.
This guide will help you with what you should AVOID doing when you plan a trip to Mt Rainier National Park.
Read More: 7 MISTAKES TO AVOID IN MOUNT RAINIER NATIONAL PARK
Mt Rainier is one of the national parks that has timed entry permits for the busy summer months.
Read More: DETAILS ON THE RESERVATION SYSTEMS
Entrance Fee for Mount Rainier National Park
There is an entrance fee for the park. Find the latest fees on the NPS website.
To avoid long lines and save money, if you are planning to visit more than just Mount Rainier this year, it can be great value to purchase an America The Beautiful pass.
The one-year pass includes standard entrance at all sites managed by the National Park Service, Forest Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, and Army Corps of Engineers. The pass covers the entrance fee for a driver and all passengers in a personal vehicle or up to 4 adults at sites that charge per person.
Get an America The Beautiful pass here
There are other types of passes available for seniors, veterans, etc.
Read More: NATIONAL PARKS PASSES
Mount Rainier National Park Visitor Centers
There are several Visitor Centers.
ℹ️ The Henry M Jackson Memorial Visitor Center is the main Visitor Center and is in the Paradise section of the park. There’s information, a gift shop and a small cafe. It’s open year-round, but weekends only in winter (generally October-May).
ℹ️ The Ohanapecosh Visitor Center is located at the Ohanapecosh Campground in the southeast corner of the park. It’s a small center with some information and an interesting cut log showing all the time rings. It’s generally open late June through mid-September.
ℹ️ The Sunrise Visitor Center is located at Sunrise in the northeast corner of the park. It’s generally open July through mid-September.
ℹ️ The Longmire Museum is located at Longmire in the southwest corner of the park near Paradise. It’s open year-round.
Best Tours of Mount Rainier National Park & Seattle
🎧 Get a self-guided audio tour of Mount Rainier National Park
Hikes in Mount Rainier National Park
There are some really great hikes, ranging from very easy to challenging.
Read More: BEST HIKES IN MOUNT RAINIER
Easy hikes that are perfect for the whole family, if you have limited mobility, or just want to take it easy.
Read More: BEST EASY HIKES IN MOUNT RAINIER
My favorite hike in the park, with stunning views of Mount Rainier and the Cascade mountains.
Read More: SKYLINE TRAIL GUIDE
Where to Stay In and Near Mount Rainier National Park
There are several lodges and campgrounds in the national park.
Lodges inside Mount Rainier National Park
🛏️ National Park Inn at Longmire. Generally open year-round.
🛏️ Paradise Inn at Paradise. Generally open early July to early September.
Campgrounds inside Mount Rainier National Park
⛺ Cougar Rock (seasonal)
⛺ Ohanapecosh (seasonal)
⛺ White River (seasonal)
There are several accommodation options nearby. Packwood in the southeast is a good gateway town for Sunrise and Ashford is convenient for Paradise and Longmire.
➡️ Find a hotel in Packwood on Expedia.
➡️ Find a vacation rental in or near Packwood on VRBO.
➡️ Find a hotel in Ashford on Expedia.
➡️ Find a vacation rental in or near Ashford on VRBO.
How to Get To Mount Rainier National Park
The most common ways to get to Mount Rainier National Park are to drive or fly to a nearby airport and pick up a rental car there.
Read More: HOW TO GET TO MOUNT RAINIER
🚗 If you need a rental car, find one on RentalsCars.com
✈️ If you’re looking for a flight, find a good deal on Skyscanner
The Nearest Airports to Mount Rainier National Park
See all the airports near Mount Rainier National Park with the pros and cons of each of them.
This is the closest (and the most convenient) airport to Mount Rainier National Park.
Read More: CLOSEST AIRPORT TO MOUNT RAINIER
✈️ If you’re looking for flights, use Skyscanner to scan the Internet for the cheapest deals.
How to Get Around Mount Rainier National Park
There are no shuttles in Mt Rainier National Park, so the only way to get around is to have your own vehicle or take a tour. The roads are paved in the south and east sections of the park but there are restrictions on RVs and trailers in some sections like Sunrise.
The northeast section is much less visited and has an unpaved road to access it.
🚗 If you need a rental car, find one on RentalsCars.com
The Best Time to Visit Mount Rainier National Park
The park is one of the snowiest places in the USA. Most of the park is only open for the spring – fall months. Longmire is open all year. Paradise is open in winter for winter activities, but not every day, depending on staffing levels.
A quick summary of the best time to visit the national park for different interests and priorities.
Read More: BEST TIME TO VISIT MT RAINIER NATIONAL PARK
Take a look at what the park’s like in each season and month to help you decide when to visit Mt Rainier National Park.
Read More: VISITING MOUNT RAINIER NATIONAL PARK THROUGHOUT THE YEAR
How Long to Spend in Mount Rainier National Park
How many days you should go to Mt Rainier National Park for depends on when you have time off, how much time you have, your budget, and your interests. However, I recommend at least three days in the park if you’re visiting in the non-winter season.
Let’s take a look at how much time to spend at Mount Rainier National Park and what you can realistically expect to see and do while you’re there.
Read More: HOW MANY DAYS DO YOU NEED MOUNT RAINIER NATIONAL PARK
Travel Insurance for Mt Rainier National Park
In addition to working out the logistics of your trip using this travel guide, Mount Rainier National Park planning should also include travel insurance. Protect yourself against trip cancellation, loss or theft of your property, or any medical emergencies.
A great insurance option is Travelex. It has coverage for all you’ll need. You can compare Travel Insurance plans here or get a quote right now:
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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 many of the major national parks in the US. These itineraries, as well as in-depth park guides, and other resources 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.