Mount Rainier National Park Itinerary (From Locals)
At 14,410 feet above sea level, Mount Rainier stands far above the surrounding Cascade Mountains. It’s so distinct that locals refer to it as “the mountain” and have an unofficial motto: “Live like the mountain is out.”
We recommend spending between one and four days near the park and suggest erring on the side of more time if you enjoy hiking and scenic drives.
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Mount Rainier National Park entrances
Getting to Mount Rainier National Park
The Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) is the nearest major airport, located about an hour and a half away from the Nisqually entrance to the park. The Portland International Airport is also a good option, just over two hours away. No matter where you choose to fly into, exploring the park with your own car is the best way to experience Mount Rainier.
National park pass
To enter the park, you’ll need to have an America the Beautiful Pass or pay the entrance fee (details here). You can buy either at the gate as you enter the park, but you can get through the line faster if you already have a pass by purchasing it online.
Tolmie Peak
Timed entry reservations
Starting in 2024, Mount Rainier National Park is piloting a timed entry reservation system. We explain all the details in this blog, but in short, you may need to buy a timed entry permit to enter the park during regulated hours or arrive before 7 a.m.
Best time to visit
Summer
July to early October
Summer is the best season to visit Mount Rainier because all the hikes at higher elevations are safe and accessible. Since Rainier is usually covered in clouds throughout the winter, summer also gives you the greatest chance of seeing the mountain. However, Rainier is so much taller than the surrounding mountains it creates its own weather (lenticular clouds that sit atop the mountain), so there is always a chance that the mountain is hiding during your visit.
Although Washington is known for rain, summers are usually sunny and beautiful, with temperatures ranging between 60 and 70 degrees at the Paradise Visitor Center on the mountain and 70 to 80 degrees at lower elevations.
July and August are the busiest times to visit Rainier, but it’s worth braving a few crowds to see the wildflowers blooming in the alpine meadows — they usually peak around mid-August.
Crowds start to lessen in September, and by early October, there are fall colors in the meadows. Although the temperatures dip down the 50s and there are higher chances of rain, fall is still a great time to visit Mount Rainier.
Come prepared with rain jackets and a few more layers, since the weather can change quickly, and you’ll experience the park with significantly fewer tourists. By November, many trails and roads at higher elevations have closed for the year, so visit by early October to have as much of the park accessible as possible.
We’d advise avoiding visiting any earlier than July. With snow melting, hiking at Rainier in spring is dangerous, and few trails are accessible.
Mount Rainier National Park entrances
There are four entrances to Mount Rainier National Park. Some are closed to cars, scheduled for construction, or only open seasonally, so plan your trip accordingly.
Nisqually entrance
Located on the southwest side of the mountain, near Ashford, WA, this is the most popular entrance since it’s open year-round and closest to main highways. From here, you’ll have easy access to the Longmire and Paradise Visitor Centers at Mount Rainier.
Stevens Canyon
Located on the southeast side of the mountain, Stevens Canyon Road is open seasonally, usually between late May and September. The closest town is Packwood, WA.
White River
Located on the northeast side of the mountain, closest to Greenwater, WA, this is the entrance that leads to the Sunrise Visitor Center. It usually opens in July and closes in late September to early October, depending on snow levels.
Carbon River – closed indefinitely
The Carbon River/Fairfax Bridge is closed to cars and pedestrian traffic as of 2025. You can no longer drive to Mowich Lake or the trailheads for Tolmie Peak, Spray Park, and Summit Lake.
Where to stay
The towns surrounding Mount Rainier are adorable, but small, with minimal restaurants and amenities. Lodging and campsites tend to book up quickly around the park, so plan your accommodations ahead of time.
If you have limited time, we recommend following our itinerary below and traveling from town to town to see as much as possible. Otherwise stay in Ashford, Packwood, or Greenwater for the nearest access to the park.
Camping
Camping is a great way to experience the park, however, reserving a campsite can be competitive during the peak season. Check out this blog for Rainier’s best campsites in and around the park with tips on how to snag a booking.
Hiking
Mount Rainier is best known for hiking. It has over 250 miles of trails, and each hike is jaw-dropping. Choose between seeing waterfalls, wildflower meadows, close views of the mountain, alpine lakes, or a bit of each with recommendations in the itinerary below. For more hiking suggestions at Rainier, check out this list.
Always look at recent trip reports on Washington Trails Association for any of the hikes you’re interested in. They’ll give you up-to-date information on the trail, snow conditions, mosquitoes, and more.
Best activities
There are plenty of activities near Mount Rainier, and you’ll find our detailed list in this blog.
Mount Rainier 1-4 day itineraries
This Mount Rainier National Park itinerary starts and ends in Ashford and ends in Greenwater. It’s an active trip with scenic drives, hiking suggestions, and iconic viewpoints. It covers the Paradise Visitor Center, Sunrise Visitor Center, Cayuse Pass, and more.
We designed this itinerary to help you see the best of Mount Rainier efficiently. You can see a good amount of the park in one day, but you won’t regret spending more time here.
If you have less than four days to explore Mount Rainier, we explain what to prioritize, and if you have more time to spend in Washington, we share ideas for slowing down or adding on nearby destinations.
Is this itinerary for me?
Travel style:
Road trip
Optional hikes, ranging from easy to difficult
What you’ll see:
Mountains
Waterfalls
Forest
Lakes
Wildlife
Itinerary breakdown
Day 1: Ashford to Packwood
What this day involves:
Longmire Visitor Center
Waterfalls
Wildflowers
Viewpoints
Paradise Visitor Center
Optional hikes
Lodging: Packwood
Day 2: Optional stay in Ashford
What this day involves:
Unique activities near Ashford
Hiking
Day 3: Packwood to Greenwater
What this day involves:
Viewpoints
Lake
Wildflowers
Sunrise Visitor Center
Optional hikes
Day 4: Extend your stay in Greenwater
What this day involves:
Unique activities near Greenwater
Hiking
Leave no trace
Mount Rainier has a highly sensitive ecosystem. It’s especially important to follow the Leave No Trace Principles in such a well-trafficked area.
The wildflower meadows are especially at risk. Please stay on designated trails to prevent trampling the flowers — they only have a few months to grow every year! If you’d like photos that look like you’re amidst the fields of flowers, get creative with your angles.
What to pack
Weather changes quickly at Mount Rainier. Pack extra layers, especially if you’ll be out before or after sunrise/sunset. We also recommend bringing plenty of water and snacks since the Paradise Visitor Center is the only place to buy refreshments. Check out our Pacific Northwest packing list here, and this blog to see all of our favorite hiking gear.
Park tips
Gas stations
There aren’t any gas stations in Mount Rainier National Park. You’ll find gas stations and electric chargers in each town surrounding the park, so fill up ahead of time.
Bathrooms
You’ll be able to find bathrooms at each visitor center, campgrounds, and some of the larger parking lots like Narada Falls and Tipsoo Lake. There are often long stretches between facilities.
Restaurants
The Paradise Inn has the only restaurant on Mount Rainier. Eat a sit-down meal in the Paradise Inn Dining Room or grab quick snacks from the Tatoosh Cafe.
Cell service
Cell service goes in and out on the mountain roads surrounding Mount Rainier and throughout the park. Thanks to the new cell tower at Paradise Visitor Center, you will have service there, but don’t count on it anywhere else. Load your day’s directions on your GPS with WIFI before leaving your lodging each morning.
Dogs
Dogs are not allowed on any hiking trails within Mount Rainier National Park. However, they are allowed in parking lots, on paved roads, and in campgrounds though. If you plan on hiking, it’s best to leave dogs at home.
Entrance backups
Even before there were timed entry reservations we always told others to arrive at park entrances before 7 a.m. or after 3 p.m. to avoid the long lines at the park entrances. Parking lots at the visitor centers tend to fill up too, so getting there early or late helps alleviate this problem as well. If you do purchase a timed entry reservation, the wait at the entrance is usually about 30 minutes.
Where to next?
Road Trip all three of Washington’s National Parks
Check out this itinerary for the most efficient and scenic route to see the North Cascades, Olympics, and Mount Rainier, including stops in the famous town of Leavenworth, and more!
Mount St. Helens
Checking out the most active volcano in the Cascade Range is worth the drive. There’s lots to do in the area between June and October, including hiking, exploring caves, and kayaking.
Olympic National Park
A bit further away is the Olympic National Park. Start your adventure here at Lake Cushman, Lake Quinault, or Port Angeles and you’ll be treated to beautiful lakes, rainforests and waterfalls.
The North Cascades National Park
If you’re interested in checking out the North Cascades, or even all three of Washington’s national parks, look into our preferred driving route here. It will help you skip as much traffic on I-5 as possible.
The Columbia River Gorge
Drive three hours south of Mount Rainier and you’ll find the waterfall corridor of the Pacific Northwest. The gorge is full of beautiful sights, hikes, and adorable towns. It’s the perfect side trip if you’ll be flying out of Portland!
This Mount Rainier National Park itinerary starts and ends in Ashford and ends in Greenwater. It’s an active trip with scenic drives, hiking suggestions, and iconic viewpoints. It covers the Paradise Visitor Center, Sunrise Visitor Center, Cayuse Pass, and more.
We designed this itinerary to help you see the best of Mount Rainier efficiently. You can see a good amount of the park in one day, but you won’t regret spending more time here.
If you have less than four days to explore Mount Rainier, we explain what to prioritize, and if you have more time to spend in Washington, we share ideas for slowing down or adding on nearby destinations.
Search the blog for more adventures! Try searching for topics such as “hiking”, “road trip”, or “Washington”.