Mount Rainier National Park
Mount Rainier National Park is best known for its towering volcanic peak and stunning alpine landscapes. Located in the state of Washington, Mount Rainier is the highest mountain in the state and an iconic symbol of the Pacific Northwest. The park is renowned for its majestic glaciers, pristine lakes, lush meadows adorned with wildflowers, and old-growth forests. At the heart of the park stands Mount Rainier, an active stratovolcano with its snow-capped summit reaching an elevation of 14,410 feet (4,392 meters). Visitors can embark on a variety of activities, including hiking, climbing, camping, and wildlife watching. The park’s extensive trail system offers opportunities for both casual strolls and challenging treks, leading to breathtaking viewpoints, cascading waterfalls, and serene alpine meadows. Mount Rainier National Park is also home to an abundance of wildlife, including black bears, elk, mountain goats, and marmots, adding to the park’s allure.
VISIT Mount Rainier National Park:
Park Details
Mount Rainier National Park was established in .
| Address | |
|---|---|
| Phone | 360-569-2211 |
| Hours | Open all year, 24 hours a day |
| Entrance Fee | $30 per vehicle, valid for 7 days |
When to Visit: Weather vs. Peak Visitation
We crunched 30 years of historical weather and/or park service data to find the best months to visit Mount Rainier National Park. We looked for the optimal temperatures, the least amount of snow and rain, and stayed away from peak visitation months if we could help it. All this data then helped us paint a picture as to what the absolute best time to visit Mount Rainier National Park is.
Our data shows the best months to visit Mount Rainier National Park are July, June, August & September.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Park Visits | 12,933 | 11,743 | 32,101 | 29,632 | 106,136 | 219,641 | 365,200 | 378,305 | 184,166 | 74,355 | 48,248 | 39,161 |
| Precipitation | 281 | 185 | 193 | 128 | 94 | 65 | 24 | 30 | 60 | 152 | 305 | 270 |
| Avg Temp | 38 | 41 | 45 | 51 | 58 | 63 | 70 | 70 | 67 | 56 | 45 | 38 |
| Max Temp | 50 | 53 | 60 | 68 | 76 | 79 | 84 | 84 | 81 | 73 | 59 | 49 |
| Avg Temp | 29 | 29 | 32 | 36 | 42 | 46 | 52 | 52 | 48 | 41 | 34 | 28 |
| Min Temp | 13 | 14 | 21 | 26 | 31 | 37 | 42 | 43 | 36 | 29 | 21 | 11 |
Mount Rainier National Park Road Trips
Many family vacations consist of stringing one or more national parks together during a week-long trip. Creating these types of trips is our specialty! Here are the road trips we've created where Mount Rainier National Park is visited.
| Trip Name | Trip Miles | Trip Days |
|---|---|---|
| The Seattle Area Ski Trip | 441 | 7 |
| Mt. Rainier Scenic Byway Road Trip | 325 | 4 |
| Olympic, Mount Rainier to Mount St. Helens | 396 | 7 |
Other Nearby National Park Sites
From national monuments, to historic sites to seashores and more, here are the other parks closest to Mount Rainier National Park.