Mount Rainier National Park
A glacier-covered volcano above meadows that burst into wildflowers each summer.
Photo: Samuel Kerr · CC BY-SA 3.0
Mount Rainier guide: Paradise and the Skyline Trail, Sunrise, wildflower meadows, Reflection Lakes, old-growth forest, road openings, winter chains and the best time to visit.
What to expect
At 4,392 meters, Mount Rainier is the highest peak in Washington and the most glaciated mountain in the lower 48 states, with 25 major glaciers. On clear days the active volcano dominates the skyline of Seattle, about two hours’ drive from the park.
Paradise, on the south side, is the most popular area. From late July into August its meadows fill with lupine, paintbrush and avalanche lilies, and the Skyline Trail climbs toward Panorama Point with close views of the glaciers. Nearby, Reflection Lakes mirror the mountain on calm mornings.
Sunrise, at 1,950 meters the highest point you can drive to in the park, opens only in summer and looks straight at the Emmons Glacier. In the lowland valleys of Ohanapecosh and the Carbon River, trails wind through old-growth forest with trees hundreds of years old.
Snow lingers late: Paradise gets more than 15 meters of it in an average winter, and the road to Sunrise usually opens in early July. The road to Paradise is plowed in winter, but every car must carry tire chains then.
Mount Rainier: top things to do
- 1Wildflower meadows on the Skyline Trail at Paradise
- 2Reflection Lakes on a calm morning
- 3The Emmons Glacier from Sunrise
- 4Old-growth forest at Ohanapecosh
Mount Rainier: best time to visit
Late July to mid-September for wildflowers and open roads; many high trails stay under snow until July.
Mount Rainier: insider tips
- Reach Paradise before 10 a.m. on summer weekends, when its lots fill.
- From November to May, carry tire chains in the car as the park requires.
- Fill up before you drive in: there is no gas station inside the park.
Fees, passes and parking
| What | Price |
|---|---|
| Private vehicle | $30 per vehicle, 7 days |
| Motorcycle | $25 per vehicle, 7 days |
| Per person (on foot or bike) | $15 per person, 7 days |
| Annual pass for this park | $55 per year |
- America the Beautiful pass accepted: $80 a year for US residents, $250 for others (also covers the $100 fee).
- From November to May every vehicle must carry tire chains; there is no gas inside the park.
- US residents enter free on a few fee-free days.
Checked Oct 26, 2026. Official prices
Gas and fast charging nearby
2 gas stations within 20 km
- 7.0 km Longmire Oil House
- 7.1 km Longmire Service Station
No fast (DC) chargers within 20 km; plan to arrive with enough range.
OpenStreetMap data, Oct 28, 2026.
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