Mount Rainier National Park from Seattle: history, what to see, how to get there and fees

Mount Rainier National Park is a day trip from Seattle by car. It surrounds an active volcano that rises to 14,410 feet, which the National Park Service (NPS) calls the most glaciated peak in the contiguous U.S. The park is open all year, 24 hours a day, and a private vehicle pays $30 for seven days. The Nisqually Entrance in the southwest corner is the one on the road to Longmire and Paradise.

History of the park, from a mineral springs resort to wilderness

People used the mountain long before the park: NPS archaeologists study human use here spanning at least 9,000 years. NPS notes that the land has historical, cultural and spiritual meaning to many Native Americans.

The national park was established on March 2, 1899, and Longmire became its headquarters. Before that the site was James Longmire's homestead, lodging and mineral springs resort. Headquarters later moved, and the original 1916 headquarters building now holds the Longmire Museum. On November 16, 1988 most of the park was designated wilderness, today 97% of it. In March 1997 the park became a National Historic Landmark District that takes in all park roads, the historic developed areas and historic backcountry structures.

What to see: Paradise, Sunrise and Longmire

Paradise

Paradise sits at 5,400 feet and gets an average of 640 inches of snow a year, according to NPS. In summer its subalpine meadows fill with wildflowers. The 5.5-mile Skyline Trail loop, which NPS calls the essential Paradise trail, climbs from the visitor area through those meadows. The wilderness information center, for summer climbing permits and backcountry information, is in the Guide House across from Paradise Inn.

Sunrise

At 6,400 feet, Sunrise is the highest point in the park you can reach by vehicle. On clear summer days you see the mountain and Emmons Glacier, and Sunrise Point gives a nearly 360-degree view of the valleys and nearby volcanoes. Short options: the 1.5-mile Sunrise Nature Trail, the 1-mile Emmons Vista Overlooks and the 5.6-mile trail to the Mount Fremont fire lookout. Sunrise Day Lodge has food and a gift shop, but no overnight rooms.

Longmire

Longmire is 6.5 miles east of the Nisqually Entrance. The 0.7-mile Trail of the Shadows circles Longmire Meadow past an early homestead and the mineral springs and is open all year, as is the National Park Inn.

How to get there from Seattle

The NPS route: south on I-5 to SR 512 (exit 127), east on SR 512 to SR 7, south on SR 7 to SR 706 in Elbe, then east on SR 706 through Ashford to the Nisqually Entrance. NPS puts the one-way distance from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport to Ashford at 85 miles. For GPS, use 39000 State Route 706 E, Ashford, WA 98304; the park headquarters address is not an entrance.

The park has five entrances. Many roads close in winter: vehicle access is then only through Nisqually, and SR 123 and SR 410 on the east side are closed. Sunrise Road usually opens in late June or early July and closes in late September or early October. NPS advises RVs and trailers over 25 feet not to drive Sunrise Road beyond the White River Campground turnoff. Parking on road edges is not allowed, and on sunny summer weekends parking at Paradise and Sunrise can be difficult or impossible. Road status and alerts are on the park's website.

Hours and entrance fees

The park is open all year, 24 hours a day. It is cashless: no cash at entrances or campgrounds.

Hours and prices checked November 5, 2026 on nps.gov.

Timed entry reservations are currently not required anywhere in the park; it manages parking instead. The rules can change from season to season, so check the timed-entry information on the park's fees page before a summer visit. The same page lists the fee-free days. Washington's Discover Pass is not valid here.

Winter: tire chains and the Longmire gate

From November 1 to May 1 every vehicle in the park, 4WD and AWD included, must carry tire chains, and put them on when signs require it. Under "Chains required Except 4WD", an AWD or 4WD vehicle may go on without chains if it has snow tires on all four wheels, is in four-wheel drive and carries one set of chains. Under "Chains required all vehicles", everyone chains up. Autosocks are allowed for passenger vehicles under 10,000 pounds.

The road from Longmire to Paradise closes nightly in winter. Typically the gate opens at 9:00 am, the uphill gate closes at 3:00 pm and the downhill gate at 4:00 pm; NPS says to plan to leave Paradise by 3:30 pm. The gate may open late, close early or stay closed. Details are on the winter travel page. To put on or remove chains, stop in a chain-up area, pullout or parking lot.

Safety: weather, snow and elevation

NPS warns that weather at Mount Rainier can change quickly from calm to stormy. Many trails stay under snow well into summer, often into June or July, and snow-covered trails are hard to follow, so you may need map and compass skills: electronic devices cannot always be relied on. In a whiteout, NPS says it is safer to stay put. Avalanches can happen outside winter too: avoid steep snowy slopes, and do not cross snow bridges. Carry the 10 Essentials plus extra clothing and food.

For more of the city, see what to see in Seattle and the Seattle city guide.

Questions people ask

How much does it cost to enter Mount Rainier?

A private vehicle pays $30 for a seven-day pass, a motorcycle $25, and a person on foot or bicycle $15. The Mount Rainier annual pass costs $55 for one vehicle, and the America the Beautiful resident annual pass is $80. The park is cashless and does not accept cash at entrances.

Do I need a timed entry reservation for Mount Rainier?

Not at present. NPS says timed entry reservations are not required anywhere in the park, which manages parking instead. Check the timed-entry information on the park's fees page on nps.gov before a summer visit. On sunny summer weekends parking at Paradise and Sunrise can be difficult or impossible.

Can you visit Mount Rainier in winter?

Yes. The park is open all year, but in winter vehicles can enter only through the Nisqually Entrance. From November 1 to May 1 every vehicle, including 4WD and AWD, must carry tire chains. The Longmire to Paradise road closes nightly, and the uphill gate typically opens at 9:00 am and closes at 3:00 pm.

When is the road to Sunrise open?

Only in summer. Sunrise Road usually opens in late June or early July and closes in late September or early October. At 6,400 feet, Sunrise is the highest point in Mount Rainier National Park reachable by vehicle, and its visitor center is open only in summer, generally July to early or mid-September.