Mount Rainier National Park
A 14,411-ft glaciated volcano, the wildflower meadows of Paradise, the old-growth at Grove of the Patriarchs, and a 90-mile drive from downtown Seattle.
Distance
95 mi
Drive time
~150 min
Route
I-5 S to WA-7 S to WA-706 E to the Nisqually Entrance — 95 mi southeast of Seattle
Best window
Mid-July to mid-August for peak wildflowers at Paradise
About Mount Rainier National Park
Mount Rainier is a 14,411-ft active stratovolcano with 25 named glaciers — the most heavily glaciated peak in the contiguous United States — and the centerpiece of Mount Rainier National Park, established in 1899 as America's fifth national park. The most-visited entrance, Nisqually, sits 95 miles southeast of Seattle on WA-706 and stays open year-round. Paradise (5,400 ft on the south flank) is the headline destination: the Henry M. Jackson Visitor Center, the famous Skyline Trail loop (5.5 mi, 1,700 ft, the best wildflower-and-glacier hike in the Cascades), and in winter the Paradise snowplay area with the deepest reliably-measured snowfall in North America. Sunrise (6,400 ft, the highest road in the park) opens July–September with even closer views of the glaciated north face. Ohanapecosh and the Grove of the Patriarchs walk through 1,000-year-old western redcedars and Douglas firs. A 12–15 passenger van handles the paved park roads easily; reservations are required at Paradise on summer weekends.
Why it's worth the drive
- Paradise wildflower meadows — peak bloom mid-July to mid-August, the postcard view of Rainier above lupine and avalanche lily.
- Skyline Trail loop from Paradise — 5.5 mi, 1,700 ft gain, glacier views, marmots, and the Myrtle Falls overlook. The single best day-hike on the mountain.
- Sunrise — 6,400-ft visitor area with the closest road-accessible view of the Emmons Glacier (the largest glacier in the lower 48). Open July through September only.
- Grove of the Patriarchs — easy 1.5-mi loop through 1,000-year-old western redcedars and Douglas firs along the Ohanapecosh River.
- Reflection Lakes — postcard mirror reflections of Mount Rainier on calm mornings, 3 mi east of Paradise on Stevens Canyon Rd.
Things to do
What groups actually do at Mount Rainier
Skyline Trail loop from Paradise
5.5 mi, 1,700 ft gain. Counter-clockwise gets the climb out of the way first. Panorama Point delivers the famous side-by-side view of Rainier and Mount Adams. Snow lingers on the upper trail into July.
Jackson Visitor Center at Paradise
5,400-ft visitor center with the 3D mountain model, ranger-led talks, and a cafeteria. Reserve a Paradise timed-entry permit on summer Saturdays/Sundays.
Sunrise side of the mountain
The 6,400-ft Sunrise area opens late June or early July through September. Closest road-accessible view of the Emmons Glacier and the north face. Less crowded than Paradise.
Grove of the Patriarchs nature walk
1.5-mi loop near the Stevens Canyon Entrance — suspension footbridge over the Ohanapecosh River into a stand of 1,000-year-old conifers. Easy, kid-friendly. (Note: bridge closures occur after high water — check the alerts page.)
Narada Falls + Reflection Lakes
Two roadside stops between Longmire and Paradise — Narada is a 168-ft waterfall on the Paradise River; Reflection Lakes is the mirror-image-of-Rainier shot at dawn on a windless day.
Winter snowshoe at Paradise
December–March, the Nisqually Entrance road and Paradise stay open with chains required. Free ranger-led snowshoe walks Saturdays/Sundays. Paradise records snowfalls in the 60-80 ft range in big winters.
Group + van tips
Driving a 12-15 passenger van to Mount Rainier
- Timed-entry reservation required at Paradise on summer weekends (May 24 – Sept 2, 2025 schedule; check the park site for the current year). Reserve at recreation.gov 7 days in advance or be in line at the Nisqually gate before 7 AM to enter without a reservation.
- The Paradise road and Sunrise road are paved and a 15-passenger Sprinter is well within size — no oversize fees, no clearance issues.
- Stevens Canyon Rd between Paradise and the Ohanapecosh entrance is narrow with switchbacks but fully fine for a van. The Westside Rd is gravel and not recommended.
- From November through May, carry tire chains for the Paradise road — the park rangers enforce chain-up requirements at the chain-up area. Sprinters need 4 chains, one per drive wheel.
- Cell service is non-existent above Longmire. Download Google Maps offline and the NPS app's offline park content before you leave Seattle.
The Paradise lots fill by 10 AM on summer weekends; arrive before 9 AM or use the timed-entry reservation system. 15-passenger Sprinters fit standard spaces.
When to go
Best time to visit
Mid-July to mid-August for peak wildflowers at Paradise. Late June–September for Sunrise (the road is snowed in the rest of the year). September is the sweet spot — wildflowers gone but fall color in the subalpine meadows and dramatically fewer crowds. Late December–March for Paradise snowplay and ranger-led snowshoe walks. Avoid the late-July to mid-August weekend window without a timed-entry reservation.
Need a van for the trip?
Our Seattle fleet of 12-15 passenger Sprinters and Ford Transits delivers to Sea-Tac (SEA), every downtown and South Lake Union hotel, Climate Pledge Arena, and the Edmonds–Kingston ferry terminal.
See Seattle vansPlan your visit
Official Mount Rainier resources
Mount Rainier National Park — NPS
www.nps.gov
Paradise timed-entry reservation
www.recreation.gov
Park alerts & road status
www.nps.gov
Visit Rainier — regional travel guide
www.visitrainier.com
More background
Mount Rainier FAQ
How long is the drive from Seattle to Mount Rainier?
About 95 miles and 2.5 hours to the Nisqually Entrance via I-5 S, WA-7 S, and WA-706 E. Allow another 45 minutes from the entrance to Paradise — the road climbs and is heavily photographed.
Do I need a reservation?
On summer weekends and holidays you need a timed-entry reservation for Paradise. Reserve at recreation.gov 7 days in advance. Outside those windows the standard park entrance fee or America the Beautiful pass is all you need.
When do the wildflowers peak at Paradise?
Mid-July to mid-August in most years, depending on the snow year. Avalanche lily and lupine come first; paintbrush and aster come in late August. Sunrise meadows peak about two weeks later.
Is the park open in winter?
Yes — the Nisqually Entrance road to Paradise stays open year-round, with tire chains required from November through May. Paradise hosts free ranger-led snowshoe walks on winter weekends. Sunrise, Stevens Canyon Rd, and the Carbon River side close.