Mount Rainier National Park | A land of towering peaks, lush forests, and cascading waterfalls

Mount Rainier National Park Quick Facts

• Mt Rainier Height: 14,411 feet
• First Ascent of Mt Rainier: August 17, 1870
• Mt Rainier Last Eruption: 1894
• Mt Rainier Mountain Range: Cascades Mountains
• Mt. Rainier Native Name: Tahoma
• Mt Rainier Closest Major City: Seattle, Washington
• Mt Rainier Type of Volcano: Stratovolcano
• Mt Rainier is the tallest mountain in the state of Washington
• Mt Rainier is the most heavily glaciated peak in the contiguous US
• Mt Rainier is the highest peak in the Cascade Range
• Native American tribes explored the park for centuries
• A British navy captain gave Mount Rainier its name
• Climbing Mount Rainier is can be a challenging adventure
• The Park Features Over 250 Miles Of Hiking Trails
• There are 25 Glaciers on Mount Rainier
• An air force lieutenant landed a plane on the summit
• Walt Disney honeymooned at Mount Rainier
• The park contains more than 65 species of animals
• The park has magnificent wildflowers which bloom each year
• Mount Rainier has one of the deadliest volcanoes

Entrance Fees

$15 per vehicle OR if you plan to visit more National Parks within the next 12 months It best to go ahead and purchase the America the Beautiful Pass (which can be found at the entrance gates to most national parks). This pass gets one into all National Parks, Forests, Monuments, and more including 2,000 sites for free after a one time $79 fee.

Gas

Fuel up fully before you get into the park. Drive times are longer than you might assume because there are no through roads. Drive times from popular destinations can be 3+ hours apart.

Cell Service

Cell Service is spotty in the park but there is some sporadically at Paradise as well as some at Sunrise.

Best Time to Visit Mt Rainier National Park

The Best Time to Visit Mount Rainier National Park is during the Summer when temperatures are warm, and the wildflower meadows are exploding with kaleidoscopic colors. For peak wildflower viewing I recommend the first couple of weeks in August.

Restaurants & Food Options at Mount Rainier

Food options are limited in the Mount Rainier area with a general store being available at the Paradise Inn with basic snacks, a general store and restaurant at Longmire, a basic store at Sunrise with basic groceries, and not much else to speak of. it recommended to pack more snacks & water than you think you’ll need (and packing out your trash).