How to Spend One Day in Mt Rainier National Park
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Do you only have one day in Mt Rainier National Park? We’ve got you covered in this post!
Only a couple hours from Seattle, Mt. Rainier National Park makes a perfect day trip. I learned this when I visited Seattle last fall for a writing conference and had just one extra day to venture out of the city. It turns out there’s a lot you can squeeze into a single day!
From hiking trails and photo ops to gondola rides and hot tub soaks, here are the top things to do if you only have one day in Mt. Rainier National Park.
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How to Get to Mt Rainier National Park
To make the most of one day in Mt. Rainier, you first need to get the lay of the land. Its namesake peak stands 14,411 feet high in the center of the park, with a few tourist hubs around it. With only one day, you’ll probably want to focus on one of these.
The most popular is the small town of Paradise in the park’s southwestern corner. Paradise is the most heavily trafficked area of the park, probably due to its proximity to Seattle (it’s about a 2.5-hour drive) and its multitude of convenient lodging options.
Paradise offers stunning views of Mt. Rainier, the park’s centerpiece, as well as many hiking trails.
FREE TRAVEL QUIZ
Sunrise, on the park’s eastern side, is the highest point in the park. It’s similar to Paradise but less crowded and a little quieter. Sunrise is about 3.5 hours from Seattle, and there aren’t many places to spend the night nearby.
Ohanapecosh, in the park’s southeastern corner, is tucked away in ancient forests. You won’t get the same views of Mt. Rainier, but you also won’t have to wrestle with Paradise’s crowds, and you’ll get to explore awe-inspiring forests like the Grove of the Patriarchs in relative peace and quiet.
Mt. Rainier currently does not require timed-entry permits at any time. You can pay your entry fee digitally ahead of time if you want, but this is not required. If you plan to pay when you arrive, be sure to bring a credit card because they now accept only cashless payments.
Best Time to Visit Mt Rainier National Park
Summer is a great time to plan your one-day Mt. Rainier itinerary because this park doesn’t reach the sweltering temperatures of its brothers and sisters farther south. But summer is the most crowded season, so traffic can get thick, and parking can be a challenge. To minimize this stress, start your day early or visit on a weekday.
In my opinion, the shoulder seasons of spring and fall are the best times to visit because crowds are thinner and lodging rates are cheaper. When I only had one day in Mt. Rainier, I was glad I could spend most of it exploring nature rather than fighting crowds.
In winter, the park gets heavy snow, and many roads are closed. If you enjoy snowshoeing or cross-country skiing, this can be a great time to experience the park because you’ll pretty much have it to yourself.
Mt. Rainier offers several free-entry days throughout the year, so if you’re on a budget, you may want to visit on January 16, April 22, August 4, September 23, or November 11. Keep in mind these days will probably be packed, so plan to get an early start or venture to the park’s less popular spots
Best Things to Do in Mt. Rainier
Take a Hike
A one-day trip to Mt. Rainier wouldn’t be complete without a hike—it’s the best way to experience the park’s wide variety of landscapes, from glacial tundras to wildflower meadows. Mt. Rainier offers hundreds of hiking trails, with something for all time budgets and skill levels.
A perennial favorite is Skyline Trail, a strenuous 6-mile loop starting near the Paradise visitor center and ascending the base of Mt. Rainier through groves of pine forest and meadows of wildflowers. Marmots and mountain goats are commonly seen on this trail—I was lucky enough to spot two bears while I was there!
From Sunrise, the Sourdough Ridge and Mount Fremont Lookout trails have some of the best views of Mt. Rainier. From Ohanapecosh, Silver Falls Trail offers gorgeous views of a waterfall, and you can dip your toes in an actual hot spring along the Hot Springs Trail.
Keep in mind many of the trails in Mt. Rainier have some snow year-round. Always check trail conditions before you head into the wilderness. For certain trails, especially in the spring or fall, you may need crampons or even snowshoes.
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Capture Mt. Rainier in Photos
If you do a hike during your Mt. Rainier one-day trip, you’ll pretty much be guaranteed some great views of the park’s namesake mountain. But there are also many scenic overlooks where you can get stunning views of the mountain from right off the road, like Ricksecker Point near Paradise and Sunrise Point near Sunrise.
You can also head to Reflection Lake, off Stevens Canyon Road, about 10 minutes from Paradise. This lake is beautiful in its own right, but on a clear, calm day, it reflects Mt. Rainier in all its grandeur.
See a Waterfall
Mt. Rainier has no shortage of waterfalls, but two of the most accessible—and photogenic—are located near Paradise. Myrtle Falls requires an easy one-mile walk along a paved trail. The hike to Narada Falls is shorter (only 0.2 miles) but steeper and more challenging.
Brush up on History at Longmire
Next door to Paradise, Longmire holds much of the park’s fascinating history. When Mt. Rainier was crowned a National Park in 1899 (making it the US’s fifth-oldest park), Longmire was the location of the park’s headquarters. The headquarters have since moved, and Longmire is now a National Historic District.
The Longmire Museum and Visitor Center offers historical photos, geographical displays, and exhibits on native flora and fauna—all for free. Stop by to get acquainted with the park before tackling Mt. Rainier in one day.
Explore the Grove of the Patriarchs
This awe-inspiring old-growth forest near Ohanapecosh is a must-do, but unfortunately, it’s been closed for repairs since a flood in 2021. Check back here to see when it reopens.
Until then, there are plenty of other trail options near Ohanapecosh to get your forest fix, like Silver Falls, Mt. Rainier Eastside, and Cowlitz Divide.
Drive the Chinook Scenic Byway
The Chinook Scenic Byway, Washington’s most scenic drive, winds through Mt. Rainier National Park and the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest.
You’ll cross Chinook Pass at 5,430 feet, then ease down into the fertile Naches Valley. Along the way, you’ll get spectacular views of Mt. Rainier and its many surrounding landscapes—mountains, valleys, meadows, forests, rivers, waterfalls, and the unique basalt flows of the Columbia Plateau.
Ride in a Gondola
For the best views of Mt. Rainier with the least amount of effort, take the Mt. Rainier Gondola from Crystal Mountain, the ski resort east of Sunrise.
The gondola will take you to the summit of Crystal Mountain, which affords jaw-dropping views of Mt. Rainier. It also offers the highest restaurant in Washington, the Summit House, if you need a snack. Be sure to pack extra layers—it gets chilly this high up, even in summer.
Relax in a “Cannibal” Hot Tub
If you’re a hot tub or hot spring aficionado (And really, who isn’t?), the Cannibal Hot Tub is a must-do at the end of a long day exploring Mt. Rainier.
This immense metal pot at the Paradise Village Hotel is filled with water and heated over a roaring fire—so you kind of feel like you’re being cooked alive for someone’s meal. Morbid? A little bit. Relaxing? Very.
There’s a flat fee of $140 for a one-hour soak or $190 for two hours—and you get the tub to yourself, making it a perfect option for couples or groups.
Where to Stay in Mt. Rainier
You’ll probably need a place to crash for the night before flying home after your day in Mt. Rainier. Since Paradise is the park’s most popular area and the one with the most lodging options, here are a few great choices near Paradise for every budget.
Mountain Meadows Inn – $
This charming B&B in Ashford prides itself on providing a relaxing retreat into nature.
It’s got a two-acre park-like setting full of cedar, hemlock, and Douglas firs, as well as a shared campfire space complete with complimentary firewood and a s’more machine. (I’m not sure why you’d need a machine to make s’mores, but I’d love to find out.)
Guests can also make a reservation at the shared hot tub under the stars.
Rates range from $150 to $250 per night in summer, depending on which suite you choose and the number of guests in your party. Chalet suites include a kitchenette and a hand-delivered en-suite breakfast.
National Park Inn – $$
One of only two hotels inside the park, the National Park Inn is in Longmire, within walking distance to several hiking trails. Unlike its sister, the Paradise Inn, it’s open year-round. Summer rates range from $180 to $270 per night.
On warm days, guests can relax and take in spectacular views of Mt. Rainier from the chairs on the veranda. When it gets chilly, guests can cozy up to a roaring fire in the library with afternoon tea.
Paradise Village Hotel – $$$
Home to the Cannibal Hot Tub, this rustic gem is a great place to retire after seeing Mt. Rainier in one day. Their onsite restaurant serves up authentic Ukrainian food, and each room has a fridge and microwave—so you can save your leftover pierogis and reheat them later for a midnight snack. (Can you tell I choose my hotels based on food alone?)
Paradise Village is in Ashford, just a few minutes’ drive from the park entrance. A room here will set you back $200 to $300 per night in the summer.
Where to Eat in Mt. Rainier
The Wildberry restaurant in Ashford, just outside of Paradise, offers both American eats and Nepalese fare. It’s run by actual Sherpas who have summitted Everest almost as many times as they’ve summitted Mt. Rainier! While your food’s cooking, check out their exhibit on Mt. Everest, showcasing actual gear used on the monumental climb.
The Paradise Inn offers meals inside the park at its in-house restaurant. It’s open all day, but it’s best known for its brunch—not a bad way to start off your day in Mt. Rainier.
If you’re heading to the park’s eastern side, check out the Snorting Elk Cellar at the nearby Crystal Mountain ski resort. This Austrian-inspired ski bar will win you over with its cozy, old-world ambiance, complete with roaring fire and vintage snowshoes on the walls. It’s famous for its Mt. Rainier-sized platters of nachos.
About 15 minutes down the road from the Ohanapecosh entrance, Cliff Droppers offers a variety of burgers, hot dogs, and other quick hits to refuel after a long day of hiking in Mt. Rainier.
With over 200,000 acres of ancient forests, thundering waterfalls, and wildflower-carpeted slopes, you’d need days or weeks to explore everything Mt. Rainier National Park has to offer.
But even if you only have one day to spend in Mt. Rainier, there are plenty of spectacular sights and rugged day hikes to help you fully unplug. Hopefully, these tips helped you plan your one-day Mt. Rainier itinerary.
