This behemoth has more glaciers than any other spot in the contiguous United States; mountain climbers claim that it has everything Mount Everest does, save the altitude. The peak is about 75 miles from Seattle so it can be visited as a day trip, but the problem is that on a pretty day it’s hard to tear yourself away from the subalpine meadows and colossal glaciers. Stop by a visitors center for a quick view, but try to schedule an hour for a flat nature walk, an afternoon for a gondola ride or hike, or even a night to camp under the canopy of old-growth forest.
Mount Rainier is an active volcano beloved by outdoor enthusiasts, naturalists, and sightseers. Photo © Sharat Ganapati, licensed Creative Commons Attribution.
Mount Rainier is protected in a national park, and the forests that surround it are a patchwork of National Forest, designated wilderness, logging land, and private holdings. The small towns support small fishing and recreation communities, but dining options—not to mention gas stations—are limited, though there are a number of fine, if rustic, hotels and cabins.
The Nisqually Entrance of the Mount Rainier National Park is closest to the most popular activities. From Seattle, drive south on I-5 for 10 miles, and then turn east to follow I-405 north for 2 miles. Take Exit 2 for Highway 167 south and continue driving south for about 20 miles. Near Puyallup, Highway 167 merges with Highway 512 for about 3 miles. Where Highway 512 continues west, take the Highway 161 exit south toward Eatonville. Highway 161 ends at Eatonville in 23 miles. Turn left onto Center Street; after 0.5 mile, Center Street becomes the Alder Cutoff Road. Follow Alder Cutoff Road for 6.5 miles and then take a left onto Highway 7 (the National Park Highway). Highway 7 eventually becomes State Route 706, and after about 13 miles, you will arrive at the Nisqually Entrance.
The White River Entrance is open seasonally (July-Sept.) and provides access to the Sunrise area of the park. From Seattle, drive south on I-5 for 10 miles, and then turn east to follow I-405 north for 2 miles. Take Exit 2 for Highway 167 south. Drive south for a little less than 20 miles and take the exit for State Route 410 east. Follow State Route 410 east for 50 miles, through the town of Enumclaw and the small community of Greenwater, to the national park entrance.
State Route 410 south from the park entrance is only open from May through November. When this section of road is open, continue 5 miles and turn right to reach the White River Entrance and pay the fee to Sunrise. When that section of road is closed, you can drive through the national park without a fee, exiting on Highway 123 near Packwood.
To reach the Nisqually Entrance, take I-5 north from Portland and drive 74 miles to exit 68 and Highway 12. Follow Highway 12 east for 31 miles to Morton, and then turn north onto Highway 7. Follow Highway 7 north for about 16 miles to where the road dead-ends in Elbe. Turn right (east) onto State Route 706 (the National Park Highway) and drive east almost 8 miles to the Nisqually Entrance.
The Ohanapecosh Entrance is located in the southeast corner of the park on Highway 123 (open seasonally May-Nov.). From Portland, take I-5 north and drive 74 miles to exit 68 and Highway 12. Follow Highway 12 east for 75 miles, passing through the town of Packwood. At the junction with Highway 123, turn left and follow Highway 123 north for 3.5 miles to the park entrance.
