Mount Rainier National Park in Washington State is located far enough away from large cities to feel out of the way, yet still within easy reach via plane and automobile.
Area map around Mount Rainier National Park / NPS file
To reach this national park, you can fly into one of three commercial airports closest to Mount Rainier: Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEATAC) and Yakima Air Terminal are both in Washington state, and Portland International Airport is in Oregon.
Depending upon which of the five entrances you wish to use to access this park, the closest is the Yakima airport on the east side of the park, 66 miles (106 km) one way from the White River entrance to the Sunrise area, and 71 miles (114 km) one way from the Stevens Canyon entrance. Yakima Air Terminal is also the smallest airport of the three, and while there are car rental agencies located within the terminal, the number and selection of vehicles will be smaller than at either of the other two airports.
On the west side of the park, the closest airport is SEATAC, 85 miles (136.8 km) away from the town of Ashford, just outside the Nisqually entrance. From Portland, it’s 131 miles (210.8 km) to Ashford. Both of these airports have a wider variety and number of rental agencies and vehicle types.
Once you have landed and secured your rental vehicle, or if you eschewed an airport in favor of making a road trip of it, there are several routes for entering this national park, again, depending upon which entrance you with to access.
Mount Rainier National Park map / NPS file
Driving times and distances to areas within Mount Rainier National Park / NPS file
According to park staff:
Southwest Entrance
Year-round access to the park is via SR 706 to the Nisqually Entrance in the southwest corner of the park. The road from the entrance to Longmire remains open throughout winter except during extreme weather. The road from Longmire to Paradise closes nightly from November 1 through winter. It reopens the following morning dependent upon snow removal and current conditions. Even though roads will be open, some facilities may not be available.
A note on using GPS: Many visitors now use GPS (Global Positioning System) units to help them navigate while driving. However, the street address for Mount Rainier National Park (55210 238th Avenue East) leads to the Mount Rainier headquarters in Ashford, Washington, NOT to the Nisqually entrance of the park. To reach the Nisqually entrance using GPS use the address 39000 State Route 706 E, Ashford, WA 98304. This will take you on SR 706 east past the park headquarters to the Nisqually Entrance. It is recommended that visitors refer to road maps in addition to using GPS units when driving to the park.
Electric Vehicle Charging Stations
Electric vehicle charging stations are available at Longmire year-round and at Paradise during the summer season, operated by Rainier Guest Services. If you are interested in using them, visit the corresponding lodging operation (National Park Inn for Longmire and Paradise Inn for Paradise) to get their access code. Pricing will be based upon the amount of time requested and acceptance rate of energy (Tier 1, 2, or 3) requested.Directions to the Southwest Entrance of the park (Nisqually, Longmire and Paradise) from Seattle, Tacoma, Yakima, or Portland:
- From Seattle
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. East on SR 706 through Ashford to the Nisqually Entrance.- From Tacoma
East on SR 512 to SR 7. South on SR 7 to SR 706 in Elbe. East on SR 706 through Ashford to the Nisqually Entrance.- From Yakima
In Summer: West on US 12 to SR 123. North on SR 123 to the Stevens Canyon Entrance. Follow Stevens Canyon Road west to Paradise and Longmire. NOTE: Tunnel height limit 12' 6".
In Winter: West on US 12 to SR 7 in Morton. North on SR 7 to Elbe. East on SR 706 through Ashford to the Nisqually Entrance and Longmire/Paradise.- From Portland
North on I-5 to Hwy 12 (exit 68). East on Hwy 12 to SR 7 in Morton. North on SR 7 to SR 706 in Elbe. East on SR 706 to the Nisqually Entrance.Northwest Entrance
Carbon River in the northwest is also open year-round via SR 165 through Wilkeson, but vehicle access is permitted only to the park entrance. Beyond this point the Carbon River Road is open to pedestrians and bicyclists. The Carbon River Ranger Station is located 5.5 miles east of the Mowich Lake (SR 165) junction.
Another access point in the northwest is Mowich Lake. Due to heavy snowfall it is only open in the summer and closes mid-October or with the first snowfall.
East Entrances
Traveler's Note: A two-year (2025-2026) project to rehabilitate parts of SR 123 will create temporary delays of up to 30 minutes or full road closure during this time.
Southeast - Spring through fall road closures depend on snowfall and its removal from the roadways. Ohanapecosh on SR 123 is generally open via Hwy 12 from Yakima or Packwood from late May to early November. Access to other areas of the park from Ohanapecosh may be closed during the early and later seasons so please check the road status while making your plans.
Northeast - Sunrise, White River and southbound SR 123 are accessed via SR 410 from Enumclaw. The road to Sunrise is usually open by July 1st through early September, as is the visitor center and other facilities. The road to Sunrise closes at the junction with White River Campground every night beginning in late September. It reopens each morning as conditions permit. The entire road from the junction with SR 410 to Sunrise and White River is closed for winter in mid-October or earlier with the first heavy snowfall.
East/Chinook Pass - In the summer, travelers coming from east of the Cascades can enter the park using Chinook Pass (SR 410) and Cayuse Pass (SRs 123 & 410) or via I-90 and US 12. In winter, however, SR 123 and SR 410 are closed. For winter access to the east side of the park, visitors must use I-90 and US 12.
Directions to the East Side of the park (Ohanapecosh, Sunrise and White River) from Seattle, Tacoma, Yakima, or Portland:
- From Seattle
To White River/Sunrise/Ohanapecosh: South on I-5 to I-405 (exit 154a). East on I-405 to SR 167. South on SR 167 to SR 410. East on SR 410 to the White River Entrance. Continue south on SR 410 to SR 123 past Stevens Canyon Road. Follow signs to Ohanapecosh. This route is open summer only. NOTE: SR 123 tunnel height limit 13' 1".- From Tacoma
To White River/Sunrise: East on SR 512 to SR 167. North on SR 167 to SR 410. East on SR 410 to the White River Entrance and Sunrise.
To Ohanapecosh: South on I-5 to Hwy12 (exit 68). East on Hwy 12 through Morton, Randle, and Packwood to SR 123 north. Follow SR 123 north into Mount Rainier National Park and the Ohanapecosh area. NOTE: SR 123 tunnel height limit 13' 1".- From Yakima
To White River/Sunrise: West on Hwy 12 to SR 410. West on SR 410 over Chinook and Cayuse Passes to the White River Entrance.
To Ohanapecosh: West on US 12 to SR 123. Turn right on SR 123 and travel north into Mount Rainier National Park. Follow the signs to Ohanapecosh.- From Portland
To White River/Sunrise: North on I-5 to SR 512 east to SR 167 (exit 135) in Tacoma. Travel east on SR 167 to SR 410. Travel east on SR 410 to Mount Rainier National Park and White River/Sunrise area.
To Ohanapecosh: North on I-5 to US 12 (exit 68). East on US 12 to SR 123. North on SR 123 to Mount Rainier National Park and the Ohanapecosh area.
While there is no public transportation into the park, there are tour shuttles offering guided services.
There are no gas stations within the park, so make sure your vehicle is fueled up. On the east side of the park, there is a small gas station at Greenwater, 20.5 miles (32.99 km) north of the White River entrance. On the south/southwest side of the park are the small towns of Packwood (13 miles / 20.9 km southwest of the Stevens Canyon entrance) and Morton (30 miles / 48.28 km southwest of the Nisqually entrance), both of which have gas stations.
Traveler’s Note: During the winter season, the only vehicular access into the park is via the town of Ashford and the Nisqually Entrance, so factor that into your drive time and fuel-up. If you are heading toward Mount Rainier from the east, Chinook Pass along U.S. Rte. 410 is closed, but U.S. Rte. 12 over White Pass remains open.
As noted above, electric vehicle (EV) charging stations are located at Longmire and Paradise within the park during the summer. According to plugshare.com, there are charging stations all along U.S. Rte. 12 west to Morton, and State Rte. 7 from Morton to Elbe to Ashford. Yakima, Pinecliff, and Crytal Mountain Hotels along U.S. Rte 410 also offer charging stations, but 410 at Chinook Pass closes for the winter season. West of the park, the larger communities provide numerous charging stations.
For a quick look at area and park weather conditions, check out mora-webcams.com. The lower elevations will often experience different weather from the Sunrise and Paradise areas located at the higher elevations of the park.
Driving to the park in the winter? All vehicles, including AWD/4WD, are required by the park to carry chains. This does not mean you will need to use them, but the road from Longmire to Paradise twists and turns and gets very icy and snowy during the colder months. It’s better to have those chains and not need them, than to need those chains and not have them. FYI, rental agencies generally do not include tire chains, but you can rent them. Click here to see where.
The road to the Sunrise area, Mount Rainier National Park / Rebecca Latson
