Where to Stay at Mount Rainier: Lodges, Cabins, and Hotels
Mount Rainier has two official lodges inside the park: Paradise Inn, perched at 5,425 feet in the heart of the wildflower meadows, and National Park Inn, open year-round in Longmire. If both properties are fully booked (they fill up fast), Ashford is the closest gateway town, just a few minutes from Nisqually Entrance.
The short answer. Book a lodge if being immersed in the park is your priority. Getting onto the trails at dawn, before the first tour buses arrive, is hard to beat. For more flexibility or a lower budget, Ashford is the most practical compromise.
Park lodges and gateway towns (0)
Base map © OpenStreetMap · © CARTO ⚠ Lodge & Gateway town data is undergoing editorial review.
Inside the park or outside?
The two lodges offer an unmatched experience, but availability is extremely limited and the comfort is deliberately rustic. The gateway towns offer far more options at every price point. The guide Where to Stay at Mount Rainier takes a closer look at that tradeoff, with a complete comparison based on your travel style.
The park's two official lodges
The two accommodations inside the park are run by concessioner Mount Rainier Guest Services. Book through its official website. There's no reliable third-party booking channel for either property. Calendars generally open in January for the following summer season. Mark the date and book as soon as reservations open.
Paradise Inn
Built in 1917, Paradise Inn is the park's iconic lodging. It sits at 5,425 feet in the Paradise meadows. In July, purple lupines and white avalanche lilies cover the surrounding slopes. The great room, with its cedar beams and stone fireplace, is reason enough to stay here. The rooms are basic, with no televisions and Wi-Fi missing from most of them, but nobody comes to Paradise Inn for Netflix.
The inn generally opens in late May and closes in early October, depending on snowfall. At this elevation, snow can cover the ground from November through May, sometimes longer. The restaurant serves breakfast and dinner. During the busy season, you'll need a table reservation too. Expect to pay between $175 and $250 per night, depending on the room type.
National Park Inn at Longmire
National Park Inn is the only lodging inside the park that's open year-round. Located at 2,755 feet in Longmire, it sits next to the park museum, a visitor center, and the first trailheads. The inn has 25 rooms, some without private bathrooms. Think 1920s American lodge, without unnecessary bells and whistles. The adjoining restaurant serves simple American food, which is especially convenient after a day on the trail.
Rates range from $130 to $200 per night, depending on the room and time of year. During the off-season, from November through April, crowds thin out and availability improves considerably. Keep in mind that several high-elevation roads close in winter, which limits how far you can explore from Longmire.
Around the park: gateway towns
If the lodges are full or you prefer more comfort, the nearby towns offer plenty of options. Keep in mind that roads inside the park have speed limits ranging from 25 to 35 mph, and driving times often exceed what the map distance suggests.
Ashford
Ashford is the essential gateway town for Nisqually Entrance, the park's main entrance. It's open year-round on the southwest side. The village is tiny, but it has most of the nearby lodging: wood cabins with stoves, a few bed-and-breakfasts, and a basic motel. The entrance gate is a 10- to 15-minute drive away.
Vacation-rental platforms often have the area's best options, with private cabins ranging from $150 to $250 per night. Bed-and-breakfast rooms generally cost between $90 and $140. Ashford fills up on weekends in July and August, so book early.
Packwood
East of the park, Packwood serves Stevens Canyon Entrance and the Ohanapecosh area. The town is slightly larger than Ashford, with several motels and a few family-run lodges. It takes 45 to 60 minutes to drive to Nisqually Entrance if you're crossing from one side of the park to the other.
Packwood is also a convenient stop if you're combining Mount Rainier and Mount St. Helens on the same road trip. The two sites are less than two hours apart by car.
Tacoma and Seattle
For an urban stay with a day trip to the park, Tacoma, about 56 miles away, and Seattle, about 87 miles away, offer a wide range of hotels at every price point. The advantages include major chains, restaurants in the evening, and a direct airport connection. The downside is a 1.5- to 2-hour drive each morning, depending on traffic on I-5 or SR-7.
This option works best for visitors combining Mount Rainier with Seattle or Puget Sound as part of a larger trip. If the park is the focus of your visit, staying in Ashford is much more efficient.
How many nights should you plan?
Two nights are enough to cover the essentials: Paradise, Longmire, and one high-elevation trail. Three nights give you time to explore the Sunrise area, open only from July through mid-October, and Carbon River to the west. Mount Rainier itineraries cover different combinations based on your pace. Keep in mind that during the busy season, the Paradise parking lot fills by 10 a.m. If you're staying there, you can head out before the crowds and gain two hours on the trail.
When to book and what will it cost?
The peak season runs from mid-June through early September. July and August have the most days without rain. They're also when lodges and Ashford accommodations sell out within days of reservations opening. For Paradise Inn, the booking calendar generally opens in January, so mark your calendar.
Outside peak season, rates drop by 20% to 30% in Ashford and Packwood. National Park Inn in Longmire remains available year-round. Weather conditions have a major effect on what you can do once you're there. Mount Rainier weather and the best time to visit explain the best windows for different priorities, whether you're looking for wildflowers, snow, or smaller crowds.
Our picks by travel style
Total immersion. Book Paradise Inn as soon as reservations open in January. Seeing the volcano at dawn from your room, before day visitors arrive, is well worth the rate and the optional Wi-Fi.
Tight budget or last-minute booking. Ashford is your best bet. A rental cabin or B&B often costs less than a lodge and sometimes has more character.
Family with young children. National Park Inn in Longmire is ideal. The elevation is moderate, so there's no risk of altitude sickness, and easy trails and the park museum are right outside. It's open in every season.
Big Pacific Northwest road trip. Choose Packwood if you're continuing to Mount St. Helens. Choose Tacoma or Seattle if you're starting or ending your trip on the coast. The Mount Rainier guide can help you fit this stop into your broader itinerary.
Frequently asked questions
Where should you stay to visit Mount Rainier?
You can stay inside the park at Paradise Inn or National Park Inn at Longmire, or in the surrounding gateway towns. Ashford is closest to the main entrance, while Packwood serves the east side. Seattle and Tacoma are farther away and convenient for a combined trip to the surrounding region.
What is the best town to stay in for visiting Mount Rainier?
Ashford offers the best combination of proximity and lodging options. It's 10 to 15 minutes from Nisqually Entrance, with cabins and B&Bs for every budget. If you want more choice and comfort, Tacoma is 56 miles away and has all the major hotel chains.
Can you stay inside Mount Rainier National Park?
Yes. The park has two lodges open to visitors: Paradise Inn, open from late May through early October, and National Park Inn at Longmire, open year-round. Mount Rainier Guest Services runs both, and you'll want to book well in advance, ideally starting in January.
How much does lodging cost at Mount Rainier?
Expect to pay between $130 and $250 per night at the park lodges, depending on the room and season. In Ashford, cabins and bed-and-breakfast rooms range from $90 to $250. Our When to Visit page explains how rates vary by season.