Seattle to Mt. Rainier National Park Day Trip

On this day trip from Seattle to Mt. Rainier, savor Mt. Rainier’s hidden beauty on foot with waterfall walks, giant trees, alpine vistas, wildflower meadows, and wildlife watching. Stroll through the old-growth forests near Longmire, where Douglas fir, hemlock, and cedar trees dwarf visitors. The bubbling natural springs tell a story of what lies beneath this abundant and volatile landscape. Experience waterfalls and big mountain views as you wind to higher elevations. On summer Mt. Rainier tours (June-Oct), pick wild berries on a sub-alpine hiking trail. On winter tours (Nov-May), take advantage of Paradise’s legendary snowfall (and the winter solitude) on an introductory snowshoe trail.

This isn’t just another driving tour of a National Park — experience the highlights beyond the vehicle during walks and hikes tailored to your ability. Our guides run the only day tours permitted to explore more than a mile from the park road. Join a few other travelers (each tour is ten people or fewer) and a TripAdvisor ‘Hall of Fame’ guide on a real exploration of our beautiful home.

Sleep in a little – we’re bringing breakfast pastries, local coffee, and tea. Don’t waste daylight waiting in line at a busy lunch counter in the National Park – we’ll bring a fresh, local, family-style lunch to enjoy with an exceptional view. Replenish with snacks, sparkling water, and water throughout the tour. Don’t worry about a thing!

If you’re staying in downtown Seattle (hotel, Airbnb, etc.) we’ll pick you up! We will text/call you the day before your tour to confirm exact pickup timing.

SAMPLE ITINERARY

7:30-8a Seattle to Mt. Rainier Begins with Downtown Pickups

Generally, our last pickup for each tour occurs at the Sheraton Grand in Seattle. This isn’t always the case – so check with us – but we consider it a default location for anyone staying outside of downtown. Let our team know where you’re staying and we’ll do everything we can to make your pickup as easy as possible.

8:30a SeaTac or Tacoma Area Pickups (By Request)

We’re happy to offer centralized pickup options en route to the National Park upon request. On our Mount Rainier tour we can offer pick-ups at:

SeaTac Airport Area
DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Seattle Airport
18740 International Blvd, Seattle, WA 98188
Tacoma Area
Courtyard by Marriott Tacoma Downtown Hotel
1515 Commerce Street
Tacoma, WA 98402

10a Enter Mt. Rainier National Park

We’ll stop to press coffee, make tea, and have a light morning snack outdoors on our way to the Park entrance.

From here, the course of your day can go so many ways. Your guide will combine group preferences, weather considerations, mixed ecosystems and highlights, crowd avoidance, and more to create a lovely day. No two trips are the same! In the height of summer, your guide might even choose different sides of the mountain from day to day.

10:30a Explore Forests, Meadows, and More

You might start with a nice lower-elevation walk to get your legs moving after the commute. Down low, there are big trees, gorgeous rivers, springs, waterfalls, and more! Your walk might be one to three miles.

12:15p Lunch Outdoors

Arrive at a primary visitor center (Paradise or Sunrise) and enjoy a little downtime before lunch to use the restroom, browse interpretive info, photograph flowers (or snow), get your National Park passport stamped, or find a quick gift for a loved one back home. If the weather is decent, you’ll enjoy a meal outdoors. In winter, we’ll likely opt for a comfortable spot inside if the weather is snowy or cold.

1:15p Waterfalls, Rivers, Big Trees, Oh My!

We’ll set off on another walkabout or two. You might head out straight from lunch – working up and along the mountain for views, open meadows, and alpine forests. You might drive a bit to set up an additional walk somewhere. All told, you might walk two to four miles in the afternoon (depending on your other activities).