Mount Rainier National Park (Paradise)

Paradise, on the south slope of Mount Rainier in Mount Rainier National Park, is about 90 miles (145 km) southeast of Seattle in Pierce and Lewis Counties, Washington, and takes roughly 2.5 to 3 hours to reach by car. Public transit does not serve Paradise, so most visitors drive or join a guided tour from downtown Seattle, which typically costs about $120 to $200 per person. The usual route follows I-5 south, then SR-7 and SR-706 through the town of Ashford to the Nisqually entrance, where the park fee is about $30 per vehicle for seven days; no timed-entry reservation is required in 2026, though visitors should confirm at nps.gov/mora. An early start, leaving Seattle before 7 am in summer, beats the traffic and the parking squeeze at the Henry M. Jackson Memorial Visitor Center, which often fills by late morning. Paradise is famous for subalpine meadows that bloom with lupine, paintbrush and avalanche lilies from roughly mid-July to September, with glaciers and the 14,410-foot summit towering overhead. The Skyline Trail loop and the shorter Nisqually Vista and Myrtle Falls routes offer options from an hour of easy walking to a half-day hike, and the visitor center has exhibits, a film, a snack bar and restrooms. A suggested day begins with the drive and a stop for coffee or breakfast in Ashford or Elbe, followed by a late-morning arrival, a hike through the meadows with a picnic lunch, and an afternoon stop at Narada Falls or Reflection Lakes before the return drive. Meals can also be had at the Paradise Inn in season, a historic 1916 lodge, and at cafes in Ashford. The best window is July to September, when trails are snow-free; in winter the road to Paradise stays open with chains required and snowshoeing replaces hiking. Weather changes quickly at 5,400 feet, so layers and sturdy shoes matter. Plan to leave Paradise by 4 or 5 pm to reach Seattle for a late dinner, and fill the fuel tank before entering the park.