The towns surrounding Mount Rainier are adorable, but small, with minimal restaurants and amenities. Lodging tends to book up quickly around the park, so plan your accommodations ahead of time.

To see as much of the park as possible, we recommend following this itinerary traveling from town to town, visiting between July and October (read about why these months here).

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Lodging within the park

Ashford (near the Nisqually Entrance)

Packwood (near Stevens Canyon Entrance)

Greenwater (near White River Entrance)

Enumclaw (near Carbon River Entrance)

Disclosure: We’ve included affiliate links with recommended lodging recommendations in this post. If you click through and reserve lodging, we’ll receive a small portion of that sale. You won’t be charged more, and we haven’t been paid by any of these retailers to share their information. These are all our genuine preferences.

Lodging within the park

You may need a timed entry reservation to enter the park during peak season, but having lodging reservations is one way to get around the requirement. Act quickly when rooms go one sale because because reservations go quickly during the summer months.

National Park Inn

This inn is located at Longmire, just a short drive from the Nisqually entrance. There is plenty of parking, a restaurant on-site, and a few trails to hike nearby. Rooms sleep between two and four, with options for shared or private baths.

Paradise Inn

The Paradise Inn is located at the highest driveable point on the south side of the Rainier. This is where you’ll find incredible views of the mountain, wildflowers in August, and tons of trails to hike. Parking here is not reserved and does fill up so we’d recommend getting into the park before 7 am or after 4 pm for a stress-free experience. It’s open seasonally, between late-May and September. It has 121 rooms, sleeping between two and four, with options for shared or private baths.

Ashford (near the Nisqually Entrance)

Ashford is the closest town to the Nisqually entrance – the only park entrance open year-round. You’ll find seasonal rental gear at Whittaker Mountaineering, the Cannibal Hot Tub, and a few great restaurants. The Copper Creek Inn and Wildberry are our favorites.

Luxury:

Wellspring Spa and Resort

Treat yourself to a relaxing stay in the forest with hot tubs, saunas, and spa services on site. Each cabin is different, but our favorite are the deluxe cabins with hammocks, jetted tubs, and fireplaces. Cabins sleep between two and 14.

Mid-range:

Copper Creek Inn

Tucked in the woods above the Copper Creek Inn Restaurant are these homely cabins. They sleep between two and 13, and eating a meal at the restaurant is a must. Bonus – the restaurant offers to-go picnics and pies as well – perfect for taking on hikes!

Paradise Village

Inspired by Ukraine’s rich culture and hospitality, Paradise Village has many ways to help you relax after exploring the park. Eat at their homely restaurant, book reservations for bee therapy, the sauna, or the cannibal hot tub, and enjoy rooms that sleep between two and six.

Packwood (near Stevens Canyon Entrance)

Stay in Packwood for seasonal access to both the Paradise and Sunrise Visitor Centers, as well as the White Pass Ski Area. It’s the largest town near Rainier, so you’ll find more options for groceries and restaurants here.

Luxury:

Riverfront Retreat

Located yards away from the Cowlizt River, this tiny home has the best views, potential to see elk, and sleeps up to four.

Packwood Cabin

This two bedroom home sleeps up to five and comes with a hot tub, fireplace, laundry and games.

Cozy Chalet

This is the perfect cabin three bedroom cabin, for six. It has a great outdoor space with a hot tub and fire pit, indoor games, laundry, and a great living space. Plus, it’s pet-friendly.

Mid-range:

Hotel Packwood

This is an adorable, recently renovated, historic hotel. It boasts of air conditioning – a rare (and usually unnecessary) commodity here in western Washington. Rooms sleep up to two.

The Nest at Pine Lodge

This is a cozy, one bedroom cabin that sleeps two, but it’s the outdoor space that we love here. It has a sauna, cold plunge, backyard games, is pet-friendly, and has an EV charger – everything you need to relax after a day exploring Mount Rainier!

Log Cabin

This is a classic log cabin. It’s secluded, has a great front porch, fireplace, hot tub, garden, and exposed log beams throughout. It has one bedroom and sleeps up to four.

Charming A-Frame

This two bedroom cabin sleeps up to seven. It’s has mid-century modern vibes, and we love that it has a fireplace, and laundry. There is a large set of stairs to reach the home.

Greenwater (near White River Entrance)

We love the town of Greenwater, but it’s the smallest town near Rainier. There are a handful of restaurants in town, but you’ll need to grab groceries in nearby Enumclaw if you’re interested in cooking for yourself.

Stay here to be close to Crystal Mountain (check out their adventure park), and for the closest access to the Sunrise Visitor Center.

Luxury:

Luxury Lodge

This is not your average rental home. This log cabin is completely customized, with exposed beams, a rock fireplace, high-end kitchen, custom furniture, and a hot tub. With three bedrooms it sleeps up to ten.

Elk Hollow

This spacious cabin is perfect for larger gatherings. With four bedrooms, it sleeps up to ten, with room for five cars.

Greenwater Home

This is a larger home with three bedrooms that sleeps up to six. We love that it has laundry, a hot tub, and boot driers for those skiing at Crystal Mountain.

Riverside Cabin

This home has an ideal setting – located just a few steps from the White River. Warm up and enjoy the views from the hot tub or inside with the fireplace. With one bedroom and two baths, it sleeps up to eight.

Secluded Greenwater Cabin

This home is on the smaller side but still feels spacious. We love that it’s pet-friendly and sleeps up to eight.

Enumclaw/Buckley

Enumclaw and Buckley are located about an hour and a half away from both the Sunrise Visitor Center. If lodging is sold out elsewhere, this is a decent alternative.

Luxury:

Downtown Church

This church, built in the 1800’s, is located in downtown Enumclaw, within walking distance to restaurants and shops. It’s pet-friendly, has a hot tub and laundry, and all the charm of old architecture. With one bedroom, it sleeps up to seven.

Mountain and Valley View Home

This home boasts of four bedrooms, and sleeps up to ten. With large living areas and kitchen, great deck, yard, and hot tub, this is the perfect place for a larger group to gather.