Offering epic day hiking opportunities, great wildlife viewing and stunning scenery, Mount Rainier National Park requires at least two or three days. Luckily, there are a number of frontcountry campgrounds and a couple of excellent accommodation options in Mount Rainier National Park!
This post is not about camping in the park, but discusses the two inns in Mount Rainier National Park. Both are fantastic places to spend a night or two, great bases to discover the grandeur of mighty Mount Rainier.
You’ll also find a brief overview of the top attractions and fun activities near each of these Mount Rainier accommodations.
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Mount Rainier National Park Accommodation, Lodging and Inns
Regardless of whether you’re visiting Mount Rainier in the fall, winter, spring or summer, spending a night in this glorious park comes highly recommended.
There’s so much to see and do at Mount Rainier you’ll need a few days to get around the mountain.
And even if you’re not staying within the national park, a visit to the National Park Inn and, especially, the iconic Paradise Inn are still among the top things to do.
Both Mount Rainier National Park accommodations are in the southern part of the park, respectively in Longmire and in Paradise.
National Park Inn
The National Park Inn is situated in the Longmire Historic District in the southwestern corner of Mount Rainier National Park.
Located at 2,700 feet and surrounded by a pristine forest and historic meadows, this is a great location to explore the park’s southern area.
This is also the only accommodation in Mount Rainier National Park that’s open year-round. Although not the biggest of hotels, it makes up for that with its historic setting, rustic atmosphere and tranquility.
There are 25 guestrooms at the National Park Inn, as well as a dining room, guest library and general store.
Attractions Near the National Park Inn
Attractions in the Longmire Historic District, which is literally at the Inn’s doorstep, include the Longmire Museum and the Longmire Bridge.
Nearby Mount Rainier hikes that are worth doing are the popular and easy Trail of the Shadows and the strenuous Eagle Peak Trail.
Additionally, one of Mount Rainier’s most underrated out-and-back day hikes also starts in Longmire. Follow the Wonderland Trail for 7.5 miles to Indian Henry’s Hunting Ground, home to gorgeous wildflowers in summer and spectacular foliage in fall.
Further down the road into the park, you can visit beautiful waterfalls like Christine Falls and Narada Falls before taking the spur road up to Paradise. Pullouts allow you to see and walk along the banks of the Nisqually River.
Paradise Inn
Inarguably the star accommodation in Mount Rainier National Park, the historic Paradise Inn is one of the prime examples of “National Park Service rustic”, also known as “parkitecture.”
Designed to blend in with its environment, the shapes of the Paradise Inn do reflect the sharp peaks of the Tatoosh Range, while massive Mount Rainier towers above.
This magnificent national park hotel dates from 1916 and has managed to keep its rustic charm and historic appeal throughout the decades.
It’s famous for being one of the “Great Lodges of the West.” Spending a couple of nights there is an unforgettable national park experience.
Nowadays, it’s also the center of Mount Rainier National Park’s busiest area: Paradise. A sprawling parking lot accommodates the vehicles of hundreds of day visitors, while the Henry M. Jackson Memorial Visitor Center offers all kinds of information.
Additionally, you’ll also find a gift shop and bookstore, cafeteria, post office, restaurant and ranger station in and around the Paradise Inn.
Typically open between mid-May and early-October, the Paradise Inn has 121 guestrooms.
Without modern amenities like WiFi, telephones or TVs, these charming historic rooms “invite our guests to imagine a time past when life was simple”, according to Rainier Guest Services, the inn’s concessionaire.
Attractions Near the Paradise Inn
Step outside of the inn’s doors and you’ll immediately find yourself surrounded by breathtaking subalpine scenery.
Paradise, which got its name after James Longmire’s daughter-in-law Martha exclaimed “oh, what a paradise!” when first seeing the area, is home to glorious meadows of wildflowers and jaw-dropping views. It’s also one of the best places to enjoy fall colors at Mount Rainier.
This is the start of the ultra-popular Skyline Trail Loop, a 5.5-mile circuit through alpine meadows, across slopes, past cascades and waterfalls.
The vistas are sensational, wildlife encounters common. (I’ve personally seen several black bears, a few mountain goats and countless marmots here.) It is the best hike in Mount Rainier National Park.
If you’re looking for a quick stroll, hike the paved 0.5-mile section of the Skyline Trail to stunning Myrtle Falls. Alternatively, another excellent trail in the Paradise area is the Reflection Lakes Loop.
You can find lots more information about lodging in and around Mount Rainier National Park on the park’s website.