Mount Rainier vs Olympic National Park: Everything You Need to Know

Mount Rainier and Olympic National Parks are two stunning national parks in the Pacific Northwest. They are home to some of the most beautiful views in Washington and should be on every bucket list! Although they are in the same state, they offer two completely different experiences and landscapes.

So which one should you visit? This guide has everything you need to know about the similarities and differences between Mount Rainier vs Olympic National Park, so you can know which one should be a priority on your bucket list!

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase, my blog may receive a commission at no additional cost to you.

Mount Rainier vs Olympic National Park: Park Overviews

Mount Rainier National Park Overview

Mount Rainier National Park is home to one of five volcanoes in Washington. Mount Rainier is in the center of the national park, standing at 14,410 feet, and although it is an active volcano, it has not erupted since 1894. Mount Rainier National Park has many things to do and see, including over 260 miles of maintained trails, waterfalls, wildflowers, mountain views, and lakes.

Olympic National Park Overview

Olympic National Park is on the Olympic Peninsula along the Washington coast and has a diverse landscape covering almost 1 million acres. From mountains, rainforests, and beaches, it has something for everyone! Whether you want to hike to a mountaintop, swim in the ocean, drive to an overlook, or walk through a rainforest, Olympic National Park has pretty much everything you could ever want.

Mount Rainier vs Olympic National Park: The Similarities and Differences

Although Mount Rainier and Olympic National Park are close to each other, they aren’t the same in every aspect. Let’s dive into the similarities and differences between Mount Rainier vs Olympic National Park!

Location and Closest Airport

Mount Rainier and Olympic National Park are both in Washington state and within a few hours of Seattle. Olympic National Park is along the Washington coast, while Mount Rainier is south. The closest airport to both national parks is Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. To get to Olympic National Park, you can drive or take the ferry to the Olympic Peninsula. To get to Mount Rainier National Park, you can drive.

Entrance Price

Mount Rainier and Olympic National Park each have a $30 entrance price for one vehicle. If you plan on visiting multiple national parks in one trip or a year, you can purchase the America the Beautiful Annual Pass. The America the Beautiful Annual Pass will allow you into any national park and federal recreation land for a year!

Note: Mount Rainier National Park now has a timed entry reservation system for entering the park between 7 AM to 3 PM during May through September for Paradise and July through September for Sunrise. You should get these as far in advance as possible since Mount Rainier National Park is a busy park. If you do not have a permit, you can still enter the park before 7 AM and after 3 PM.

Size

Mount Rainier National Park is the smallest national park in Washington, covering over 230,000 acres. Olympic National Park is the largest national park in Washington, covering almost 1 million acres!

Landscape

Although Mount Rainier and Olympic National Park are near each other, they have different landscapes. Mount Rainier National Park has an active volcano with over 25 glaciers. It also has alpine and subalpine meadows, and the vibrant wildflowers are beautiful, especially in the summer! Olympic National Park, on the other hand, has a diverse landscape. It has lush temperate rainforests, subalpine meadows, glaciated mountains, and a rugged coastline.

Crowds

Both Mount Rainier and Olympic National Park have around 2.5 million visitors per year. They are among the most visited national parks in the US, so there are usually many people, especially in the summer months.

Tip: Because Mount Rainier and Olympic National Park are busy, I recommend starting your day early to avoid traffic congestion getting into the parks. It will also allow you to see some popular attractions before most people enter the parks.

Where to Stay

Mount Rainier National Park has five sections: Longmire, Paradise, Ohanapecosh, Sunrise, and Cabron River/Mowich Lake. There are beautiful things to see in each, and they each make a great base camp for the park. Each section has cute towns with everything you need for your stay. Here are some of the best places to stay near Mount Rainier National Park:

Hotels:

Campgrounds:

White River Campground (near Sunrise)
Silver Springs Campground (near Sunrise)
Buck Creek campground (near Sunrise)
Cougar Rock Campground (near Paradise)
Ohanapecosh Campground (near Ohanapecosh)

best places to stay near mount rainier national park

Olympic National Park has many lodging options around the Olympic Peninsula. The main area to stay in is Port Angeles because it has the most hotels, restaurants, and grocery stores. Here are some of the best places to stay near Olympic National Park:

Hotels:

Campgrounds:

best places to stay near olympic national park

Park Transportation

Mount Rainier and Olympic National Park don't offer a shuttle, so the best way to get around the national parks is by car. You can rent a regular car or campervan!

Time Needed

The time you need to spend in each national park depends on what you want to do! If you want to hike in Mount Rainier and Olympic National Park, I recommend spending 3-4 days in each park. If you want to visit roadside attractions and easy to get to spots, I recommend spending 2-3 days in each national park. You could also spend an entire week exploring Mount Rainier and Olympic National Park because each national park has so much to do and see.

Best Time to Visit

Summer is the best time to visit Mount Rainier and Olympic National Park. The summer months have the best weather and most of the roads and facilities are open.

Here is what to expect during each season in Mount Rainier National Park:

Winter: Winters in Mount Rainier National Park are cold and very snowy. Some areas of the park get an average of 670 inches a year! Many of the roads and facilities are closed in the winter, but you can still get to a few sections of the park. If you love snowshoeing and skiing and don’t mind the cold, winter is a beautiful and quiet time to visit Mount Rainier National Park.
Spring: Spring in Mount Rainier National Park is different every year. Sometimes the snow will linger into June, so some roads and facilities will remain closed. Other times, the park will have a lot of rain. But it is a beautiful time to visit if you don’t mind some potential snow on the trails! And the waterfalls are gushing because of the snowmelt.
Summer: Summer is the best time to visit Mount Rainier National Park because the weather is beautiful and the wildflowers are everywhere. Most of the roads and facilities will be open, too. It is also one of the busiest seasons for the park. If you want to hike, summer is the best season to visit!
Fall: Fall is another one of the best times to visit Mount Rainier National Park because the foliage is beautiful. Late fall can bring snow, so some roads and trails may close early, depending on the snow conditions.

Here is what to expect during each season in Olympic National Park:

Winter: Winters are beautiful in Olympic National Park if you don’t mind snow and rain. The rainforests can receive up to 50 inches of rain in the winter! Although the weather isn’t ideal in the winter, it’s a good time for snowshoeing and skiing. Many of the roads and facilities are closed, so winter is one of the quietest seasons in the park.
Spring: Spring is one of the best times to visit Olympic National Park if you want to experience lush rainforests and see wildlife. Snow can linger into late spring, so some roads and facilities remain closed. The spring also brings a lot of rain.
Summer: Summer is the best time to visit Olympic National Park because the weather is beautiful and most roads and facilities are open. It is also one of the busiest times to visit the park. If you want to hike, summer is the best season!
Fall: If you want to see beautiful foliage, fall is the perfect season to visit Olympic National Park. Fall can also experience a lot of rain and early snowfall in the mountains. Depending on the snow conditions, some roads and facilities may close early.

Activities

Mount Rainier and Olympic National Park have something for everyone, including beautiful hiking trails, overlooks, waterfalls, lakes, and scenic drives. There are plenty of hiking trails in each park for those who want to spend the day hiking around. For those who don't want to hike, there are plenty easy to get to views in each park! Both national parks have accessible areas so everyone can enjoy the views!

Hiking

Mount Rainier National Park has over 260 miles of maintained to hike on to waterfalls, mountains, and fields of wildflowers. And the best part? It has trails for all levels! Whether you want to have an easy walk to a view or go on a strenuous hike to the top of a mountain, Mount Rainier National Park has something for everyone! Mount Rainier National Park also has backpacking options if you are looking for multi-day hikes. The permit system is easy to understand and get for your trip, too!

Here are some great trails in Mount Rainier National Park:

Easy:
- Grove of Patriarchs - 1.5 miles (NOTE: Currently closed due to trail damage. Read more here.)
- Alta Vista Trail - 1.5 miles
- Myrtle Falls - 0.8 miles
Moderate:
- Naches Peak Loop - 3.2 miles
- Fremont Lookout - 5.6 miles
Strenuous:
- Burroughs Mountain - 9 miles
- Skyline Trail - 5.6 miles
Backpacking:
- Wonderland Trail - 93 miles

easy hikes in mount rainier national park

Olympic National Park has over 600 miles of beautiful trails that range from easy to strenuous. Whether you want to hike to a hot spring, rainforest, waterfall, or mountaintop, Olympic National Park has a hike for everyone! It also has backpacking options if you are looking for multi-day hikes. The permit system is easy to understand and get for your trip, too!

Here are some great trails in Olympic National Park:

Easy:
- Hall of Mosses - 0.8 miles
- Marymere Falls - 1.8 miles
Moderate:
- Hurricane Hill - 3.2 miles
- Hole-in-the-Wall - 4 miles
Strenuous:
- Mount Storm King - 4 miles
- Mount Angeles - 6.3 miles
Backpacking:
- Enchanted Valley - 27 miles
- High Divide and Seven Lakes Basin Loop - 19 miles

hurricane hill trail hiking guide

Scenic Drives and Overlooks

If hiking isn’t your thing, there are plenty of scenic overlooks in Mount Rainier and Olympic National Park. Most of the roads through Mount Rainier and Olympic National Park are incredibly scenic, so you don’t need to go too far to get beautiful views. Here are some easy to get to overlooks in each national park:

Mount Rainier National Park:

Reflection Lake
Myrtle Falls
Narada Falls
Paradise Visitor Center
Sunrise Visitor Center
Mount Rainier Gondola

Olympic National Park:

Hurricane Ridge
Rialto Beach Picnic Area
Lake Cresent
Staircase Ranger Station
Hoh Rainforest

What to Pack

Hiking Boots: If you want comfort and support on your trip, hiking boots are the go to.
Hiking Socks: Having moisture-wicking and comfortable hiking socks are just as important for exploring.
Hiking Backpack: You need something to carry all your food, clothes, and anything else you need while adventuring, so having a supportive hiking backpack is crucial.
Hydration Reservoir/Water Bottles: While hiking or just exploring, it is important to have enough water! I always pack a hydration reservoir.
Jackets: The weather is unpredictable, so I always pack a rain jacket and insulated jacket.
Ten Essentials: The Ten Essentials are crucial for hiking!
Microspikes: If you plan on winter hiking, you will need to bring microspikes.
Snowshoes: Also if you hike in the winter, you may need snowshoes.

Should you visit Mount Rainier or Olympic National Park?

So should you visit Mount Rainier or Olympic National Park? Hopefully, these similarities and differences between Mount Rainier vs Olympic National Park helped you get a better idea of which may be best for you! Both are fantastic options if you want to hike or take scenic drives.

If you want to see a diverse landscape in one national park, be by the ocean, or explore a rainforest, Olympic National Park may be for you. If you would rather spend your time exploring around the tallest mountain in Washington or hike through wildflower fields, Mount Rainier National Park may be for you.

Both national parks are beautiful and offer so much to do, so you really can’t go wrong with either! And if you want to visit both on the same road trip, you totally can! You can go to all three national parks in Washington in one week. No matter what you decide to do, you will not be disappointed in visiting Mount Rainier or Olympic National Park.

If you aren’t sure whether to visit Mount Rainier or Olympic National Park, this guide is the perfect starting point. It has everything you need to know about the similarities and differences of Mount Rainier vs Olympic National Park, so you can decide which you should visit, although I recommend visiting both!