Which is better olympic national park or mount rainier

Washington state is home to 3 of the best national parks in the country, offering diverse views of everything from mountains to oceans to rainforests.

Mount Rainier and Olympic are two of the three national parks, which each have endless views, hikes galore, and wildlife to spot.

So if you’re wondering which you should visit, Mt. Rainier vs Olympic National Park, this post will cover all you need to know.

There are a few things to consider when making the choice such as the time you’re visiting, what you want to see, and how long you have in the Pacific Northwest.

In the end, these parks are vastly different, but if you have a limited amount of time, this post should help you choose which to see.

Mount Rainier National Park is home to Washington’s tallest mountain and one of the state’s five active volcanoes.

The mountain is the main attraction in the park, which can be seen from the hundreds of hiking trails or even from the visitor centers.

Olympic National Park is found on the Pacific Coast on the Olympic Peninsula of Washington.

The entire park covers almost 1 million acres of land and is home to a very diverse landscape, filled with ocean views, temperate rainforests, and mountains.

Which you decide to visit will depend on how much time you have, what you want to see, and what activities you want to do.

Choosing one of the two to visit is a tough task because of how different they are, but in this post, I’ll try my best to answer the question for you.

But if I had to choose one, I would recommend visiting Olympic National Park because of how diverse it is in just one place.

Differences Between Mt. Rainier and Olympic

Below I’ll do a deep dive into the similarities and differences and compare Mt Rainier vs Olympic National Park to help you make your decision.

This includes things such as the activities that you can do, when you should visit, permits you might need, and crowds that you might find.

I’ve organized each of these categories by park and have listed a “winner” at the bottom of each category, but please remember that you can totally make this decision on your own, based on what you read in this post!

Activities in Each Park

Mt. Rainier National Park

With Washington’s tallest mountain as the center and main attraction of this park, many of the activities revolve around Mount Rainier.

Here are some of the best things to do in the park.

✔ Hike the Skyline Trail to Myrtle Falls

✔ Visit Mount Fremont Lookout at sunrise

✔ Be on the lookout for a cloud inversion

✔ Watch for wildlife roaming the park

✔ Ride the gondola at Crystal Mountain

✔ Hike the Grove of the Patriarchs Trail

✔ Hike the Naches Peak Loop

✔ Backpack the Wonderland Trail

Olympic National Park

Olympic is home to a temperate rainforest as well as a mountain range and miles of coastline, so you’re able to experience a lot!

Below are just a few of the top things to do within the park.

✔ Hike to the top of Hurricane Hill

✔ Visit the Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center

✔ See the powerful Sol Duc Falls

✔ Relax in the Sol Duc Hot Springs

✔ Make the trek up to Mount Storm King at sunset

✔ Look for tidepools along the Pacific coastline

✔ Relax on one of the many beaches (Ruby, Rialto, Kalaloch, etc.)

✔ See the mysterious Tree of Life

✔ Relax by Lake Crescent and the Lake Crescent Lodge

✔ Visit the Hoh Rainforest

✔ Backpack the Enchanted Valley

Winner: Olympic National Park has more diverse activities and a lot of unique things to do

Mt. Rainier Vs. Olympic: Views and Landscape

Mt. Rainier National Park

As I’ve mentioned before, this park revolves around Mount Rainier, hence the name of the national park.

So there’s no doubt that nearly everywhere you go, you’re going to have epic views of the majestic mountain and surrounding mountains.

Because Rainier is an active volcano, you may see evidence from past eruptions, although it hasn’t erupted since 1894.

The park has a lot of beautiful alpine and subalpine meadows and lakes, which are some of the most beautiful parts of the park.

In the spring and summer, you’ll see a lot of wildflowers blooming in the meadows and powerful waterfalls flowing.

Olympic National Park

As one of the most diverse parks in the entire country, you’ll be shocked at all that you can see in Olympic National Park.

First, you’ll have views of seemingly endless temperate rainforests, covered in draping moss, dinosaur-like ferns, and huge trees.

Second, the Olympic Mountain range reigns king and Mount Olympus dominates the sky at 7,979 feet.

Lastly, the park has about 70 miles of coastline on the Pacific Ocean to enjoy and relax on.

Winner: Olympic National Park has a much more diverse landscape and offers more varied views.

Park Location

Mt. Rainier National Park

Located in western Washington near Packwood and Ashford is Mount Rainier National Park.

The park is about 2 hours from Seattle and 2.5 hours from Portland, Oregon and the Columbia River Gorge.

Mount Rainier, Mount St. Helens, and Mount Adams form a triangle on the map and all provide beautiful views.

Olympic National Park

Olympic National Park is located on the Olympic Peninsula at the far northwestern corner of Washington state.

It’s about 2 hours from Seattle but is so widespread that that measurement should be taken with a grain of salt.

The park is surrounded by Highway 101, which loops around almost the entire park, with other roads branching off.

Winner: Both parks are within close proximity of Seattle.

Closest Airport

Mt. Rainier National Park

You can fly into either Portland International Airport (PDX) or the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) to visit Mt. Rainier.

The distance to either is between 2-2.5 hours, depending on how bad traffic is at the time.

Olympic National Park

The closest airport to Olympic is the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) which is about a 2-hour drive.

Of course, you could also fly into Portland International Airport (PDX), but that will be a 2.75-hour drive.

Winner: Both parks are within a 3-hour drive of the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.

How to Get Around

Mt. Rainier National Park

A car is the best way to tour Mount Rainier National Park, as there really isn’t any other great way to get around.

Plus, having a car allows you to explore other areas outside of the park as well as take your time exploring.

There aren’t any shuttle buses or anything in the park, so you’ll want to get a rental car or get a campervan from Escape Campervans.

Olympic National Park

Because of its massive size, it’s best to have a car for exploring Olympic National Park.

The Clallam Transit System does make some stops as locations such as La Push and Forks, but from there, you’ll need to find your way around.

If I’m being quite honest, it would be nearly impossible to see anything within the park without having your own vehicle or a rental.

You will need to do a lot of driving in order to see everything within the park, so I do recommend getting a rental with unlimited miles.

Winner: Both parks require a car to get around and explore.

Nearby Towns

Mt. Rainier National Park

There are a few small towns near Mount Rainier National Park, although there isn’t much to do in any of them.

They are perfect for finding lodging though to have a base camp for all of your adventures in the park!

Ashford is the best of them because it’s just about 20 miles from the Paradise area of the park, and it offers a good amount of places to stay.

Packwood is another option, although it’s a bit further away, as well as of course Seattle, but that becomes a 2-hour drive.

Olympic National Park

There are a few towns around the border of Olympic National Park that are worth stopping and checking out.

Port Angeles on the northeastern side of the park is a small port town with food, drinks, and places to stay.

Forks, on the northwestern side, is well known for being the inspiration for the Twilight movie saga and is a nice place to visit.

Winner: Olympic has two towns that have more activities, places to stay, and food near it.

Weather in Each Park

Mount Rainier National Park

Below you’ll find a breakdown of what the weather is like year-round at Mount Rainier National Park.

Spring: During the spring months (April-May), temperatures typically hover around the 40s-50s with a moderate chance of snow and rain. Expect to still see snow nearly everywhere in the park, and be sure to check conditions to make sure the park is open.

Summer: This is the best time to visit the park (June-August) with temperatures between 50-70 and a low chance for rain. You might still see snow on some trails into late June, but once July hits, it’s usually clear!

Fall: Temperatures fall around the 20s to low 50s in the fall (September-November) with a moderate chance of snow and rain, plus beautiful fall foliage! Trails and roads may begin to close due to snow, but most things remain open for most of the fall season!

Winter: Temperatures often drop below freezing, sometimes falling below 0°F, with a high chance of snow and wind. Sometimes the park closes its roads in winter (December-March) due to dangerous driving conditions.

Olympic National Park

Olympic National Park also has some interesting weather, because of its location in the state. Here’s a breakdown of the seasons.

Spring: Expect to see a lot of rainfall in the spring, but you’ll also get some of the most vibrant green from the rainforest. Temperatures are usually around the high 20s to low 40s. Some roads may remain closed in higher elevations.

Summer: The best time to visit is in summer when the roads and trails are clear, temperatures are in the high 40s to high 60s, and the sun is shining. There is less rain in the summer, but you might still see the occasional drizzle.

Fall: Find beautiful fall foliage during this season, along with moderate weather, the start of snow and rainy season, and fewer crowds.

Winter: You can still visit Olympic in winter, and expect to have chilly temperatures in the 20s to 30s, and colder in higher elevations. Winter brings a lot of rain, snow, and dark skies.

Winner: Olympic National Park is more accessible year-round and sees less snow in lower elevations.

Best Time to Visit

Mt. Rainier National Park

The best time to visit Mount Rainier is in the summer months because that’s when you’ll find the least amount of snow on the ground.

July through September are typically the best months for visiting because of the warm temperatures and sunny skies!

Although this is when you’ll usually see the most crowds, so I would recommend waiting until late September to plan your visit.

This will allow you to still see the beautiful park and experience Washington’s warmer temperatures, but also not have to deal with wait times.

In the winter, there will be a lot of snow on the ground and sometimes it’s impossible to even enter the park, although some people do enjoy snowshoeing here.

Olympic National Park

Olympic is similar to Mount Rainier in that the summer months are typically the best times to visit.

Plan your visit sometime between June and September for the best chances of having no snow and good temperatures.

In late spring and early summer, you’ll be able to see the rainforest at some of its most vibrant times, thanks to all of the moisture from the winter rain.

One great thing about Olympic compared to Mount Rainier is that it’s accessible in the winter, and you don’t have to worry about snow in some parts.

At lower elevations, like on the coast and in the rainforests, you can hike and explore without having to strap on any microspikes.

Winner: Both parks are best visited around the same time, but Olympic is more accessible year-round.

Time Needed to Visit

Mt. Rainier National Park

You can see Mount Rainier National Park in as little as 1-2 days because the main attraction is just the mountain.

This works especially well if you don’t plan on doing much hiking and are just wanting to see some of the sights and roadside pullouts.

But if you want to really see more of the park and do some more hiking, then I recommend spending at least 3 days there.

Olympic National Park

Olympic National Park is huge, covering nearly 1 million acres of land and has a lot of diversity that is worth seeing.

The least amount of days that you should spend at Olympic is 3 days.

Anything less than this won’t allow you to fully experience the park and you’ll have to choose between some of the main attractions.

With 3 or more days, you can hit everything, including the rainforest, mountains, and ocean coastline, plus spend some time hiking and relaxing.

Winner: Mount Rainier is easier to get by in just a few days.

Crowds and Wait Times

Mt. Rainier National Park

Mount Rainier has two main areas that visitors tend to flock to; Sunrise and Paradise, which both fill up very quickly, especially in the summer.

Sometimes, the entrances nearest to these two areas can get very congested and it can take a long time to get through the gates.

Parking lots typically fill up by mid-morning and the park is busy all day long.

In the off-season (winter), you can expect to see a lot fewer people in the park.

Olympic National Park

Because of the size of Olympic, it’s easier for visitors to spread out and avoid crowds and wait times.

During the summer months, you might find that parking lots for popular hikes or areas get full early on in the day, such as the Hoh Rainforest and Rialto Beach.

The entrance into the Hoh Rainforest can sometimes be backed up and visitors have to wait hours to get in.

But the good news is that if you find one area busy, you can always leave to do something else and come back.

Visiting during the winter, rather than the summer, can save you some of that wait time, as there are fewer visitors!

Winner: Both parks can get very busy, especially in the summertime.

Entrance Fees

To enter any national park, you’ll need a pass, and you can choose from a few different kinds.

I personally recommend the America the Beautiful Pass because for $80, you can get into any national park for an entire year.

Otherwise, you can purchase a weekly vehicle pass which allows your vehicle into the park for $30.

You can also just buy an annual pass specific to each park, which costs $55 for the year.

Where to Stay Nearby

Mt. Rainier National Park

If you’re planning a visit to Rainier, there are a few options for lodging, including staying inside the park, outside the park, or camping.

Here are a few of the best options for lodging nearby.

Nisqually Lodge:Located in Ashford, just 40 minutes from Paradise, this lodge offers a great place to rest your head at the end of a long day.

Quiet A-Frame Cabin:This beautiful cabin is unique, has a large porch, a fully equipped kitchen, an outdoor fire ring, and a cozy vibe unlike any other.

If you’re wanting to camp, the most popular campgrounds are the Ohanapecosh or White River campgrounds.

Olympic National Park

Below you’ll find a few of the best places to stay around Olympic National Park.

Because of the park’s size, I recommend staying in different places every night, based on your itinerary.

Olympic Lodge:This beautiful lodge sits at the base of the Olympic Mountains in Port Angeles, and offers free breakfast and an outdoor pool.

Hoh Valley Cabins: These adorable cabins in Forks make for the perfect place to stay during a visit to the park, complete with a full kitchen.

There are many, many campgrounds scattered around Olympic National Park, but the most popular are the Hoh and the Kaloloch Campgrounds.

Winner: Both parks have lodging nearby.

How Far Apart are Mount Rainier and Olympic?

Mount Rainier is located in the southern half of Washington state, while Olympic is in the very northwestern corner.

The two parks are about 2.5 hours away from each other, or just under 120 miles from the closest entrances.

These entrances are the Nisqually Entrance (MRNP) and the Staircase Entrance (ONP).

But remember that the area of the park that you’re going to may affect this drive time and may make it longer.

For example, if you’re coming from Paradise and are heading to Rialto Beach, the drive is about 5 hours, since these are on different ends of the parks.

Does Mt. Rainier or Olympic Have Better Hiking?

This is a tough question to answer because both parks have really great hiking, but if I had to choose, I would say that Olympic is a better place for hiking.

Mount Rainier has great hikes, but Olympic is more diverse and has many more options for different views.

You can see everything from lakes, mountains, oceans, rainforests, and more, whereas Mount Rainier is missing the rainforest and ocean.

Olympic vs Mount Rainier: The Verdict

Choosing between these two parks is really tough because of how beautiful each of them is.

But if I had a limited amount of time and I had to choose between Mount Rainier or Olympic, I would go to Olympic National Park.

This park is very diverse and offers a lot to visitors, plus it’s pretty close to Seattle and the airport.

Here are the top reasons why I would choose Olympic, instead of Mount Rainier.

➥ Very diverse landscape, allowing you to see rainforest, mountains, and ocean in one park.
➥ Great hiking with beautiful viewpoints.
➥ Accessible to visitors year-round.
➥ Milder weather when visiting lower elevations.
➥ Fewer crowds and wait times.
➥ Some public transportation, if needed.
➥ Plenty of camping and lodging found around the park and in nearby towns.

Now, this isn’t to say that Rainier isn’t beautiful, because I would highly recommend visiting both if you’re able.

But they are pretty far apart and both require quite a bit of time, so if you have limited time in the Pacific Northwest, this is what I would go with.

Tips for Visiting National Parks in Washington

• Purchase your America the Beautiful pass before arriving at the park to save time when entering the gate.
• Always have a rain jacket because you never know when it’s going to start raining in the PNW.
• Check road and trail conditions before heading out to ensure they’re clear and open to the public.
• Always use a navigation system when hiking, such as All Trails to stay on the trail.
• Wear sunscreen, especially in higher elevations, because you can burn easily.
• Follow the Leave No Trace principles to protect our nature and wildlife.
• Break-ins are common at trailheads, so leave your valuables at home or carry them with you when you leave the car.
• Arrive at trailheads early in the morning because they will up very fast, especially in peak season.

FAQs

Is Mount Rainier National Park Worth It?

Yes, a visit to Mount Rainier National Park is highly worth it!
As the tallest mountain in Washington and one of the state’s 5 active volcanoes, you’ll get to see some pretty awesome views!
Especially if you’re a hiker, you’ll love a visit to Mt. Rainier.

Can You See Mount Rainier From Olympic National Park?

No, Mt. Rainier is not visible from Olympic National Park.
But you can see the mountain from Seattle and many other places within Washington.

How Far is Olympic National Park From Seattle?

Olympic National Park is about 2 hours from Seattle, making it easy to take a few days to visit.
The only problem is that the park is really big, so you will need at least 2-3 days to see much of it.

How Many Days Do You Need in Mt. Rainier National Park?

It’s recommended to have at least 2 days in Mt. Rainier National Park.
With this, you can see a lot of the main attractions, but to see more unique places and hit some hidden gems, you’ll want closer to 3-4 days.

How Many Days Do You Need in Olympic National Park?

Olympic National Park is really, really large, covering nearly 1 million acres.
So you’re going to want at least 3 days in the park, but I would recommend 4-5 to ensure that you can cover everything.

Is Olympic National Park or North Cascades National Park Better?

Both Olympic and North Cascades National Parks are very unique and it’s tough to compare the two.
North Cascades is one of the least visited national parks in the country, but I don’t think it deserves that title!
Both are beautiful parks, but I would say that Olympic National Park has a lot more diversity and uniqueness to it.

Wrap-Up: Mt Rainier vs Olympic National Park

While both of these parks are vastly different and really hard to choose between, if you only have a limited time, you may need to pick.

When you’re making your decision, consider things such as activities you’d like to do, the time you’ll be visiting, and how much time you have.

Now that we’ve done a deep dive into Mt Rainier vs Olympic National Park, you’ll be able to make a much more informed decision to plan the perfect trip.