Olympic National Park vs Mount Rainier National Park: Ultimate Guide

Deciding between a visit to Olympic National Park vs Mount Rainier? I’m a Seattle local and I know the struggle!

If you have limited time visiting Washington State, it can be tough to pick between these two iconic National Parks. Both will provide visitors with a memorable experience but they’re probably dissimilar in more ways than they are similar! In this blog post, I will outline the key similarities and differences of Olympic National Park vs Mount Rainier National Park. I will also provide examples of some of my favorite hikes, things to do, and points of interest in both parks. Finally, I will provide suggestions and recommendations on what type of traveler would likely get the most enjoyment out of each park based on my personal experience!

I’ve visited both Olympic National Park and Mount Rainier National Park about a dozen times over the last few years, and I’ve split my time between the two evenly in the form of both day trips and overnight trips. I’d like to think I have a pretty good grasp on what to expect and how to maximize your time in both parks depending on your interests!

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Did you know you can book a day trip to Mount Rainier National Park or Olympic National Park from downtown Seattle?! These tours fill up quickly, so lock in your spot ASAP!

Olympic National Park

Olympic National Park is truly one of the most unique National Parks I’ve ever visited. It has such an ethereal, majestic ambiance it almost doesn’t feel real (but maybe that’s just the Twilight fan in me talking?).

This iconic National Park is located on the Olympic Peninsula of Washington State, which is situated in the upper left corner of the continental United States! Olympic National Park was established as a United States National Park in 1938 and it’s been attracting visitors from far and wide despite its remote geographical location.

It’s also mammoth in scope and size compared to many other National Parks–in fact, it’s one of the largest National Parks in the U.S. covering 922,000 acres! Plus, with over 70 miles of coastline, there is truly no shortage of ecologically diverse wilderness to explore.

Rainforests, beaches, alpine peaks, oh my! Olympic National Park has so much to offer, especially for visitors who long for the foggy, misty atmosphere we all know and love from the iconic Twilight films.

Olympic National Park is within driving distance of Seattle but there are also several guided tours that depart from both Seattle and Port Angeles if you want to explore car-free!

Mount Rainer National Park

Mount Rainier National Park is located east of Seattle near Ashford, Washington. It’s one of three National Parks in Washington State (Olympic National Park and North Cascades National Park being the other two!). The main attraction/natural feature in this park is the 14,410 ft. tall stratovolcano of the same name. The native Puyallup Tribe’s name for Mount Rainier is Tahoma, so you may also hear it referenced as such!

Fun fact: if you’re flying into SeaTac Airport on a clear day, you might be able to catch a glimpse of Mount Rainier and other prominent Washington peaks! Try to book a window seat for the best views.

Mount Rainier National Park was established in 1899, which means the Park itself is technically older than Olympic National Park. It’s also one of the oldest National Parks in the entire country!

Aside from witnessing the stunning volcano, this park is also known for having great hiking, wildlife viewing, and outdoor photography opportunities. Mountaineering is also extremely popular here with thousands of climbers making bids for the summit of Mount Rainier each year.

You can easily drive to Mount Rainier National Park from Seattle, or you can book a day trip. Day trips to the park are pretty popular, and they do book up quickly during the summer months!

This hiking tour departs from downtown Seattle and gives travelers the opportunity to hike or snowshoe near Paradise in Mount Rainier National Park!

Key Similarities and Differences Between Olympic National Park vs. Mount Rainier

I’d venture to argue that Mount Rainier National Park and Olympic National Park are actually different in more ways than they are similar. Let’s break down the main similarities and differences between these two iconic National Parks!

Similarities: Mount Rainier vs. Olympic National Park

• Both National Parks are located within Washington State in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States.
• Both can be visited with a valid America the Beautiful National Park Pass
• Both have unique features such as glaciers and waterfalls

Differences: Mount Rainier vs. Olympic National Park

• Different landscapes – Mount Rainier National Park is centered around the Park’s namesake landmark, Mount Rainier (Tahoma). Olympic National Park is much more spread out and features more varied landscapes such as rainforests, coastline, alpine peaks, etc.
• Different types of activities – While hiking is popular in both National Parks, I’d argue that mountaineering, snowshoeing, and skiing are more popular at Mount Rainier National Park. Olympic National Park has great camping, wildlife viewing, hiking, tide pooling, beach combing and swimming!
• Presences of volcanoes – If you’re looking to see an active volcano in real life, you’ll only get that experience at Mount Rainier National Park and not at Olympic National Park. The former doesn’t have any volcanoes in its boundaries, though there are several spots to get great alpine views in Olympic National Park!
• Precipitation levels – Olympic National Park is much wetter compared to Mount Rainier National Park! Much of Olympic National Park is considered a temperate rainforest after all, so no surprise there! Mount Rainier National Park does get rainfall throughout the year but overall it’s definitely drier than Olympic National Park. Either way, don’t forget to pack a rain coat or hardshell jacket!

Hiking Options in Mt. Rainier vs. Olympic National Park

Best Hikes in Olympic National Park

Hiking in Olympic National Park is great because there are so many different landscapes to explore depending on your mood and desired activity levels!

Below I’ll share 3 of the best hikes in Olympic National Park (one easier hike, one moderate one, and a harder/more challenging one). I’ll also make sure to include details about the mileage, elevation gain, and key features of each trail!

Devil’s Punchbowl via Spruce Railroad Trail (Easy)

• 2.5-miles roundtrip
• Out-and-back style trail that’s part of a longer trail
• 137 ft. elevation gain
• Main feature: lake views and scenic bridge

Rialto Beach to Hole-in-the-Wall (Moderate)

• 3.3-miles roundtrip
• Out-and-back style trail
• ~100 ft. elevation gain
• Main features: unique rock formations and coastline

Mount Storm King (Challenging)

• 4.1-miles roundtrip
• Out-and-back style trail
• 2,100+ ft. elevation gain
• Main features: fun, steep sections with handlines and stunning views of Lake Crescent

Best Hikes in Mount Rainier National Park

If you’re all about those alpine views, Mount Rainier National Park has some sweet hiking trail options that you’d love! In the Sunrise area of the Park, there are some epic high elevation hiking trails that give you some expansive lookout points. Plus, the Paradise area of the Park is where you’d begin your ascent up Mount Rainier if you’re hoping to summit so views of the volcano are epic!

If you want to learn more about some of the key differences between the Sunrise and Paradise corridors within Mount Rainier National Park, make sure to check out my blog post detailing everything you need to know before visiting either of those areas!

Below I’ve included details about 3 of the best hikes in Mount Rainier National Park by difficulty level (easy, moderate, or hard)!

Nisqually Vista Trail (Easy)

• 1-mile roundtrip
• Out-and-back style trail
• 160 ft. elevation gain
• Main features: views of Mount Rainier and Nisqually Glacier

Mount Fremont Lookout Trail via Sourdough Ridge (Moderate)

• 5.7-miles roundtrip
• Out-and-back style trail
• 1,100 ft. elevation gain
• Main features: scenic fire lookout and mountain scenery

Skyline Loop Trail (Challenging)

• 5.7-miles roundtrip
• Loop style trail
• 1,750+ ft. elevation gain
• Main features: marmots and stunning views of Mount Rainier

Places to Stay Near Olympic National Park

Olympic National Park has a ton of great lodging and accommodation options near its top sites around the Olympic Peninsula. Because it’s so spread out, there isn’t one main entrance per se. Rather, there are a few different ways you can access the Park depending on where you’re coming from! There are also several towns within close proximity to Olympic National Park such as Forks, Port Angeles, and the Quileute Reservation.

Across those three areas, there is certainly no shortage of hotels, motels, vacation rentals, cabins, campsites, or RV parks to book for your next trip to Olympic National Park!

There are even some lodges within Olympic National Park including Lake Crescent Lodge, Kalaloch Lodge, Log Cabin Resort, and Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort!

This house is located directly on Lake Quinault, just south of the most popular Olympic National Park sites!

Places to Stay Near Mount Rainier National Park

Mount Rainier has a lot of great camping options and a couple lodging options within the Park itself, too! If you want to be within the boundaries of the Park, check out National Park Inn and Paradise Inn. Both are super cute and centrally located so you can use the lodge as crash pads for exploring Mount Rainier and the surrounding area!

There are also some really cute vacation rentals and camping/cabin sites throughout the area surrounding the Park boundaries that put you close to the action! The closest town is Ashford, WA, and there are a few adorable lodges and vacation cabins to rent! Make sure to reserve these quickly, though, because there is often no last-minute vacancy during the summer.

This cozy creek-front cabin is located just 10 minutes away from the entrance to Mount Rainier National Park!

FAQs about Olympic National Park vs. Mount Rainier National Park

Which National Park is Closer to Seattle?

A question I get all the time as a Seattle local is: “Is Mount Rainier or Olympic National Park closer to Seattle?” To be honest, it’s not such a simple, straightforward answer depending on which part of Seattle you’re coming from!

I’d say in general Mount Rainier is a slightly shorter drive, clocking in at roughly 1.5-hours to 2-hours drive time. It’s about 80-miles from downtown to Mount Rainier National Park. However, traffic along this route can get pretty backed up–especially during rush hour trying to leave the city/downtown area. Plan accordingly, and add an extra hour to your itinerary to account for traffic!

To get to Olympic National Park from Seattle, it’s about 2-hours to 2.5-hours drive time. Mileage wise, you’re looking at about 100-miles from downtown Seattle. The easiest way to get to the Peninsula (and Olympic National Park) from Seattle is by taking the Edmonds Ferry to Kingston! The ferry ride is about 35 minutes long, and provides great views of the water and surrounding mountains.

Sometimes the Edmonds to Kingston ferry gets backed up (usually on Fridays and weekends), so the alternate route might be the best option depending on what time of day you’re planning to head toward the Peninsula. This alternate route goes south down through Tacoma and then cuts northwest. I’ve done both routes multiple times before and I much prefer the ferry route!

Regardless of whether you choose to visit Mount Rainier National Park or Olympic National Park, if you’re flying in from out of town you’ll need to fly into Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and rent a car (unless you’re planning to do day trip tour and go car-free!).

How much money do I need to visit mount rainier vs. Olympic National Park?

Aside from your lodging/accommodation costs (which can vary greatly), you’ll need to account for National Park entrance fees, food and water, beverages, souvenirs, and snacks! It’s also important to decide if you’ll be exploring on your own or with a guided tour.

Without a tour, I’d recommend budgeting roughly $50 per day per person (not including lodging/accommodations) for a visit to either Mount Rainier National Park or Olympic National Park. Don’t forget about the price of a car rental if you’re not planning on doing any organized tours. You’ll need a car to access and explore both Olympic National Park and Mount Rainier National Park.

If you are planning on doing the guided tour route, usually these include transportation and a lunch/snacks. Make sure to factor in these costs when planning your trip depending on your personal preferences.

Which One is More Scenic: Olympic National Park or Mount Rainier?

This is such a subjective and broad question but one I get literally all the time from family, friends, and Seattle visitors alike. Personally, I think Olympic National Park is more scenic because of the variety of different landscapes to experience. I love the coastline, Hurricane Ridge, and the stunning alpine lake views in Olympic National Park! And the Hoh Rainforest is also unlike anything I’ve experienced elsewhere!

Mount Rainier is extremely scenic, too, though! To witness an active volcano of her magnitude will take your breath away, and the mountain is the key focal point of the whole Park. There are also several stunning alpine ridge lines and overlooks to enjoy in Mount Rainier National Park, as well as some epic glaciers!

One of my favorite memories from my time living in Washington so far was when I visited Mount Rainier National Park for the first time in the dead of winter and the sky was so blue, no clouds, full sun–Rainier almost looked fake (but drop dead gorgeous) against this backdrop! It was incredible! Check out the photo I took on that trip below.

Which Park is Better to Visit in the Summer?

If you can manage to get an entry reservation for Mount Rainier National Park in the summer and head up to Sunrise or Paradise, you’re in for a true treat. Assuming the weather is clear, you’ll get unobstructed views of Mount Rainier in all her glory! If you need help deciding which section of the park to visit, I’ve got you covered. This blog post of mine details everything you’ll need to know about visiting either Sunrise or Paradise as a first timer!

I love the drive up to Sunrise if you’re visiting Mount Rainier National Park when the road to Sunrise is open (expected to open on July 4th, 2024 for the summer season). Make sure to check the road status before making the trek out to Sunrise so you aren’t disappointed if it’s closed!

I’d also argue that Olympic National Park is a great Park to visit in the summer if you like backpacking, camping, or hiking on the coastline! The conditions are slightly less wet during the summer months, but still pack a rain jacket!

In my personal opinion, I prefer Mount Rainier National Park in the summer and Olympic National Park in the fall!