KimTT

Seattle folks...How long is the drive from Seattle to Mt. Rainier? Thanks !

AxeYrCat

<ul><li><a href="http://www.mapquest.com/directions/main.adp?go=1&amp;do=nw&amp;1n=King&amp;ct=NA&amp; 1y=US&amp;1a=&amp;1p=&amp;1c=Seattle&amp;1s=WA&amp ;1z=&amp;1ah=&amp;2ex=1&amp;2y=US&amp;2a=&amp;2p=& amp;2ac=mxLPF0jvZwUbcCV%252fC7zdF0QuvJsfFkbPxDZq

KimTT

I never trust those times....Looking for "real time" info...

PorTTland

tour the park I would leave Seattle very early and expect to get back late. Also, now that I think of it, as early in the season as you are coming, some of the roads will be closed for winter snow. And to really see what you will want to see you would have to drive south on I-5 to the HWY 12 and then drive in toward Paradise. The Park service keeps the road to Paradise open year round and that is where the visitors centers and the lodges are located. In summer months a better route from Seattle would take you around the eastern side of the mountain but that is the pass that is closed in winter.

KimTT

Thanks Craig! May = Winter....Guess so at that elevation.

PorTTland

In past years Mt Rainier has set world records for snow accumulation. But I just saw on their website that the snow play area at the highest elevation that you could drive to today has limited amounts of snow. The link below will allow you to get two good maps in pdf form. Now that I look at the area map I see a shortcut hwy 7 that you would take instead of 12 coming from I-5 South from Seattle.

You would head toward the Nisqually entrance and drive thru Longmire and head onward to the roads end at Paradise. The road continues thru Stevens Canyon but that road opens late, usually in June, some years as late as July, but possibly early this year due to the light snow pack.

I adore Mt Rainier National Park, and I'm sure it will be a day well spent for you too.<ul><li><a href="http://www.nps.gov/mora/pphtml/maps.html">http://www.nps.gov/mora/pphtml/maps.html</a</li></ul>

KimTT

little tough not knowing timewise how far apart the major sites are...

Did most of my research for Vancouver yesterday...concentrating on Seattle and Seattle day trips today...

Looks like a great part of the country...Can't wait!!!

Thanks for your help.

Europa

still be closed. We haven't had very much snow in the mountains this year, so the roads may be open significantly earlier than normal. We're at about 30% of normal snowpack (hello energy crisis this summer!).

JaminTT

day make time to check out St Hellens it's awesome to see what nature did. you can easily see both in a day