Day Trips to Mount Rainier from Seattle

At an altitude of 4,400 metres, Mount Rainier belongs to the national park that bears its name and is one of the highest mountains in the United States. Its natural scenery is a spectacle in itself. There is truly a lot to see and do in Seattle, but this is a must-see destination if you're visiting the city. Ideal for a day out alone, as a couple or with the family, and enjoy a day out in nature.

Located in Washington State, this stratovolcano offers some truly breathtaking views. Mount Rainier National Park is one of the first national parks in the United States. Established in 1899, its nearly 100,000 hectares of land are home to some of the local wildlife, such as black bears and wild elk.

Enjoy an incomparable experience at Mount Rainier National Park, about 60 minutes from downtown Seattle.

With an absolute charm, this place is one of the most visited from Seattle, being an oasis of calm and wild nature, with incredible waterfalls, forests and majestic views.

You can see wild animals such as moose and black bears, visit the Henry Jackson Memorial Visitor Center, Paradise, where you can learn a little about the flora and fauna of the region, as well as its history.

In addition, throughout the tour you will be accompanied by a specialized local guide, who will tell you the most curious details about the place. Definitely an excursion not to be missed if you are in Seattle.

Interesting facts

• Price: from 150 €.
• Duration: approximately 10 hours
• Means of transport: minibus
• Advantages of this option: it is ideal for nature lovers and outdoor activities.
• Disadvantages of this option: it is not recommended on rainy days, as, in addition to not being able to enjoy the majestic views to the full, it will be difficult to walk around the site.

If you are someone who enjoys a good hike in the middle of nature, this hike to Mount Rainier National Park is definitely for you.

You will hike the Burroughs trail overlooking the forests and snow-capped peaks of the volcano. You will experience the feeling of being in the middle of nature, where you will see wild goats and hopefully some elk.

The tour includes some food and drinks so you can have a picnic in the open air, surrounded by this natural beauty. You and your guide will then visit the Grove of Patriarchs, where you can enjoy a walk through the forest to the Henry Jackson Visitor Center, Paradise.

Included among the best tours from Seattle, the site has many points of interest, such as Christine and Narada Falls and its lakes.

Please note that the tour includes everything from transfers, coffee and tea, vegetarian picnic sandwiches, fruit and other snacks, and entrance fees to the National Park, so you don't need to worry about bringing anything with you.

Just don't forget to bring your camera or smartphone - the views here are absolutely sublime. You'll want to take countless pictures, I assure you.

Interesting facts

• Price: from 185 €.
• Duration: between 10 and 11 hours
• Means of transport: van or minibus
• Advantages of this option: it is carried out for small groups of no more than 4 people, so you will receive personalised treatment.
• Disadvantages of this option: not recommended if you are not in good physical condition.

With this tour you can enjoy the incredible views and scenery of Mount Rainier National Park, and taste some of the Yakima Valley's finest wines.

You'll hike the trails of Mount Rainier, while your guide explains all the details of the area. You will be able to appreciate the local flora and fauna, take pictures and enjoy nature and the outdoors.

You will then visit the Wilridge Vineyards and Distillery in the Yakima Valley, where you can also enjoy a wine tasting. Finally, you will visit the Owen Roe Winery, where you can taste other varieties of local wines.

It is worth mentioning that everything is usually included in the price of the tour, from the pick up from your hotel or airbnb, the trip, the entrance to the National Park and the tasting at Wilridge and Owen Roe.

Finally, if culinary is your thing, do not miss one of the best gastronomic tours in Seattle, I assure you that it is an incredible experience, to delight your palate with the best of local gastronomy.

Interesting facts

• Price: from 294 €.
• Duration: approximately 6 hours
• Means of transport: van
• Advantages of this option: as it is for small groups, you will receive preferential treatment, as well as having the chance to enjoy delicious wines in an unbeatable natural setting.
• Disadvantages of this option: not recommended for non-wine drinkers, as although the scenery is incredible, much of the tour focuses on the wine tasting experience.

Take a full day hike on Mount Rainier. Ideal for those who love outdoor exercise and especially hiking.

You'll hike through part of the National Park and get incredible views of the volcano that gives it its name. You will enjoy the forests, flowering meadows, lakes and waterfalls while your specialized local guide tells you all about this majestic place.

This tour only accepts small groups, so you will get preferential treatment. Depending on the time of the year you schedule your visit, you will have completely different landscapes. You can go on foot or with snowshoes.

This tour includes breakfast, where you can enjoy coffee or tea, fruit and delicious pastries, and lunch with local wine.

You will be picked up at your hotel or airbnb, transferred to Mount Rainier National Park, where you will enjoy a full day of hiking and adventure in incomparable landscapes, hand in hand with your guide. In the afternoon you will be driven back to Seattle.

A complete experience, ideal to enjoy as a couple or with friends.

Useful information

• Price: from 287 €.
• Duration: 10 hours 30 minutes
• Means of transport: van or minibus
• Advantages of this option: you won't have to worry about anything, as you won't have to think about meals or entrance fees, as everything is included.
• Disadvantages of this option: it is the most expensive of all the full-day excursions.

Can you imagine taking off from a lake and soaring through the sky over this incredible wilderness? Flying over the National Park in a seaplane is a truly unique experience.

You will be able to enjoy nature from a different perspective. You will see the forests and lakes, the trails in the middle of nature, and the incomparable adventure of doing it aboard a small plane.

In addition, the pilot will be your guide, telling you about and showing you the different monuments and places of interest that Mount Rainier National Park has. A great way to see the vast expanse of the park on its west side, as well as some other nearby points. If you're lucky and the weather is nice, you might be able to fly over the city of Seattle.

Ideal for middle-aged children, this is a great way to experience flying in a seaplane while also seeing the volcano from above.

If you like flying you can't miss this aerial tour. The seaplane takes off from Lake Washington and the tour lasts approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes.

Please note that the tour does not include the transfer to the lake, but don't worry, you can easily get here by taxi, for about 40 to 45 Euros, or by bus, with lines 101 or 107, for only 5 Euros approximately.

Interesting facts

• Price: starting at 317 Euros
• Duration: 1 hour and 30 minutes
• Means of transport: seaplane
• Pros: Enjoy aerial views of this incredible volcano, as well as Puget Sound, snow-capped peaks and lakes.
• Disadvantages of this option: Not suitable if you suffer from vertigo or fear of flying.

Nowadays booking a tour or excursion is really easy, it can be done online, and you can choose the option that suits you best. Below is a direct link to book your tour to Mount Rainier right now. This is definitely the best and most convenient way to do it, from the comfort of your computer or smartphone.

When you buy online you can see the comments and opinions of other travellers who have already done the tour. Most of them also have free cancellation in case you can't make it.

Since the National Park in which Mount Rainier is located is about 1 hour from the city of Seattle, the vast majority of these tours are full day tours. Expect approximately 10-11 hours.

Although there are always shorter options. Of the tours mentioned here, the seaplane ride is 90 minutes only from Lake Washington, and the Yakima Valley tour with wine tasting is 6 hours.

You'll see some truly sublime natural scenery, with meadows full of colourful flowers, glacial lakes, snow-capped peaks, and towering Mount Rainier, the tallest mountain in the United States.

With a knowledgeable local guide, you can learn all about the region's history, flora and fauna as you observe it.

If you opt for the wine tasting tour, you can also learn about the Yakima Valley's wine varieties at a vineyard-side tasting, an experience like no other.

If you opt for the seaplane ride option, you'll have incredible views of the entire area. While the time is much shorter, the perspective you get from flying over the National Park and the city of Seattle is unique.

Remember that this is an all-day tour (in most cases), so depending on whether meals are included or not, you should consider bringing something to eat. In the event that meals are not included, minibuses usually have coolers to store anything that may need to be kept cold.

Before setting off, always bear in mind the expected temperature for the rest of the day in the region. It never hurts to take a jumper, jacket or mackintosh, in case you need one.

Bear in mind that you will be outdoors, with few places to take shelter in case it rains or cools down. If you have any questions, you can ask when you make your booking, as contact numbers are always included.

Prices will depend on many factors, such as the number of hours the tour lasts, whether breakfast and lunch are included or not, if there are any other special services (such as the seaplane ride or the wine tasting), etcetera.

It is therefore very important that you evaluate the different excursion options on offer so that you can choose the one that best suits your desires and budget.

With this in mind, excursions range from approximately €150 to €317. Of course there are other options, but I didn't find them relevant enough.

A trip to Mount Rainier is highly recommended because you will have the opportunity to see one of the oldest National Parks in the United States, a truly magical place only 94 kilometres from Seattle.

It is a truly unforgettable experience, where you will see moose, black bears, goats, a currently active volcano and breathtaking scenery. Ideal for nature lovers and those looking for a break from the city.

It is always preferable to take a guided tour rather than visiting the National Park on your own, since, in addition to having practically everything taken care of, from entrance fees, permits, transfers and so on, you will have a local guide who is a specialist in the subject, who will be able to tell you everything about the park, Mount Rainier, its species, its history, as well as its most recommendable spots.

On the other hand, if you decide to visit the park on your own, it is very likely that you will have some things to visit, details to know, and you will end up wasting your holiday time, or not getting the most out of it.

So, never hesitate, a guided tour is always the best option, especially when it comes to a place like Mount Rainier, with no less than 100,000 hectares and hundreds of years of history behind it.