Olympic National Park and Mt. Rainier Loop Road Trip

Visit two of Washington State’s premier national parks on this scenery-packed trip also passing through Seattle and Tacoma.

Author:: Elisabeth Kwak-Hefferan
Publish date:: Dec 13, 2018
Updated on: Apr 29, 2019

Road Trip Duration: 3-7 Days

Map

Start: Seattle, Washington

Mt. Rainier National Park

Mt Rainier pond reflection

From Seattle, head southeast through Enumclaw (a small town with great views of Mt. Rainier) and on to the White River Entrance to Mt. Rainier National Park.

Spend at least a few days exploring the park; highlights include seeing the views at Paradise and Sunrise, hiking the Tatoosh Range, and watching waterfalls in the Carbon River area. Stay at one of the park campgrounds or the Paradise Inn.

Paradise Falls at Mount Rainier National Park

Tacoma, Washington

A kayaker in Tacoma’s downtown marina with the Glass Museum Dome in the background — A kayaker in Tacoma’s downtown marina with the Glass Museum Dome in the background
Deposit Photos

Leave the park and drive up to Tacoma, home to the Museum of Glass, then on to the Kitsap Peninsula through Gig Harbor.

Olympic National Park

Continue on to Port Angeles, gateway to Olympic National Park. Spend a day or two exploring in the park.

End: Seattle, Washington

Harbor on Bainbridge Island — Harbor on Bainbridge Island
Deposit Photos

To finish, head back to Seattle via Bainbridge Island.

Totem pole in Vancouver's Stanley Park

5 Best Road Trips

Combine city culture with island life on this 5-10 day loop. Start in Canada then ferry to islands and the U.S. Olympic Peninsula.

Shi Shi Beach in Olympic National Park. Photo by David Krause

Places in the Park

Olympic National Park contains four distinct and remarkable ecosystems—and even better, it’s possible to see all four in one day.

Aerial view of the city of Astoria, Oregon and the bridge to Megler

5 Best Road Trips

See beaches, rainforests, and waterfalls on your journey up the Pacific Coast, circling Olympic National Park, and ending in Seattle, Washington.

Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument

5 Best Road Trips

This road trip includes a stop at the Mt. St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, a park centered around the mountain that famously blew its top in 1980.

Cape Flattery near Neah Bay, Washington

Circle the national park on this ultimate tour of the Olympic Peninsula with a stop at Cape Flattery the northwest-most point in the continental US.

A view looking north from the south end of Hood Canal in Washington State. The Olympic Mountain can be seen in the distance.

Gateway to Olympic National Park, Lake Cushman, and a scenic point for hiking, fishing and kayaking on the north fork of the Skokomish River.

Kayaking on lake in Olympic National Park.

Vacation Itineraries

Got 24 hours? Get the most out of them with this guide.

Ferry to Bainbridge Island by Tobias Eigen via Wikimedia Commons

Closest Airports and Ferries

The shortest route from the Seattle area to Olympic National Park requires taking a boat from Washington State Ferries. However, it may not be the fastest route.

Mt Rainier pond reflection

Neighboring Parks

Locals call it The Mountain—and once you see it towering, it’s clear the 14,410-footer owns the title.