While Mount Rainier can be visited year-round, the winter months make it much more difficult to access. It's best to visit during the months of July and August to give yourself the best chance to hike in warm weather with no snow. Wildflowers bloom in the summer, the temperatures are warm, and the views are phenomenal. During spring and fall, there's either lingering long beach hotel packages or it's just starting to fall, and roads begin to close. When snow hits the ground in the winter, you can visit Paradise and head out for a snowshoe, but some of the best parts to visit are closed. Understand the Regions of Mt. Ranier National Park Mount Rainier has 5 different regions to it, and all of these hikes are spread around these areas. Before you put just anything into your GPS and start driving, you should know which of these 5 regions your planned hike is found in. Longmire Open year-round and considered the Gateway to Mount Rainier National Park, Longmire is closest to the southwest corner of the park Paradise: The main visitor center is found at Paradise, has many popular hikes, and is open periodically for recreation in the winter. Ohanapecosh: This part of the park is only open in the summertime and has a beautiful old-growth forest. Sunrise: This is the highest point that a car can reach within the park and is home to many of these great hikes. Not open in the winter. Carbon River & Mowich: In the far northwest corner of the park, this area is less visited than others and is only open in the summer. Be Prepared for the Weather The weather in mountains can change in an instant, so it is extremely important to be prepared for any type of weather during your visit. Snow can be found on many of the trails anytime starting from September to July, depending on the year. There may be no snow at lower elevations and feet in flight and hotel packages to houston texasBe prepared for this with the proper gear. Many of the hikes within this park have viewpoints that require it to be clear. So, I would also recommend checking to see if the skies will be cloudy before going. Read—. Avoid Weekends if Possible. If possible, try your best to visit Mount Rainier National Park during the week, rather than the weekend. Parking can be a nightmare during busy summer days, especially at popular places such as Sunrise and Paradise. Weekdays are likely to be much less busy and you'll be able to enjoy the hikes much easier. Grab an America the Beautiful Pass. Mount Rainier National Park requires a pass to enter and hike within the park. I personally think that it's best to purchase an annual America the Beautiful pass, as it will give you the best bang for your buck. For $80 per year, you'll have access to all national parks in the United States and many other locations. Pick one up here. Or you can purchase a daily pass for $30 per vehicle. Where to Stay Near Mount Rainier holiday world hotel packages Because there is so much to do at Mount Rainier National Park, it's best to stay nearby to experience the most during your visit. During the summer, you can book a stay at the Paradise Inn. If you stay here, you'll be very close to most of the hikes in the Paradise area. The Nisqually Lodge is another great lodging option that is located outside of the park in Ashford. On the other side of the park, Crystal Mountain Hotels are near the Crystal Mountain Ski Resort and are closest to the Sunrise area of the park.