Best time to visit Mount Rainier.
Photo · NPS Photo / Steve Redman · NPS sourceCheck before you go
- Closures, fire restrictions, construction and water: NPS Mount Rainier current conditions
- We are independent of the National Park Service. The official pages above are the source of record for anything that changes.
Compare Mount Rainier by month.
Three signals for each month: how busy it is against July, the average weather, and how much of the road system is normally open. Tap a month for its full Mount Rainier guide. We don't roll these into one "best month" score, because a photographer and a family on school break want different months.
Weather · NOAA normals, Longmire Rainier NPS (2,762 ft)
| Month | Crowds | Weather | Roads & lodging | What it means |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January |
Lowest
6% of July · 26K avg
|
Harsh
37°F / 26°F (3°C / -3°C)
|
Partly open
Typical windows · score 45/100
|
Deep winter. Only the Nisqually Entrance reaches Longmire and Paradise, the Longmire gate closes nightly, and every vehicle must carry chains.Read the January guide |
| February |
Lowest
4% of July · 16K avg
|
Harsh
40°F / 26°F (5°C / -3°C)
|
Partly open
Typical windows · score 45/100
|
The year's quietest month. Same winter routine: Nisqually Entrance only, a nightly gate at Longmire, chains in every vehicle. National Park Inn stays open.Read the February guide |
| March |
Lowest
6% of July · 24K avg
|
Harsh
45°F / 28°F (7°C / -2°C)
|
Partly open
Typical windows · score 45/100
|
Still winter at Paradise. Ranger snowshoe walks usually run on weekends through March. The nightly gate and the chain rule still apply.Read the March guide |
| April |
Lowest
7% of July · 31K avg
|
Harsh
51°F / 31°F (10°C / -1°C)
|
Partly open
Typical windows · score 45/100
|
Snow still covers Paradise, and every vehicle must carry chains until May 1. The regular nightly gate closures at Longmire end in spring.Read the April guide |
| May |
Lowest
20% of July · 85K avg
|
Good
60°F / 37°F (16°C / 3°C)
|
Usually most open
Typical windows · score 65/100
|
The meadows are still under snow while forest flowers start lower down. Paradise Inn usually opens in mid-May, and SR 123 to Ohanapecosh in late May.Read the May guide |
| June |
Moderate
53% of July · 225K avg
|
Ideal
66°F / 42°F (19°C / 5°C)
|
Usually all open
Typical windows · score 85/100
|
Visits jump to about half of July. Meadows melt out with early lilies, and snow can linger on Paradise trails. No timed entry in 2026.Read the June guide |
| July |
Peak
100% of July · 421K avg
|
Ideal
75°F / 46°F (24°C / 8°C)
|
Usually all open
Typical windows · score 95/100
|
The busiest and driest month. Many meadow flowers bloom by mid-July, and the road to Sunrise is usually open by July 1.Read the July guide |
| August |
Peak
95% of July · 398K avg
|
Ideal
76°F / 46°F (24°C / 8°C)
|
Usually all open
Typical windows · score 95/100
|
Close to July's crowds. The meadows are usually at peak bloom early in the month. Late summer is fire season, so check current conditions.Read the August guide |
| September |
Moderate
56% of July · 235K avg
|
Ideal
69°F / 42°F (20°C / 5°C)
|
Usually all open
Typical windows · score 90/100
|
Visits fall to about half of July, and meadow plants turn red and gold. Sunrise Road starts closing nightly in late September.Read the September guide |
| October |
Quiet
32% of July · 134K avg
|
Harsh
55°F / 35°F (13°C / 2°C)
|
Usually most open
Typical windows · score 65/100
|
Storms return. Paradise Inn generally closes in early October, and the road to Sunrise and White River closes for winter by mid-October or earlier.Read the October guide |
| November |
Lowest
7% of July · 28K avg
|
Harsh
43°F / 29°F (6°C / -1°C)
|
Partly open
Typical windows · score 50/100
|
Winter rules start: chains in every vehicle from November 1 and a nightly gate at Longmire. Every other park road is closed for the season.Read the November guide |
| December |
Lowest
5% of July · 19K avg
|
Harsh
36°F / 25°F (2°C / -4°C)
|
Partly open
Typical windows · score 45/100
|
Deep winter and short days. Ranger snowshoe walks at Paradise typically start in late December. Nisqually Entrance only, with chains in every vehicle.Read the December guide |
Open the full Mount Rainier crowd calendar
Rain, snow, latest-year counts, and the weather station
The Longmire station sits inside the park at about 2,762 feet, near the Longmire Museum and the National Park Inn on the road to Paradise. Paradise (5,400 feet) and Sunrise (6,400 feet) are much higher, so expect colder and snowier conditions there and check a high-country forecast before you go. We haven't finished reviewing this station for Mount Rainier, so treat these normals as a preview.
| Month | Visits in 2025 | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 28,052 | 11.45″ | 32.7″ |
| Feb | 12,733 | 8.60″ | 19.2″ |
| Mar | 23,593 | 7.55″ | 25.4″ |
| Apr | 41,504 | 5.93″ | 9.7″ |
| May | 99,974 | 4.75″ | 2.1″ |
| Jun | 251,066 | 3.70″ | 0.1″ |
| Jul | 428,242 | 1.22″ | 0.0″ |
| Aug | 430,922 | 1.49″ | 0.0″ |
| Sep | 168,751 | 3.50″ | 0.0″ |
| Oct | 98,921 | 9.00″ | 0.9″ |
| Nov | 30,232 | 12.96″ | 18.6″ |
| Dec | 21,352 | 12.42″ | 34.3″ |
September averages about 56% of July's visits, so it's the first real break from the summer peak. The catch is that the high country starts shutting down inside the month: the road to Sunrise closes nightly at the White River Campground junction from late September, and the whole road closes for winter by mid-October or earlier. Plan the second half of September for the low country, not the alpine meadows.
How these scores are computed (and why there's no combined "best month")
Crowd score
Formula: 100 − (this month's visits ÷ park's peak month visits) × 100. Each park scored against its own peak, not against other parks.
Source: NPS Visitor Use Statistics Data Package 2025, Recreation Visits (TRV), 5-year monthly mean (2021-2025). Reproduce these numbers on the NPS IRMA Stats portal.
Reading it: July at Mount Rainier reads 0 (peak). February reads 96 (quietest). A 50 means about half the park's peak crowd.
Weather score
Formula: weatherScore = round(max(0, min(100, dayComfort − precipPenalty − snowPenalty − freezePenalty))). The piecewise day-comfort function is continuous at every boundary.
- Day comfort:
tmax < 50°F →
max(10, (tmax − 20) × 2)(cold tail); 50–60°F →60 + (tmax − 50) × 4(ramp to 100); 60–78°F → 100 (plateau); 78–85°F →100 − (tmax − 78) × 5(ramp to 65); > 85°F →max(30, 65 − (tmax − 85) × 5)(hot tail). - Precip penalty:
max(0, prcpIn − 1.5) × 8; kicks in above 1.5 in / month. - Snow penalty:
snowIn × 2.5. If the selected station does not publish a snowfall normal, the score applies no snow penalty and labels snowfall as unavailable. - Night-freeze penalty:
max(0, 32 − tmin) × 1.5when tmin < 32°F.
Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020, station Longmire Rainier NPS, WA (USC00454764, 2,762 ft).
Caveat: The Longmire station sits inside the park at about 2,762 feet, near the Longmire Museum and the National Park Inn on the road to Paradise. Paradise (5,400 feet) and Sunrise (6,400 feet) are much higher, so expect colder and snowier conditions there and check a high-country forecast before you go. We haven't finished reviewing this station for Mount Rainier, so treat these normals as a preview.
Access score
Formula: For each named park road, count it open if its typical operating window covers that month. Score = round((sum of weights of open roads / sum of all weights) x 100). Where a park has a partial winter access mode, the profile documents that assumption in its access notes.
Route weights at Mount Rainier:
- Nisqually-Longmire-Paradise corridor (SR706): Year-round; Longmire to Paradise closes nightly in winter
- Stevens Canyon Road: Summer route; no published dates
- Sunrise Road: Usually July to mid-October; the park's shortest road season
- Carbon River and Mowich Lake (NW corner): Mowich Lake mid-July to mid-October; Carbon River Road foot and bike only
- Westside Road: Park south of Dry Creek when open
- No timed entry in 2026: Not required in 2026
- Entry, fees, and passes: Year-round entry
- Lodging. Paradise Inn and National Park Inn: Paradise Inn seasonal; National Park Inn year-round
- Climbing: Camp Muir and the summit: Permit required on glaciers or above ~10,000 ft
- Alpine safety, weather and afternoon clouds: Year-round
Editorial methodology: the route weights are chosen by our editors from NPS road and lodge operating dates and the park's own access caveats below the score table.
Caveat: The score reflects wheeled-vehicle road access only. Backcountry, hiking, lodging, shuttle, and other service availability are not directly included unless the park profile states otherwise.
Why no combined score?
A combined "best month" number forces a weighting: how much do you care about crowds vs. weather vs. access? Those weights are personal. A photographer optimizing for golden light weights differently than a parent locked to school break weights differently than a winter visitor with a 4WD. We show the inputs and let you decide. Use the per-month grid above to navigate to a deeper page.
When are roads and lodges open?
Roads, entrances, and lodges by season. Road closures and lodge seasons decide what a month can actually offer. Verify with NPS before you travel; these change.
Last updated · Sep 15, 2026
Every road's opening and closing dates: Mount Rainier road closures.
Nisqually-Longmire-Paradise corridor (SR706)
The road from the Nisqually Entrance to Longmire stays open through winter except in extreme weather, and it continues 12 miles from Longmire up to Paradise (5,400 ft). From November 1 through winter, the road from Longmire to Paradise closes nightly; the gate typically opens at 9 a.m. if conditions allow. Every vehicle must carry tire chains in the park from November 1 to May 1, four-wheel drive included. Check the NPS Mount Rainier road status page and park alerts before you drive.
Stevens Canyon Road
Stevens Canyon Road links Paradise with the Stevens Canyon Entrance and SR 123 on the southeast side; NPS lists the drive from Paradise to Ohanapecosh at 23 miles. NPS publishes no opening or closing dates for the road. Ohanapecosh on SR 123 is generally open from late May to early November, and the Stevens Canyon Road tunnel has a 12 ft 6 in height limit. Check the NPS Mount Rainier road status page before you plan the crossing.
Sunrise Road
The road to Sunrise (6,400 ft), the highest point you can reach by car, is usually open by July 1 through early September. From late September it closes nightly at the White River Campground junction, and it closes for winter by mid-October or earlier with the first heavy snow. The park's Sunrise page gives a slightly different pattern: late June or early July to late September or early October. Fire, smoke and snow can shorten it. Check the NPS Mount Rainier conditions page.
Carbon River and Mowich Lake (NW corner)
The northwest corner is reached from SR 165 outside the park, which crosses the Carbon River on the Fairfax Bridge. The Carbon River Road was washed out by the 2006 flood and has been closed to vehicles past the park boundary ever since; inside the park it is a trail for walkers and cyclists. Mowich Lake, on a gravel road, is generally open mid-July to mid-October. Getting to either one depends on a state road with its own closures, so check the NPS Mount Rainier road status page first.
Westside Road
NPS calls Westside Road an active geohazard zone: when it is open, vehicles must park south of the barricade at Dry Creek because of rockfall danger. Check the NPS Mount Rainier road status page.
No timed entry in 2026
NPS says Mount Rainier will not use timed-entry reservations in any part of the park in 2026. Waits at the Nisqually and White River entrances can still top an hour on the busiest summer weekends. Confirm current guidance on the NPS Mount Rainier fees page before travel.
Entry, fees, and passes
The standard 7-day private vehicle pass at Mount Rainier in 2026 is $30 per vehicle; motorcycle $25; individual (bicycle/foot) $15. The park-specific annual pass is $55. The America the Beautiful Annual Pass is $80 for U.S. residents and $250 for nonresidents; Mount Rainier is not one of the 11 parks charging the separate $100 nonresident fee. No timed-entry reservation is required in 2026. Verify current terms on the NPS passes page.
Lodging. Paradise Inn and National Park Inn
There are two inns in the park, both operated by Rainier Guest Services. Paradise Inn, built in 1916, is generally open mid-May through early October; its 2026 season ran May 16 to October 5. The National Park Inn at Longmire is the only lodging in the park open year-round. See the NPS Mount Rainier lodging page.
Climbing: Camp Muir and the summit
You need a climbing permit to be on a glacier or above the normal high camps, about 10,000 feet, and each climber pays an $82 registration fee on Pay.gov before coming to the park, per the NPS Mount Rainier climbing page. Check the Northwest Avalanche Center forecast before any winter or spring trip above the road.
Alpine safety, weather and afternoon clouds
NPS says the weather can change quickly at Mount Rainier, from calm to stormy and back again, so pack rain gear and warm layers even on a clear morning. Review the NPS Mount Rainier safety page before a high-elevation day. At Paradise, NPS asks you to stay on the trails because the meadows are very fragile and heavily visited.
Which month fits your trip?
The month table answers most trips. These four decide the date for the rest, and each has its own page with the facts behind it.
Also for Mount Rainier: Road closures and dates · Airports · Fees and passes · Accessibility.
Questions about when to go.
What is the best month to visit Mount Rainier?
It depends on what you want. For a balance of crowds, weather, and open roads, September usually works well. If empty trails matter most, look at mid-September to mid-October. For the widest range of open roads and services, aim for mid-July to late August.
When should I avoid Mount Rainier?
July is the busiest month, when parking and lodging are tightest. If instead you want the park at its most open, the tougher month is December, when weather and seasonal closures limit how much you can reach.
What are the quietest months at Mount Rainier?
The quietest stretch is February, December, and March. February is the low point, averaging about 16,368 recreation visits, roughly 4% of the July peak.
Which month has the best weather at Mount Rainier?
August usually brings Mount Rainier's most comfortable conditions, with average highs near 76°F. It is not always the quietest month, so use the month grid above to weigh weather against crowds.
How this page
is built.
Not affiliated with or endorsed
by the National Park Service.
Crowd numbers on this page are the Recreation Visits column from the NPS Visitor Use Statistics Data Package, 2025. Monthly figures are five-year arithmetic means (2021-2025) against each park's own peak month. We do not compare parks against each other for the crowd score: only against themselves.
Weather numbers are NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020, drawn from the Longmire Rainier NPS, WA station (USC00454764). The station sits at 2,762 ft; the elevation caveat above the weather table explains where this misreads the higher districts.
Access notes are an independent summary of NPS operating posture. We do not republish NPS pages; we link them. Conditions change; confirm road status, reservation requirements, and lodging windows on https://www.nps.gov/mora/index.htm before travel.
Full year-by-year history, records, and the events behind each year: Mount Rainier visitation by year.
- Air quality: AirNow.gov; real-time air quality and smoke conditions.
- Park conditions: NPS Mount Rainier current conditions, verify before you drive.
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