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Mount Rainier National Park: fees, hours, camping and when to visit
- Private vehicle, 7 days
- $30[1]
- Busiest month (2025)
- August[2]
- Recreation visits, 2025
- 1,635,342[3]
- Campgrounds
- 6[4]
Mount Rainier National Park is a national park in Washington[5]. It is open all year[6], and NPS lists an entrance fee of $30 for a private vehicle, good for seven consecutive days[1].
Entrance fees and passes
Fees as listed by the National Park Service. Fees change, so confirm on the park's official fees page before you go.
| Fee or pass | Price |
|---|---|
| Private Vehicle[1] | $30 |
| Per Person[7] | $15 |
| Motorcycle[8] | $25 |
| Annual Entrance - Park[9] | $55 |
The America the Beautiful pass is accepted here[10].
Entrance fee payment is cashless (card or mobile payment)[11].
America the Beautiful passes cover entrance fees at national parks and other federal recreation sites.
| Pass | Who can get it | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Resident Annual Pass[12] | US citizens and residents | $80 |
| Non-Resident Annual Pass[12] | Non-US residents | $250 |
| Senior Annual Pass[12] | US citizens and residents 62+ years old | $20 |
| Senior Lifetime Pass[12] | US citizens and residents 62+ years old | $80 |
| Military Annual Pass[12] | Current US military and dependents | Free |
| Military Lifetime Pass[12] | Gold Star Family members and veterans | Free |
| Access Pass[12] | US citizens and residents with permanent disability | Free |
| 4th Grade Pass[12] | US 4th graders | Free |
| Volunteer Pass[12] | Federal recreation site volunteers with 250 service hours | Free |
When to visit and hours
The park stays open year round, but in winter several roads, entrances and facilities shut for the season[6]. In spring and autumn, conditions decide which roads and services are available[6]. NPS says July and August are the sunniest months, and rain is likely in spring, fall and winter[13]. In 2025 the busiest month was August with 430,922 recreation visits, and the quietest was February with 12,733[2]. At higher elevations, NPS notes winter can run from November to May with deep snow[13]. The Nisqually Entrance gives access all year, and if you arrive outside daylight hours NPS suggests buying a pass online at Recreation.gov ahead of time[14].
Show visits by month
| Month, 2025 | Recreation visits |
|---|---|
| January | 28,052 |
| February | 12,733 |
| March | 23,593 |
| April | 41,504 |
| May | 99,974 |
| June | 251,066 |
| July | 428,242 |
| August | 430,922 |
| September | 168,751 |
| October | 98,921 |
| November | 30,232 |
| December | 21,352 |
Camping
NPS and Recreation.gov list 6 campgrounds in the park[4]. The largest are Ohanapecosh Campground with 192 sites and Cougar Rock Campground with 184 sites[4]. NPS lists nightly fees for individual sites from $10 to $20[4]. Note that the park annual pass does not cover camping fees[9].
- Ohanapecosh Campground, 192 sites[4]
- Cougar Rock Campground, 184 sites
- White River Campground, 109 sites
- White River Campground, 88 sites
- Cougar Rock Group Campground, 5 sites
- Ohanapecosh Group Campground, 2 sites
Pets and dogs
Under the national NPS pet rule, pets must be on a leash of six feet or less, or crated or caged, wherever they are allowed[15]. They cannot go into public buildings, and each park may close extra areas to pets[15]. NPS marks pets as permitted on 10 of the 46 things to do it lists here, including Camping at Mount Rainier and Explore Longmire in Winter[16].
Before you go
- NPS says entrance fees here are cashless, so bring a card or mobile payment[11].
- The park accepts the America the Beautiful pass for entry[10]. NPS lists the Resident Annual Pass at $80[12].
- The Mount Rainier park annual pass costs $55 according to NPS[9].
- NPS lists the Carbon River Entrance as closed due to a bridge closure through 2026-12-31[17].
- Fees and hours change, so check the official NPS park page before your trip.
Questions people ask
- How much is the entrance fee at Mount Rainier National Park?
- NPS lists $30 for a private vehicle[1], $25 for a motorcycle[8] and $15 per person on foot or bicycle[7]. Each is valid for 7 days[1][7][8].
- When is the best time to visit Mount Rainier?
- NPS says July and August are the sunniest months[13]. They are also the busiest, with 428,242 visits in July and 430,922 in August of 2025[2].
- Are dogs allowed at Mount Rainier National Park?
- Pets are allowed in some places but must be on a leash no longer than six feet or crated[15]. NPS marks pets as permitted on 10 of its listed things to do[16].
- Does Mount Rainier accept cash?
- Not for entrance fees. NPS says entrance fees are cashless, paid by card or mobile payment[11].
- How many campgrounds are in Mount Rainier National Park?
- NPS and Recreation.gov list 6 campgrounds, with nightly individual-site fees from $10 to $20 according to NPS[4].
Facts and sources
- Entrance fee, Private Vehicle: $30. National Park Service
- NPS recreation visits by month, 2025 (chart on this page). NPS Visitor Use Statistics
- NPS recreation visits per year: 2021: 1,670,063, 2022: 1,622,395, 2023: 1,674,294, 2024: 1,620,006, 2025: 1,635,342. NPS Visitor Use Statistics
- Campgrounds in Mount Rainier National Park (list on this page). National Park Service
- Mount Rainier National Park is a unit of the U.S. National Park System (designation: National Park) in Washington. National Park Service
- Operating hours, Mount Rainier National Park: Mount Rainier National Park is open all year. Visitation peaks in July and August with warmer weather and blooming wildflowers. In spring and autumn, weather determines the availability of facilities and roads.... National Park Service
- Entrance fee, Per Person: $15. National Park Service
- Entrance fee, Motorcycle: $25. National Park Service
- Annual Entrance - Park: $55. National Park Service
- Mount Rainier National Park accepts the America the Beautiful (interagency) pass for entrance. National Park Service
- Entrance fees at Mount Rainier National Park are cashless (cards or mobile payment, no cash) according to NPS. National Park Service
- America the Beautiful pass prices (table on this page). NPS Passes
- NPS weather and seasons overview for Mount Rainier National Park. National Park Service
- Operating hours, Nisqually: Located in the southwest corner of the park via SR 706, the Nisqually Entrance provides year-round access to the park. NOTE: To reach the Nisqually entrance using GPS use the address 39000 State Route 706 E, Ashford, WA 98304.... National Park Service
- National Park Service rule 36 CFR 2.15: where pets are allowed they must be crated, caged or on a leash no longer than six feet at all times, and pets are not allowed in public buildings, on public transportation or on designated swimming beaches (service... eCFR, 36 CFR 2.15
- NPS lists 46 things to do at Mount Rainier National Park: Day Hiking at Mount Rainier National Park, Wilderness Camping at Mount Rainier National Park, Hike to Silver Falls, Hike to Spray Falls, Hike Rampart Ridge, Climbing Mount Rainier, Camping at Mount... National Park Service
- Operating hours, Carbon River: Carbon River Entrance in the northwest corner of the park is open year-round via SR165 through Wilkeson. Vehicle access is permitted only to the park entrance. Beyond that point the Carbon River Road is open to pedestrians... National Park Service