The national parks in the Pacific Northwest are one of the biggest reasons to visit the region. The area is vast and full of stunning landscapes, diverse wildlife, and breathtaking viewpoints. There are plenty of ways to explore it all, the most popular being visiting the many national parks in Washington, Oregon, and British Columbia.
To help you explore all of them, I’ll break down everything there is to know about the national parks in the PNW area. So read on for your ultimate guide to Pacific Northwest national parks!
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5 National Parks in the Pacific Northwest
Let’s dive into all there is to know about national parks in the Pacific Northwest, including how many there area, where they’re located, the best time to visit, and the perfect itinerary for exploring them all.
How many national parks are in the PNW?
Ah, this is a bit of a trick question depending on your definition of a national park and what areas you consider the Pacific Northwest. For the purposes of this article, I’m going to consider the following regions as part of the PNW: Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and western Montana until the Continental Divide.
Now that we got the area out of the way, let’s dive into the different types of national parks. If you mean capital letter “National Parks”, there are 5 official national parks in the Pacific Northwest: Mount Rainier (WA), North Cascades (WA), Olympic (WA), Crater Lake (OR), and Glacier National Park (MT). Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Park are nearby-ish in the western part of Wyoming and Montana, but they’re just east of the Continental Divide.
You’d think the answer to this question ends there, but the National Park Service has 15+ different “national park” designations. If you include these historic sites, parks, monuments, and preserves in your definition, there are about 25 different “national parks” in the PNW region I’ve identified.
For the purposes of this article, I’m going to stick to the big 5 PNW national parks. However, I’ll mention nearby national-designated areas so you can tack them onto your itinerary.
When is the best time to visit Pacific Northwest national parks?
In general, late summer through early fall is the best time to visit most national parks. That’s when all of them are open to their full capacity. Some national parks fully close in winter, while others are open year round with winter-specific areas. I’ll break down when to visit each specific park below.
If you want just one month to visit any national park, I recommend October. That’s when the summer crowds have died down, the bugs and heat are less intense, and the gorgeous fall colors start popping up.
What are the best national parks in the Pacific Northwest?
All of the 5 official national parks in the Pacific Northwest are worth a visit. Here’s a breakdown of each.
Mount Rainier National Park
website | location: Washington (get directions) | entry fee: $30 per vehicle | open: year round, timed entry required in summer | best for: iconic mountain views
Arguably the most popular and iconic of the national parks in the Pacific Northwest is Mount Rainier National Park. Called “Takhoma” by the Indigenous peoples that first inhabited the area, Mt. Rainier became the 5th designated national park in 1899. One of the native name translations means “the mountain that was god,” which is fitting given the centerpiece volcano stands more than 14,000 feet above sea level. In fact, it’s the 5th tallest peak in the contiguous United States and has the most glaciers on it’s peak out of all the lower 48 states.
This northwest national park is split into 5 sections: Longmire, Paradise, Ohanapecosh, Sunrise, and Carbon River/Mowich. Check out this park map for a visual of were these areas are in relation to each other.
The Carbon River entrance is closed until further notice due to bridge issues. Check the road status for updates.
Most people visit via the Paradise and Sunrise entrances. Paradise is the most popular since it’s where you get stunning views of the awe-inspiring, snow-capped mountain the park is famous for. It’s also the section of the park that’s open year round, as the road to Sunrise closes once the snow starts.
What to do in the park
There are a ton of hikes and viewpoints to explore throughout the park. You can check out all my favorite Mount Rainier Hikes in a separate article because there are too many to list. I also have another guide to visiting Mount Rainier in one day.
If you prefer a guided tour, here are some options:
- Best of Mt. Rainier All-Inclusive Luxury Tour
- Mt. Rainier from Seattle Tour
- Hike Mt. Rainier and Taste Yakima Valley Wine
The national park sometimes has a ranger-led Rainier tours depending on the time of year and which visitor center you’re at. For example, they do snowshoe tours in the winter or guided hikes, stories, and kids programs in the summer.
Where to stay
The towns of Ashford and Packwood are the most popular areas to stay near Mt. Rainier National Park. I have a whole article about cabins in the Pacific Northwest, many of which are near Mt. Rainier, but here are some of my favorite options:
- Spa-Like Luxe A-Frame Cabin with Sauna & Hot Tub (Ashford)
- Pet-Friendly Little Own Cabin with Soaking Tub (Packwood)
- Pet-Friendly Modern Tiny Home on the River (Packwood)
Nearby national historic sites and areas
There are 3 other national historic monuments, sites, and areas near Rainier, each about 3 hours south.
- Mount St. Helen’s
- Fort Vancouver – One of the best things to do in Vancouver
- Columbia River Gorge – Check out my guide to visiting the Gorge
North Cascades National Park
website | location: Washington (get directions) | entry fee: none | open: around June – November | best for: remote wilderness hikes and backpacking
I’m surprised more people don’t visit North Cascades National Park, as it’s the only one of the national parks in the Pacific Northwest that doesn’t cost anything to enter. For comparison, North Cascades gets ~16,000 visitors a year compared to Mount Rainier’s nearly 2 million. So if you want to avoid crowds while also saving a few bucks, North Cascades National Park is the park for you.
You’ll have to plan your trip carefully though, as North Cascades is only open during the fall and summer months. It’s only accessible via highway 20, which closes from around November through early June due to snow. So check for road closures before departing.
North Cascades National Park is a big draw for hikers and mountaineers given it has 505,000 acres full of alpine meadows and more then 300 glaciers covering its many jagged peaks. In fact, it’s sometimes called the “American Alps” because it has more glaciers than any other US park outside of Alaska.
What to do in the park
I have a whole North Cascades National Park itinerary you can follow. It has a mix of viewpoints and hikes, plus tips for exploring nearby Winthrop, one of the best cross-country skiing areas in Washington.
If you visit in late September or October, some of the best Washington larch hikes are in North Cascades National Park. These elusive conifer trees turn gold for a few weeks before dropping their needles. A popular Seattle bucket list activity is to go on a “larch march” to find the trees before they lose their colors, so don’t miss this if you’re traveling here in fall!
If you prefer a guided tour, here are some options:
- Diablo Lake Boat Tour
- North Cascades National Park Day Tour
- Hike Cascades Guided Day Tour
- North Cascades Private Tour
The park also offers ranger-led programs for all ages.
Where to stay
There’s only one accommodation option actually inside the park: Ross Lake Resort. While beautiful, staying here requires a boat ride since the cabins sit on lake docks. Plus you need to enter a lottery to earn the chance to book.
If you don’t want to deal with that, there are cabins and lodges in the small towns flanking the park. To the west is Marblemount, Newhalem, and Rockport. To the east is Mazama and Winthrop. Here are some of my favorite rentals in the area:
- Pet-Friendly Riverside Retreat with Hot Tub (Marblemount)
- Minimalist Japanese-Inspired Cabin (Marblemount)
- Tranquil Pet-Friendly Scandinavian Luxe Cabin (Marblemount)
Camping is also an option if you don’t mind roughing it. The park has 10 campgrounds within its borders, some with more facilities than others. If you decide to camp in the backcountry, a permit is required. Or if you want a few more amenities, check out this cute glamping dome in Rockport just before the west park entrance.
Nearby national historic sites and areas
- Ebey’s Landing (~2 hrs away) – Located on Whidbey Island
- Mount Baker-Snoqualmie Forest (~2.5 hrs away) – Here’s my guide to nearby Bellingham
- San Juan Island National Historic Park (~3.5 hrs away) – Here’s my guide to San Juan Island
- Lake Chelan National Rec Area (~3+ hrs away) – Here’s my guide to Chelan
Olympic National Park
website | location: Washington (get directions) | entry fee: $30 per vehicle | open: year round | best for: diverse ocean, rainforest, and mountainous landscapes
It may look like it’s just over the Puget Sound from Seattle, but Olympic National Park is the largest Pacific Northwest national park. While you can technically explore the park via a day trip from Seattle, it’s best to spend multiple days here. However long you visit, prepare to spend a lot of time driving if you want to visit all corners of the park.
In addition to being the largest park, Olympic National Park is the most diverse. Since the park spans across the Olympic Peninsula all the way to the Pacific Ocean, you’ll find wild coastline, dense forests, and mountains within its borders. In fact, most people don’t know there’s actually a temperate rain forest right in the park! The Hoh Rainforest (pronounced “hoe”) gets around 140 inches of rain a year, resulting in a lush green canopy that feels more fitting in the Amazon than Washington!
Given how much there is to explore, Olympic National Park draws nearly 4 million visitors a year! The majority of people visit in July through August, so I recommend checking it out in the off season from late September onwards. Yes, it’ll more likely be raining, but honestly, it rains and is colder even in the summer months.
What to do in the park
There are a ton of Washington coast attractions both within and near the park. Some of the most iconic within the park include Hurricane Ridge, Lake Crescent, Sol Duc Falls, and Hoh Rainforest’s Hall of Mosses. All of these are located in the northeastern / north central part of the peninsula, so they’re the most reasonable to visit during a day trip from Seattle.
If you’re interested in a guided tour, here are some options:
As with the other parks, there are also ranger-led programs in the summer.
If you have time to go to the Washington coast, don’t miss Kalaloch Beach, Ruby Beach, Rialto Beach, and Shi Shi Beach. Also, while not technically in the park, Cape Flattery is the northernmost point of the contiguous US and is gorgeous.
Where to stay
The most popular area to stay is near Port Angeles, which is near the popular attractions within the northeastern part of the park. You’ll also be perfectly positioned to also explore historic Port Townsend, the adorable Poulsbo, and even take a ferry to explore all the unique things to do in Victoria BC and Vancouver Island’s Cowichan Valley! If you’re driving from Seattle, you’ll likely go the route that takes you onto Bainbridge Island first, which is full of great wineries and restaurants.
Here are some of my favorite accommodation options in the Port Angeles area:
- Dreamlike Lake Front Cabin with Kayaks
- Modern Tiny Home with Water Views
- Pet-Friendly Treehouse Overlooking Water
If you’re open to staying along the coast, I have a whole article about the best Washington coast cabins. My family stays in the quaint coastal town of Seabrook every summer, which is a great area for exploring the southern part of the park.
Nearby national historic sites and areas
Since Olympic National Park is so remote, there aren’t many other national park areas nearby. However, there’s one in the quaint historic town of Astoria, Oregon:
- Lewis & Clark National Historic Park (~4.5 hrs away)
If you plan to visit, you’ll be near the stunning Cannon Beach area along the Oregon Coast.
Crater Lake National Park
website | location: Oregon (get directions) | entry fee: $30 per vehicle | open: year round | best for: the deepest lake in the US
As you probably guessed by the name, Crater Lake National Park’s main draw is a lake. But this isn’t just any body of water. It’s the deepest lake in the US and 7th deepest in the world. Formed when Mount Mazama erupted and collapsed on itself more than 7,000 years ago, the caldera is filled with some of the purist water in the world. There’s no water coming in or out of it, so it’s been filled over time by rainwater.
During the summer and fall you can explore the lake via the 33-mile Rim Drive and stop at the 30 different overlooks to catch views from every angle. But even when Rim Drive closes for winter, you can still access parts of the park and get breathtaking views via snowshoe.
What to do in the park
It’s been over a decade since I’ve last been to Crater Lake National Park, but I remember snowshoeing in spring and being overwhelmed by the lake’s beauty. So obviously, taking in views of it are a must. There are also a bunch of hikes and lookouts of other interesting land formations. Will and Jim at More Than Just Parks have a great itinerary you can follow.
If you’d like a guided tour, Wanderlust Tours has a few options in both summer and winter. As in other parks, there are also ranger-led programs in both summer and winter. Or take one of the boat and trolley tours that make Crater Lake one of the more accessible national parks in the Pacific Northwest.
Where to stay
There are only two hotels in Crater Lake National Park proper: Crater Lake Lodge and The Cabins at Mazama Village. However, they have middle-of-the-road reviews, so I’d stick to vacation rentals in the nearby towns of Fort Klamath, Klamath Falls, and Ashland.
Here are some properties perfectly-located for visiting the park:
- Gorgeous Cottage with Pool (Ashland)
- Lake View Home with Indoor Theater (Klamath Falls)
- Lodge with Lake Views and Game Loft (Ashland)
If you don’t mind staying about 2 hours north of the park, a lot of the best Pacific Northwest resorts are located in central Oregon near Bend.
Nearby national historic sites and areas
- Newberry National Volcano Monument (~1.5 hrs away) – The perfect excuse to visit Bend
- Oregon Caves (~2.5 hrs away)
- Mount Hood National Forest (~3 hrs away) – Near some of the best ski areas
- John Days Fossil Beds (~3.5 hrs away)
Glacier National Park
website | location: Montana (get directions) | entry fee: $35 per vehicle | open: year round | best for: rugged snow-capped peaks and lakes
Not to be confused with Glacier Bay National Park in Alaska, Glacier National Park sits in the Rocky Mountains of northwest Montana and goes all the way up to Canada. In fact, the world’s first International Peace Park, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, sits where the US and Canadian portion sits. The Continental Divide also runs right through the park, splitting the Pacific Northwest from the Plain states to the east.
Roughly the size of Rhode Island, Glacier National Park covers about 1,500 square mile. It’s known for a showcase of melting glaciers as old as the Ice Age, alpine meadows, shimmering lakes, and over 700 miles of trails to explore. There are also historic chalets and lodges that were built during America’s railroad boom and still standing today.
The park gets about 3 million visitors a year. Most people visit in summer, so timed entry reservations are required during high season. Luckily, while most of the famous Going-to-the-Sun Road is closed to vehicles in winter, Glacier National Park stays open year round. You can actually snowshoe or cross-country ski directly on the road! Just check road conditions to make sure there aren’t any issues getting to the park in winter.
What to do in the park
I have a whole guide to exploring Glacier National Park in winter, as that’s my favorite time to go to beat the crowds. One of the most popular attractions, Lake McDonald, is open and you’ll be able to take in it’s grandeur with virtually no other people around. While it’ll be closed, you can also explore the grounds of historic Lake McDonald Lodge.
When summer comes, you can also rent paddle boards and kayaks to take on the lake. The Going-to-the-Sun Road will also be open, so this 50-mile scenic drive is a must do. Glacier is also known for stargazing given its commitment to reducing light pollution.
For guided tours, here are some options:
- Driving Tour of West Glacier National Park
- Half-Day Glacier White Water Rafting Adventure
- Winter Snowshoe and Cross-Country Ski Tours
You can also take part in the summer ranger-led programs. There’s also the famous red bus tour that drives you around in vintage vehicles.
Where to stay
Nearby Kalispell, Montana is where you’d fly in to see the park so it’s also a great place to stay given its abundance of great restaurants and plenty to do. Here are some of my favorite places to stay in the area:
If you want to stay a bit closer to the park, North Forty Resort has cabins and glamping options.
Nearby national historic sites and areas
- Flathead National Forest (~45 mins away) – Flathead Lake is a must see
Pacific Northwest national parks itinerary
Here’s a map of all the PNW national parks and nearby historic areas. Save this to Pinterest for later!
Assuming you’re leaving from Seattle, I’d explore the parks in this order: Olympic, North Cascades, Rainier, Crater Lake, and Glacier. This route will pass by national areas like San Juan Island, Fort Vancouver, Columbia River Gorge, Mt. Hood, and Newberry Volcanic Monument, so you can add a lot of stops along the way! You’ll also pass through Spokane, one of the underrated cities in eastern Washington.
If you wanted to add on Craters of the Moon National Forest in Idaho, it’d add about 6 hours to your road trip, but you can add it as a detour between your visit to Crater Lake National Park and Glacier National Park.
Overwhelmed by trip planning?
Let me plan you a custom itinerary to see all the best national parks and nearby attractions!
More national parks to explore
After you visit all the best national parks in the Pacific Northwest, check out my guides to other parks in the US!
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