You are here

Home » Timed-Entry Reservations Needed For Mount Rainier National Park

Timed-Entry Reservations Needed For Mount Rainier National Park

Share
By Compiled From N... - May 2nd, 2024

Reservations are needed to enter Mount Rainier National Park during peak daytime hours this summer/Gary Vogt

Timed entry reservations for Mount Rainier National Park in Washington state can now be made, depending on availability.

The window for reservations for visits to the Paradise and/or Sunrise Corridors for dates from August 1 through September 2 is now open. Visitors who wish to plan ahead for a visit through September 2 can visit Recreation.gov any time after 8 a.m. Pacific Time and select their preferred dates and time blocks. Weekend and weekday timed entry reservations for the Paradise Corridor starting on Friday, May 24, remain available. Weekday reservations for the Sunrise Corridor in July are also  available.

Visitors who prefer a more spontaneous visit can enter the park without a timed entry reservation before 7 a.m. or after 3 p.m., or they may choose to wait for a second block of timed entry reservations to be released at 7 p.m. every summer evening for visits on the following day.

The 2024 pilot timed entry reservation system seeks to spread out visitation in the most heavily impacted corridors throughout the day. The system will be in effect from Friday, May 24, through Monday, September 2. Starting on Tuesday, September 3, visitors will not require a timed entry reservation to visit any location in Mount Rainier National Park. Entrance passes are required for all visitors accessing any area in the park, regardless of the day and time.

Park visitors will need a reservation between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m. to: 

  • Enter the Paradise Corridor from either the Nisqually Entrance via State Route 706 or Stevens Canyon Entrance via State Route 123 from May 24 through September 2. Starting May 1, timed entry reservations for the entire timed entry reservation period of May 24–September 2 will be available.

  • Enter the Sunrise Corridor at the White River Entrance via State Route 410 from July 4 through Sept. 2. Starting May 1, timed entry reservations for July 4–September 2 will be available.

Each reservation is for one personal vehicle and will cost $2. The reservation will provide a two-hour entry window. For instance, visitors with a 9 a.m. reservation could enter the park between 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. There is no required departure time.  

Visitors with in-park reservations for lodging or camping in one of the two corridors will not require an additional timed entry reservation and can enter that corridor any time after 1 p.m. the first day of their reservation and throughout their stay. Other permit holders may enter the park without reservations as outlined in their wilderness permit, special use permit, research permit or commercial use authorization. 

The park has grown in popularity in recent years, with visitation growing from just over 1.1 million in 2013 to about 1.6 million in 2022. Most of those visits occur between July and September and are concentrated in a small number of destinations, including Paradise.  

The Essential RVing Guide

The Essential RVing Guide to the National Parks

The National Parks RVing Guide, aka the Essential RVing Guide To The National Parks, is the definitive guide for RVers seeking information on campgrounds in the National Park System where they can park their rigs. It's available for free for both iPhones and Android models.

This app is packed with RVing specific details on more than 250 campgrounds in more than 70 parks.

You'll also find stories about RVing in the parks, some tips if you've just recently turned into an RVer, and some planning suggestions. A bonus that wasn't in the previous eBook or PDF versions of this guide are feeds of Traveler content: you'll find our latest stories as well as our most recent podcasts just a click away.

So whether you have an iPhone or an Android, download this app and start exploring the campgrounds in the National Park System where you can park your rig.