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Mount Rainier National Park: reservations, fees, camping and weather
Mount Rainier National Park, Washington: what you need to book, what it costs, and when the weather is mildest. Checked November 2026.
Do you need a reservation to enter?
The park says it will not use timed-entry reservations in 2026.
Fees and passes
$30 per private vehicle (7 consecutive days).
Non-US residents can buy the America the Beautiful Non-Resident Annual Pass ($250).
An America the Beautiful pass covers entrance at every national park. US citizens and residents get free entry on national park fee-free days.
Camping: how to book
Campgrounds are reserved on Recreation.gov. Many Recreation.gov campgrounds open on a rolling window months ahead and sell out within minutes; if yours is full, set up a cancellation alert.
Campgrounds on Recreation.gov (5)
| Campground | Sites | Type | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ohanapecosh Campground | 192 | Campground | Book ↗ |
| Cougar Rock Campground | 184 | Campground | Book ↗ |
| White River Campground | 109 | Campground | Book ↗ |
| Cougar Rock Group Campground | 5 | Group | Book ↗ |
| Ohanapecosh Group Campground | 2 | Group | Book ↗ |
From Recreation.gov's official data (RIDB), November 2026. Campgrounds run by park concessioners and some first-come sites aren't on Recreation.gov, so check the park's camping page too. When can I book?
Official planning pages
The park's own pages for the things that change: conditions, closures, camping and permits.
Key dates
- Wed 11 Nov 2026 National parks fee-free day: Veterans Day Confirmed
- December 2026 · exact dates not announced 2027 national park fee-free days announced Expected
Weather by month
| Month | Camping weather | Avg high | Avg low | Precip. | Snow | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Poor · 0 | 37°F | 26°F | 11.4 in | 32.7 in | 8 h 52 m |
| February | Poor · 0 | 40°F | 26°F | 8.6 in | 19.2 in | 10 h 11 m |
| March | Poor · 0 | 45°F | 28°F | 7.5 in | 25.4 in | 11 h 43 m |
| April | Poor · 35 | 50°F | 31°F | 5.9 in | 9.7 in | 13 h 28 m |
| May | Good · 79 | 60°F | 37°F | 4.8 in | 2.1 in | 14 h 57 m |
| June | Great · 94 | 66°F | 42°F | 3.7 in | 0.1 in | 15 h 46 m |
| July | Great · 100 | 75°F | 46°F | 1.2 in | 0.0 in | 15 h 25 m |
| August | Great · 100 | 76°F | 46°F | 1.5 in | 0.0 in | 14 h 08 m |
| September | Great · 96 | 69°F | 42°F | 3.5 in | 0.0 in | 12 h 26 m |
| October | Poor · 26 | 54°F | 35°F | 9.0 in | 0.9 in | 10 h 44 m |
| November | Poor · 0 | 42°F | 29°F | 13.0 in | 18.6 in | 9 h 14 m |
| December | Poor · 0 | 36°F | 25°F | 12.4 in | 34.3 in | 8 h 29 m |
NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at the Longmire Rainier NPS, WA weather station (2,762 ft). Higher trails are colder; temperatures usually drop about 3–5°F per 1,000 ft. "Camping weather" is our simple score: best with highs of 62–82°F, nights above freezing and under 3 in of precipitation. It rates weather only, not road closures, snow on trails or crowds. Daylight is sunrise to sunset on the 15th. About NOAA normals ↗
Questions
Do I need a reservation to enter Mount Rainier National Park?
The park says it will not use timed-entry reservations in 2026.
How much does it cost to enter Mount Rainier?
$30 per private vehicle (7 consecutive days). Non-US residents can buy the America the Beautiful Non-Resident Annual Pass ($250).
When is the weather mildest at Mount Rainier?
Using NOAA averages at the park's weather station, average highs are between 60°F and 85°F in June to September. August is warmest (about 76°F) and December has the coldest nights (about 25°F).
Sources: Mount Rainier fees and passes (nps.gov), NOAA station data. Rules change; always check the official park site before you go.
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