National Parks in Washington
Washington has 3 national parks: Mount Rainier National Park, North Cascades National Park, Olympic National Park. None of them requires an entry reservation.
Fees and rules checked against NPS.gov · Updated October 6, 2026
Mount Rainier
Washington
A glacier-covered 14,410-foot volcano ringed by wildflower meadows and old-growth forest.
$30 per car
North Cascades
Washington
Jagged, glacier-covered peaks, turquoise lakes and deep forest a few hours from Seattle
Free entry
Olympic
Washington
Glacier-capped peaks, temperate rain forest and wild Pacific beaches in one park.
$30 per car
Compare the parks
| Park | Entry | Reservation | Best time to go | How long to stay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mount Rainier | $30 per car | Not required | Late July through mid-September, when the high roads are open, snow has melted from trails and wildflowers peak. | Two to three days covers Paradise, Sunrise and a few good hikes. |
| North Cascades | Free entry | Not required | July through September, when SR 20 is open, high trails like Cascade Pass are mostly free of snow and Stehekin services run. | One day covers the highway drive and short hikes; plan two or three days to add Cascade Pass or a trip to Stehekin. |
| Olympic | $30 per car | Not required | July through September brings the driest weather, open high-country roads and wildflowers at Hurricane Ridge. | Plan three to four days to cover the mountains, rain forest and coast. |
Nearby parks in other states
- Crater Lake National ParkOregon · about 268 miles as the crow flies
- Glacier National ParkMontana · about 338 miles as the crow flies
- Redwood National ParkCalifornia · about 389 miles as the crow flies
- Lassen Volcanic National ParkCalifornia · about 435 miles as the crow flies
- Yellowstone National ParkWyoming, Montana, Idaho · about 560 miles as the crow flies
See the full list of U.S. national parks · Open the park map · Compare park passes