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Paradise Inn
There is something special about staying at Paradise Inn at Mount Rainier National Park.
Here you are not going to find the typical luxuries of a chain hotel like USB plugins or even a traditional bar and lounge for an evening cocktail. Instead, you will be staying at 5,400 feet on the slopes of one of America's most iconic mountains, Mount Rainier, surrounded by some of the most spectacular subalpine scenery on the continent.
It has been designated as a National Historic Landmark and placed on the National Register of Historic Places, and it has been officially recognized as one of the Great Lodges of the West.
The inn offers 120+ guest rooms, a full-service dining room, a gift shop, the Tatoosh Cafe, and a lobby that is worth the trip all by itself.
Paradise Inn was designed by Tacoma architect Frederick Heath of the firm Heath, Gove, and Bell, and his approach to the building was genuinely innovative for its era.
The most remarkable building material Heath used are the massive Alaska yellow cedar timbers that give the lobby its extraordinary character. Three decades before construction began, a forest fire had swept through a cedar stand just a few miles from the building site, killing the trees but leaving them standing.
Over 30 years of weathering, those dead cedars developed a beautiful silver-gray sheen, and Heath recognized them as the perfect material for a lodge meant to look like it grew from its surroundings.
Crews harvested those fire-killed trees and used them for the massive exposed beams, posts, and interior furnishings that define the inn to this day.
When you step into the lobby for the first time, take a moment and look up. Suspended throughout the entire ceiling are more than 60 handcrafted floral lampshades of varying sizes, each one representing a different wildflower species found in the Paradise meadows just outside.
It is essentially a wildflower tour without ever leaving the building, and it is one of the most unique and delightful lobby details you will find anywhere in the National Park System. Then look around you.
The massive cedar tables and chairs filling the lobby were hand-crafted on site by craftsman Hans Fraehnke, who built them from the same fire-killed cedar used throughout the building.
The registration desk, a mail drop stump, and the cases housing the 14-foot grandfather clock and the upright piano were all crafted by Fraehnke as well, and they have stood in this lobby since the inn first opened on July 1, 1917.
More than a century later, not one of those pieces has left the room. Two enormous stone fireplaces anchor the space and on a cool mountain evening there is simply no better place to be.
The inn is open seasonally from mid-May through late September, and rooms fill up fast. Understanding the remarkable story behind how Paradise Inn came to be makes the experience of staying here even richer, and you can read that full history below.
Click Here to Book Your Stay at Paradise Inn
Paradise Inn Map
Why stay at Paradise Inn
There are several great reasons to stay here. The first is the location! You are located on one of the most beautiful spots in all of Mount Rainier National Park!
If there is no wind early in the morning, get up and goto the Reflection Lakes area! It is truly a memorable experience to see the reflection of the mountain on reflection Lake in the early morning light and will most likely be one of the few people there to see it.
What I enjoyed most was the fact that it forced us to turn off electronics and enjoy the moment. Your cell phone is not going to work here, there is no WIFI to connect to and you are going to be hard-pressed to find an open outlet in your room to charge all of your electronics!
Forget about these things for one day and enjoy the company of who you are with, read a book & have a cup of coffee by the fireplace, grab a board game and play on the huge tables in the great room or take in the ranger program.
What we enjoyed most was that we could just step out of the lodge and right onto the trails in Paradise! Go smell the crisp mountain air, smell the wildflowers, watch the hummingbirds bounce between flowers or just sit outside and become one with nature! Don't forget to go see the the famous John Muir Quote on the steps going up to the trails at Paradise "In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks"'
Guest Rooms
Lodge Rooms
On our first stay at Paradise Inn, we stayed in one for the rooms attached to the lodge on the 300 level. Ot was on the row where 330-336 is located (can't remember the room number. These rooms are small and definitely not the king bed we have at home but then again all we did was store our stuff and slept in our room. Everything about this area draws you away from your room and to go outdoors!
Our room had a double bed, single chair, sink, mirror, small desk, and closet area. The bathroom was down the hall and shared with other rooms on our floor.
The bed was not big and I did find myself with my feet hanging over the edge of it or in the sink depending on how I was lying on the bed. I am 6 foot 4 for reference.
Robes and slippers are provided in the room for walking to the bathroom and shower area.
Annex Rooms
On our second stay, we stayed in room 119 in the Annex.
To help accommodate additional guests and request for private bathrooms the Annex Rooms were built in 1920. These rooms are located behind the main lodge. There are four floors in the Annex that are accessed by stairs.
Rooms are available with a queen, double and twin beds with private bathrooms. There are also two-room Annex Rooms that share a private bathroom.
One room has a double bed while the other room has two twin beds.
Annex Room Suites are available with a bedroom and a sitting room with a private bath. The bedroom has one queen bed while the sitting room has a futon.
ADA-Accessible Rooms
ADA Accessible Rooms are located on the main floor of the Paradise Inn. These rooms come with either a queen or a double bed.
Click Here to Book Your Stay at Paradise Inn
Paradise Inn Dining Room
The Paradise Inn Dining Room is one of the most atmospheric places to enjoy a meal in the entire National Park System.
Tall windows frame views of Mount Rainier and the surrounding meadows, and the warm glow of the silver cedar timbers overhead gives the room a genuinely special character.
The dining tables are set with pastel-colored napkins meant to echo the diversity of the wildflowers blooming just outside, a small and charming detail that captures the spirit of the place perfectly.
The menu draws on Pacific Northwest cuisine, with signature dishes like Pacific Northwest Steelhead that have become beloved traditions among returning guests. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are all served, with the dinner menu leaning into seasonal offerings including wild salmon, trout, and red wine braised short rib alongside lighter options.
Sunday brunch is also available. The dining room is the full-service sit-down option at Paradise Inn and is the place to settle in for a proper meal after a day on the trails.
Tatoosh Cafe
The Tatoosh Cafe is located in the lobby of Paradise Inn and serves as the casual, grab-and-go alternative to the dining room.
Named for the Tatoosh Range visible to the south of the inn, it offers early morning espresso and coffee drinks, light breakfast items, beer, wine, ice cream, and lighter fare throughout the day.
The outdoor seating area faces south toward the Cascade Range and offers beautiful sunset views in the evening, making it a wonderful spot to end a long day of hiking with a cold drink in hand.
The Tatoosh Cafe is the first stop for early risers who want to fuel up before hitting the Skyline Trail and the last stop for anyone who wants one more look at that view before turning in for the night.
Paradise Inn Information
Season: Open seasonally from May 24-October 2, there are 121 rooms,
Check-In is 4 pm
Check-Out is 11 am
You will need a National Park Pass or have paid the entrance fee to get to the lodge.
Address: 52807 Paradise Rd. E. Ashford, Wa.98304
GPS Coordinates: 46' 47'5.93" North, 121'43'51" West
Parking Available, no additional fee.
No pets allowed except for service animals
There is no phone, T.V, air conditioning, or WIFI available
All Rooms and the lodge is designated non-smoking
Some rooms have a private bath while some rooms have a shared bathroom.
Toiletries are available in your room.
Cribs are available for an additional fee.
There is a gift shop on-site!
Cancellation policy states there is a $15 fee for cancellations with at least a seven-day notice. Cancellations with less than a seven-day notice will be charged for the first night including taxes.
Click Here to Book Your Stay at Paradise Inn
Things to Do at Paradise Inn
🏔️ Hike the Skyline Trail loop for panoramic views of Mount Rainier and the Tatoosh Range
🌸 Walk through world-class subalpine wildflower meadows in July and August
🧊 View the Nisqually Glacier and learn about glacial retreat from ranger programs
🥾 Explore the network of trails radiating from Paradise in every direction
⛷️ Snowshoe or cross-country ski in winter through extraordinary snowbound landscapes
🍽️ Dine in the historic dining room with views of the mountain
☕ Relax by one of the massive stone fireplaces in the grand lobby
🦫 Watch for marmots, black bears, deer, and Clark's nutcrackers around the meadows
🎭 Attend ranger-led walks, talks, and evening programs at the nearby visitor center
🏛️ Visit the Henry M. Jackson Memorial Visitor Center steps from the lodge 🌌 Stargaze on clear nights with the mountain silhouetted against the sky
Fun and educational Tours at Mount Rainier National Park
Mt. Rainier National Park Day Tour from Seattle
⭐️ Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars | ⏳ Tour Length: 10-12 hours | 🚌Check Rates and Availability
Experience the natural beauty of majestic Mount Rainier on this guided, full-day tour from Seattle. Enjoy a scenic, narrated journey past lakes, waterfalls, and historic towns to Mount Rainier. Take in spectacular views of Narda Falls, considered the most popular waterfall in Mount Rainier National Park and the aptly named Paradise.
Mt. Rainier Tour and Guided Hike
⭐️ Rating: 4.9 out of 5 Stars | ⏳ Tour Length: 10-11 hours | 🥾Check Rates and Availability
Explore the highlights of Mount Rainier on this day tour filled with glaciers, waterfalls, lakes, and old-growth forests. This tour departs from Seattle and includes a stop at Paradise, where you will get to hike from the visitor center at Paradise one mile to a picnic next to giant glaciers. You will also see Reflection Lake, Narda Falls, and Christine Falls. In the winter-spring, you will snowshoe rather than hike.
Mount Rainier National Park Self-Guided Audio Tour
⭐️ Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars | ⏳ Tour Length: 8-9 hours | 🔊Check Rates and Availability
Mount Rainier National Park is centered around an awe-inspiring, iconic volcano- Mount Rainier - and takes you through miles and miles of old-growth forest. The overlooks along the drive will take your breath away and the serpentine roads heading up to Paradise and Sunrise - the most popular sections of the park - will keep your heart pumping and your camera clicking. You can explore the stunning alpine meadows of Paradise, wander through the ancient forest of the Grove of the Patriarchs, and see impressive waterfalls.
Mt Rainier National Park Lodging
There are two National Park Lodges located within the park.
⭐️ 4.3 of 5 Stars - National Park Inn - Click here for Rates and Availability.
Mount Rainier National Park is home to the historic National Park Inn located at Longmire (Open year-Round), which was built in 1907.
The National Park Inn was built across the road from James Longmire's hot springs hotel. There is also a general store there located in a vintage 1911 log cabin.
⭐️ 4.3 of 5 Stars - Paradise Inn - Click here for Rates and Availability.
This lodge is so grand that it has been designated as a National Historic Landmark and placed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Paradise Inn is open from mid-May to October only.
Lodging near Mount Rainier
Depending on what you want to see and explore in Mount Rainier may determine where you will want to stay. I have broken down lodging between the three main park entrances for your convience.
Nisqually Entrance (Near the Longmire and Paradise areas of Mount Rainier)
⭐️ 4.3 of 5 Stars - Alexander's Lodge - Click here for Rates and Availability.
A charming historic lodge built in 1912, just 2 miles from the Nisqually Entrance to Mount Rainier National Park! This beloved inn sits on a stunning property with a trout pond, lush grounds, and a warm mountain-lodge vibe that hikers and park visitors return to year after year. Guests enjoy cozy rooms and suites with mountain character, a complimentary grab-and-go breakfast, free WiFi, free parking, and common areas perfect for unwinding after a long day on the trails. The location makes early morning park access incredibly convenient, letting you beat the crowds to Paradise and the Skyline Trail.
⭐️ 3.8 of 5 Stars - Nisqually Lodge - Click here for Rates and Availability.
Located 5 miles from the Nisqually Entrance,the lodge offers 24 spacious rooms with flat-screen TVs, WiFi, mini-fridges, microwaves, and Keurig coffeemakers, with free parking and children under 12 staying free. A great room with cathedral ceilings and an impressive stone fireplace greets guests on arrival, along with a computer station in the lobby and complimentary coffee available all day. Pet friendly rooms available, an outdoor fire pit, and laundry facilities on site. A great no-fuss base camp for snowshoers in winter and hikers and wildflower chasers in summer.
North Entrance (near the Sunrise Area of Mount Rainier)
⭐️ 4.0 of 5 Stars - Crystal Mountain Hotels - Click here for Rates and Availability.
The ultimate adventure basecamp, tucked at the base of Washington's largest ski resort just 6 miles from Mount Rainier National Park! In summer, step outside for scenic gondola rides, mountain biking, horseback trail rides, disc golf, and 35 miles of hiking trails right outside the door, with epic views of Mount Rainier from the summit. In winter it's ski-in/ski-out straight from your room. The Alpine Inn is the signature Bavarian-style hotel connected to the Alpine Inn Restaurant and the legendary Snorting Elk Cellar, while the Village Inn offers flat-screen TVs, mini-fridges, coffee makers, and WiFi for a more modern stay. The Summit House Restaurant at 6,782 feet is Washington's highest elevation restaurant, accessible by the Mt. Rainier Gondola with sweeping views of the Cascades.
South Entrance (Near the Ohanapecosh area of Mount Rainier)
⭐️ 4.2 of 5 Stars - Packwood Lodge and Cabins - Click here for Rates and Availability.
The nearest Packwood hotel to both Mount Rainier and White Pass, just 4 miles from the Stevens Canyon Entrance to the park! The renovated lodge offers 21 updated guest rooms and suites plus 9 detached mountain cabins, all uniquely designed and decorated.
⭐️ 4.3 of 5 Stars - Cowlitz River Lodge - Click here for Rates and Availability.
A clean, well-priced 32- room lodge in the heart of Packwood with one of the best perks around, elk grazing right on the front lawn! The lodge has a cozy stone fireplace in the lobby to warm up by after a day on the trails. A full hot breakfast is served each morning with waffles, eggs, biscuits and gravy, pastries, sausage, and a full beverage bar including hot apple cider. Free parking, laundry facilities, and pet friendly rooms available. Open year-round
Click on this link or the map below to see additional hotels and vacation rentals near Mount Rainier National Park.
Mount Rainier National Park Entrance Fee
Park entrance fees are separate from camping and lodging fees.
Park Entrance Pass - $30.00 Per private vehicle (valid for 1-7 days from the date of purchase)
Park Entrance Pass - Motorcycle - $25.00 Per motorcycle (valid for 1-7 days from the date of purchase)
Per-Person Entrance Pass - $15.00 Visitors 16 years or older who enter on foot, bicycle, or as part of an organized group not involved in a commercial tour.
Annual Park Entrance Pass - $55.00, Admits pass holder and all passengers in a non-commercial vehicle. Valid for one year from the month of purchase.
$30.00 for Commercial Sedan with 1-6 seats and non-commercial groups (16+ persons)
$75.00 for Commercial Van with 7-15 seats
$100.00 for Commercial Mini-Bus with 16-25 seats
$200.00 for Commercial Motor Coach with 26+ seats
Learn more about National Park Passes for parks that have an entrance fee.
$80.00 - For the America the Beautiful/National Park Pass. The pass covers entrance fees to all US National Park Sites and over 2,000 Federal Recreation Fee Sites for an entire year and covers everyone in the car for per-vehicle sites and up to 4 adults for per-person sites.
Buy your pass at this link, and REI will donate 10% of pass proceeds to the National Forest Foundation, National Park Foundation, and the U.S. Endowment for Forestry & Communities.
National Park Free Entrance Days -Mark your calendars with the free entrance days the National Park Service offers for US citizens and residents.
Additional Resources
- Mount Rainier - complete guide to plan your trip to Mount Rainier
- National Park Inn - located in the Longmire District of Mount Rainer NP. This historic lodge is open year-round.
- Top things to do at Mt. Rainier - Check out all the things you don't want to miss while exploring Mount Rainier.
- Mount Rainier Hiking Guide - Find the perfect hike for you in Mount Rainier National Park.
- National Park Lodges - Check out all of the National Park lodges you can stay in.
Check out all of the Washington National Parks along with neighboring Oregon National Parks, Idaho National Parks, National Parks in Hawaii, and National Parks in Alaska.
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