National parks near Yakima, Washington
Mount Rainier National Park is the closest national park to Yakima, Washington — 61.8 mi (99.5 km) in a straight line, which works out to roughly 1 hr 55 min behind the wheel.
Mount Rainier makes a full day trip — leave early. North Cascades, Olympic, and Gulf Islands are better with a night booked nearby.
Nothing near Yakima gates the entrance itself, but 4 of the parks in range put a road, hike, or backcountry trip behind a permit or timed ticket.
Yakima has a population of about 93,701.
National parks near Yakima
| Park | Straight-line distance | Estimated drive | Realistic trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mount Rainier National Park | 61.8 mi (99.5 km) | 1 hr 55 min | Doable as a day trip |
| North Cascades National Park | 149 mi (240 km) | 3 hr 59 min | Best as a weekend |
| Olympic National Park | 171 mi (276 km) | 4 hr 30 min | Best as a weekend |
| Gulf Islands National Park | 207 mi (333 km) | 5 hr 21 min | Best as a weekend |
| Crater Lake National Park | 265 mi (426 km) | 6 hr 43 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Pacific Rim National Park | 292 mi (470 km) | 7 hr 22 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Mount Revelstoke National Park | 329 mi (529 km) | 8 hr 14 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Glacier National Park | 346 mi (557 km) | 8 hr 38 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Waterton Lakes National Park | 349 mi (562 km) | 8 hr 43 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Glacier National Park | 352 mi (566 km) | 8 hr 46 min | Worth a longer road trip |
What to book before you leave Yakima
| Park | What needs booking | Covers | How |
|---|---|---|---|
| Glacier | Logan Pass Shuttle Tickets | One road or area | Timed reservation |
| Mount Rainier | Mount Rainier National Park Wilderness and Climbing Permits | One hike or backcountry trip | Permit or lottery |
| North Cascades | North Cascades National Park Backcountry Permits | One hike or backcountry trip | Permit or lottery |
| Olympic | Olympic National Park Wilderness Permit | One hike or backcountry trip | Permit or lottery |
Camping near Yakima
Within reach of Yakima, 29 campgrounds across 5 parks appear on Recreation.gov: 9 at Glacier, 8 at North Cascades, 6 at Olympic, and 5 at Mount Rainier, plus 1 more park with fewer sites.
Recreation.gov releases most national park campsites six months before the arrival date, at 10:00 a.m. Eastern time. Windows are set per campground, so confirm yours on the Seasons and Fees tab on that campground page.
Once a date is gone, cancellations are the real supply, and they get taken within minutes of appearing.
When to make this trip
Mount Rainier National Park is generally best July through mid-September, once the high country is clear of snow, with late June and late September as the quieter shoulder either side.
High passes and trails hold snow from October into June, and some roads close entirely for the winter.
Afternoon thunderstorms build fast above treeline in summer. Start early and be off exposed ridges by early afternoon.
Seeing more than one
Several parks near Yakima are close enough to each other to combine on one trip, so the drive from home only has to happen once.
| Pair | Apart | Estimated drive |
|---|---|---|
| Olympic → Gulf Islands | 73.5 mi (118 km) | 2 hr 11 min |
| North Cascades → Gulf Islands | 103 mi (166 km) | 2 hr 53 min |
| Mount Rainier → Olympic | 112 mi (180 km) | 3 hr 6 min |
| North Cascades → Olympic | 131 mi (211 km) | 3 hr 33 min |
Planning a trip from Yakima
Distances here are straight-line and the drive estimate adds a road factor on top, but mountain passes and seasonal closures can change it a lot — a route that looks like three hours in June can be shut entirely in February. Confirm road status with the park before you commit to a date.
Other towns in Yakima County
Common questions
What is the closest national park to Yakima?
Mount Rainier National Park. It is about 61.8 mi (99.5 km) from Yakima, roughly 1 hr 55 min of driving.
Can I do a national park day trip from Yakima?
Yes — Mount Rainier National Park is within about a three-hour drive.
How many national parks are near Yakima?
10 parks are within reach of Yakima, 1 of them close enough for a day trip.
Do you need a reservation for the national parks near Yakima?
None of them gate the entrance itself. 4 put a specific road, hike, or backcountry trip behind a permit or timed ticket — Mount Rainier National Park Wilderness and Climbing Permits, North Cascades National Park Backcountry Permits, and Olympic National Park Wilderness Permit. These requirements are usually seasonal, so check the date you plan to arrive.
Where can you camp near Yakima?
Recreation.gov lists 29 campgrounds at the national parks within reach of Yakima. They are spread across 5 of those parks.
When is the best time to visit the parks near Yakima?
For Mount Rainier National Park, the closest one, generally July through mid-September, once the high country is clear of snow. Either side of that, late June and late September stays quieter.