Pacific Northwest national parks
4 Pacific Northwest national parks are spread across 2 states, from Olympic National Park in the west to North Cascades National Park in the east.
3 of the 4 have something on Recreation.gov to book before you arrive, and every one of those covers a single hike, road, or tour rather than getting into the park.
Driving between these parks
3 of them form one chain in which every park is within a 4-hour drive of another in the group: Mount Rainier, North Cascades, and Olympic.
| From | To | Distance | Estimated drive |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mount Rainier National Park | Olympic National Park | 112 mi (180 km) | 3 hr 6 min |
| North Cascades National Park | Olympic National Park | 131 mi (211 km) | 3 hr 33 min |
| Mount Rainier National Park | North Cascades National Park | 131 mi (211 km) | 3 hr 33 min |
Drive times come from straight-line distance and a road-circuity factor, not from a routing service, so use them to sort options rather than to plan an arrival time.
What to book before you go
Recreation.gov lists 3 permits or lotteries for Pacific Northwest national parks, and each park's own page carries its full list.
| Park | Booking | Covers | How it works |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mount Rainier National Park | Mount Rainier National Park Wilderness and Climbing Permits | One hike or backcountry trip | Permit or lottery |
| North Cascades National Park | North Cascades National Park Backcountry Permits | One hike or backcountry trip | Permit or lottery |
| Olympic National Park | Olympic National Park Wilderness Permit | One hike or backcountry trip | Permit or lottery |
Recreation.gov lists 20 campgrounds at 4 Pacific Northwest parks, all of them bookable in advance.
When to go
Pacific Northwest national parks run on 2 seasonal calendars rather than one, and the largest group is 3 parks best July through mid-September, once the high country is clear of snow.
Afternoon thunderstorms build fast above treeline in summer. Start early and be off exposed ridges by early afternoon.
Pick the park before the month. A date that works for Crater Lake National Park can be the wrong month for Olympic National Park, which is best May through October.
All 4 Pacific Northwest national parks
| Park | Where | Best window | Book ahead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crater Lake National Park | OR | July through mid-September, once the high country is clear of snow | Campsites only |
| Mount Rainier National Park | WA | July through mid-September, once the high country is clear of snow | Permit or reservation |
| North Cascades National Park | WA | July through mid-September, once the high country is clear of snow | Permit or reservation |
| Olympic National Park | WA | May through October | Permit or reservation |
Go state by state
Each state page lists that state's parks and the towns closest to them, which is the quicker route when you already know where you are starting from.
Other U.S. regions
Common questions
Do any Pacific Northwest national parks need a reservation just to get in?
No Pacific Northwest national park sells a park-wide entry reservation on Recreation.gov, where the bookings cover individual hikes, roads, tours, and campsites. Entry rules are set park by park and change between years, so check the park's own site for your dates.
Which two Pacific Northwest national parks are closest together?
Mount Rainier National Park and Olympic National Park are the closest pair in the Pacific Northwest, roughly 3 hr 6 min apart by road.
When is the best time to visit the Pacific Northwest?
3 national parks in the Pacific Northwest are best July through mid-September, once the high country is clear of snow, which is the largest single group. The one remaining park runs on a different calendar, so the answer depends on which park you are going to.
How many campgrounds do Pacific Northwest national parks have?
Pacific Northwest national parks have 20 campgrounds on Recreation.gov, all of them reservable in advance.
Which states this covers
The Pacific Northwest on this site means Oregon and Washington.
The Census Bureau Pacific division without California, Alaska, and Hawaii.