Mount Rainier is the classic day trip from Seattle: a little over two hours each way to Paradise, where the park says an average of 640 inches of snow falls a year. In summer it is a wildflower drive. From November into spring it is a winter mountain road with a gate, a chain rule and no gas inside the park. Here is which side of the mountain you can actually reach, how the drive works, the rules for winter, what entry costs in 2026, and which car to take.
Paradise or Sunrise?
Paradise (5,400 feet) is the side you can visit all year. You reach it through the Nisqually Entrance in the park's southwest corner. In winter the park says that entrance is the only one open to reach Longmire and Paradise, and Paradise is its main winter area.
Sunrise (6,400 feet) is the highest point you can drive to in the park, but it is a summer place. The National Park Service says the Sunrise Road usually opens in late June or early July and closes in late September to early October, and the whole road closes for winter in mid-October or earlier. As of the park's October 9, 2026 road report, Sunrise Road was already closed to vehicles because of wildfires. For a fall or winter day trip, plan on Paradise.
The drive from Seattle
The park's own directions from Seattle: south on I-5 to SR 512 (exit 127), east on SR 512 to SR 7, south on SR 7 to SR 706 in Elbe, then east on SR 706 through Ashford to the Nisqually Entrance. From the entrance it is 19 miles to Paradise; the park times the last 12, from Longmire, at about 25 minutes, and most park roads have a 35 mph limit.
From downtown Seattle the whole trip to Paradise is about 103 to 107 miles. For a December Saturday morning, Google predicts about 2 hours 15 minutes to 2 hours 25 minutes on clear roads. From SeaTac it is about 95 to 99 miles and a few minutes less. Snow and chain checks add time. In winter the Longmire gate typically opens around 9 a.m., so leaving very early can simply mean waiting at the gate.
Two GPS traps. The park's street address leads to its headquarters in Ashford, not the entrance. Use 39000 State Route 706 E, Ashford, WA 98304 for the Nisqually Entrance instead. And GPS may try to route you through Stevens Canyon Road or another entrance that is closed for winter; the park warns that rerouting can take hours.
Winter at Paradise: the gate and the clock
From November 1 the road from Longmire up to Paradise closes every night and reopens in the morning once it is plowed and judged safe. The park's typical winter schedule, conditions permitting:
- Gate at Longmire opens around 9 a.m.
- Uphill traffic stops at 4 p.m.
- The downhill gate closes at 5 p.m. The park recommends leaving Paradise by 4:30 p.m.
The gate can open late, close early or stay shut all day for weather, avalanche risk or road conditions. Check the park's alerts after 4 p.m. the day before and again after 7 a.m. the day you go. Even in winter the Paradise lot can fill on sunny days; the park may then let one car up for each car that comes down.
Plan your stops. Gas is not available in the park. The Jackson Visitor Center at Paradise is usually open only on weekends and holidays from mid-October through April, and the Paradise Inn is closed in winter. Pack food and water.
The chain rule: every car, all winter
Rental drivers need to know this one. From November 1 to May 1, every vehicle in Mount Rainier National Park must carry tire chains or a state-approved alternative traction device. It applies to all vehicles, including four-wheel and all-wheel drive, regardless of tire type, on sunny days too. The park says plainly that this includes rental cars.
So the car you take must have chains in it. Our cars do not come with chains. Chains are a paid Snow chains Extra on the car's Turo listing, and as of October 2026 every car recommended below offers it, so add it when you book. Extras can change, so look for Snow chains in the listing's Extras before you book. If the car you want does not show it, the car comes without chains, so bring your own set (or an approved alternative) that fits its tires. For your own set, the park lists Whittaker Mountaineering in Ashford as a place that rents chains, and notes that some carmakers, Subaru among them, caution against traditional metal chains and sell cable chains made for their cars. Booking a Subaru, or any car, and want to know what kind of chains come with the Extra? Message us before your trip. Whichever chains you carry, try them on the car before the day you need them.
AWD still helps, within limits. When "Chains required except 4WD" is posted in the park, AWD and 4WD cars may keep going without putting chains on only if they have snow tires on all four wheels, are in four-wheel drive and carry a set of chains in the car. Washington law has the same catch outside the park: when "chains required" signs go up, an all-wheel-drive car is exempt only if all wheels are in gear, it has approved traction tires, and chains are carried in the vehicle. When chains are required on all vehicles, everyone chains up, AWD included. Autosocks count as an approved alternative for passenger vehicles under 10,000 pounds. If you want to know what tires a car has before you go, message us. Our guide Are chains required on Snoqualmie Pass? walks through WSDOT's four stages.
Fees and reservations for 2026
- Entrance: a private vehicle pass is $30 and covers everyone in the car for seven consecutive days. America the Beautiful and the park's annual pass are also accepted. The park does not accept cash.
- No timed entry in 2026. The park says timed entry reservations are not required anywhere in the park, and it will not use them for any part of the park in 2026.
- Free day: November 11 (Veterans Day) is a fee-free day for U.S. citizens and residents.
Which car for a Rainier day trip
In winter, choose AWD or 4WD and add the Snow chains Extra when you book, or bring chains that fit. Each car below is AWD or 4WD and, as of October 2026, offers the Snow chains Extra on its Turo listing:
- Two to five people: Subaru Outback 2022, Subaru Crosstrek 2024, Toyota RAV4 Hybrid 2026 or Honda CR-V Hybrid 2025, all AWD.
- Six or seven people: Toyota Grand Highlander 2026, Hyundai Palisade Hybrid 2027 or the AWD Toyota Sienna 2025.
- 4WD: the Toyota Land Cruiser 2026, five seats.
Thinking of an EV? Think it through. The chain rule applies to an EV like any other car, so add the Snow chains Extra if its listing offers it, or bring chains that fit. The park says there is no EV charging inside it, and the round trip from downtown Seattle to Paradise is about 205 to 215 miles. The U.S. Department of Energy notes EV range dropped by about 41% at 20°F with the heater on in testing it cites. Leave Seattle fully charged and know where you will charge on the way home. A hybrid or gas AWD car is the simpler winter choice.
Before you leave Seattle
- Check the park's road status and alerts for the Longmire gate.
- From November 1, chains in the car whatever the forecast: the Snow chains Extra on your booking, or your own set that fits.
- Check the mileage allowance and Extras on the car's Turo listing; the round trip is about 210 miles.
- A full tank or full charge, plus food and water.
- Navigate to 39000 State Route 706 E, Ashford, not the park's street address.
- Be heading down from Paradise by 4:30 p.m.
Browse every AWD and 4WD car, pick the exact one you will drive, and book your dates on Turo. Landing at SeaTac? Choose Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) as your pickup on Turo; here is how pickup works. Skiing too? Our Seattle ski trip guide covers Crystal Mountain, just outside the park. Questions? Text (206) 941-0717 or email info@tenetmotors.com.
Sources
- National Park Service, Mount Rainier: tire chain FAQ and fees and passes (checked October 13, 2026), road status (October 9, 2026 report), winter travel, directions, Paradise and Sunrise.
- Washington chain law, WAC 204-24-050.
- U.S. Department of Energy, fuel economy in cold weather.
- Drive times: Google route predictions for clear roads, December 2026 departures, run October 12, 2026.