Best time to visit Mount Rainier

July to September. Month by month below, with the weather, what's on and what it costs to fly there from your city.

July to September

Roads and meadows are open and the weather is driest in July and August; September has fewer crowds and meadow color.

“The best time to visit Mount Rainier National Park is July–September.” nationalparksjournal.org
“While July and August are the sunniest months of the year” nps.gov
“The narrow window the whole trip aims at.” explore.usparkpass.com

5 of the 7 travel guides we read name these months.

Average high and low in Mount Rainier, and days with rain

January37°F / 26°F · 21 rainy daysChecking fares…
February40°F / 26°F · 17 rainy daysChecking fares…Tire chains are required park-wide from November 1 to May 1.Stevens Canyon Road and Sunrise Road are closed for the season.
March45°F / 28°F · 20 rainy daysChecking fares…
April51°F / 31°F · 19 rainy daysChecking fares…
May60°F / 37°F · 17 rainy daysChecking fares…
June66°F / 42°F · 14 rainy daysChecking fares…Meadow trails stay buried in snow into July.June has about 1.7 inches of rain, with many drizzly days.
Best timeJuly75°F / 46°F · 7 rainy daysChecking fares…July is typically the driest month, and hiking season starts early to mid July.Sunrise typically opens in early July.July is the busiest month on average.
Best timeAugust76°F / 46°F · 7 rainy daysChecking fares…August is reliably the warmest month, with wildflowers peaking around August 1.Wildflowers peak late July to August.
Best timeSeptember69°F / 42°F · 10 rainy daysChecking fares…Crowds drop sharply after Labor Day and meadows turn red and gold in late September.September is noticeably quieter than July.
October55°F / 35°F · 17 rainy daysChecking fares…Some areas close for the season in mid-October or early November.
November43°F / 29°F · 20 rainy daysChecking fares…Winter conditions return, with tire chains required from November 1.Winter Stoke Block Party in Enumclaw marks the start of snow season.
December36°F / 25°F · 20 rainy daysChecking fares…

Weather: Mount Rainier averages (long-term averages), as listed in its climate table on Wikipedia.

Live fares from your airport. Watch them and we alert you when they drop.

July to AugustPeak crowds and the main wildflower display.
Summer and fallThe two most popular seasons, when the park is most accessible.

Winter (January to March, November to December)Light crowds, with a limited road network.

Any timeMountain weather is changeable; wet, cold weather can occur in any month.
Mid-October to early NovemberSunrise, White River, Ohanapecosh and Stevens Canyon Road close for the season.
November 1 to May 1Tire chains are required park-wide.
Holiday weeksFourth of July and Labor Day are packed.
Into mid-JulySnow remains at 5,000 to 8,000 feet.