Hit the Road: Funky Family Road Trips From Seattle

Distance from Seattle: 107 miles round trip, 2.5 hours of driving time

This route pairs a sampling of the beauty of Mount Rainier National Park with some of the park’s most charming gateway towns. Try a family stay at Paradise Inn for a wonderful treat (the lodge reopens for the season on May 20, 2024, and booking is open now).

The route: Take the back way to Mount Rainier through Puyallup on WA-161 south to Eatonville, then onward until the road ends, where you’ll turn left onto WA-7. In Elbe, take SR 706 through Ashford to the Nisqually Entrance.

Stops along the way

Mile 41: Volcano Coffee (South Hill): Fuel up at this aptly named coffee shop that serves up a variety of coffee drinks, plus creative and colorful concoctions, breakfast sandwiches and treats.

Mile 55: Northwest Trek Wildlife Park (Eatonville): Explore hundreds of acres of meadow and pond habitat where you’ll spot bison, moose, elk, mountain lions, grizzly bears and more; plus walk through the rest of the park to meet carnivores and other critters, and don’t miss the phenomenal Kids’ Trek playground!

Mile 63: Pioneer Farm Museum & Ohop Indian Village (Eatonville): Kids get a hands-on experience (complete with real chores!) of what daily pioneer life was like. In summer, try the Native American Seasons Tour to experience the aspects of life in a Native village throughout the year.

Mile 81: Spirits of Iron Sculpture Park (Ashford): Artist Dan Klennert transforms scraps of metal into imaginative animal sculptures — a must-stop for a photo op. Donation suggested.

Mile 96: Longmire Museum and Trail of the Shadows (Longmire): Once you’ve paid admission and entered the park through the Nisqually entrance, stop for a brief visit at the small museum — a former park headquarters — to learn about the history, geology and wildlife of the park, then set out on the stroller-friendly Trail of the Shadows loop across the street.

Mile 104: Henry M. Jackson Memorial Visitor Center and Paradise trails (Paradise): There’s no shortage of stunning scenery to be viewed from the paved loop trails just above Paradise Inn, with whistling marmots and bubbling streams providing the soundtrack. The visitor center here is packed with interactive exhibits and features a café with refreshments. (Editor’s note: The visitor center is currently open weekends only, but will likely open for daily hours later this spring; check the website for updates.)

Mile 107: Reflection Lakes (Paradise): Drive 3 miles east of Paradise for the park’s best photo op — Mount Rainier’s reflection in still, mirror-like subalpine lakes (paid park entry required).

Where to stay

Whittaker’s Bunkhouse (Ashford): Originally built for loggers and later used to house mountain climbers and hikers, the bunkhouse is a charming and budget-friendly option; families should book one of the private rooms with an en suite bath.

Paradise Inn (Mount Rainier National Park): Paradise Inn and the National Park Inn at Longmire are both lovely historic lodges for families and have on-site restaurants, gift shops and trails right outside the doors. Note: Paradise Inn is closed for the winter season and reopens May 18, 2024.

Next up: Grand Coulee