Best Time to Visit Mount Rainier
Best time to visit Mount Rainier: June, July and August. Month-by-month temperature, rainfall and crowd guidance.
Best time to visit Mount Rainier
Go in June, July and August. These months score highest on comfortable temperatures, low rainfall and useful daylight.
Hardest months: January, February and December - expect the least comfortable mix of heat, cold or rain.
Climate in Mount Rainier month by month
Average high, average low and total rainfall, based on three years of reanalysis data.
| Month | Avg high | Avg low | Rainfall | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 2° | -8° | 12,9 in | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| February | -2° | -12° | 11,4 in | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| March | 1° | -9° | 13,4 in | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| April | 6° | -6° | 5,1 in | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| May | 11° | -1° | 3,7 in | ★★☆☆☆ |
| June | 17° | 4° | 3,6 in | ★★☆☆☆ |
| July | 28° | 13° | 1,1 in | ★★☆☆☆ |
| August | 28° | 15° | 2,4 in | ★★☆☆☆ |
| September | 23° | 10° | 3,8 in | ★★☆☆☆ |
| October | 13° | 0° | 8,5 in | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| November | 4° | -6° | 14,9 in | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| December | 3° | -6° | 21,9 in | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Climate type: Polar. Source: Open-Meteo archive (ERA5).
How Mount Rainier compares with nearby places
Annual averages, and the difference against Mount Rainier.
| Place | Distance | Avg temp | vs here | Annual rain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mount Rainier National Park | 2 mi | 27°F | +53°F warmer | 103 in |
| Seattle-Tacoma International Airport | 49 mi | 52°F | +78°F warmer | 51 in |
| Seattle | 59 mi | 53°F | +79°F warmer | 43 in |
| Area Code 206 | 59 mi | 53°F | +79°F warmer | 43 in |
| King County | 59 mi | 53°F | +79°F warmer | 43 in |
What to pack, what to skip
- A warm mid-layer and gloves for early mornings and evenings
- Insulated outer layer, hat and boots with grip for ice
- Avoid high-elevation trails without traction devices - frozen surfaces persist in shade all day.
- If your dates are flexible, avoid January, February and December - historically the least comfortable months here.
Summary
Mount Rainier is a mountain in Washington. Mount Rainier is a mountain known as a glaciated volcano near Seattle. It sits at 14.409 ft above sea level.
Right now it is 19°F (-7°C) in Mount Rainier with clear. It feels like 10°F. Today runs from 19°F to 30°F. Chance of precipitation is 1%. Sightseeing conditions score 7.2/10 - good conditions.
The best time to visit Mount Rainier is June, July and August. The climate is polar. January, February and December tend to be the least comfortable months. July is the warmest month with average highs near 28°F, while February is the coldest with lows near -12°F.
The closest major airport is Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA), about 49 mi away. Nearby highlights include Mount Rainier National Park, Space Needle, Columbia River and Mount Hood.
In plain terms. Today is about average for August. The forecast high of 30°F is in line with the 28°F typical for this month. The best window to be outside is roughly 4 PM to 7 PM, when temperature, rain chance and wind line up best. stargazing is the strongest bet in Mount Rainier today at 10/10. Overnight lows near 19°F mean ice is possible on bridges before dawn.
Compiled from this page's own data: atlas facts plus live Open-Meteo readings.
Weather in Mount Rainier right now
Source: Open-Meteo. Updated 3:14 PM, Aug 22 local time.
Weekend outlook
🌦️ 30° / 15°
Light drizzle · 35% rain · wind 7 mph
🌦️ 26° / 11°
Light drizzle · 6% rain · wind 6 mph
Things to do in Mount Rainier
Attractions, parks and landmarks in and around Mount Rainier.
Quick facts about Mount Rainier
| Type | Mountain |
|---|---|
| State | Washington |
| Country | United States |
| Continent | North America |
| Coordinates | 46°51′8.3″N 121°45′37.1″W (46.8523, -121.7603) |
| Elevation | 14.409 ft |
| Known for | a glaciated volcano near Seattle |
| Local time | 3:14 PM (UTC-07:00) |
| Best months | June, July and August |
| Climate | Polar |
Explore Mount Rainier
Every topic we hold for this place, and the same topic for the places around it.
Best Time to Visit for related places
Frequently asked questions
Where is Mount Rainier?
Mount Rainier is a mountain in Washington. Its coordinates are 46.8523, -121.7603. It lies in North America.
What is the weather like in Mount Rainier right now?
It is currently 19°F (-7°C) with clear. Humidity is 16% and wind is 5 mph.
When is the best time to visit Mount Rainier?
June, July and August offer the most comfortable conditions in Mount Rainier, which has a polar climate. January, February and December are usually the hardest months for outdoor plans.
What time zone is Mount Rainier in?
Mount Rainier observes America/Los_Angeles (UTC-07:00). The local time is 3:14 PM.
What is the nearest airport to Mount Rainier?
The closest airports are Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA), 49 mi away, Portland International Airport (PDX), 96 mi away and Vancouver International Airport (YVR), 175 mi away.
What are the top things to do in Mount Rainier?
Popular options include Mount Rainier National Park, Space Needle, Columbia River, Mount Hood, Olympic National Park and Deception Pass State Park.
Related articles
Data sources and methodology
| Place data | USPOTUS Atlas dataset (mountains) - coordinates, hierarchy and facts. |
|---|---|
| Forecast and observations | Open-Meteo (ECMWF and national models). |
| Air quality and pollen | Copernicus CAMS via Open-Meteo. US AQI scale. |
| Climate averages | ERA5 reanalysis via the Open-Meteo archive, aggregated over 3 years. |
| Official alerts | US National Weather Service. |
| Method | Scores, comparisons and advice on this page are computed from the inputs above. Distances are straight-line. Nothing is estimated where data is missing - the block is simply not shown. |
Last updated August 22, 2026 at 3:14 PM local time. Live blocks refresh every 15 minutes; climate averages monthly.
