Thinking about a Seattle, Mt. Ranier, Leavenworth Seattle loop in October. When is the latest I should plan to avoid bad/cold weather? Beginning of October? Also If we are doing the loop would it be better to stay in Ashford or Packwood for 3 or so night then on to Leavenworth driving around the east side of Mt. Ranier. Any advice on the most scenic route? Thinking about heading slightly north for a scenic drive of the Cascades. Any advice would be appreciated. I've done some research on Airbnb and VRBO but haven't planned an exact route yet.

Predicting the weather in the Cascades is a bit of a fool's errand. The year before last the first snow fell at the Paradise visitor center on Mount Rainier on October 21, but last year I think it was later; the snowpack this year was much smaller than normal. Consequently, people are very concerned about fire conditions in late summer and into the fall. In mid-October you might have wet and cloudy conditions on the mountain, or it could be tinder dry and the air full of smoke. Pick 'em.

Leavenworth (of which I'm not much of a fan) is at a much lower elevation and is on the eastern side - the dry side - of the Cascade crest, so I'd probably go there after Mt. Rainier. There can be good autumn color in October in the Stevens Pass area, just west of Leavenworth. Blewett Pass on US 97, which you'd probably take to get from Mount Rainier to Leavenworth, is also very nice at that time of year, with good fall foliage at elevation and all the apple orchards in harvest mode near Leavenworth.

Here's the route I'd suggest - https://maps.app.goo.gl/vnpq6xhZAoQVFeau9

Note there's a possible side trip from Leavenworth out to the Dry Falls / Sun Lakes visitor center, around 90 minutes east of Leavenworth. This would let you experience the channeled scablands, an extraordinary landscape of canyons and cliffs, carved during what are thought to be the greatest floods in Earth's history at the end of the last ice age. It's well worth your time, utterly different from the alpine scenery in the Cascades.

Either Packwood or Ashford would be fine, or splurge at the Paradise Inn if you want to stay ON the mountain.

Pointing out that for me, after no visibility of Mt Rainier during July and September visits to Seattle, I returned to camp inside the park for 3 nights in August and still only saw the mountain for 45 minutes. Thinking an October visit is like buying a scratch off ticket. Maybe you will be lucky. Odds 20:1 you won't be.

The latest you should plan to avoid bad weather would be more like September October is normally pretty much in to "winter" here. Just depends on the year.

How long is this trip total? How many days? Do you fly in to SeatTac? Will you rent a car? Or you are driving here?

Those details will help with suggestions and ideas.

Welcome! suze (in seattle)

viewgirl ~ I also participate on the Trip Advisor Washington State forum. This time of year there are tons of questions, itinerary outlines, discussions about the national parks, driving times, etc. Even if you aren't a member over there you could read thru the first few pages of posts on the WA forum and basically have a guidebook-worth of information.

(teeny tiny thing but Mt Rainier... well that's how it's spelled )