Closest town to Mt St Helens
 

Could someone please tell me the closest town to Mt. St Helens with lodging such as Holiday Inn Express or similar when we are traveling I5 toward Seattle? Also Mt Ranier. How long is travel time?
Thank you.

There are a couple of motels in Castle Rock, don't know about HI Expresses etc - maybe go to the HI website? Otherwise, there are plenty of places in Kelso/Longview.

If you take the south entrance (off US 12) into Mt. Rainier, either the above places, or (requiring doubling back) Centralia/Chehalis have a number of places. However, if you approach the mountain from the north, then you're really starting from the Seattle/Tacoma metro area, so pick 'em for accommodation locations.

From the freeway into the Johnston Ridge center at MSH, allow a good hour. Mt. Rainier via US 12, ditto.