Mount Rainier, itinerary from Seattle
 

We will be arriving in Seattle late on Wednesday night, June 30 and would like to make a two day trip to Mount Ranier and Mount St. Helen then return to Seattle. We are very fast lookers:) and would like to see as much as possible in a short amount of time. Could someone a route for us to take and possibly suggest hotels? We are not limited to a certain price range. Thanks so much for your tips.

Assuming you mean 2 day, 1 night, I'd plan on heading to Mt St Helens the morning of the first day (about a 3 hour drive from Seattle to the visitors center closest to the mountain), then head from there to Ashford for the night. I like Wellspring as a place to stay--it's a cute little collection of cabins in a wooded setting. The next day, explore Mt Rainier NP then head to Seattle (about 2.5 hours from Paradise).

It isn't clear from your post where you will spend the first night and how many nights you will spend near the mountains.

In any event, there aren't many great hotel options in the area. This place, near the west entrance to Mt. Rainier National Park might suit you: http://www.alexanderscountryinn.com

You MUST remember to factor in potentially horrendous traffic from Seattle to Mt St Helens depending on what timne you leave!

I did mean 2 days 1 night. I was unclear which entrance to use to see the most of Mount Rainier.

Around June 30 I don't think you'll have a choice--I don't think Sunrise will be open yet. But check the NPS website site under "road status" closer to the date to see. But Paradise is more logical in terms of going between the two mountains, anyway.

One possible routing is to drive from SeaTac down I-5 to Castle Rock. That is where SR 504 goes into Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument. It is a 50-mile drive to Johnson Ridge--the closest point to the crater.

After exploring this site, you could drive west on SR 12 to the Stevens Canyon entrance of Mt. Rainier National Park. You could spend the night in the park or in Ashford, which is about five miles outside the west entrance of the park. Dining options in Ashford include Alexander's and Copper Creek.

(There is lodging in Morton or Packwood, but none that I would recommend.)

HTTY

The best route from Seattle is to head south on I-5 to Exit 49 at Castle Rock and go to Johnston Ridge Observatory (4 miles from Crater) return to I-5 and go north, back to exit 68 and spend the night in Packwood. There are several motels and even more Vacation Rental properties that are very nice. Then enter the Park the following day at the Steven's Canyon Entrance or go to Sunrise via Hwy 123 and Chinook Pass on Hwy 410.
As an alternative you could go to Morton and turn north on Hwy 7 to Ashford and stay the night in Ashford area. There are lots of places to choose from there. The following day, head to Longmire and Paradise and continue through the park to Hwy 123 up to Chinook Pass on Hwy 410 and come out at Enumclaw and back to Seattle. Check our itineraries on http://www.visitrainier.com/pg/drivi...onal-Park-Area We describe these drives in detail.. and call it the Two Mountain Tour.
Enjoy, but two days is going to be a challenge... if you can add another day, you will be happier!

I recommend getting a picnic lunch together whether from your hotel or a store for the Mt. Ranier day. There are so many scenic overlooks and waterfalls that you could have a lifetime vista from a random stop.

Thank you everyone for your help.

I would vote for seeing Mount Rainier. You could spend the night at Paradise Inn or Longmire or get a cabin just outside the park. Mount Rainier, if enjoyed to the maximum will take most of a day, and that doesnt include too much besides Longmire & Paradise where you can get breakfast, lunch or dinner. It is the highest in the Cascade range at 14,410 feet. If you take a hike (on a paved trail) from Paradise you can get high enough to see Adams, Hood & St Helens. Wildflowers are exquisite.