Seattle to Mt. Ranier
 

We will be in Seattle in Aug. and want to do a day trip to Mt. Rainier. I hate driving and was hoping to avoid renting a car. I would appreciate your thoughts about the ease/or not of driving to see Mt. Rainier vs. getting there via a the dreaded "tour group", if that exists. Thanks for your thoughts--
Mo

The advantage of renting a car and driving is that you're on your own schedule and can see and do things on your own time. If you want to hike, it's doubtful you'll have time to do so if you go with a tour.

If you go with a tour you might want to look into small group alternatives to the big Grayline bus tours.

I agree with NWWanderer.

However, if you don't want to drive and you don't want to hike, the Gray Line day tour is $59 plus $5 tax (lunch not included).

If you decide on the bus tour, don't book until you are certain that you will have a clear day because there isn't much point in going to Mt. Rainier if it is shrouded in clouds.

If you go to www.graylineseattle.com you may find a good day tour for a cloudy day.

Well if you don't want to rent a car, I think the "dreaded tour group" is your only option. I don't think it would be so awful in this situation and would accomplish the day trip you want to do.

Thanks for the thoughtful responses. I think my husband prefers the drive. Sooo, I would like your help with another question. Is it just as easy to home base in Seattle and do day trips, versus staying somewhere outside of Seattle and do area day trips? THanks-
Mo

Easier, I think, because if you're staying downtown, then you're in walking distance to many sights, plus you can walk to good restaurants, etc.

Seattle is the best base for day trips unless you drive to places such as the Olympic Peninsula, the San Juan Islands, the Columbia River Gorge, or the Methow Valley.

I would base myself in a downtown Seattle hotel, but that's assuming you are interested in also seeing some of the usual tourist sights in the city?

Certainly it's possible to stay in an outlying suburb, I guess, but I'm not sure why you'd want to.

Re staying in downtown:
beware: parking at most all hotels in downtown is not free and VERY expensive.

So just rent a car for those few trips out, and spend the rest of the time car-less ... Seattle is quite walkable.

Or stay in one of the motels with free parking ... some near the Seattle Center (then commute via the monorail to downtown). Holiday Inn Express, Quality Inn, Best Western and a number along 6th and 7th came to mind.