Tacoma around Mt. Rainier to Olympia
 

What's the best route?

Google maps is great but doesn't tell me about places to avoid due to bad traffic or maybe an unsafe are to pass through, and I want to avoid those. I know there is pretty much one main loop around Rainier, but there seems to be a lot of routes to get to the main cities once you leave Rainier.

Much thanks.

If you want to go to Olympia after Rainier, IMO, best bet is just down I-5. Don't know of any particually unsafe areas in Olympia.

I-5 connect Tacoma and Olympia, travel time is approximately 30 minutes (depending on the traffic around the Ft. Lewis-McCord base). Are you planning to leave Tacoma and drive around Mt. Rainier and then drive to Olympia?

Rainy....exactly. But there are so many roads you could take to get on the Mt. Rainier loop coming out of Tacoma, and also leaving the Mt. Rainier loop to get to Olympia. I was just wondering which roads would be best to take to get to that Mt. Rainier loop (and out of it to Olympia).

boom, boom....but what is the best way to get to I-5 when I'm done with Mt. Rainier. There just seems to be so many roads that lead back to I-5.

Best route to Mt. Rainier....
From Tacoma/Olympia to Elbe/Ashford and on into the Nisqually Entrance to Longmire and Paradise where the new Visitor Center is located:

* Take Exit 127 off I-5 to SR 512 E
* Take SR 512 E to SR 7
* Head South on 7 to Elbe and SR 706
* Take SR 706 E to Ashford
Continue through Ashford into Mt. Rainier National Park.
There is a shortcut from Hwy 706 to Olympia upon your return:
Once you leave Elbe on Hwy 706, the Hwy becomes Hwy 7, stay on that until you come to an intersection at Hwy 702 and go towards a small community of McKenna. Go through McKenna to another town of Yelm and in Yelm you will intersect with Hwy 510 to Olympia. This will cut off several miles and give you a nice loop trip through some beautiful agricultural countryside. It is safe, the roads are excellent and it isn't that confusing. It is signed well as there is a lot of local traffic that uses that road. The most traffic near the park is on weekends. On sunny days, parking can be an issue... so come early or take the shuttle from Ashford.

Thanks MaryKay, I'll check out that site.

I'm wondering though....since we have only one day, should we even try to do the entire loop around Mt. Rainier, or should we just do the south side, (longmire, Paradise, down to Grove of The Patriarchs), then just return the same way?

I don't think we are going to have time to do the drive to Sunrise, even if we did go that far around the loop?

ttt.

Is it worth driving all around Mt. Rainier? Or should we just focus on the southern side? Maybe from Longmire all the way up to Grove of the Patriarchs and then head back the same way?

We only have a day, and I don't think we're going to have time to do Sunset anyway (I don't know if there is anything else north of Sunset worth seeing). Maybe use the extra time to do more in-depth exploring on the the southern portion?

First, I'd encourage you, if at all possible, to go to Sunrise. Many of us feel that it's the most spectacular location in the park, and it's less visited that Paradise. I would make time for that rather than driving all the way from Longmire to Grove of the Patriarchs. It seems like that drive might actually be longer than just coming from Tacoma to Sunrise then on to Paradise, but I haven't mapped it. Hwy 706 from Longmire past Paradise is VERY windy and slow--much slower than 410 near Sunrise. Go going east then back west I don't think will actually save any time.

But, if you are absolutely sure you don't want to go to Sunrise, then skip that part of the park. Hwy 410 through the east side of the park is mostly forested with no/limited views, though it is gorgeous as you go over Cayuse Pass (and if you take the slight detour between Cayuse and Chinook Passes, very beautiful with pullouts/photo ops as well).

Allright, I was curious so I mapped it. You will save exactly one hour if you go Tacoma-Paradise-Grove-back to Olympia (that's about 5 hours drive time), than if you go Tacoma-Sunrise-Paradise (you can stop at Grove along the way)-Olympia, which is about 6 hours). I'd say it's a shame to miss Sunrise to only save an hour.

Is there any way you can stay closer to the park, rather than in Tacoma? Maybe near Crystal Mountain, or in the suburb of Enumclaw?

Thanks Christy for your thoughts. I mapped that route out as well. Using google street view, it sure is drive filled with tons of trees! :)

Roads look good though.