Very beautiful visitor center. It reopened in 2025 after being closed for renovations and I have to…read moresay, the architecture is GORGEOUS with vaulted ceilings and large windows to let in the surroundings. There's wood paneling which helps you feel immersed into nature. There's an informational desk about the area, helpful for visitors newish to the area or those with questions. The gift shop is also accessible with the usual offerings of post cards, tchotchkes, and such. Do note that the restrooms are accessible outdoors at the side of the building. There's a pay area part of the center which is $5/18+, $2.50/7-17, free for 6 years old or younger, and family $15 for 2 adults and children 7-17 years old. They also honor veteran's disabled pass, WA state disabled pass, and senior limited income pass. It's definitely worth the admission, since there's a lot of exhibits explaining the geology of the area, the flora and fauna, the native peoples, and the later commercial and recreational uses of the area. There's even a place where you can walk into a huge mock up of Mt St Helens! Very fun. They have a short film playing about the eruption too. I didn't get to explore much outside as it was super rainy, but I saw a boardwalk trail out in the back. I did not see Mt St Helens due to the weather, but I'll be back when the weather is nicer!

Surprisingly complex and very informative. The variety of exhibits is great. And the native…read morenarratives put the mountain's significance into perspective. Easy access from I-5. Take the time to stop

First and best place to stop along the way to Mt St Helens. Helicopter ride (2 person minimum)…read morestarting at $270 and a good restaurant are two things the other stops further up won't have.

The views are incredible and the staff at the gift shop were friendly and patient despite the long…read morelines. Unfortunately, this administration decided that funding the national parks was unimportant therefore there were minimal staff and maintenance. Fortunately, it appeared that most patrons were very respectful and mindful of the need to pick up after themselves.

When you go to Mount Rainier, this is one of the main stops you want to go to. This is the large…read morevisitor center in Paradise and is one of the most visited locations. If you want to let the kids out to stretch, use the bathroom and get a bite to eat, you can do it here. The parking lot will be full but if you keep circling around, you'll eventually find someone leaving. The chicken tacos with rice and beans were actually pretty good. Worth trying if you're needing a bite to eat. The top floor of the visitor center has a lot of different exhibits that tell about Mount Rainier and the wildlife in the area. Would recommend stopping if in the area.

Really awesome visitor center on the south side of Mt Rainier national park. During peak months in…read morethe summer, the parking situation can be a bith frustrating. We were lucky and patient and snagged a great spot close to the entrance after making a couple of rounds. This is the place to use the restroom, fill up water bottles at the water fountain, and grab souvenirs at the gift shop. While the shop was small and difficult to maneuver, the rangers were stationed in a wider area so it was easier to get those commemorative stamps and ask your questions. We also visited the little cafeteria for lunch. They had high chairs that we were able to grab and sit our toddlers down. It's line up in the respective line for your food item, load it onto your tray, and pay at the cashier stand type of self service. They had walking tacos, so a bag of chips, opened up and you pick shredded chicken or beef with the fixings (lettuce, cheese, salsa, packets of sour cream). It was actually quite satisfying. Unfortunately the cup of clam chowder we got was quite thin and lacking in ingredients, though it did have a nice smokey flavor from the bacon.

This is a nice visitor center in the Paradise area of Mt. Rainier Natl. Park. It's warm, has a cute…read morelittle museum upstairs and a gift shop. And a cafe downstairs. Cozy seating. Nice for a rainy, snowy, cold day. If you hike up the loops, you can see a waterfall and a glacier. And marmots are popular!

The place to start your trip! The new digs of the Visitor's Center are top notch, and have plenty…read moreof brochures, helpful guides, and amazing staff that can point you in the right direction and offer personalized recommendations. They are super close to Nuvrei bakery and Powell's - ideal spots to hit right after or beforehand of your Portland adventure. They keep all items fresh and upto date so this is a great PDX resource. Go visit!

Staff were knowledgeable and friendly. Visitor center is…read morevery close to Powell's Books, hotels, shopping, and attractions. They have WiFi, cell phone charging stations, and water fill stations too. The center is stocked with brochures from over 200 attractions + city and state maps

Just what I needed....a vista of Mount Saint Helen's, a restroom, a free movie of the 1980…read moreexplosion, and a gift shop with Big Foot t-shirts. What else is needed!? Located about 10-15 miles before Cascade Lake (the end of the road), this rest stop is a 'must stop!' I took some beautiful pics to mark this sunshiny day. There are plenty of parking stalls, accessible bathrooms, and the gift shop sells snacks, too! The next time you head out to the mountain, stop here and take a load off!

This is a great spot to learn at. No Charge and willing docents that want to share their knowledge…read more And a short video included.

OMG OMG OMG. YOU ALL NEED TO JUST DO IT. THERE ARE TRAILA THERE ARE ELKS DEER RABBITS YETI ...AND…read moreOMG THERE'S SNOW !!! Yes I was like a child in a toy store. I literally scared my hubby (he was driver) when I screeched in excitement... some of the trails were closed down to vehicles because of flooding and rock falls (takes time to clear)....but we did go all way up but as for Mother Nature some ares once at top summit are also closed cause she's shedding winter snow yet... If you get a chance do it. This trip is not one I'll say you check and decide for yourself, This time ISAY GO JUST GO YOU WONT REGRET IT!!!!

Mount Rainier NPis such a gorgeous park. The drive up from Seattle was simple and didn't feel like…read morethe 2 plus hours. I was grateful for nearly perfect weather- even with the various microclimates throughout the park. I was prepared for the heavy humidity and the chilli weather. The park was "closed" due to the government shutdown and so we didn't have to pay the entrance fee which was nice. I do however feel bad for the park rangers and staff that were unable to work. We took the route of the Paradise route and stopped at the different viewpoints but there were a few closures. Reflection lake was beautiful but a bit crowded.

Unfortunately, we arrived at this site after dark and left before dawn (therefore no photos), but…read morethe campsite was very easy to find and access even after hours. I would have liked to stay here for more than a few hours as the views of Mt. St Helens in nearby. Another thing to note about this campsite is that is is under a tall tree canopy. It is really cool to wander the paths between campsites and look up at the massive trees. It was a pretty unique place to stay. PRO TIP: Although the showers are clean (and warm), they DO REQUIRE tokens. be sure to get some before you get naked (like I did)..

Great campground that is close to the Visitor Center. Clean bathrooms, nice playground, plenty of…read moreshade, trees to hang hammocks, trails for walking, nice large campsites. Our only complaint was that the sites near the road are very very noisy. We assumed the traffic would cease at a certain point but it seemed like it was pretty steady all night long.

One of the best visitor information centers we've been in. In my career I supervised a visitor…read moreinformation center and taught customer service so I'm pretty well-versed. First off, well-signed and easy to find from both directions. Second, easy to read large map of the region out by the front door showing the towns and parks (with simple graphics showing amenities at each park). It's nice that you can get info even after hours. Inside you'll find plenty of brochures for the region to help plan your trip. Finally, but in my opinion, most importantly, they have a wonderful young woman inside who really knows her job. She greeted us warmly when we walked in and came out from behind her desk to help us. She knew every brochure they had and was able to answer our questions. If I were still in this line of work, I'd hire her in a heartbeat. She makes this place what it is!