I'm planning a trip that will take us to Washington in September. I'm thinking of going to North Cascades NP, Olympic NP, and Mt. Ranier NP. (For reference, we'll be coming from Glacier NP.) Considering all the islands and the metropolitan area of Seattle, can anyone give me advice on which roads to take and which to avoid? We're in a 29' Class C and will be towing a Jeep, so I'm a bit concerned about traffic and length restrictions. And we are totally unfamiliar with this part of the country. We'll have a couple of weeks to explore the area, and we'd like to maximize our options. Any ideas of what to do (or where to stay) would also be appreciated, but I'm mostly concerned about the optimal roads to take (and what to avoid.)Thanks for any help!Debbie

Avoid Seattle all the time. Avoid INterstate 5 between Olympia and Everett as much as you can, especially on Fri afternoon. I drive up there every year at least once to see family. I usually stay on the east side of the Cascades and drop into Seattle from I-90 over Snoqualmie Pass. YOu have to drive around Puget Sound, unless you want to take a ferry. You could drive from Glacier to North Cascades on US 20. Then go south on the east side of the Cascades to Yakima and visit Mt Rainier via Naches and White Pass. From there leave the Park and head southwest to I5 near Olympia. From there head to Oly Peninsula.

My maps are out in the car and I'm still in my jammies so I'm not going to be able to look for highway designations but I will suggest that you avoid if possible I-5 from Olympia to Everett. Driving through Seattle is really tough anytime, far worse that most of L.A.You can visit Cascades then drop down I-5 a way to catch the ferry over to Pt. Townsend then on to Olympic NP and then down and over to Olympia and back up to Rainier. 101 basically circles the Penn. but Kala Loch(Clay Lock) a nice campground is on the West side as is Hoh Rain forest(Mick Dodge). Forks is on 101, it is where Twilight was filmed. There are campgrounds all over the Penn. You would do best by Googling them.Remember Rain Forest and Hurricane Ridge can mean some foul weather. Only problem the weather presents to me is walking the dogie. Google Washington St Ferries for routes and times.

D.E.Bishop wrote:My maps are out in the car and I'm still in my jammies so I'm not going to be able to look for highway designations but I will suggest that you avoid if possible I-5 from Olympia to Everett. Driving through Seattle is really tough anytime, far worse that most of L.A.You can visit Cascades then drop down I-5 a way to catch the ferry over to Pt. Townsend then on to Olympic NP and then down and over to Olympia and back up to Rainier. 101 basically circles the Penn. but Kala Loch(Clay Lock) a nice campground is on the West side as is Hoh Rain forest(Mick Dodge). Forks is on 101, it is where Twilight was filmed. There are campgrounds all over the Penn. You would do best by Googling them.Remember Rain Forest and Hurricane Ridge can mean some foul weather. Only problem the weather presents to me is walking the dogie. Google Washington St Ferries for routes and times.THanks-- this is helpful. It didn't occur to me that the ferries might take the RV-- I will look into that. Also helpful is the info about the I-5. It's hard to know how awful an interstate can be, but we've had to thread our way through I80/I90 south of Chicago and it's a nightmare. We'll try to make a wide loop to avoid Seattle and then maybe drive in with the Jeep, or take a ferry or something like that.

The North Cascades didn't get the snow they wanted, so now the Ross Lake is way down, 60" from dock to water. no boats can launch.Your best bet to camp is Colonial Creek camp ground on Lake Diablo We were just there, all lakes are way low.

Honeybee8888 wrote:I'm planning a trip that will take us to Washington in September. I'm thinking of going to North Cascades NP, Olympic NP, and Mt. Ranier NP. (For reference, we'll be coming from Glacier NP.) Considering all the islands and the metropolitan area of Seattle, can anyone give me advice on which roads to take and which to avoid? We're in a 29' Class C and will be towing a Jeep, so I'm a bit concerned about traffic and length restrictions. And we are totally unfamiliar with this part of the country. We'll have a couple of weeks to explore the area, and we'd like to maximize our options. Any ideas of what to do (or where to stay) would also be appreciated, but I'm mostly concerned about the optimal roads to take (and what to avoid.)Thanks for any help!DebbieDon't miss the North Cascade Highway. #20 from Okanogan to Burlington Wa

Washington National Parks-- route recommendations?

17 Replies

profdant139
Explorer II
May 14, 2019
paul, do you remember how time consuming it used to be to do that "what if" mapping and planning? Those calculations -- "what if I go via this route instead of that one" -- were very tedious. And even then, we could get mileages but did not really know how long each of the alternate routes would take.

There are a lot of things about the 21st century I don't like. But Google Maps ain't one of them. ;)
paulj
Explorer II
May 14, 2019
When I ask Google Maps for Ashford to Sedro-Wooley, it gives a 150 mile route with time estimate ranging from 2hr 40min to an hour more.

One choice in the south is between WA7 (via Spanaway) and 161 (Puyallup). Both have twisty sections in the south, and suburban business in the north before hitting the freeways. The other choice is between I5 and I405, about the same.

If I tell it to avoid freeways, and drag the route to Snoqualmie, it adds 10-15 miles, and a hour to the route.

I like the drive through the Snoqualmie valley. I was just out there checking out a 30 mile bike trail. But if my goal was to get from one end to the other, as opposed to sightseeing and poking around, I'm not sure that avoiding the freeways is worth it.

With the mountains to the east, and Sound to the west, there aren't any fast outer beltways around the metro area.

North of King Co, WA9 is the main alternative to I5. But that doesn't get into country until north of Arlington. And after that there are windy sections. Often I leave the freeway at Arlington, and head east to Darrington and then north to WA20, bypassing the town driving at the west end of 20.

If I change the destinations to Packwood and Winthrop, it takes me east to US97 and north, adding 100 miles, and estimated time of 5 hr. I like that drive, but that's basically a full day's travel.
Dave5143
Explorer
May 13, 2019
paulj wrote:
West or east side of the mountains?

Preferably West side.
Honeybee8888
Explorer
May 13, 2019
Thanks to all of you for the great ideas and suggestions. My current route, after reading your advice, is taking us west from Glacier via US 2 to Coulee Dam (great suggestion!) and then back north-west via WA 20, taking the ferry as suggested to Port Townsend, and then around the peninsula and down to Ranier. I've currently allowed 12 days for all of this, but I may cut off some of the pre-Glacier leg(s) of the trip in order to give us a few more days in Washington. After WA it's down through the Portland area (friends and family) to Lassen Volcanic NP, and then we'll have to head back east again. (Last year, we couldn't get to Lassen because of the fires, and spent some extra time in Idaho instead. If that happens again (and I sure HOPE not!), we'll use the time to go to the Astoria, OR coastal area before heading home.) Overall, an 8 week (plus a few extra days) trip. Our longest yet-- I am psyched!

Thanks again for all your help!
paulj
Explorer II
May 13, 2019
West or east side of the mountains?
Dave5143
Explorer
May 12, 2019
If I wanted to go directly from Mt. Rainier NP to North Cascades NP while avoiding the worst that Seattle has to offer what route(s) should I take? I've already been to Olympic NP. I'm towing a 34' TT.
Roy_Lynne
Explorer
May 12, 2019
profdant139 wrote:
If you go to the Mt. Baker area in Sept., save some time for picking huckleberries and wild mountain blueberries!
Just keep an eye out for black bear.
profdant139
Explorer II
May 12, 2019
If you go to the Mt. Baker area in Sept., save some time for picking huckleberries and wild mountain blueberries!
vermilye
Explorer
May 11, 2019
While they probably have cleaned them up, when I was visiting the east side of Mt St Helens (2012), Forest Service Roads 25 & 99 had many frost heaves. Still well worth the trip. It is amazing how much damage from the eruption still showed.

Some Photos.
paulj
Explorer II
May 11, 2019
I imagine in Central NJ you are used to driving your rig on urban freeways. The freeways through the Seattle metro area (Everett to Tacoma) can't any worse than that. But go to the WSDOT website if you need more information on traffic levels and such. I've also gotten good traffic timings from Google maps.

But for these parks you don't need to pass through the cites, provided you are willing to spend some money on ferries.

WA20 or US2 across the eastern half of the state, the WA20 across the North Cascades is a good scenic choice. Then continue on WA 20 onto Whidbey Island, and short ferry ride to Port Townsend (check WSDOT for times, fares and reservations). Check WA state parks for this area.

Then loop around the Olympics (I just did that in 3 days with a 2 night stay at Kalaloch Campground. Use the jeep to take side trips into the Olympic mountains and valleys.

Then US12 to the Rainier area. Camping on US12 around Packwood might be a good idea, with Jeep drives into Rainier, and maybe south to St Helens. The road up to Paradise can be driven in the full rig, but would be more fun in a car - especially if you want to park and takes walks.

You can drive any state and federally numbered highway with your rig (at least in Washington).