How far is Mt. Rainier from Seattle and what should you take with you? Mt. Rainier is 61.4 miles away from Seattle, which takes roughly 2 hours, with no traffic. Though it may take a little bit of time to get all the way over to this famous national park, it’s well worth the time. With gorgeous mountain views and miles of trails, rivers and climbing terrain, there’s no shortage of things to do or vistas to see.
We want to help you get the most out of your trip to Mt. Rainier, so we’re going to cover some details about what you should be sure to bring when you head out to camp at this gorgeous national park.
The Best Tents for Camping
Bringing a tent on your camping trip is pretty much a given, but there are so many options it can be difficult to find what will be the most comfortable. Because sleep is so very important after long hiking days, you want to be sure that you have the space, air flow and coverage that you need for a restful evening. These needs, however, can change according to the people you bring with you and the season you’re visiting.
Determining Size
There’s no general standard for determining how many people can fit in a tent, so when you’re accommodating adults or want a little more elbow room, it’s often best to aim for a tent built for an extra person. This is especially true if you’ll be camping with children or a pet in the same tent.
What Seasonal Tents Mean
It can be easy to get distracted by the massive variety of tents available, whether they’re backpacking tents, dome tents, A-frame tents, tunnel tents or any other shape. What’s most important in terms of temperature and season, however, is the distinction between season use. Season 1 and 2 tents are made to be thin, lightweight, and are best used during the summer months. They won’t hold up especially well to rain, which may make them less than ideal for camping near the mountain.
Season 3 tents are the most versatile and are equipped to accommodate campers during the spring, summer and fall. Many of them feature rain flies and coverable vents so you can adjust the warmth of the tent according to the weather.
Although they’re called season 4 tents, these types of tents are best used during the winter months and feature more heavy duty materials to keep campers warm. Outside of these, season 5 tents are designed for professional mountaineers and explorers who deal with high altitudes and very cold weather.
There’s no single best kind of tent for everyone, but once you have a sense of size and weather conditions you’ll be camping in, you can make a solid investment to keep you comfortable staying the night in the natural landscape around Mt. Rainier.
What to Take for Outdoor Cooking
Much like a tent, it’s not a question of whether or not you’ll bring food and equipment during your stay, but a question of what you should bring. It’s easy to overcrowd your car with unimportant items, only to realize you’re missing something important the moment you need it. Every park has its own limitations regarding how to manage cooking fires, how to store your food and how to dispose of trash, so keep these common tips in mind when making your campsite cooking checklist.
Proper Food Storage and Disposal
The easiest way to avoid an overflowing campground receptacle is to prepare for trash disposal ahead of time. Food scraps can easily attract animals, so be prepared to stash away food and critter-attracting garbage in odor-proof bags, bear bags and bear canisters. You should also always store your toothpaste in a bear box or canister. Lastly, take care with how water is disposed and use a separate container to clean cookware and dishware before disposing of the water away from a campsite.
Tools and Fuel for Food
You can skip cooking over a campfire completely with portable stovetops, but if you want an authentic campfire experience, the requirements for wood fires are important to follow. You can purchase firewood on your way to the campsite, but don’t bring anything that was cut 50 miles or more from the campground. This is because insects and dangerous plant diseases from distant locations can threaten the health of the surrounding foliage. It’s also prohibited to forage for potential firewood around the campsites, so keep this in mind when camping.
You’ll also need enough accommodating tools for your wilderness menu. While every camper’s needs will vary, these basics should cover most outdoor visits:
– Matches/Firestarters
– (Collapsible) Pots, pans and lids
– Cooking utensils (skewers, tongs, can openers)
– Bottle opener
– Cooking knives and cutting board
– (Collapsible) Mixing Bowls
– Eating utensils/Messkit
– Cups, plates and bowls
– Napkins/paper towels
– Insulated or reusable water bottles
– Flashlight/Lantern
– Coolers
– Bear canisters/odor-proof bags
– Camp sink/bucket
– Paper towels
– Cooking spices
Hiking Clothing
Last but not least, you’ll want to make sure you have proper clothing for the season you’ll be camping in. This is even more important for campers who stay longer than one day, as weather can change quickly and dramatically around the mountain. To stay comfortable, prepare for both warm and cold temperatures during the day and the evening. Having a jacket will be handy in case of rain, and a down jacket may become necessary for a cold spell during the evening.
The most important and easily underestimated pieces of clothing to consider are your shoes. During a full day of hiking, your feet and legs will experience a lot of stress that your everyday shoes don’t always handle well. To avoid blisters, uncomfortable sweating and sore feet, be sure to take along shoes that can handle the rougher trails and give you support for a full day on your feet.
Being close to nature is just one of many perks residents in Seattle enjoy. Hundreds of hiking opportunities are available to downtown Seattle residents, including a longer jaunt to the awe-inspiring Mt. Rainier. If you want to experience a luxury lifestyle with all the benefits of a nearby campground to rough it out, you can check out the outdoor-inspired design of The Emerald’s beautiful condos.
