Four of us will be spending two nights at Rainier in late July 2013. There is availability for rooms with bath at both Paradise Inn and the National Park Inn.I am leaning towards the NPI because is seems a bit lower key and is smaller. Any thoughts about the positives and negatives of each and specific room choice of each? Thanks!
Which place to stay at Rainier National Park
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The National Park Inn is located in Longmire, at about 2700' altitude, while Paradise Inn sits almost twice as high. Speaking for myself, I would much rather stay at Paradise, right near timberline elevation, where you can step outside and stroll on high alpine trails (https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.502502317121.518.295000001&type=3). I also am quite fond of the 30s-era big timber rustic decor of the famous National Parks lodges such as Paradise Inn. If you stay in Longmire, you are going to have to get into your car and drive up toward Paradise to see much anyway.
Having said that, the rooms at Paradise (particularly the older unrenovated ones) are not as nice as those at NPI, and the overall quality of the accommodations are not as good a value.
NPI would be lower key and would be quieter. However, Paradise is where I would stay for sure. We were there mid-August. Expect crowds from 9:00AM-7:00PM. If you get up sunrise, it is peaceful and not a lot going on. This was our first visit there and I have never seen wildflowers of this magnitude-not even close. Hike as many of the trails right outside the door of Paradise Inn as you can, they are great!
http://www.fodors.com/community/united-states/trip-photo-book-seattle-olympic-cascades-rainier-whale-watching.cfm
Here is a link to our trip. We did eat a meal at NPI and frankly it wasn't any good.
The lodge isn't all that big--not compared to many national park lodges so we really aren't talking a huge crowd.
Driving is slow in the area and Paradise is where you are going to want to get to much of the time. I'd rather just be there.
Thanks for the information.