Decide between Hoh rainforest and Mt. Rainier-help!

[Amazon22]

Due to a last minute change plans, looks like we need to reduce our night in Mt. Rainier (Packwood) from 3 nights to 2 nights if we decide to stay at the Queielete oceanfront resort (one night only). Driving there from Olympic (Port Angeles). With kids 11 and 15. What do you recommend?

[Anonymous]

your question doesn't make sense. Are you saying you would reduce your time at mt Rainier in order to spend a night in Queielete? Are you debating whether it is worth it?

[Anonymous]

Are you asking if you should go to Quileute or not?

[Anonymous]

Be sure to check the distance and travel time. It may not be worth a one-nighter. We went to Olympic National Park last summer and found the driving and the wait to get into parking lots was far greater than anticipated.

[Amazon22]

Anonymous wrote:your question doesn't make sense. Are you saying you would reduce your time at mt Rainier in order to spend a night in Queielete? Are you debating whether it is worth it?

Yes, debating exactly that.

[Amazon22]

Anonymous wrote:Be sure to check the distance and travel time. It may not be worth a one-nighter. We went to Olympic National Park last summer and found the driving and the wait to get into parking lots was far greater than anticipated.

Which parking lots? Guess early morning would be better?

[Anonymous]

Amazon22 wrote:

Anonymous wrote:your question doesn't make sense. Are you saying you would reduce your time at mt Rainier in order to spend a night in Queielete? Are you debating whether it is worth it?

Yes, debating exactly that.

Will you already be in Port Angeles or are you going from Ranier to Queilete? I would not drive from Ranier to Queilete as that is a 5+ hr drive and Hoh is another hour in and out. If you will already be in Port Angeles then i think it is worth it.

You are are really not making it easy to help you with your complete lack if information

[Anonymous]

Mt. Ranier is actually really close to Hyattsville and any easy day trip from most of the DMV. (Sorry, couldn't resist)

[Anonymous]

Amazon22 wrote:Due to a last minute change plans, looks like we need to reduce our night in Mt. Rainier (Packwood) from 3 nights to 2 nights if we decide to stay at the Queielete oceanfront resort (one night only). Driving there from Olympic (Port Angeles). With kids 11 and 15. What do you recommend?

Absolutely not. This is an incredibly long drive. If you're going to the Olympic Peninsula coast, you really have to overnight 2 night to make it anywhere close to worth it.

[Anonymous]

Agree with the PP definitely do not go to Olympic Peninsula coast for just one night. And if anyone considering readying this is planning to go to the Hoh rain forest, you have to get there early. We got there by 9am with no problems (it is at least an hour drive to get there from anywhere from what I remember) and when we left at around 2pm, the line of cars to get in was crazy long and they had to wait one-by-one for people to exit the park. I would just stay at Mt Ranier and do a separate trip to ONP another time.

[Anonymous]

It depends on your taste, but I think Mt. Rainier is much more interesting for hiking and views if you have to pick one.

[Anonymous]

I'm not an expert on the area, only been once, but I think Quiellutete (sp?) is about three hours from Ranier. Hoh is proabably another hour. Both are beautiful, but seems like a lot of extra driving for just one night. If you can't extend at Ranier, maybe stay in Port Angeles and go up Hurricane Ridge?

[Anonymous]

I wouldn’t do it. We went to Olympic and Rainier last year and I definitely packed the itinerary. My kids were 12 and 15. Hiking in Mount Rainier was definitely the highlight of our trip. I think it’s about a five hour drive from the resort to Packwood and that’s not allowing for any stops. You need to account for logistics like parking, getting food, etc. Driving from Packwood into the park probably takes almost 2 hours? Unless you are early risers, you may find a line at the entrance into the park.

[Anonymous]

It’s definitely over an hour to drive to the Hob rainforest visitor Center from he resort, not to mention parking.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm not an expert on the area, only been once, but I think Quiellutete (sp?) is about three hours from Ranier. Hoh is proabably another hour. Both are beautiful, but seems like a lot of extra driving for just one night. If you can't extend at Ranier, maybe stay in Port Angeles and go up Hurricane Ridge?

More like 5 hrs. from Rainier. i would not do it for one night.