Overview
Ashford is a town in the South Sound of Washington State that serves as a gateway to Mount Rainier National Park.
2 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: Jun–Sep. Summer highs reach about 76°F; winter lows dip to about 25°F. Cold months (Jan, Feb, Dec) can bring snow and ice; check road conditions. Wettest: Nov and Dec. (climate data from nearby Mount Rainier National Park)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- TIW Tacoma Narrows Airport, Tacoma — 44 mi away. Directions
- OLM Olympia Regional Airport, Olympia — 44 mi away. Directions
- SEA Seattle–Tacoma International Airport, Seattle — 50 mi away (major hub). Directions
State Route 706 (WA-706) is the only road through the town. The rural highway connects to the rest of western Washington via WA-7, and through Mount Rainier to Longmire, Paradise Valley Road, and Stevens Canyon Road.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Food for you
There are several roadside restaurants along WA-706 in and around Ashford. There are fewer dining options once you enter the park.
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Get in
State Route 706 (WA-706) is the only road through the town. The rural highway connects to the rest of western Washington via WA-7, and through Mount Rainier to Longmire, Paradise Valley Road, and Stevens Canyon Road.
By car
From Tacoma, take State Route 7 (WA-7) south. At Elbe, keep straight onto WA-706, which leads into the MRNP Nisqually entrance.
Buy
Eat
There are several roadside restaurants along WA-706 in and around Ashford. There are fewer dining options once you enter the park.
Sleep
Stay Stormking Cabins and Day Spa
As featured in Northwest Best Places and Best Places to Kiss in the Northwest offers private deluxe cabins each with private hot tub. Spa facilities catering to couples with massage packages available. Located only one mile from main entrance to Mt. Rainier National Park between Ashford and park entrance.
Stay Historic Mineral Lake Lodge
1905 three story log lodge on pristine Mineral Lake near the Southwest entrance to Mt. Rainier National Park. Registered on the National Register for Historic Properties. Magnificent view of Mt. Rainier. Open for lodging year round, just five minutes off the beaten path to Mt. Rainier on beautiful Mineral Lake.
Go next
- Eatonville, home of the Northwest Trek wildlife park and the Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad.
- Mount Rainier National Park, the reason why people pass through Ashford.
- Tacoma, the major port city with a robust museum and arts scene.
Nearby
Eatonville
City / town · 2 listings · 14 mi away
Mount Rainier National Park
Park · 67 listings · 17 mi away
Packwood
City / town · 4 listings · 19 mi away
Mossyrock
City / town · 3 listings · 27 mi away
Puyallup
City / town · 13 listings · 32 mi away
Greenwater
City / town · 6 listings · 33 mi away
Fife
City / town · 7 listings · 37 mi away
Auburn
City / town · 17 listings · 39 mi away
My experience
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