Parks

Adventure, Campgrounds, Camping, Destinations & Itineraries, Parks

Camping at Mt. Rainier

Camping at Mt. Rainier Mt. Rainier is one of Washington State’s most notable landmarks. The Mount Rainier National Park is one of the most popular camping destinations in the state. Securing a campsite at the park can be difficult during peak seasons, so knowing what is available and plenty of planning will help you to secure the site that fits your RV needs and makes your trip easier. There are several campgrounds in Mount Rainier National Park, but only two camping spots accommodate RVs. This makes planning your RV camping trip to Mt. Rainier a bit more tricky. Ohanapecosh Campground– Located in the southeast corner of the park next to the Stevens Canyon entrance. The campground is heavily wooded allowing for much privacy and the feeling that you are truly getting out into the wilderness. This is the largest camping spot in the park. Each site is spacious and there is direct access to the Ohanapecosh River and the Silver Falls Trail.The best camping spots are, of course, next to the river. Pets are allowed in the campground. If you are looking for group camp spots there are just a few. The open season for this campsite is shorter than others. *cost:$20.00 per day/night and a National Park Pass is required *only accommodates RVs up to 32 feet *half of the sites are reservable, and half are first-come-first-serve Cougar Rock Campground– Cougar Rock is located between two of the most popular spots in Mt. Rainier National Park, Longmire, and Paradise, and as such is the most popular camping destination in the park. The campground is only open for two months during the summer peak season. There are great views as the campground lies on the banks of the Nisqually River and through the trees you can see Point Success. Camp sites are close together compared to Ohanapecosh, but it also means you are just a short walk from the campground bathrooms and potable water. Cougar Rock also has five group camp sites large enough to fit about four to five families. Campers can take advantage of direct access to the Wonderland Trail, a very popular Mt. Rainier hike. Another great hike accessible from the camp is to follow the Paradise River up to Narada Falls. On the way you will pass two smaller water falls, making it a very beautiful hike. Hike just over a mile past Narada Falls and you will be at Reflection Lakes. *no RV hook ups available, and limit of 35 foot RVs *Cost: $20.00 and a National Park Pass There are also a number of campsites along the edges of the Mt. Rainier National Park that allow you to be close to the beauty and hiking of the mountain. Most sites in and around the park are tent campsites, but there are some RV spots available and it is well worth the trip if you can get a spot to camp. For more tips on RV camping or information on RV rental please feel free to browse our website or contact us anytime. NW Adventure Rentals has a luxurious fleet of motorhomes and travel trailers, conveniently located in the Pacific Northwest at our Seattle location! Let us help you have a great outdoor vacation!

Adventure, Campgrounds, Destinations & Itineraries, Parks

RV Friendly Places You May Not Know About

RV Friendly Places You May Not Know About As you are out and about on your RV adventure, you may find that you want to alter your plans and take some extra R&R between destinations. Some places post that they prefer you not park an RV at their site, but there are some RV friendly places out there that welcome RVers to not only park, but they have special parking and may even allow a night of free camping. Based on what we’ve learned from our Seattle RV Rental Business, here are some of the best places: Truck Stops Truck stops can be found in nearly every state across the country. National brand truck stops are not just a place for truck drivers to take a break; they also welcome RV travelers. You can usually spend the night free of charge at many of them. Truck stops are hoping that you will come in and purchase their goods. Some truck stop chains that welcome RVs include: Flying J, Pilot Travel Centers, Travel Centers of America, and Rip Griffin Travel Centers. Some of these stops will not just offer overnight parking, fuel, and food; they also offer free dump sites and convenience stores to stock up on supplies. Since the stores are geared for long haul truckers you may find some useful travel gear that you might not find in a regular store. Some truck stops may even have showers and laundry services (for a charge of course). Large Chain Retail Stores It is probably no secret that Walmart is RV friendly. They are a national leader in letting RV campers stay overnight. One thing to be aware of is that not every Walmart offers this, as they must comply with the local ordinances of the city they reside in. Make sure to keep a lookout for posted signs that prohibit RV parking. Also be aware of the parking lot sweeping truck making its rounds in the middle of the night. Another store well known for RV friendliness is Kmart. Restaurants There are some restaurant chains that welcome RV travelers to park, come in and enjoy a meal, and stay for a night. Cracker Barrel- great food and very popular in southern states and Idaho. Some fast food chains will have extra parking space behind their regular parking lot to accommodate RVs such as McDonald’s, Subway, Arby’s, and Burger King, depending on the location. Some RV friendly restaurants will also offer free Wi-Fi. RV Parts and Service Stores What could be a more RV friendly place than an RV part store? Hopefully you wont be needing to hop in for a part while you are renting an RV for an adventure, but it is a great place to pick up camping accessories and get a free night of camping. Camping World is a great national RV parts chain. Casinos There are many casinos dotted along the great northwest. Almost any casino will welcome an RV to come and camp. They want you to come inside and enjoy some fun. Keep spending money inside and they will let you park in the RV area as long as you wish. Tiny Towns Small towns get a good amount of business from people passing through the town and tourists as they want you to stay and spend some cash. In some of these towns you can find an Elk’s Lodge or small park that will advertise a free night’s stay. Now that you know of some great places to rest for a night, get out there and adventure! Ready to Visit some RV Friendly Places? For more tips on RV camping or information on RV rental please feel free to browse our website or contact us anytime. NW Adventure Rentals has a luxurious fleets of motorhomes and travel trailers, conveniently located in the Pacific Northwest at our Seattle RV location! Let us help you have a great outdoor vacation!

Adventure, Camping, Camping in Washington State, Parks, RV Lifestyle & Travel

How to Avoid Ticks and Prepare a Tick Kit for Camping

How to Avoid Ticks and Prepare a Tick Kit for Camping Over recent years, ticks have become more and more prevalent. If you are on social media at all you have probably seen the stories of people who thought they would never come in contact with a tick ending up with Lyme disease. The answer, of course, is not to never go out and enjoy the wilderness. Taking a few minutes to assemble a tick kit for your next RV camping trip can help to prevent any of the scary illnesses brought on by bacteria in tick saliva. If you have ever seen, read an article about, or known someone with Lyme disease, you will know the importance of having a tick kit at the ready. Taking a few minutes to assemble a tick kit before your next camping trip is quick and easy and you may already have the items you need on hand. For your kit you will need rubbing alcohol or iodine scrub, sealable bags or tape, and a pair of fine tip tweezers. Take all of the kit items and place them in a clearly labeled small box or pouch so all of the items are together and ready to go. The next step is to learn about how to remove a tick before they latch on to your body. This is where the tweezers in the kit come in handy. There are special tick removal devices you can purchase, but the Center for Disease Control and Prevention states that a pair of pointy tipped tweezers will do the job. Use the tweezers to grasp the tick as close as you can near the skin and pull it away with constant, steady, and even pressure. Be careful not to twist or jerk a tick, this could cause body parts of the tiny pest to break off and maybe even cause it to leave more saliva behind. Tick saliva is where the disease causing bacteria live. Once the tick is removed, do not dispose of it. Place the tick in a sealed bag or wrap it tightly in tape. You can also tape the tick to an index card. Keeping the tick is useful should you need to see a doctor if irritation occurs. It is also a good idea to write down the time and date the tick was removed. The CDC states you can dispose of a tick by flushing it down the toilet. Do not look to other tick removal “hacks”; the only way to remove a tick is with tweezers and careful pressure. Stay away from methods like painting the tick with nail polish or petroleum jelly, dousing with peppermint essential oil, or the use of heat. You want to remove the tick from the body as quickly as possible and not wait for it to detach from the skin. Having a tick kit handy can make a huge difference in your likelihood to contract a serious illness. For more tips on RV camping or information on RV rental please feel free to browse our website or contact us anytime. NW Adventure Rentals has a luxurious fleets of motorhomes and travel trailers, conveniently located in the Pacific Northwest at our Seattle location! Let us help you have a great outdoor vacation!