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Tiny Ashford, Washington, is just west of the main entrance to Mount Rainier National Park. It makes a great base for visiting the park if you don’t plan to stay within its boundaries.
Introduction to Ashford
Ashford was originally settled by the Upper Nisqually nation, a Salish tribe. It’s named for Walter A. Ashford, who homesteaded there in 1888. There’s very little to do other than stay or eat in town while visiting the park.
Where to Stay in Ashford
We stayed in Ashford for one night to spend the next day visiting the park. Much of the park was closed due to heavy snowfall, otherwise we would have stayed longer.
Whittaker’s Motel
We chose to stay at Whittaker’s Motel and Historic Bunkhouse, opened by world-renowned mountain climber Lou Whittaker (1929-2024). Because we arrived after hours, our room key was in an envelope on the door.
Our room was a cozy triple room with three beds. The room was excellent but there was a problem with the shower because none of us could figure out how to turn on the water. The staff member on duty the next morning was a bit rude when we asked for help.
We were also upset about being overcharged for the room and weren’t happy with the way it was handled. Overall, as long as they train the staff with some customer service basics, we would be happy to stay there again. They also have a good café in the reception area serving cheap breakfasts.
Where to Eat in Ashford
There are a few very good places to eat in town. We were very happy with both places we stopped at.
Highlander (Permanently Closed)
For dinner, we ate Highlander. It’s a local bar with a restaurant on one side. We weren’t sure what to expect but the meal was excellent and we loved our server. I had a delicious roast beef with mashed potatoes, Marisol had soup and salad, and Tim had chicken fried steak. It really hit the spot.
Copper Creek Inn
The next day, after leaving the park, we stopped at Copper Creek Inn, which is both a restaurant and lodge. Tim, who worked at Mount Rainier for a year, told us they have the best blackberry shakes around. He was right!
