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If you look at a map of Washington, you will see that Packwood, Washington is a small stop along Route 12 (White Pass Highway) in Mt. Rainier National Park. Today I’ll share why you should make a stop here on a family road trip or vacation.

visit packwood washington

It seems like forever ago that my friend Laura and I met up in Seattle for our epic road trip through Washington State on our sponsored #PNWFoodieRoadtrip (search that hashtag on social media for some of our adventures). I shared about some of our other stops here – Things to Do When You Visit Enumclaw, Washington, Where to Stay in Enumclaw, Garlic Sriracha Shrimp Dinner Salad, and Where to Eat in Union Gap, Washington.

Packwood, Washington really is a small town located 2.5 hours Southeast of Seattle with a population of just over 300 people. While this isn’t a major tourist destination, they have highlights that make it worth a visit – especially if you’re on a road trip through Washington.

5 Suggestions when you Visit Packwood, Washington

  1. Mountain Goat Coffee Co. – Every good day starts with a good cup of coffee so shouldn’t it also be the number one reason to visit a town? (Really though, these are in no particular order). Mountain Goat is a coffee roaster and bakery that is clearly a popular morning stop judging by the line we stood in when we visited. The coffee was great. We both took a pound home with us if that’s any indication.
    Mountain Goat Coffee Packwood Washington
  2. Hiking! Packwood is located in Mt. Rainier National Forest as I said, with fantastic hiking close at hand.  Mt. Rainier is 13 miles away and you can access The Pacific Crest Trail just 20 miles east at the top of White Pass. Along with this, there are many hiking trails in Mt. Rainier National Park and Gifford Pinchot National Forest. Grove of the Patriarchs looked like an amazing hike. We just ran out of time to visit. See more hiking options here. (Also, in winter there’s skiing at the top of White Pass.)
    Krackerbarrel White Pass
  3. Packwood Brewing Co. – We visited while it was still a demo’ed work in progress but got to learn the history of the building and learn more about what was coming. Now fully, opened, if you stop in after seeing this, let them know a blogger who visited while they were still dreaming of opening sent you.
    Packwood Washington Brewing Company
  4. Packwood Station – The historic Packwood Ranger’s Station is a great spot for a family reunion or extended family vacation with several buildings that can house up to 40 people with 20 acres of land that allow for RVs and tenting also. They also have a smaller rental for a family of 4. 
    Historic Packwood Rangers Station
  5. **PERMANENTLY CLOSED** Josie’s Family Italian Restaurant – stop in for a meal or dessert. My vote is the tiramisu. Call ahead for reservations.
    Josies Italian Restaurant Packwood Washington

Where We Stayed When We Visited Packwood, Washington

TMC Rentals is another place you can look for rentals. We were hosted in the Box Car Bill Suite. The room is part of a beautiful luxurious cabin with a country motif. 

Boxcar Bill Suite Packwood

The window looks out on the Cowlitz River with a view of mountains (the pictures at the top and bottom of this post), and if you listen for the bald eagle’s scream and watch carefully, you just may see a pair winging their way up the river.

Boxcar Bill Suite Packwood Washington

This rental would be lovely for a couple trying to get away from the hustle and bustle of life. While the advertisement mentions they can make the bed into 2 twins or a king we were told on arrival that it was too difficult to turn into twin beds. We also noted that it was not possible for us to lock the door dividing our room from the main house in a way that any one in the main house could not enter whenever they wished.

Boxcar Bill Suite Packwood Washington

Have you ever been to Packwood, Washington? Maybe you live there. If so, leave a comment with any  suggestions I should add to the list.

5 Things to Do Visit Packwood Washington

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2 Comments

  1. When staying in Packwood, I’d strongly suggest staying at Moon Mountain. There are 3 houses to choose from, each unique and extremely well decorated and clean. Beautiful views. River and hiking trails.
    Elk most mornings outside our window!

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