ASHFORD, Wash. – Mount Rainier National Park is set to begin two major construction projects in 2025 that will address aging infrastructure in the Ohanapecosh Campground and enhance travel on State Route 123 along the park's eastern edge.

These projects are aimed at resolving significant deficiencies and improving the overall visitor experience, although construction will cause temporary road and facility closures.

The Ohanapecosh Campground rehabilitation project will make major upgrades to this popular campground in the park's southeast corner. This includes refurbishing the campground’s 185 campsites and nine bathrooms, replacing the outdated wastewater collection system, and upgrading electrical and water systems. Accessibility improvements will also be part of the plan.

The project is slated for completion during the 2025 visitor season. Throughout the construction period, the Ohanapecosh Campground and all related amenities—including the visitor center, bathrooms, picnic area, and auditorium—will be closed to the public. However, the improved campground will reopen in time for the 2026 camping season.

For those wishing to camp in the park during the summer of 2025, both the White River Campground and Cougar Rock Campground will remain open.

The Ohanapecosh project is partially funded by the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA), as well as through Recreation Fee revenue and the National Park Foundation. This legislation is a historic bipartisan initiative that aims to expand recreational access and address long-needed infrastructure improvements on public lands managed by the National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management, and Bureau of Indian Education schools. The GAOA funding is intended to reduce maintenance backlogs, protect vital resources, and support sustainable park operations.

The State Route 123 construction project is a two-year initiative to rehabilitate a 2.8-mile stretch of roadway between Laughingwater Creek and Panther Creek on the park’s eastern boundary. This work is funded by the Federal Highways Administration.

Here’s a look at the projected construction schedule and impacts:

Year One (2025)

• The 2.8-mile stretch will be under construction from April to October 2025, with delays of up to 30 minutes.
• There will be a full closure of the road between Stevens Canyon Road and Panther Creek from September 2-30, 2025, while crews install two large box culverts. These culverts are designed to better withstand high flows and flooding, reducing the risk of road washouts, costly repairs, and annual maintenance. They will also enhance habitats for amphibians and fish.
• No vehicle, pedestrian, or bicycle access will be allowed through the construction zone during the culvert replacement.

Year Two (2026)

• The 2026 construction season will not include full road closures.
• Work will continue on the 2.8-mile section of roadway from April to October 2026, with delays of up to 30 minutes.

“We are grateful to have the opportunity to make much-needed improvements to the Ohanapecosh Campground and State Route 123,” stated Superintendent Greg Dudgeon. “There will be some temporary inconveniences next year, but we know that this critical investment in our facilities will help ensure recreational opportunities for visitors for decades to come.”