Treasure hunting at Rainier’s gateway town

Packwood’s famous Memorial Day flea market fills town with antiques, gear, and quirky finds—an ideal stop before hiking Mount Rainier or White Pass.

Start date

22 May, 2026

End date

25 May, 2026 8:00 PM

Event details

Over Memorial Day weekend, the Packwood Flea Market turns this small Cascade foothills town into one of the Pacific Northwest’s largest open-air shopping circuits. For more than a mile along Highway 12 in Lewis County, Washington, you can browse antiques, vintage clothing, outdoor gear, tools, and the kind of one-off finds that reward a patient search. Between stops, you are minutes from the Cowlitz River and the trailheads and backroads of Gifford Pinchot National Forest, so it is easy to pair shopping with a quick hike or a scenic drive.

What you come for is scale and variety. Hundreds of vendors set up across parking lots, fields, and driveways, with a mix of seasoned antique dealers, local makers, and collectors rotating in each season. Expect everything from hand-carved woodwork and Native American art to household hardware, camp gear, and display-worthy curiosities. The pace is lively and social, and if you are traveling with family or friends, it is simple to split up and regroup along the highway.

Plan for an early start if you want the best selection and the least stress. You will do well arriving by 8:00 AM on Friday or Saturday, before traffic slows through town and parking fills. Entry is free, but you should budget $3 to $10 for private-lot parking, bring cash for vendors who do not take cards, and pack layers plus a rain shell because the market runs in all conditions. If you are buying furniture or other heavy pieces, coordinate pickup via the east driveway at Snyder Road, and keep dogs on a fixed-length leash since aisles can be tight.

Stay close if you can. Lodging in Packwood and nearby Randle often books months ahead, so we recommend locking in cabins, vintage motels, or campsites early through Lake.com, or choosing national forest campgrounds such as La Wis Wis or an in-town RV site within walking distance. You will also find plenty of food trucks for breakfast plates, tamales, curly fries, and sweets, and if May does not work, the market returns over Labor Day weekend with a similar footprint. Accessibility is best along the flat highway corridor, while some vendor zones sit on uneven grass or gravel, so plan your route accordingly.