Olympia: Things to Do in Washington's Capital City and Where to Stay

Olympia is straightforward to reach by car. From Seattle, take I-5 south for 61 miles. The drive takes just over an hour under normal conditions, but afternoon rush hours (3 to 6 PM on weekdays) can stretch that to two to three hours, particularly through Tacoma. Plan accordingly if you are coming from the north on a weekday.

From Portland, take I-5 north for 114 miles, about 1 hour and 45 minutes. From Tacoma, it is 30 miles south on I-5, roughly 30 to 35 minutes.

Parking downtown is metered on-street and in city lots. Meters run Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM, and are free evenings, weekends, and holidays. The Capitol campus has its own free parking lots and is an easy walk from downtown.

Olympia punches above its size for food and drink, particularly for craft beer. The city’s progressive, college-town character pulls in independent restaurants over chains, and the proximity to Puget Sound and Thurston County farms keeps local sourcing part of the culture.

Restaurants

• Budd Bay Cafe: Pacific Northwest seafood with waterfront views at Percival Landing. Fresh locally caught fish, steaks, and Sunday brunch. The sunset views over West Bay justify the reservation.
• Cascadia Grill: A Northwest brasserie at 200 W. 4th Ave downtown. Pacific Northwest food, wine, and craft beer with a lively atmosphere and solid happy hour.
• Gardner’s Restaurant: Family-owned since 1983. Contemporary American with everything made from scratch. One of the better fine-dining options in the city.
• Basilico: Authentic Italian, consistently rated among the top restaurants in Olympia. Antipasti, fresh pasta, seasonal entrees. Reservations recommended on weekends.
• Wayside Cafe: The best plant-based option in Olympia, with creative vegetarian and vegan dishes that hold up even for non-plant-based diners.

Craft Beer

• Three Magnets Brewing: A flagship of the Olympia craft beer scene, downtown, with a strong food program alongside the taps.
• Well 80 Brewhouse: Named after the artesian wells that made Olympia a brewing center. Approachable house beers in a downtown setting.
• Tumwater Craft District: Just south of downtown on the former Olympia Brewing site, now a hub for craft beer, distilling, dining, and retail. Worth the short drive.

Coffee

• Olympia Coffee Roasters: One of Washington’s most respected specialty roasters, with multiple Olympia locations. Known for direct-trade sourcing and exceptional espresso.
• Dancing Goats Coffee: An Olympia original since 1988. Two locations in the city, a Certified B Corp, and a relaxed coffeehouse feel that’s held up for decades. Good stop before a Capitol tour or a morning at the farmers market.

Olympia’s location at the junction of I-5 and US-101 makes it an efficient starting point for a wide range of destinations. Mount Rainier, the Olympic Peninsula, and the Washington coast are all within comfortable day-trip range.

• Mount Rainier National Park: 94 miles, about 2 hours via WA-7 or WA-706 through Eatonville. The Nisqually entrance is the closest. Best combined with Paradise or Longmire for a full day.
• Olympic Peninsula: Take US-101 west from Olympia. Hood Canal and the Staircase entrance to Olympic National Park are about 60 miles, roughly 1 hour. Aberdeen and the coast are 49 miles, under an hour.
• Tacoma: 30 miles north, 30 to 35 minutes. Point Defiance Zoo, the Museum of Glass, and the Tacoma Art Museum make it a solid full-day option.
• Seattle: 61 miles north, about 1 hour under normal conditions. Plan around traffic if coming back on a weekday afternoon.
• Shelton: 22 miles northwest on US-101, about 25 minutes. Gateway to Hood Canal and the Olympic Peninsula’s east side.

Late spring through early fall is the most comfortable window. April is particularly good: cherry blossoms on the Capitol campus, the Procession of the Species, and the farmers market ramping up to full weekly hours. Summer is busy but not overwhelmingly so. Fall is underrated, especially September and October when the crowds thin but the weather often holds.

Olympia works well as a day trip from Seattle or Tacoma. Give it a full day and you can cover the Capitol campus, the farmers market (Thursday through Sunday), Percival Landing, and a good dinner. For two or three days, you have time for Tumwater Falls, Mima Mounds, Squaxin Park, and a day trip toward the coast or Mount Rainier.

The city is walkable in its core. The Capitol, farmers market, Percival Landing, and most downtown restaurants are within comfortable walking distance of each other. Tumwater Falls and the Nisqually Refuge require a car. Millersylvania State Park is a short drive south on I-5.