Where is Olympia, Washington, USA?

Written and fact-checked by | Reviewed by WhereIG Editorial Team | Last updated: August 14, 2026, 18:45 ET

Where is Olympia Located? - Olympia is a city located in the Thurston County of Washington, United States. Olympia lies between 35.2219971 Degrees North latitudes and 101.8312969 Degrees West longitudes.

Location Map of Olympia, Washington

Where is Olympia, Washington

Olympia Map, Washington, USA

Where is Olympia?: The Google Map showing the location of Olympia in the U.S. state of Washington.

Where is Olympia Located?

Olympia is a city located in the Thurston County of Washington, United States. Olympia lies between 35.2219971 Degrees North latitudes and 101.8312969 Degrees West longitudes. According to 2020 U.S.census, the population of Olympia city is 55605 people and the city has a total area of 18.24 sq mi. The city has numerous parks and recreational facilities.

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Olympia, Washington Quick Facts

AttributeInformation
CityOlympia
CountyThurston County
StateWashington
State CapitalOlympia
US RegionWest (Pacific Northwest)
Latitude47.0379° N
Longitude122.9007° W
Elevation95 ft (29 m)
Land Area17.82 sq mi
Water Area8.70 sq mi
Total Area26.52 sq mi
Population (2020 Census)55,605
Population DensityApproximately 3,120 per sq mi
ZIP Codes98501, 98502, 98506, 98507
Area Code360
Time Zone StandardPacific Standard Time (PST, UTC−8)
Time Zone DaylightPacific Daylight Time (PDT, UTC−7)
CurrencyUnited States Dollar (USD)
FIPS Code53-51300
Congressional DistrictWashington's 10th Congressional District

Transportation and Connectivity in Olympia

CategoryInformation
Airport NameSeattle–Tacoma International Airport
IATA CodeSEA
Nearest Regional AirportOlympia Regional Airport
Major HighwaysInterstate 5, U.S. Route 101, State Route 8, State Route 507
Rail ServiceAmtrak Cascades passenger service at Olympia-Lacey Station
Public TransitIntercity Transit bus services
Regional ConnectionsSeattle, Tacoma, Portland, and Puget Sound region access
  • Olympia is the capital city of Washington and is located in Thurston County at the southern end of Puget Sound.
  • The city serves as the political and administrative center of Washington State.
  • Olympia developed as a trading settlement in the nineteenth century and became the state capital after Washington achieved statehood.
  • The city is known for government institutions, waterfront areas, historic neighborhoods, parks, and cultural attractions.

Top Places to Visit in Olympia, Washington

Landmark NameType
Washington State Capitol CampusGovernment and Historic Landmark
Olympia Farmers MarketLocal Market and Community Attraction
Capitol LakeLake and Recreation Area
Hands On Children's MuseumChildren's Museum
WET Science CenterScience Education Center
Priest Point ParkUrban Park and Nature Area
Burfoot ParkBeach and Recreation Area
Nisqually National Wildlife RefugeWildlife Refuge
Bigelow House MuseumHistoric Museum
Woodard Bay Natural Resources Conservation AreaNature Preserve

Driving Distances from Olympia, Washington to Nearby Cities

CityStateDistance (mi)Approx. Drive Time
LaceyWashington510 minutes
TumwaterWashington510 minutes
TacomaWashington3040 minutes
SeattleWashington601 hour 15 minutes
BellevueWashington651 hour 20 minutes
PortlandOregon1101 hour 50 minutes
VancouverWashington1202 hours
BellinghamWashington1452 hours 30 minutes
SpokaneWashington3505 hours 30 minutes
EugeneOregon1903 hours

Colleges and Universities Near Olympia, Washington

Institution NameTypeLevelNotable For
The Evergreen State CollegePublicCollegeLiberal arts, environmental studies, and interdisciplinary education
South Puget Sound Community CollegePublicCommunity CollegeCareer training, technical programs, and transfer education
Saint Martin's UniversityPrivateUniversityEngineering, business, education, and liberal arts
University of Washington TacomaPublicUniversityBusiness, technology, education, and research programs
University of WashingtonPublicUniversityResearch, medicine, engineering, and academics

Waterbodies Near Olympia, Washington

Puget Sound, Budd Inlet, Capitol Lake, Deschutes River, Black Lake, and nearby waterways of Thurston County.

Stadiums and Sports Facilities Near Olympia

Hands On Children's Museum recreation areas, South Sound sports facilities, The Evergreen State College athletic facilities, and nearby Tacoma-area sports venues.

Olympia, Washington — Key Historical Facts

  • Olympia was established in the early nineteenth century as a trading settlement near Budd Inlet and the southern Puget Sound region.
  • The city was named Olympia in 1850 after the nearby Olympic Mountains and was selected as the capital of Washington Territory.
  • Olympia became the state capital when Washington achieved statehood in 1889.
  • The city's economy historically developed around government, shipping, timber, and trade industries.
  • The Washington State Capitol Campus became one of Olympia's most important historic and architectural landmarks.
  • Today, Olympia is recognized for state government, environmental conservation, arts, waterfront recreation, and its role as the political center of Washington.

References

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