Where is Tumwater, Washington, USA?

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

Where is Tumwater Located? - Tumwater is a city located in the Thurston County of Washington, United States. Tumwater lies between 32.3512601 Degrees North latitudes and 95.3010624 Degrees West longitudes.

Location Map of Tumwater, Washington

Where is Tumwater, Washington

Tumwater Map, Washington, USA

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

Where is Tumwater Located?

Tumwater is a city located in the Thurston County of Washington, United States. Tumwater lies between 32.3512601 Degrees North latitudes and 95.3010624 Degrees West longitudes. According to 2020 U.S.census, the population of Tumwater city is 25350 people and the city has a total area of 17.43 sq mi. The city has numerous parks and recreational facilities.

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Tumwater, Washington Quick Facts

AttributeDetails
CityTumwater
CountyThurston County
StateWashington
State CapitalOlympia
US RegionWestern United States
Latitude47.0073° N
Longitude122.9093° W
ElevationApproximately 56 ft (17 m)
Land Area14.5 sq mi
Water Area0.7 sq mi
Total Area15.2 sq mi
Population (2020 Census)23,494
Population DensityApproximately 1,620 per sq mi
ZIP Codes98501, 98512
Area Code360
Time Zone StandardPacific Standard Time (PST), UTC−8
Time Zone DaylightPacific Daylight Time (PDT), UTC−7
CurrencyUnited States Dollar (USD)
FIPS Code53-71475
Community TypeCity

Transportation and Connectivity in Tumwater, Washington

TransportationDetails
Airport NameSeattle-Tacoma International Airport
IATA CodeSEA
Regional AirportOlympia Regional Airport
PortPort of Olympia
Major HighwaysInterstate 5, US Route 101, State Route 121
Train/Amtrak ServiceAmtrak Cascades service available in Olympia
Local Transit ServiceIntercity Transit bus service
  • Interstate 5 (I-5) — Major north-south highway connecting Tumwater with Olympia, Tacoma, Seattle, and Portland.
  • US Route 101 — Provides access to the Olympic Peninsula and western Washington communities.
  • State Route 121 — Connects Tumwater with nearby Thurston County areas.

Top Places to Visit in Tumwater, Washington

Landmark NameType
Tumwater Falls ParkWaterfall and Public Park
Tumwater Historical ParkHistoric Park
Olympia Tumwater Foundation Brewmaster's HouseHistoric Site
Deschutes RiverNatural Landmark
Capitol State ForestForest Recreation Area
Brewery Park at Tumwater FallsRecreation Area
Black LakeLake Recreation Area
Millersylvania State ParkState Park
Olympic Flight MuseumAviation Museum
Washington State CapitolGovernment Landmark

Driving Distances from Tumwater, Washington to Nearby Cities

CityStateDistance (mi)Approx. Drive Time
OlympiaWashington5 mi10 minutes
LaceyWashington8 mi15 minutes
CentraliaWashington30 mi35 minutes
TacomaWashington35 mi45 minutes
SeattleWashington60 mi1 hour
PortlandOregon120 mi2 hours
BellinghamWashington140 mi2 hours 30 minutes
SpokaneWashington360 mi5 hours 30 minutes
VancouverCanada220 mi4 hours
BoiseIdaho520 mi8 hours

Colleges and Universities Near Tumwater, Washington

Institution NameTypeLevelNotable For
South Puget Sound Community CollegePublicCommunity CollegeCareer training, technical programs, and transfer education
The Evergreen State CollegePublicCollegeLiberal arts, environmental studies, and interdisciplinary programs
Saint Martin's UniversityPrivateUniversityBusiness, engineering, education, and sciences
University of Washington TacomaPublicUniversityBusiness, education, technology, and urban studies
Tumwater School DistrictPublicK–12 DistrictLocal public education

Waterbodies Near Tumwater, Washington

Deschutes River, Capitol Lake, Black Lake, Percival Creek, Budd Inlet, and nearby Puget Sound waterways

Golf Courses and Stadiums Near Tumwater

Golf Courses: Tumwater Valley Golf Course, Olympia Country & Golf Club, Capitol City Golf Course, and Indian Summer Golf & Country Club. Stadiums: Tumwater District Stadium, South Sound Stadium, and nearby Olympia-area sports facilities.

Key Landmarks and Places to Visit in Tumwater, Washington

Landmark NameType
Tumwater Falls ParkWaterfall and Historic Park
Tumwater Historical ParkHistoric Site
Brewery Park at Tumwater FallsRecreation Area
Olympia Tumwater Foundation Brewmaster's HouseHistoric House
Capitol State ForestForest Recreation Area
Olympic Flight MuseumAviation Museum
Washington State CapitolGovernment Landmark
Millersylvania State ParkState Park
Deschutes River TrailOutdoor Recreation Area

Tumwater, Washington — Key Historical Facts

  • Tumwater is one of the oldest American settlements in Washington and was founded in 1845 by pioneer settlers.
  • The city was originally named New Market and later became known as Tumwater, a name derived from a Chinook Jargon word meaning "waterfall."
  • The community developed around Tumwater Falls, which provided power for early mills and industries.
  • Tumwater became the site of the first American settlement north of the Columbia River in present-day Washington.
  • The Olympia Brewing Company, founded in 1896, became an important part of the city's industrial history.
  • Today, Tumwater is known for its historic sites, government connections, parks, natural landscapes, and location near Washington's state capital.

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