Local Attractions- Courtesy of 
Yelm Chamber of Commerce
As seen below, the city is in close proximity to many beautiful features, major cities (including the state capital, Olympia) and recreational opportunities. Approximate driving times to just a few of those attractions are:
- Joint Base Lewis-McChord: 1/2 hour
- Northwest Landing: 1/2 hour
- Olympia: 1/2 hour
- Puget Sound Beaches: 1/2 hour
- Tacoma: 45 minutes
- Mt. Rainier: 1 hour
- SeaTac Airport: 1 hour
- Mt. St. Helens: 1-1/4 hour
- Seattle: 1-1/2 hours
- Pacific Ocean: 2 hours
- Portland, OR: 2 hours
- Port Angeles: 3 hours
- Canadian Border: 4 hours
Tourism Info
Within an hour of the Yelm area, you can shop till you drop at Centralia’s outlet stores and antique shops, visit the Pioneer Farm or Northwest Trek Wildlife Refuge near picturesque Eatonville, visit the Nisqually Wildlife Refuge, howl with the wolves at Wolf Haven, camp, swim, and picnic at several lake resorts, explore Mt. Rainier and its wilderness area, explore the stores at Capitol Mall in Olympia or Tacoma Mall, take in the wide variety of regional events staged at the Western Washington Fairgrounds in Puyallup, attend shows, exhibitions, sporting events, and more at the Tacoma Dome, and otherwise explore the cities of Olympia, Lacey, Tumwater, Tacoma and Seattle.
Ocean beaches are little more than an hour away, and the Olympia waterfront, at the southernmost tip of Puget Sound, provides many boating and wildlife watching activities, as well as the home of the Olympia Farmer’s Market.
- Experience Washington
- Thurston County EDC
- Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge: (360) 753-9467
- Mount Rainier National Park
- Wolf Haven: (800) 448-9653 or (360) 264-4695
- Northwest Trek: (360) 832-6117
- Pioneer Museum on Highway 161 (April-October): (360) 832-6300
- Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium: (253) 591-5337
- Dinner Train from Elbe to Mt. Rainier (Memorial Day-Labor Day): (360) 569-2588
- Mt. Rainier Shuttle Service: (360) 569-0851
- Deschutes Falls! - The Falls are now open and you can enjoy breathtaking views, hiking, picnicking and more!