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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:

Fort Lewis Army Base 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       Typically, the climate is mild with summer afternoons ranging from the low 70s to low 80s and average winter temperatures in the 40s. Average annual precipitation is 50 inches and snowfall is 17.5 inches. Highs in the summer can reach the high 90s while the lows in the winter can dip down to the teens. Month Average Daytime Temperature January 43 April 58 August 77 December 46

It's worth the drive from Yelm

• Experience Washington
• Thurston County EDC
• Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge 360-753-9467
• Mount Rainier National Park
• Wolf Haven 1-800-448-9653 or 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
  

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.