Budd Inlet is a saltwater inlet of southern Puget Sound, stretching from downtown Olympia north to Boston Harbor and Cooper Point. It offers sheltered, year-round sea kayaking, paddleboarding, and rowing opportunities with a mix of urban and natural scenery. The inlet's character is generally calm, sheltered enough to feel like a lake, but paddlers must account for significant tidal ranges, with tides exceeding 14 feet, and should plan trips around current flows. Multiple public launch points provide access. Swantown Marina, located at 1022 Marine Drive NE, offers a concrete boat ramp and free parking for paddlers carrying their craft, with restrooms and coin-op showers available; it can be busy on weekends. West Bay Marina, at 2100 Westbay Drive NW, is the base for Tugboat Annies kayak rentals and provides dock access. Other launches include Rotary Park (West Bay Park) at 700 West Bay Drive and a boat launch off Marine Drive. Boston Harbor at the northern end is another noted launch, though it has been under construction.

Common day trips include paddling from Swantown or West Bay Marina south to the Olympia downtown waterfront, Percival Landing, and the Port of Olympia, or north to Priest Point Park and Ellis Cove. A round trip from Swantown to Ellis Cove is about 3 miles. A longer route exploring the inlet and marinas can cover around 8 miles. The area is known for wildlife viewing; seals frequently haul out on log booms north of West Bay Marina, and bald eagles, herons, and kingfishers are common. From late summer into fall, returning salmon gather near the 4th and 5th Avenue bridges, attracting seals. Jellyfish are often present in summer and fall. Key safety considerations include sharing the water with motorized boat traffic, especially near marinas and the port, and maintaining a distance of at least 50 yards from marine mammals. Winds are typically light, often forecast below 10 knots, but paddlers should always check marine weather and tide charts before departing. A Discover Pass is required for parking at some launch areas like Boston Harbor.