Tucked onto the Key Peninsula's western shore, Joemma Beach State Park Campground sits about three miles from Lakebay, accessed by a winding rural road that campers consistently flag as something to account for when towing. The park runs along Puget Sound, and several sites face directly toward the water, giving campers open sightlines across the channel from their tables and fire pits.
The roughly 16 sites vary in size. Weekday arrivals, especially mid-week after holiday weekends, tend to find open spots without much competition. Weekends draw larger groups, and Austin R. notes "people coming in and out both for camping and day use" with "several groups with lots of children." Cell coverage is inconsistent. AT&T users have reported workable service at some sites, while T-Mobile users have found the signal too weak for hotspot use, requiring a drive to pick up a stronger signal.
The beach is within walking distance of the campsites, and a long dock provides access for fishing. Trails lead down from the campground to the pier and along the shoreline, well-suited to leashed dogs. Kayakers can access designated marine sites that are reserved for water arrivals on a first-come basis. At $12 per night, the campground includes potable water, vault toilets, picnic tables, and fire pits. A Discovery Pass is required separately and can be purchased on-site.
Reservations are now available online for some sites, though walk-in spots remain. The season runs March through October. The host is on-site and checks sites regularly. June G. sums up the value plainly: "at $12 a night, it's a real deal." Nearby, Penrose Point State Park Campground and Lakebay Getaway offer alternatives for campers working through the peninsula's options.
Come with supplies. The campground is far enough from town that a last-minute grocery run takes real effort.
Description
Joemma Beach State Park is a 106-acre, marine camping park with 3,000 feet of saltwater frontage on Sound Puget Sound's Key Peninsula.
A boat comes in handy here, as the park is known for its bounty of fish. Joemma Beach has the only boat launch with vehicle parking on Key Peninsula, in addition to a pier, dock and mooring buoys. Kayakers, canoeists and paddlers will find salty bliss on the bobbing waters, and landlubbers can look for giant red sea stars at low tide.
Camping is an uncrowded affair at this park; only 19 primitive tent sites, two first come first served hiker-biker sites and two first come first served Cascadia Marine Trail sites exist. So, pitch your tent for a delightfully rustic experience. When you head home on the inland waterways or winding roads, you will feel you've discovered something special, right in the center of the sound.
RV Road Trip Guides
Map & DirectionsJoemma Beach State Park Campground is located in Washington near Lakebay
Public CampgroundDirections
Located 28 miles southwest of Tacoma, Wash in Pierce County.
Address
20001 Bay Road Sw
Lakebay, WA 98349
Coordinates
47.22529925167554 N
122.80576171163383 W
Connectivity
T-MobileLTESome CoverageVerified by 1 userLast on 8/28/26
VerizonLTEGood CoverageVerified by 38 usersLast on 8/28/26- AT&TLTESome CoverageVerified by 1 userLast on 8/28/26
Connectivity
- T-MobileLTESome CoverageVerified by 1 userLast on 8/28/26
- VerizonLTEGood CoverageVerified by 38 usersLast on 8/28/26
- AT&TLTESome CoverageVerified by 1 userLast on 8/28/26
Access
- Drive-InPark next to your site
- Walk-InPark in a lot, walk to your site.
Site Types
- RV Sites
- Standard (Tent/RV)
Features
For Campers
- ADA Access
- Trash
- Picnic Table
- Firewood Available
- Phone Service
- Reservable
- Showers
- Drinking Water
- Toilets
- Alcohol
- Pets
- Fires
For Vehicles
- Sanitary Dump
- Water Hookups
- Pull-Through Sites
- Big Rig Friendly
Drive Time
- 34 min from Bremerton, WA
- 1 hr from Olympia, WA
- 1 hr 5 min from Seattle, WA
- 2 hrs 2 min from Longview, WA
