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The Puget Sound peninsula near Lakebay, Washington features several state parks offering varied camping opportunities. Penrose Point State Park provides the primary established campground in the immediate Lakebay area, with sites accommodating both tents and RVs in a forested setting. Nearby, Joemma Beach State Park offers more dispersed camping options during its seasonal operation from March through October. These waterfront campgrounds provide access to Mayo Bay and the wider Puget Sound, with additional options including the private Lakebay Getaway, which caters to RV campers with hookups.
Campground access throughout the Lakebay area typically remains open year-round, though some seasonal limitations apply at certain parks. Most established sites require reservations, particularly during summer months when waterfront campgrounds fill quickly. As one camper noted, "The campground was full with lots of families with young kids but the sites felt relatively private and the whole park is heavily wooded." Roads are generally well-maintained to the major state parks, though reaching some waterfront areas may require navigation through narrower peninsula roads. Cell service can be variable throughout the region, with some visitors reporting spotty coverage at Penrose Point.
Several visitors highlight the shoreline access as a primary appeal of camping in the Lakebay area. Penrose Point State Park receives consistently positive reviews for its beach access, hiking trails, and relatively private campsites beneath tall trees. One visitor emphasized that the park has "some of the best shoreline access in the Puget Sound area with good trails inland as well as great coastal access during low tide around the entire Penrose State Park point." Campgrounds like Twanoh and Belfair State Parks, located within driving distance, offer similar water-oriented experiences with additional amenities including showers and electric hookups. While most campgrounds maintain clean facilities, visitors occasionally note the limited number of showers and bathrooms during busy periods at some locations.
"Firstly, I just have to say what a positive and amazing experience I had at this campground. The volunteers were friendly, kind and absolutely awesome to interact with."
"The campground itself is tucked into a beautiful, forested area with plenty of trees and privacy between sites. Ours had a tent pad, fire ring, and picnic table."
from $23 - $80 / night
Check Availability"Penrose Point State Park is a great place close to Seattle to go camping in a small or large group. It's tent or camper friendly with plenty of spots for busier seasons."
"Pros: group camp is very close to beach front area, GREAT CLAMMING AND OYSTERING!"
from $12 - $72 / night
Check Availability"We arrived little later around 6 p.m. And being such a nice day there were only few sites left."
"Conveniently located right next to the bathroom with an area for parking two vehicles. I have AT&T and had good service in this spot."
from $12 / night
Check Availability"Often our first or last trip of the year, due to its proximity to the greater Seattle area. Most of the folks we meet are from western Washington. "
"On the water of the Hood Canal, it offered more family activities than many of the parks around. The campground itself is situated close to the water with several loops, tightly packed together."
from $12 - $65 / night
Check Availability"Close by stores, trails, parks, harbor. Tacoma across bridge (10 minutes - $6.25 toll)."
"Costco, Home Depot, Albertsons and other shopping close by."
from $57 - $104 / night
Check Availability"Location was clean, easy to access and feels like a world away from the busy cities close by."
"This is clean and well-maintained state campground that offers nice access to the southern tip of Hood Canal, although you have to cross Rt. 106 to get to the waterside picnic area and docks, and that"
from $12 - $46 / night
Check Availability"Tucked away remote campsite in a forest next to estuary. Two sites have hookups. Clean restrooms with shower."
"Site 8 is a pull through and is very large, but not so private as everyone walking to the main dock walks right past your site."
from $12 - $70 / night
Check Availability"The location is great, so close to the water, Penrose and other peninsula activities."
"Great location if you want to relax and take long walks at nearby state parks and beaches. Robyn is a spectacular host who was great to communicate with. We will be coming back."
from $50 / night
Check Availability"The sites closer to the back of the campground (where we were) are far away from the road so you can't really hear highway noise at all."
"We had a beautiful site tucked in the woods that was very quiet. The beach across the street was really fun for kids and adults and there was loads of lovely hikes nearby."
from $12 - $51 / night
Check Availability"Very friendly next to the lake plenty of things to do walking, biking, hiking, fishing, Military museums, not to far off of I-5. Full hookups laundry shower facilities. Cabins too."
"Unfortunately the restrooms right next to our site were closed so it was a slight walk to the nearest restroom. Restrooms were heated and well taken care of."
from $12 - $35 / night
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LegendWe stayed here for a short overnight as we made our way up the Olympic Peninsula to Port Townsend. Nice park with a some trails right from the campground. We enjoyed the Maple Valley loop. There are elk at Dosewallips but we didn’t see any. Some road noise from our site (21) and heard a low-flying helicopter in the morning. Shower water pressure was a bit low and the water not hot enough.
GuideNice campground. Road noise by 101. $10 a day fee for camping or $5 with annual pass . I paid with the QR code at site.
TravelerCamped on a busy Saturday night and less busy Sunday night. Lots of kids and dogs, sites close together. We were in a middle section for campers w/o hookups — kind of like a parking lot. On the other hand, tent sites were nestled into the very dark, dense tree canopy. Our site was 1 away from the bathroom, which was lit up inside and out with the power of a dozen suns all night. Well, it was bright, anyway. Showers looked good, though we ran out of time to use them. Dump station was under repair, which we were not told, nor was there signage, making for a difficult turnaround.
TravelerSpots are in rows up a hill and most have stairs to actually framed tent pads for tent set up. Lowest row of spots are right across the 5mph street from the puget sound. Its one of the first primitive campgrounds going into the Olympic national forest. There are many campsites that allow for most every type of rv or trailer like pull through and class a
TravelerThis is a beautiful state park with plenty of bathrooms, showers, and water points. There are plenty of full hookup RV spots, non-hookup TV spots, and tenet camping sites. There is a playground for kids, easy access beach area for swimming and paddle boarding, and pathways for pleasant walks.
I stayed on the beach loop at site 142. It was sunny during the day with nice shade in the evening. A blackberry patch right behind me was just beginning to ripen.
Great place for families with a loop for the kids to cruise on their bikes.
RangerThis went from a four star stay to one star in the blink of an eye. There is a shooting range directly behind this campground, and the horse trails lead right past it. On August 8th 2026 around 2PM, someone’s horse was shot while they were riding less than a half a mile away from camp and when they called 911, animal control came but police would NOT come even to investigate. This was reckless use of a firearm, animal endangerment, and honestly should be a felony. There is no way to accidentally be shooting at the trails from the shooting range, you have to DECIDE to do that. Police are absolutely useless, and now I know especially in this area the cops don’t give a damn about anyone’s safety.
You can hear shooting nearby all day and all night despite the posted hours at the range. Although it’s a free stay with a discover pass, I will NOT EVER stay here again and would not recommend this place to anyone with horses.
RangerThe main pullout was taken. It looks as if the RV has been there for more than 14 days (it is on jack stands). Another reviewer mentioned the potholes. Thats a fact. I drive around in a RWD Chevy Astro van, and I bet that primitive, unguarded road chewed into the rubber between my suspension parts. No Internet. No access to the river, (unless you want to cut all the thick foliage)away like exploiters and trailblazers did in the 1800’s. ) Only one fire pit, the one the RV was at. You can drive up a little further and crash for the night. It is level. This dirt road is one lane. It is heavily non-RV friendly. I didn't even sleep there. I checked it out, then decided to drive to nearby Mount Rainier NP. This place was pretty though. Like a rainforest you see in Olympic NP.
TravelerI’m a tent camper, and messed up and reserved a RV spot. I paid for another spot more suited for tent camping and moved over. When talking to the campsite manager the following day, she offered to refund the 2nights at the wrong site. We declined the refund just because it goes to keeping the area put together and she was doing a fantastic job keeping everything clean and restocked over the short stay we were there.
Men’s restroom had 2 urinals three stalls and a shower, women’s restroom had three stalls and a shower. One larger stall in both.
TravelerIt’s so interesting to read past reviews before getting here and contrasting that with my experience. To be on the water, and be able to watch the tide move in and out every day on the beautiful and peaceful Hood Canal, is an absolute treasure. Yes, highway 101 is loud. There’s no doubt about that. But this small well-maintained RV park of only 16 sites, including full hook ups, is an absolute gem. We stayed here two weeks on site 16 and 11. (Much prefer 16 because it’s on the edge, how the sun is angled this time of the year, we quickly had loads of shade from our RV to sit in, and it’s by a little creek. But side 11 is also nice because there’s more opportunities to chitchat with people as you are in the middle of the campground.) We have met so many incredible people here and exchanged information so we can stay in touch. I will put this on my favorites list and absolutely intend return. In fact, many of the people we met here are people who come year after year after year. The only real downside in my opinion is the fact that there is nowhere that you can hike reachable by foot from the campground. So my husband, dog, and I did our daily walks at the marina parking lot nextdoor, where we would do loops, talk to the fisherman, and eat whatever blackberries ripened overnight. As we are full timers, I was absolutely content to sit outside our rig overlooking the water and work. If you are someone who needs a lot “to do “this may not be the campground for you. But if you are someone who loves to just be by the water and enjoy the tranquility and friendliness of fellow campers, this spot is for you.
The Lakebay area sits on the Key Peninsula, surrounded by the waters of Puget Sound and Case Inlet. Most campgrounds in this region remain between 0-500 feet in elevation, creating mild camping conditions even during winter months. The nearby Harstine Island offers additional camping options connected to the mainland by a short bridge, allowing campers to experience island camping without needing a ferry.
Beach exploration at low tide: At Joemma Beach State Park, the tide cycles expose excellent shoreline areas. "There's a small nature path, a rocky oyster shell-covered beach, and some grassy areas," notes one visitor to Potlatch State Park.
Shellfish harvesting: The Hood Canal area provides excellent clamming and oyster picking opportunities. "Fun was had walking on the beach at hood canal," reports a camper at Potlatch. Another visitor to Twanoh State Park adds, "A quick walk from camp and your picking oysters from Hood Canal. Amazing!"
Boating and water access: Many campgrounds feature boat launches or docks. "There are two docks you can walk down to, both are beautiful and if you have a kayak or boat they would be ideal," explains a visitor to Jarrell Cove State Park. Water conditions remain relatively calm in the protected inlets.
Wildlife viewing: The forested shorelines support diverse wildlife. "We did spot a bald eagle early in the morning," mentions a camper at Joemma Beach. At Jarrell Cove, "Several deer came up throughout the day to eat the apples off the ground and trees in those spots, that was fun."
Privacy between sites: Many campers value the natural separation at Penrose Point State Park where "Sites and restrooms were clean. We had a great time exploring the beaches. Sites were reasonably private and quiet at night (except for a brief invasion of 6 raccoons at our site one night!)."
Clean facilities: Maintenance standards remain high across most parks. At Dash Point State Park, "The washroom and shower is kept clean, as is the rest of the campground." Another visitor noted, "Easy to find, great access to the sound & creek, sites had plenty of tent space. Well forested, potable water & fire rings, bathrooms were clean."
Waterfront access: The ability to enjoy water activities directly from camp ranks highly. "The beach is a short walk from camp, just long enough to make you feel like you earned your sunset view," explains a Dash Point visitor. At Belfair State Park, a camper appreciated that "the beach was great, water is rather warm for in the sound, it's also pretty shallow which is great for the kids to play in."
Wooded settings: The forested environment enhances the camping experience. At Penrose Point, "the sites felt relatively private and the whole park is heavily wooded." A visitor to Lakebay Getaway mentioned, "The location is great, so close to the water, Penrose and other peninsula activities."
Reservation requirements: Most established campgrounds require advance booking during peak season. At Belfair State Park, "The beach loop fills up quickly - get your reservations in as early as possible if you want to camp there." However, Joemma Beach offers some first-come, first-served sites.
Weather considerations: While generally mild, shoulder seasons bring variable conditions. "It got little chilly at night but wasn't too bad," reports a Joemma Beach camper who visited during Easter weekend.
Site privacy varies significantly: Some campgrounds offer more separation than others. At Twanoh State Park, a visitor noted, "The campsites are all cramped together right next to the roadway. There's no vegetation so you can see just about every site/camper from any site you choose."
Cell service fluctuations: Connectivity varies by location and carrier. At Jarrell Cove, a visitor mentioned, "T-mobile service spotty - could not use hotspot. Had to drive about 15 mins down road to park to access 5G." Another camper at Lakebay Getaway reported, "We use Verizon and no issues."
Shallow swimming areas: For safer water play with children, certain beaches offer better conditions. "The swimming was great too," notes a visitor to Twanoh State Park, while another camper at Belfair mentioned the "shallow" water being "great for the kids to play in."
Campground selection for kids: Some parks offer more child-friendly features. A visitor to Potlatch State Park stated, "This place is Perfect for families with all size children. There is a small stream running through the side of Some of the camp spots that the kids can play."
Junior Ranger programs: Several state parks offer educational opportunities. A parent camping at Penrose Point shared, "The grounds, including bathrooms, were well maintained and the kids enjoyed taking part in the junior ranger program."
Noise considerations: Family-friendly campgrounds can get busy during peak times. "The campground was full with lots of families with young kids," notes a Penrose Point camper, while another at Joemma Beach cautioned, "This is also the spot where you go to camp and party with friends and family. So if you're looking for quiet, that's not always the case here."
Hookup availability: Gig Harbor RV Resort provides full-service options close to Lakebay. "Very clean. Friendly and helpful staff," reports a visitor who noted it's "pet friendly, but not many attractions for children (no playground, no pool)."
Site selection for RVs: At several state parks, specific loops work better for larger rigs. At Jarrell Cove, "Site 8 is a pull through and is very large, but not so private as everyone walking to the main dock walks right past your site."
Leveling challenges: Some state parks present terrain difficulties. "Some of the sites are not very level for a tent," notes a Potlatch visitor, which applies doubly for RVs needing relatively flat surfaces.
RV size limitations: Many peninsula campgrounds have space restrictions. A Twanoh State Park camper warned, "If you need sunlight for your solar panels, you may be out of luck" due to the heavy forest canopy, while sites at several parks are noted as "not big-rig friendly."
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Lakebay, WA?
According to TheDyrt.com, Lakebay, WA offers a wide range of camping options, with 252 campgrounds and RV parks near Lakebay, WA and 17 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Lakebay, WA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Lakebay, WA is Dash Point State Park Campground with a 3.9-star rating from 77 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Lakebay, WA?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 17 free dispersed camping spots near Lakebay, WA.
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