This park is usually always busy in the summer months and the parking lot is usually always full. The park itself is actually quite small but since it offers access to the water and a somewhat unimpeded view of the water. It’s a wonderful place to watch the sun set or maybe even snuggle up with a significant other or maybe even take a short walk on the beach with a first date. There is a pavilion available as well for cookouts or luaus or whatever festivities you have going on. The restrooms are reasonably clean as well. You can swim here, but there is no lifeguard. So enter at your own risk. There is a kayak rental place here as well just in case you want to paddle your way around the bay. I believe there are several scuba diving groups that launch from here as well. The only non-positive thing is that the train does come by at different intervals and the loud blowing of the horn can disturb the peace. Also, since you have to cross the railroad tracks to get to the park, if can be slightly dangerous if you’re taking your kids. I do like this small park though since it’s in close proximity of my house and the sunsets are perfect. If the park is too small for your taste, you can always keep following the Chambers Creek Rd and go all the way to Chambers Bay Park with is really amazing for walking, hiking, running, rollerblading, biking, and practically everything else! P. S. You do have to pay to park here.
MandM S.
Place rating: 4 Lakewood, WA
Beautiful views and nice park. The only complaint is they charge you $ 5.00 to park. So don’t forget to bring cash.
Lindsey P.
Place rating: 4 Olympia, WA
I don’t like that you have to pay to park… but it makes up for it with the view and how close you are to the train tacks! Beautiful location.
Colleen V.
Place rating: 4 Bellevue, WA
This is a great place for little ones to explore. There are swings and a big toy set. The beach is always a hit. The trains coming by is always fun for the kids. If you are not a resident you do have to pay $ 5 to park though.
Franklin W.
Place rating: 4 Burlingame, CA
Stopped by a bit… it’s an access point to the water to cool off. Nothing more… nothing less!
Ashlee F.
Place rating: 5 Steilacoom, WA
Perfect little beach. Has a ton of rocks(which I find to be normal around this area, we’re from California so we’re use to sandy beaches). But there was a lot of wildlife: crabs, jelly fish, fish etc. I took my kids there on a weekend where the town was holding a salmon fry and although the parking lot was packed and I heard people had to park a mile away to get there, it didn’t seemed overcrowded at all.
Richard H.
Place rating: 5 Graham, WA
A very nice little town to visit, and this is a very nice and clean park. Steilacoom is the first town in Washington State to incorporate and is Washington’s oldest town interesting enough there, with a lot of cool buildings and a cool park! Diffidently worth a visit and look around!
Alden C.
Place rating: 2 Tacoma, WA
Steilacoom and Sunnyside Beach caught our attention a couple of times when we were riding Amtrack down to Portland. It seemed cute and quaint. For all intents and purposes it is. However it is not THAT cute and quaint. Not enough to have to pay to park just to go to the beach which is exactly what you have to do. Steve and I did it the hard way and went on into downtown Steilacoom which is not far from the beach and parked there. Downtown is also cute and quaint but quite dead. Most of the shops were closed and it was midafternoon. There is another park in downtown facing the Sound which is nice. The walk to the beach is not bad however there are no sidewalks from downtown to the beach but you can tell that many other people have the same idea that we had because there is a good path that goes straight to the park. The park is nice enough, that is for sure but not as nice as others that I have been to since I moved here even with a good view of the water and the beach. The park was busy. Mostly families that were stationed at JBLM in Lakewood. No one hassled us, a gay couple. Oh my gosh though kids were everywhere and so many women that were there had another one on the way. Talk about sticking out like a sore thumb and not being amongst your demographic group!
Christina B.
Place rating: 5 Seattle, WA
This is an awesome little park. There is an area for playing volleyball and some grassy areas for sports or for children to run around. There is a covered pavilion area with tables and benches for parties and get togethers. The bathrooms are clean and well-maintained. The best part of this park, though, is the beach. Sunnyside is a beautiful beach for walking. The views of the Sound are spectacular, especially on a sunny day. You can also catch a glimpse of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge in the distance. When a train isn’t passing by and blowing its horn, it’s quiet and peaceful. The park is scattered with benches which offer peaceful moments of introspection. I would love to come here to sit and write and draw and stare out at the water.
Kristin W.
Place rating: 4 Kirkland, WA
Such a lovely park. I came here for lunch one day and it was sunny and gorgeous. The only thing that made a less than perfect experience was that the maintenance crew was weed whacking around me. Which is nice because they maintain the place really well, but it was noisy and bits and pieces of weeds, etc. were flying around me as I ate. I tried to relax on the beach, but the whacking was noisy, so I walked around and left. BUUUUUUT, I love this place, the view… there are tables and benches to sit on. You can sit on the big boulders leading down to the beach… bathrooms were clean :) Anyway, great park!
Alekkz H.
Place rating: 4 Tacoma, WA
I don’t know what I should write about a beach? I think it is somewhat clean, I have plenty of memories that lead back to this place, good and bad. Somewhat safe for dogs to be walked at the«park» but sand will mess up your car! I don’t know if yesterday was warm enough to be taking a dip in the water but I just stayed on land. The weather was so nice to just bask in the sun! There is a volleyball net and some picnic tables.
S T.
Place rating: 3 Tacoma, WA
Pretty but have to pay to park…
Julia W.
Place rating: 4 Seattle, WA
One thing I love about living in the South sound is the parks and lakes. Sunnyside does not disappoint as I’ve spent many a sunny day and/or sunset night there. It’s a free park with areas to have picnics as well as to just sit and enjoy. There are playground areas for those with kids. It’s always been a hotspot and at night, used to get packed with teens & whatnot so I always stuck to the daytime. Beware of trains when crossing but there are big signs & you can’t miss it.
Elizabeth C.
Place rating: 5 Monroe, GA
This location is beautiful! It’s a wonderful place to hang out during the summer because it’s right on the water & there is beach access for those wanting to cool off. It has a volleyball net set up, a covered picnic area(as well as some uncovered tables) as well as a small playground for the kiddos.
