Newport, Washington camping offers diverse options between densely forested campgrounds and waterfront sites along the Pend Oreille River. Located in the Colville National Forest at elevations around 2,000 feet, the area features a mix of DNR, National Forest, and privately managed campgrounds. The camping season generally runs May through September, with nighttime temperatures dropping significantly even in summer months.
What to do
Fishing opportunities: Round Lake State Park provides excellent fishing access with two dedicated docks. "I had a great time casting off from them and even caught a couple of crappies and trout which was a nice bonus," reports one camper at Round Lake State Park Campground.
Hiking trails: Several campgrounds offer maintained trails for exploring the forest. At South Skookum Lake Campground, "The lake loop takes about 45 minutes to complete," notes a visitor. Another camper added that Round Lake has "a lovely trail around the lake and an extensive set of trails heading up into the mountain behind the lake as well as a trail to a pond with a dam which is quite peaceful."
Swimming and beach access: Many campgrounds feature swimming areas during summer. "The swimming area is nice with kind of sandy beach, but there is a bit of seaweed in the swimming area," explains a Round Lake visitor. Priest River campground offers "a nice small beach" that's "extremely kid friendly for the little ones," according to campers.
What campers like
Shaded sites: The region's mature conifer forests provide natural cooling during hot summer days. At Skookum Creek Campground, campers appreciate that "spots are spaced quite far apart. Grassy with fire rings and tables." One camper described it as having "loads of elbow room."
Clean facilities: Many campgrounds maintain above-average restroom facilities. At South Skookum Lake, visitors consistently mention that "pit toilets were the cleanest I've ever seen." Similarly, at Riley Creek Campground, campers note "clean bathrooms, and free hot showers that don't close."
River and lake access: Water access ranks high on camper satisfaction. "The park is clean, and well taken care of... We hiked the Round Lake trail. It also was very well maintained," shared a Round Lake visitor. Another camper at Riley Creek appreciated the "great swim area for families" and noted you can "bring your Boat, Kayak, Canoe, Bike, & Bathing Suit."
What you should know
Campground amenities vary significantly: Some sites offer full hookups while others are primitive. At Pioneer Park, "Sites are huge and well spaced" with "no full hookups, but clean pit toilets and helpful camp hosts."
Reservation requirements: Many campgrounds fill quickly, especially on summer weekends. "Thousand Trails Member, this is a first come, first served, so get here early, they fill up fast!" advises a Little Diamond Lake camper. Similarly, at Riley Creek, "Only some of their sites are reservable, others are walk up. We did not have reservations so had to join a lottery to get one of the walk up sites."
Weather considerations: Despite warm summer days, nights can be cool. "Gets cold at night and will rain at times, but other than that the campsite is beautiful," notes a South Skookum Lake visitor. Mosquitoes can also be an issue after rain or near water.
Tips for camping with families
Kid-friendly amenities: Look for campgrounds with dedicated play areas. Priest River campground features "a great beach close to town... extremely close to the edge of town so the road noise is significant no matter what campsite you have, but other than the noise you wouldn't know you were near a town. Beach is so kid friendly for the little ones."
Activity options: Several campgrounds offer organized activities. At Thousand Trails Little Diamond, "We had 3 spots all next to each other with plenty of room in between. Lots of activities for the kids and all around fun," shares a camper. Another visitor recommends "if you are camping with kids the spots closer to the playground equipment are perfect."
Swimming access: Many families prioritize water access. "We spent a week here and loved it. It is so quiet and peaceful," notes a Little Diamond Lake visitor. A Riley Creek camper called it "my favorite Army Corps of Engineers run Campground. Clean, and well run. Clean bathrooms, and Showers."
Tips from RVers
Hookup variations: Electric, water, and sewer hookups vary by campground. At Albeni Cove, expect "large, clean camp sites with electric & water" but no sewer hookups at individual sites.
Site configurations: RV sites have different layouts across campgrounds. At Little Diamond Lake, "The sites are gravel, somewhat level and size/length varies, a few pull throughs, our 37ft 5ver had no problem."
Internet connectivity: Cell service is inconsistent in the region. According to Little Diamond Lake visitors, "At your campsite your internet must be purchased and 90% of the time it is unavailable. A complete waste of money." However, other RVers reported "AT&T and Sprint were very good. At our site 144."
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