Best Campgrounds near Newport, WA

Newport, Washington and the surrounding Pend Oreille River region feature a mix of established campgrounds and outdoor recreation areas. Thousand Trails Little Diamond offers tent, RV, and cabin accommodations from April through October, while Pioneer Park provides more primitive camping along the river from mid-May to mid-September. The area includes several campgrounds with waterfront access, including sites at Albeni Cove and Riley Creek across the Idaho border, all within a short drive of Newport's amenities.

Camping seasons typically run from late spring through early fall, with most facilities closing by October. Many campgrounds require reservations, particularly for weekend stays during summer months. Road access varies throughout the region, with some sites accessible via paved roads while others require forest service road navigation. "Pioneer Park was not where we made our reservations but the original campground closed due to fallen trees in a wind storm. So, they moved us here and it wasn't too bad," noted one visitor, highlighting the importance of flexibility when camping in this forested region. Weather conditions can change rapidly, with summer temperatures generally pleasant but occasional storms possible.

Waterfront camping represents a significant draw in the Newport area, with several campgrounds offering direct access to lakes and rivers. South Skookum Lake Campground provides non-motorized boating opportunities in a more secluded setting, while Old American Resort offers year-round camping with full hookups near Newport. A camper described Pioneer Park as having "huge and well spaced" sites that are "very convenient to Newport and Sandpoint only 1/2 hour away." The Colville National Forest surrounds much of the region, providing additional recreation opportunities beyond the developed campgrounds. Most established sites include standard amenities like picnic tables, fire rings, and vault toilets, with some offering electric hookups, showers, and dump stations for RVs.

Best Camping Sites Near Newport, Washington (217)

    1. Thousand Trails Little Diamond

    16 Reviews
    Newport, WA
    8 miles
    Website
    +1 (888) 707-1477

    "Close to Diamond Lake and not far from Newport, Wa."

    "The sites share electric and water, no sewer and are positioned oddly they are on the off side and in front by the road. Some 30and 50 amp just check the box."

    2. Riley Creek Campground

    23 Reviews
    Cocolalla, ID
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (208) 437-3133

    $35 - $75 / night

    "Today I check out a great little campground/recreation area on Lake Pend Oreille( locally pronounced Pond Array")."

    "But many great campsites, good privacy for the most part once you’ve learned your spots and beautiful surroundings. Love that it’s close by !!"

    3. Pioneer Park

    10 Reviews
    Newport, WA
    2 miles
    Website
    +1 (509) 447-7300

    $31 - $60 / night

    "Very convenient to Newport and sad point only 1/2 hr away. River access from campground. Beautiful quiet area. Firewood for sale at campground but cheaper down the road."

    "I like to camp at Pioneer Park when I am in Newport visiting family and will always choose campsite 14!"

    4. Priest River

    11 Reviews
    Newport, WA
    8 miles
    Website
    +1 (208) 437-3133

    $10 - $75 / night

    "However, there are some downsides to the spot and the campground that cannot be ignored. 1) It is very close to the highway so you hear the cars all day."

    "Each site is drive in and has a picnic table with fire pit. There is access to potable water and flush bathrooms with showers. 

     "

    5. Albeni Cove

    6 Reviews
    Newport, WA
    3 miles
    Website
    +1 (208) 437-3133

    $25 - $30 / night

    "Close to Newport, Wa restaurants snd other facilities."

    "A small campsite ⛺ near Old Town, my family spent a weekend every summer ☀here when I was a child."

    6. Old American Resort

    3 Reviews
    Newport, WA
    1 mile
    Website
    +1 (509) 447-3663

    7. Pend Oreille County Park

    7 Reviews
    Deer Park, WA
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (509) 447-4513

    $20 / night

    "**Campground Review: **

     Pend Oreille County Park Is a deceptive name as it is really a large piece of beautiful forest land off highway 2 run by the county."

    "Great sites, well water, and amazing hiking trails. Close to chataroy, elk, mead & deer park for supplies, meals etc. We will be back!"

    8. South Skookum Lake Campground

    8 Reviews
    Cusick, WA
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (509) 447-7300

    "We stayed outside number for which is close to the entrance. The beauty of being so close to it there is cell service so if you need to get in contact with anyone, it’s about a two minute walk."

    "The lake was great for a swim and to play fetch with our dog. The place was nearly empty when we arrived so we got to pick what to our knowledge was the only non-tent site a slight view of the lake."

    9. Round Lake State Park Campground

    14 Reviews
    Cocolalla, ID
    20 miles
    Website
    +1 (208) 263-3489

    $12 - $29 / night

    "This spot is very close to the main hiking trail, that leads around the lake and to the beach area. Probably about 15 feet away, down a slight hill."

    "Super clean, great back-in spots for RVs, awesome walking trails around the lake."

    10. Skookum Creek Campground

    3 Reviews
    Usk, WA
    11 miles
    Website

    "It's a relatively small loop campground along a creek, close to the Pend Oreille River. Gravel road, ideal for tent camping."

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Recent Reviews near Newport, WA

821 Reviews of 217 Newport Campgrounds


  • Vinny A.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 1, 2025

    Spokane KOA Journey

    KOA Stay

    Campground itself was nice. We were driving from Glacier NP to North Cascades NP and decided to stay here to have use of amenities. Typically we stay at free spots, but the showers, coin operated laundry, water, and dump station was all needed and appreciated. Its in a busy neighborhood, so its noisy and theres a train that goes by, but i expected the noise when seeing where it was on google maps so it is what it is. I would stay here again if i was in the same situation.

  • Meghan B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 1, 2025

    Spokane KOA Journey

    Spokane KOA Journey

    This KOA was a convenient location for us as we travel after an "errand day" in Spokane. Other than for convenience, I wouldn't make a vacation destination out of this place. The restroom facilities are clean, the cell service is great, standard KOA set up (sardine rows for RVs, tents/cabins, back-ins along the edge). However, this KOA is surrounded by residences and businesses, and also right next to very active train tracks. The trains have been quite frequent day and night... and for some reason so has a rooster (all morning, day, and evening... it's crazy). The grass here is beyond dead, so tent campers beware: if it rains, you'll be all mud. All in all, the KOA itself is well-maintained, has the amenities you want, and a convenient spot if you need something near the city... but this is NOT a place to sit back, relax, and get away from it all.

  • yThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 24, 2025

    Tamarack RV Park And Vacation Cabins

    Pretty rv park with mature trees

    A really pretty setting, though the spaces feel a little narrow. I’d definitely come back.

  • Doug B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 23, 2025

    Spokane KOA Journey

    Terrible

    Grass dead and too expensive for no sewer hookup.

  • eric A.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 23, 2025

    Mirror Lake: Bigfoot Campout

    Ukiah Dale Campground

    Great and private spots. Close to the road but very little traffic at night. Excellent tables and forests plus a nice pit toilet set up. The Host was super polite!!

  • PThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 23, 2025

    Camp Coeur D Alene

    Cabins, tent camping, RVs, Store

    The camp is close to the freeway and on the edge of the lake. The camp offers tent camping, full service RV camping, and cabins for rent. There are hiking trails adjacent, a well stocked camp store and laundry facilities.

  • CThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 22, 2025

    Pend Oreille County Park

    Camp hosts Jerry and his lovely wife Boss Teresa

    Great sites, well water, and amazing hiking trails. Close to chataroy, elk, mead & deer park for supplies, meals etc. We will be back!

  • CThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 16, 2025

    Pend Oreille County Park

    Pend Orielle County Park & Campground

    Amazing Camp hosts! Great inexpensive, clean spot. Best experience so far in WA.


Guide to Newport

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."

Frequently Asked Questions

What camping is available near Newport, WA?

According to TheDyrt.com, Newport, WA offers a wide range of camping options, with 217 campgrounds and RV parks near Newport, WA and 16 free dispersed camping spots.

Which is the most popular campground near Newport, WA?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Newport, WA is Thousand Trails Little Diamond with a 4.1-star rating from 16 reviews.

Where can I find free dispersed camping near Newport, WA?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 16 free dispersed camping spots near Newport, WA.

What parks are near Newport, WA?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 10 parks near Newport, WA that allow camping, notably Idaho Panhandle National Forests and Kaniksu National Forest.