Best Tent Camping near Newport, WA

Tent camping near Newport, Washington provides access to forested sites along creeks and lakes in the northeastern corner of the state. Skookum Creek Campground, a free DNR site with 11 tent-friendly campsites, sits along a small creek close to the Pend Oreille River. Bead Lake offers walk-in tent camping with permit requirements, providing a more secluded backcountry tent camping experience. Both locations are within 10 miles of Newport and feature natural settings ideal for tent campers seeking quieter alternatives to developed campgrounds.

Most tent campgrounds in the Newport area operate seasonally from late spring through early fall, with some closures during winter months due to snow. Skookum Creek provides basic amenities including fire rings, picnic tables, and vault toilets but no running water. According to camper Henry H., "each site has a nice fire ring, large picnic table, and loads of elbow room." Bear boxes are available at some nearby campgrounds like Sullivan Creek, making food storage safer for tent campers. Unpaved access roads to primitive tent camping areas may require high-clearance vehicles, particularly after rain. Cell service is limited or non-existent at most tent sites in the region.

The tent camping experience near Newport offers notable solitude compared to more developed areas. Dominic C. noted that at Skookum Creek, "there were 3 occupied spaces, all of whom left the next day so we had the whole campground to ourself." Sites are typically well-spaced, providing privacy even when other campers are present. The surrounding forest provides ample shade for tent sites during summer months. Backcountry tent campers should prepare for wildlife encounters including bears, and bring water filtration systems as potable water is unavailable at most primitive sites. The proximity to creeks and lakes offers opportunities for fishing and swimming directly from tent campsites, with clear water and mountain views creating a classic Pacific Northwest camping experience.

Best Tent Sites Near Newport, Washington (49)

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Tent Camping Reviews near Newport, WA

726 Reviews of 49 Newport Campgrounds


  • J
    Jul. 29, 2020

    Navigation Campground

    Very quiet

    Not accessible by car, and takes a couple of hours to hike to it, but well worth it for the solitude once you’re there. While all the drive-up sites on lower Priest Lake were full there was no one at Navigation! (Literally NO ONE)

    A few rocky beaches with boat access. A vault toilet, a few picnic tables and fire rings, but lots of space among the trees to set up camp.

    It took a little over two hours to hike in from Beaver Creek campground. Plowboy campground is about at the halfway point.

    No water available.

    I hiked in and had the place to myself.

  • Cathy E.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 11, 2023

    Bald Knob Campground — Mount Spokane State Park

    Quiet, Clean, and Beautiful

    What a gem! Small state park campground at about a 3000 ft elevation with only 8 sites. Dry Camping only, no dump station, but clean flushable toilets(no showers) and potable water available. Two beautiful trails are accessible from the campground and lots more are within a 10 minute drive with plenty of parking at trailheads. Local foliage is wonderful, views are fantastic from the trails. Quiet hours are enforced and observed- very quiet and relaxing. The camp host, Linda, does such a wonderful job of keeping everything neat and tidy and checking in with campers to see if they have what they need. Sites are small- only one was a pull through. I wouldn't attempt with anything longer than 23 feet. Each site has a bear box, really nice and large picnic table, firepit and tent pads that are nicely cushioned with pea gravel. Our site,#3, was centrally located without a ton of privacy, but it was still a nice site and folks were respectful and quiet. Decent cell service in the campground. I am absolutely coming back.

  • Andrea R.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 31, 2019

    Edgewater Campground

    Beautiful!

    This section of the Colville, there is so much to see and do! This campground is close to many attractions and has great fishing! The parking areas are really long and most have a great view of the lake. Bear boxes fire rings and picnic tables are all provided at most every site. There is also bear proof trash and water spigots near by the sites as well. This is right on the Pend Oreille River, and there is a nice boat launch and fishing pier. The sites are extra large and can take just about any RV size you have. The roads in are nice and paved as well. The bathrooms are maintained regularly and have toilet paper, You can reserve site here or there are FSFS sites as well but it is a small campground and there are only a few sites to be had as it is, I think they run around $21 a night, and no hookups.

  • Douglas S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 31, 2019

    Noisy Creek

    Large campground on Sullivan Lake

    Noisy Creek is a large campground on Sullivan Lake's south side. It Is run by the U.S. Forest Service so provides lots of amenities. Some of these include a dock, boatlaunch, Day use facilities, trash pickup/bear bins, water, and vault toilets. The site says it has nineteen campsites, but I swear there were many more than that plus 4-5 group sites on the group side. The pricing is as follows: Single site:$20 Extra vehicle:$10 Day use:$5 The camp host had firewood for sale at$8, which is good because you are 20-30 min from the nearest small town. Be aware you are in bear country here so camp appropriately. Bear Boxes are provided in site as well as fire pits, picnic tables and tent pads. The sites are spacious and fairly separated also. With a quick walk to the lake it is a great summer spot to take the family! If I am not camping in the dispersed sites on the north side of the lake I am here. Overall a great campground you should check out!

  • J
    Jul. 29, 2020

    Plowboy Campground

    Remote, Primative

    No car access which makes it much quieter and less used. I was there on a hot July weekday and there were only two parties camping, both which had come by canoe. There is a Vault toilet. There are a few picnic tables, and a few fire rings down on the lakeshore, but lots of sites in addition to the developed sites scattered in the trees. No running water. A beautiful, easy trail to hike in to the campground which took about an hour from the trailhead.

  • C
    Oct. 29, 2019

    Scotchmans Peak

    Steep but rewarding!

    Talk about a hike! This is a pretty steep trek, with rewarding views at the top. Be sure to read trail reports and weather reports before heading out. North Idaho weather can be pretty finicky, especially at high elevations. Make sure to be aware of wildlife as well! Scotchman's is known for mountain goat sightings, but as they become more accustomed to people they can be a little aggressive. Keep a safe distance!

  • Marcus K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 10, 2024

    Sullivan Creek Campgrounds

    Campsite 8

    This site #8 is one of the larger sites at Sullivan Creek.

    It’s right next to the river and about 150 yards from the road.

    At the site: Fire Ring, and a bear box. Across the road there is a vaulted toilet along with a few campsites there next to each other.

    Pack in and pack out! Sullivan lake is about 2-3 miles west and priest lake is 20+ miles to the east. If you do not have a 4wd vehicle I wouldn’t recommend driving on the service road to Priest, and depending the time of year the snow pack about 10 miles in will stop you!

  • Clifford F.
    Jun. 22, 2021

    Camp Coeur D Alene

    Nice campground

    We’ve stayed here a couple times now. It is a nice place. It is a little run down though. The car, tent camping is great. You have your own plot under trees. If you tent camp is the rest of the camp ground you will need a pad under your tent. I ground is pretty course gravel with up to 1.25” sharp stones. Firewood is free though.

  • Lee D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Dec. 10, 2023

    Riley Creek Campground

    Beautiful CoE campground with many activity options

    General: 67-site US Army Corps of Engineers campground in two loops along the Pend Oreille River. All sites are water and electric and have gravel driveways. 

    Site Quality: All sites were nicely wooded, level and spacious. The roads are paved but the sites themselves are gravel. A BBQ grill/fire pit and large picnic table complete each site. 

    Bath/shower house: There is one ADA-accessible all-in-one bath/shower plus regular restrooms. Clean if a little dated. I don’t take long showers but in the middle of mine, the water turned ice cold for the remainder of my shower, however, hubby did not have the same experience! 

    Activities/Amenities: Water activities including boating, fishing, and swimming. Non-water activities include paths, including one around the campground that is approximately 1.4 miles, nice for walking, running, or biking. Partially paved and partially gravel. Other activities include two playgrounds (one for younger children, one for older), volleyball, horseshoes, sport court, and a “doggie island” (pet area). Between the restrooms are two dishwashing sinks with hot water, a nice amenity. There is also a dump station. 

    We were still setting up when the host came by to give us a map, remind us there was a fire ban, and see if we had any questions or concerns. We stay at many CoE campgrounds and this one certainly measures up!


Guide to Newport

Tent campsites near Newport, Washington occupy a rugged section of the Colville National Forest at elevations between 2,000-4,000 feet. The camping season typically runs from late April through October, with July and August seeing the highest visitation. Summer temperatures average 75-85°F during daytime hours, dropping to 45-55°F overnight even during peak season.

What to do

Swimming and cliff jumping: Green Bay Campground offers exceptionally clear water for swimming. According to Melissa G., "You can walk all the way out to where you cannot touch and still see the rocks on the bottom." The site includes natural cliff jumping opportunities for more adventurous visitors.

Fishing opportunities: Kalispell Island provides excellent boat-in fishing access. While powerboats create afternoon waves, Callie B. notes that conditions "settle in the evening and morning," making these times ideal for kayak fishing from island campsites.

Apple picking: For campers staying at Amongst The Pines, nearby fruit orchards offer seasonal picking. Aaron S. reports, "We got there early and were able to check out the nearby brewery/fruit picking spot which made for a pretty ideal road tripping night."

Kayak camping: Priest Lake supports multi-day paddling trips between island campsites. Missy S. shared her experience: "A group of us stocked up our kayak and we trekked out to Kalispell Island! Storms all around us but the views were beautiful."

What campers like

Solitude during weekdays: Mid-week camping offers notably quieter experiences at Green Bay Campground. William N. confirms: "We arrived on a Wednesday and had the place nearly to ourselves. Make sure to arrive early in the week if you want a camp site. Spots filled quickly in the days following."

Clear night skies: The Newport area provides exceptional stargazing opportunities. At Bartoo Island Boat-in Campground, Alen C. reports, "on a clear night, you'll see the bulk of the Milky Way."

Site spacing and privacy: Tent sites at Skookum Creek Campground feature generous separation between campers. Janet R. describes, "Nice spots spaced quite far apart. Grassy with fire rings and tables."

Lakefront beach access: Many tent sites in the Newport region provide direct water access. At Bartoo Island, Saraj B. notes the "pure sand" beach landing makes boat access straightforward, and each site offers substantial privacy.

What you should know

Limited facilities: Most tent camping areas have minimal amenities. At Maiden Rock Campground, Libby N. warns there's "No pump for water source, only lake or creek," requiring campers to filter water.

Boat-in only access: Several prime camping areas require watercraft. Saraj B. notes important requirements at Priest Lake: "Bring a shovel and make sure your watercraft has an Invasive Species sticker (I bought mine at Cabelas in Post Falls on the way up)."

Weekend crowding: Popular sites fill rapidly on weekends and holidays. Emily S. indicates Green Bay's "Biggest complaint - road to get there. You do have to walk to your site but it's not far."

Seasonal insect concerns: Yellow jackets can be problematic at some Newport-area campsites. One camper at Green Bay reported, "Despite being frequently swarmed by them, neither of us got stung while we were there."

Tips for camping with families

Farm animal interactions: Camp Gifford at Deer Lake offers unique opportunities for children. Aaron S. appreciated that the host "even introduced my daughters to all the farm animals. On top of that, the space was perfect for a couple young kids to run around and explore."

Consider site location: When selecting tent sites near water, think about sun exposure. Callie B. suggests, "When choosing a site remember sunrise and sunset as I was lucky to have a place on the south side so there was shade during the hottest parts of the day and less sun at 5am when you want to sleep."

First-come sites strategy: For last-minute trips with children, Saraj B. recommends boat-in sites: "First come, first serve sites are your best bet for getting a campsite on Priest Lake during peak season. I was able to snag one of the 10ish first come sites last minute for a weekend."

Noise considerations: Avoid holiday weekends if seeking quiet family time. Jim B. warns about certain areas having "Loud, obnoxious and drunk boaters" during peak periods.

Tips from RVers

Day-use structures: The Skookum Creek Campground day-use area offers a unique covered structure with cooking facilities. Henry H. describes it as "a really neat structure with an open grill in the middle and a great view of the meadow through which Skookum Creek wanders."

Generator etiquette: While generators are permitted at some Newport area campgrounds, spacing helps minimize noise impacts. Henry H. notes, "even though the other site was running a couple of generators, I had enough room that the breeze and sounds of nature drowned it out."

Parking limitations: Many prime tent sites require short walks from parking areas. At Green Bay, Melissa G. notes, "There are two parking areas, and you have to hike down a short hike (moderately steep hill) to get to the campsites."

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Newport, WA?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Newport, WA is Skookum Creek Campground with a 5-star rating from 3 reviews.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Newport, WA?

TheDyrt.com has all 49 tent camping locations near Newport, WA, with real photos and reviews from campers.