Is Newton Hills Campground first-come first-served or reservation?

Newton Hills Campground accepts online reservations. We recommend booking in advance, especially during peak season (typically summer weekends). Use campsite alerts to get notified when spots become available.

What is the best time to visit Newton Hills Campground?

Newton Hills Campground is open Main-season services (showers, flush toilets, potable water) operate in season; showers/flush toilets and water systems may be closed Oct 1–Apr 30 while vault toilets typically remain available.. The best time to visit depends on your preferences—summer offers the warmest weather and most activities, while spring and fall provide fewer crowds and milder temperatures. Check current conditions before your trip.

Are there showers at Newton Hills Campground?

Yes, Newton Hills Campground has shower facilities available for campers. Check the amenities section for details on hours and any fees.

Is there cell service at Newton Hills Campground?

Cell phone service at Newton Hills Campground is generally available. Cell service is available. Coverage may vary by carrier and exact location within the campground.

How many campsites does Newton Hills Campground have?

Newton Hills Campground has 126 campsites. Sites vary in size, privacy, and amenities. Check availability online to find the best site for your needs.

Are dogs allowed at Newton Hills Campground?

Pets are not allowed at Newton Hills Campground. This policy helps protect local wildlife and other campers. Consider nearby pet-friendly campgrounds if traveling with animals.

What amenities are available at Newton Hills Campground?

Newton Hills Campground offers: Restrooms, Showers, Potable Water, Electrical Hookups. See our detailed campground page for the full list of facilities and features.

What activities can I do at Newton Hills Campground?

Popular activities at Newton Hills Campground include Hiking, Fishing, Biking, Wildlife Viewing. The surrounding area offers plenty of outdoor recreation opportunities for all skill levels.

Newton Hills Campground

4.66

125 reviews

Top 3% in SDFall

Seasonal ranking by Open-Meteo.com, licensed under CC BY 4.0, processed by Outdoorithm.

BReport Card

Quick Facts

1,427 ft

Price

Varies

Booking

Reservable

Sites

126 campsites

Season

Main-season services...

Cell

Has Service

Pets

Check Policy

ElectricShowers

Book on SouthDakotaStateParks Official Website

Get Directions

Elevation by Open-Meteo.com, licensed under CC BY 4.0, processed by Outdoorithm.

Quick Facts

1,427 ft

Price

Varies

Booking

Reservable

Sites

126 campsites

Season

Main-season services...

Cell

Has Service

Pets

Check Policy

ElectricShowers

Book on SouthDakotaStateParks Official Website

Get Directions

Elevation by Open-Meteo.com, licensed under CC BY 4.0, processed by Outdoorithm.

Newton Hills Campground

No fees available

Campsite Fees

No campsite fee categories listed.

Get Notified When Available

We'll monitor this campground and alert you the moment sites become available.

Free to start · paid plans add 2-min scans

263,000+ sites monitored · Email alerts to start; SMS and in-app with an account

Learn more about alerts →

Share this campground

South Dakota State Parks

Provider

I manage this campground

Ask Camp Sage about Newton Hills Campground

Availability, what to pack, similar spots — ask anything and get an instant answer.

Campground Map

Newton Hills Campground

43.2246, -96.5731

Nearby places

Canton, SD (about 6 miles north)

Sioux Falls, SD (about 30 minutes by car)

Nearby supplies

Canton, SD (dining and supplies, ~6 miles)

Weather at Newton Hills Campground

Best Time to Camp at Newton Hills Campground

Plan your visit for spring or fall to experience Newton Hills at its most spectacular—when wildflowers carpet the forest floor or brilliant autumn colors set the canopy ablaze in shades of gold and crimson. Summer welcomes families with full services, ranger programs, and warm weather perfect for trail exploration, though you'll want to pack bug spray for those shaded woodland paths. Winter adventurers will find the park open for cold-weather camping and snow-dusted hiking, but note that modern facilities operate on a limited schedule during the coldest months.

Best

Spring(Mar-May)

5.0 / 5

Top 1% in SD

Spring wildflowers and vibrant forest renewal make spring a top season per overview.

Planning Tips

Operating Season: Main-season services (showers, flush toilets, potable water) operate in season; showers/flush toilets and water systems may be closed Oct 1–Apr 30 while vault toilets typically remain available.

Weather data by Open-Meteo.com, licensed under CC BY 4.0, processed by Outdoorithm.

About Newton Hills Campground

Escape to a hidden forest oasis rising from the South Dakota prairie at Newton Hills Campground, where towering deciduous trees, winding ravines, and miles of scenic trails create an unexpected woodland retreat. This developed campground offers modern amenities while immersing you in one of the region's most unique ecosystems, with exceptional birding and a canopy-covered landscape that feels worlds away from the surrounding plains.

Mixed-use developed campground with standard campsites (electric sites), a horse camp, and rental cabins and group lodges.

Historical Significance

The park occupies forested bluffs and Sioux Quartzite outcrops within the Big Sioux River valley and has local folklore (legends of buried gold and outlaw hideouts) and a growing role in regional conservation through expansion of public land corridors. The site is also noted as a long-standing birding hotspot with over 200 bird species recorded.

Weather and SeasonsPlan your visit for spring or fall to experience Newton Hills at its most spectacular—when wildflowers carpet the forest floor or brilliant autumn colors set the canopy ablaze in shades of gold and crimson. Summer welcomes families with full services, ranger programs, and warm weather perfect for trail exploration, though you'll want to pack bug spray for those shaded woodland paths. Winter adventurers will find the park open for cold-weather camping and snow-dusted hiking, but note that modern facilities operate on a limited schedule during the coldest months.

Weather data by Open-Meteo.com, licensed under CC BY 4.0, processed by Outdoorithm.

Natural Features and SceneryNewton Hills State Park is a naturalist's dream—a rare 'dark forest' island where mature hardwoods and lush riparian zones thrive along the Big Sioux River valley. As you explore the park's rolling terrain, you'll navigate steep ravines carved into the landscape, discover quiet forest glades beneath a dense canopy, and spot wildlife drawn to this verdant refuge. While Lake Lakota's water levels can fluctuate seasonally (sometimes running dry), the dramatic topography and rich forest understory more than compensate, offering a striking contrast to the prairie grasslands that stretch beyond the park's borders.

Geological RegionSioux Quartzite outcrops and forested bluffs of the Big Sioux River valley

Scenic ViewsShady wooded ravines, hilltop forest scenes, and occasional prairie-edge openings that provide sunrise/sunset views and dark-sky stargazing. Water views from Lake Lakota are variable and have been reported as absent at times.

Best Campsites

Curated by campers, for campers

Reveal picks

Reserving a campsite

Tents

Tents are allowed

RV vehicles

RV vehicles are allowed

Primitive

Primitive camping is not allowed

Reservable

Reservations are allowed

Total Campsites126 campsites

Best CampsitesForested electric RV/tent loops are popular for shade and proximity to restrooms and playgrounds; sites set back from main roads tend to be quieter. Equestrian users prefer the dedicated horse camp for direct trail access and horse facilities; more open-edge sites are favored for sunrise/sunset views and stargazing.

Need help booking Newton Hills Campground?

Reservation tips, booking windows, and free cancellation alerts.

When to Book

Find your booking window

Cancellation Alerts

Free alerts for this campground

Amenities available

Developed state-park campground with 126 campsites, a separate horse camp (10 horse sites with corrals/troughs), 11 camping cabins plus a modern cabin, and two group lodges. Amenities include seasonally-operated showers and flush toilets (vault toilets remain open year-round), potable water spigots (seasonal), many sites with electrical hookups, playgrounds, picnic shelters/tables, and paved internal roads.

Showers

Potable water

Electricity hookups

Flush toilets

Picnic tables

Vault toilets

I manage this campground

Things to do at Newton Hills Campground

A wooded, hilly park offering multi-use trails, equestrian facilities, and interpretive programs. Popular for birding and nature observation due to high avian diversity.

Wildlife viewing5.0/5Top 3% in South Dakota

Over 200 bird species reported; called a regional birding hotspot and naturalist's dream.

Hiking4.0/5

Biking3.0/5

Multi‑use trails and rolling terrain suggest biking is possible but it's not emphasized.

Fishing2.0/5

Signature experiences

Stargazing4.0/5Described as a dark‑sky island with hilltop openings that provide stargazing views.

Photography4.0/5Shady ravines, hilltop views, fall colors and abundant birds offer strong photo opportunities.

Not sure what to pack?Our complete camping packing checklist

Policies & Safety

Hazards & AlertsSeasonal mosquitoes and ticks in warm months, limited or inconsistent cell service in forested ravines, and occasional noise from nearby roads or trains. No large-predator issues are reported; typical small-to-medium Midwestern wildlife present.

Trip Planning Tools

Set an AlertGet notified when sites open up Check WeatherHistorical weather data Gear for This TripMatched gear recommendations Packing ListCustomizable checklist

Questions & answers

Researching this campground? Ask anything — other campers and our team will weigh in. No visit required.

Good to know

Short heads-ups about the road in, gear quirks, and timing, compiled by Outdoorithm from public reviews and operator information.

Reviews

Rate Newton Hills Campground

Been here? Tap a star to start. Takes about a minute.

Sign-in required only if you want your name on it.

From Booking Sources

4.7

125 reviews

Top-Rated

Newton Hills Campground is top-rated, placing it in the top 15% of campgrounds based on reviews

Visitors consistently praise the park's unique wooded, hilly scenery, well‑maintained trails, and clean restrooms; families and birders frequently note it as family‑friendly and a regional birding hotspot. Sites are described as spacious and often shaded, with many guests highlighting playgrounds and interpretive programs.

Review Summaries

Based on 125 reviews

What Campers Love

Highly rated for its shady forest trails, biodiversity (over 200 bird species reported), clean facilities, spread-out campsites with electric hookups, playgrounds, and a quiet, scenic atmosphere...

Based on 125 reviews

Pro Tips & Recommendations

Check with the park about seasonal closures for showers/water before visiting (Oct 1–Apr 30). Expect limited cell service (T‑Mobile reported as no coverage); bring insect repellent for summer months....

Based on 125 reviews

Camper Quotes

“The sites were large and ample power hookups. Bathrooms and showers were nice and clean.” — “Very nice and fun spot to camp and walk trails.”

Based on 125 reviews

Reviews on Outdoorithm

Be the first to review this campground

Every adventure creates another. Share what you learned so the next camper feels a little more prepared heading out.

Newton Hills Campground

No fees available

Campsite Fees

No campsite fee categories listed.

Get Notified When Available

We'll monitor this campground and alert you the moment sites become available.

Free to start · paid plans add 2-min scans

263,000+ sites monitored · Email alerts to start; SMS and in-app with an account

Learn more about alerts →

Share this campground

South Dakota State Parks

Provider

Go if

Birders, families, and hikers do well here. The wooded loops, ravines, and prairie-edge openings get strong reviews, and edge sites can catch sunrise or sunset. Fall is the best bet, with full services in season.

Skip if

Late-season campers who need showers, flush toilets, or reliable water should think twice, since those systems may close Oct 1 to Apr 30. Cell service is weak in the ravines, and some sites pick up road or train noise.

Nearby Campgrounds

Less Visited

4.3

(87)

Union Grove Campground

Tucked away in a wooded ravine where Brule Creek whispers through stands of towering trees, Union Grove Campground offers a rare pocket of forested solitude amid South Dakota's prairie landscape. This intimate state park retreat features a compact loop of shaded campsites plus dedicated horse camping areas, creating a peaceful basecamp for families, hikers, and equestrian adventurers seeking a true escape.

Newton Hills Campground

Quick Facts

Quick Facts

Get Notified When Available

Ask Camp Sage about Newton Hills Campground

Campground Map

Weather at Newton Hills Campground

Best Time to Camp at Newton Hills Campground

Planning Tips

About Newton Hills Campground

Best Campsites

Reserving a campsite

Need help booking Newton Hills Campground?

Amenities available

Things to do at Newton Hills Campground

Policies & Safety

Trip Planning Tools

Reviews

What Campers Love

Get Notified When Available

Go if

Skip if

How campers graded it

Every grade - tap to see what campers said

Ask Camp Sage about Newton Hills Campground

Best Time to Camp at Newton Hills Campground

Planning Tips

Best Campsites

Reserving a campsite

Need help booking Newton Hills Campground?

Amenities available

Things to do at Newton Hills Campground

Policies & Safety

Trip Planning Tools

Reviews

What Campers Love