It’s Not Called the Ocean State for Nothing: 9 Rhode Island Beaches to Plan a Weekend Around

This article was originally published in 2019 and was most recently updated to include current information on August 21, 2026. Erika Owens and Asia Palomba contributed to the reporting of this story.

Rhode Island’s beaches, like the Ocean State itself, tend to be a bit overlooked. Cape Cod gets more attention as the New England beach destination, and although the city of Newport is famous for summer fun, Gilded Age mansions and yacht culture tend to overshadow the state’s shimmering sands.

While Connecticut’s beaches are placid affairs on the sheltered Long Island Sound, and Massachusetts’s South Shore beaches tend to be more rocky and rugged, Rhode Island claims long swaths of shoreline facing the waves of the Atlantic, as well as calmer bay beaches. It may be a small state, but Little Rhody has a beach to suit anyone—even if most locals would thank you for not letting everyone in on the good intel. Plus, having a relatively small state to work with has its advantages: A number of beaches (and state parks, if you’re looking to hike) are within an hour’s drive of Providence.

We pulled together some of the best beaches in Rhode Island to help you kick-start your planning. Some have miles of coastline, others have picnic areas and boardwalks; all feature saltwater and soft sand to dig your toes into.

Photo by John Woodmansee

1. Watch Hill Beach, Westerly

• Admission: Parking is $53.50 per car; admission is $17 per person
• Book now: Reserve a parking spot

Spots like the Ocean House hotel and the beachfront mansion of singer Taylor Swift have brought national attention to the village of Watch Hill. But this far southwestern coastal community in the town of Westerly has been luring summer visitors since the 19th century, thanks to its broad, sandy beach, quaint shops, and renowned Flying Horse Merry-Go-Round. (On this unique, kids-only carousel, riders “fly” outward as the carousel turns.) The Ocean House’s veranda and Seaside Terrace are open to visitors and guests alike for upscale seafood and casual beach dining, respectively. Take a walk into town for sunset drinks and seafood at the century-old Olympia Tea Room or a sweet treat at St. Clair Annex, which has been churning small-batch ice cream out since 1887. Stretch your legs on a 1.5-mile walk from Fort Road to Napatree Point, a narrow peninsula where you’ll find seabirds, deer, and other wildlife living amid the ruins of a former artillery battery.

Know before you go

Rentals (beach chairs and umbrellas) are available at the beach. Additionally, there is a bathhouse that’s open for members and limited guest passes with changing rooms and restrooms. During the summer, there are also lifeguards on duty.

Photo by Betsy Ward/Shutterstock

2. Misquamicut Beach, Westerly

• Admission: Parking is $20 Monday–Friday and $30 on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays for nonresidents; a season pass is $60

The three-mile-long Misquamicut Beach has everything you could want for a day of sunning and surfing. As the first big ocean beach north of Connecticut, Misquamicut is one of the most popular beaches in the state, attracting locals, day-trippers, and summer renters. Beach bars like Paddy’s Beach Club and Windjammer Surf Bar attract lively crowds; the former often has live music, and the latter is adjacent to the family-friendly Atlantic Beach Park, which has a 1915 carousel, kiddie rides, a snack bar, and an ice cream stand. If you want to extend your stay, consider small but cozy hotels like the Pleasant View Inn and the Breezeway.

Know before you go

There are bathrooms on the beach. Guests can also use the playground, picnic tables, outdoor showers, gazebos, and concessions. In addition, three beach wheelchairs are available for free on a first-come, first-served basis. Be aware: The paid parking lot fills up fast during the summer months.

Photo by PaulB Photo/Shutterstock

3. East Beach, Charlestown

• Admission: Parking is $12 Monday–Friday, $14 on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays; a season pass is $60

This three-mile barrier beach is about as far in character from the sometimes-raucous vibe of Misquamicut as you can get. East Beach is a bit off the beaten path and there’s only one way in and out, making it the quietest of Rhode Island’s state beaches. Stretching along Quonochontaug Neck on the south side of Ninigret Pond, the sand dead-ends at the inlet of the Charlestown Breachway.

Plop down your towel or blanket here, and you’ll have the seemingly endless Atlantic in front of you and the undeveloped Ninigret National Wildlife Refuge at your back. For additional solitude, drive your 4x4 vehicle onto the East Beach Sand Trail and pitch a tent at one of 20 campsites for a toes-in-the-sand night under the stars; it’s one of the darkest spots between New York and Boston.

Know before you go

Parking is very limited. There are six changing rooms on site. A lifeguard is also on duty during the summer. There are no beach-compliant wheelchairs available to borrow on site.

Photo by Yingna Cai/Shutterstock

4. Narragansett Town Beach, Narragansett

• Admission: Parking is $10 Monday–Friday, $15 on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays; a season pass is $30; admission is $12 per person

Laid-back Narragansett Town Beach has a broad, golden arc of coastline with reliable waves that attract surfers from across the eastern seaboard. You’ll find most of the surfers at the south end of the beach by the seawall, while families and sunbathers cluster in the middle, and adventurous types walk north toward the mouth of the tidal Pettaquamscutt (Narrow) River, which forms a broad sandbar where it meets Narragansett Bay.

Warm Winds and the Narragansett Surf and Skate Shop offer surfing lessons, and dining options within walking distance range from Monahan’s Clam Shack to the elegant Coast Guard House, with its popular roof deck for after-beach libations. We recommend biking to Narragansett via the eight-mile South County Bike Path rather than dealing with the beach traffic.

Know before you go

In addition to accessible parking (standard parking fees apply), there are two beach wheelchairs available to use for free. You’ll also find large changing rooms and accessible showers. Feel free to work up an appetite in the water—there are seasonal concession stands. Lifeguards are on duty during summer months.

Courtesy of Discover Newport

5. Sachuest Beach, Middletown

• Admission: Parking is $30 Monday–Friday, $40 on weekends and holidays, and $25 for motorcycles and scooters

South-facing Sachuest Beach (aka Second Beach) has views of the eminently Instagrammable Gothic chapel of St. George’s School, plus waves steady enough to attract surfers to the aptly named Surfer’s End, on the northern part of the beach. Local families and summer visitors love this spot as an alternative to Newport’s busier Easton’s Beach, less than 10 minutes away.

Along this one-mile crescent of sand, you’ll find a campground, a surf school, and a concession stand selling burgers and hot dogs. (You might find more interesting food at the trucks that occasionally set up in the parking lot.) Head south and you’ll walk onto the Sachuest Point National Wildlife Refuge, a favorite among bird-watchers. On the opposite side of the point is the even-less-populated Third Beach, which has calmer, kid-friendly waters; the Norman Bird Sanctuary, with six miles of hiking trails, is less than five minutes away by car.

Know before you go

With limited parking, it’s best to get here early in the day—or during the off-season—but you can still access the beach if the parking lot is full. In addition to bathrooms, there are outdoor showers and lifeguards on duty during the summer. There are wheelchairs available; ask the parking lot attendant for more information.

Photo by Katy/Flickr

6. Goosewing Beach, Little Compton

• Admission: Parking is $25 per day on weekdays, $30 per day on the weekends

In the East Bay town of Little Compton, Goosewing Beach sits between Quicksand Pond and the Atlantic, providing a home for seabirds like the least tern and piping plover. With a mix of sandy and rocky sections, the beach backs onto high dunes and cliffs and is part of the Nature Conservancy’s 75-acre Goosewing Beach Preserve. Visit the Benjamin Family Environmental Center to learn about this unspoiled coastal habitat and join a guided nature walk, or relax for a laid-back day at the shore.

Know before you go

The only way to access the conservation area is through the beach. Residents get a discount on the daily parking fee. No pets are allowed. Concessions include a handful of stands, and there are Porta Potties on site. Lifeguards are on duty during the summer.

7. Fred Benson Town Beach, Block Island

• Admission: Parking and admission are free

Block Island’s town beach is about a mile from the ferry terminal that brings day-trippers from Point Judith, Rhode Island, and New London, Connecticut, on summer days. Moderate surf and a full array of amenities, including rentals of beach chairs and umbrellas, make this spot very family-friendly and also alleviate the need to haul your beach gear over from the mainland. As the day winds down, you can migrate to nearby bars and restaurants like the Beachead and Yellow Kittens Tavern for casual dining and live entertainment before catching the last ferry back (around 8 p.m.) or spending the night at one of the island’s restored grand hotels or bed-and-breakfasts.

Know before you go

There is no entry or parking fee for this beach—or any of the others on Block Island. Bathrooms and outdoor showers can be found on site. One beach-friendly wheelchair is available to use, on a first-come, first-served basis. Lifeguards are on duty during the summer.

8. Sandy Point Beach, Portsmouth

• Admission: Parking is $20 Wednesday–Thursday, $25 Friday–Sunday and on holidays

Tucked away on the Aquidneck Island side of the Sakonnet River, Sandy Point is Portsmouth’s town beach. Featuring calm, shallow waters that provide a respite from the often rough surf of the state’s ocean-facing beaches, it’s ideal for young children and water sports like kayaking and paddling. Then explore the nearby 19th-century Green Animals Topiary Garden, the oldest and northernmost topiary garden in the country, before grabbing a bite to go at Flo’s Clam Shack, which has been serving seafood since 1936.

Know before you go

There are on-site bathrooms, changing rooms, showers, picnic tables, and a small concession stand selling waters, juices, and snacks. Lifeguards are on duty from Friday to Sunday.

9. Mackerel Cove, Jamestown

• Admission: Parking is $20 Wednesday–Thursday, $25 Friday–Sunday and on holidays

Sheltered from the currents of Narrangansett Bay, Mackerel Cove, aka Jamestown Town Beach, is calm and secluded, with warm, shallow waters. The half-mile-long, crescent-shaped shoreline is set on a narrow strip of land that ties Conanicut Island to Beavertail Peninsula, home of the 153-acre Beavertail State Park. Here, you can visit the third-oldest lighthouse in North America, embark on a rocky coastal trail to take in panoramic views of Narrangasett Bay, and explore Fort Burnside, a unique World War II fortification designed to look like a seaside cottage.

Know before you go

Parking at Mackerel Cove is extremely limited, with space for only 90 vehicles at a time, so arrive early to snag a spot. There are lifeguards and restrooms on site, as well as a handicapped-accessible beach mat. A Del’s lemonade truck is often in the parking lot, slinging its signature soft frozen lemonade. Beavertail State Park is only 10 minutes away by car.