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Fall Foliage in Rhode Island 2023

Enjoy the Red & Yellow Glow by Car, Boat or Helicopter!


Rhode Island shows its brightest colors in October. Western and northern Rhode Island are heavily wooded. Blackstone Valley region includes Slater Mill, the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution in America. The Blackstone Valley Explorer riverboat offers cruises into mid-October.

Beautiful foliage will be on display at Roger Williams Park and Zoo in Providence; and at Blithewold Mansion & Gardens in Bristol. In South County, a great scenic drive is Route 1 and 1A from Westerly to Wickford.

Essential Information:

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Fall Foliage in Rhode Island

Foliage Driving Routes in Rhode Island

Newport & East Bay Region


Newport and Ocean Drive -- 14 miles

This winding drive that offers fantastic views of the Atlantic Ocean and Fort Adams State Park. Tip: If you are making the drive on sunny afternoon travel Ocean Drive beginning at the Fort Adams end to avoid glare from a setting sun. Map

Fall Foliage in Rhode Island - Windmills in Newport and Ocean Drive - Photo Credit Chris Hunter
Points of Interest:
  • Cliff Walk, starting at Memorial Boulevard at Memorial Blvd & Eustis Avenue, Newport. Glorious views of Narragansett Bay and Jamestown Island from this paved walk along the edge of Newport, passing many mansions and college properties. Much of the walk is accessible to wheelchairs and young children; some is not, because of rugged rocks.
  • Fort Adams State Park, 1 Lincoln Drive, Newport. Historic park on Newport harbor with beautiful views of Narragansett Bay and sail boats. Amateur war historians can tour the fort, including deliciously creepy underground catacombs. The fort hosts lots of seasonal events, like the famous Newport jazz and folk festivals. Plan ahead and take a sailing lesson Sail Newport! (401-841-0707)
  • Newport Exploration Center, Easton's Beach, 175 Memorial Blvd., Newport, is operated by the very impressive Save the Bay group. Cool maritime museum for children. Kids will love petting a skate or turtle in the touch tanks and learning about the sea life hiding in the sands and rocks. (401-849-8430)
  • Newport Mansions, Known all over the country for their beauty and extravagance, the Newport Mansions are a must-see on your drive around the island.
  • Ocean Drive, A beautiful scenic journey, Ocean Drive has everything from private beaches, Oceanside views and breathtaking homes.
  • Bannister’s Wharf, This small area of Newport’s downtown displays the quintessential Newport life. Browse the boutiques, try one of the restaurants or enjoy the view of the boats on the wharf.

AppleBrake for Farm Stand! If you want to make a side trip out of Newport to the neighboring town of Middletown, head for Sweet Berry Farm on Mitchell’s Lane for pick your own apples and other treats.


Conanicut Island (Jamestown Island) -- 22 miles

Driving the roads of this island town will provide spectacular scenery of Narragansett Bay, rolling fields, historic homes and the quaint village center in Jamestown. Enjoy meandering and don't worry about getting lost. Side trip: at the end of Southwest Avenue, take Beavertail Road to Beavertail State Park, located on a spur of land southwest of the main body of the island. Map

Points of Interest:
  • Beavertail State Park, Beavertail Road, Jamestown. Park on a peninsula, with a lighthouse and spectacular views. Easy to walk on shore rocks and explore tidal pools’ sea life. (401-884-2010)
  • Watson Farm, 455 North Road, Jamestown (401-423-0005). Beautiful historic farm is open to visitors for walking tours and occasional events and classes, like watercolor painting, harvesting plants for traditional medicinal uses, and more farm skills.
  • Rose Island Lighthouse, off the shore of Newport, between Newport and Jamestown Island, in Narragansett Bay (401-847-4242). Plan a trip to the island by ferry from Newport. Offered in the warm seasons.
Blackstone Valley Region

Scituate Loop

This drive will take you around portions of the Scituate Reservoir, the pristine water source for much of Rhode Island. Access to the shoreline and water is not allowed. See detailed driving directions below.

Points of Interest:
  • Scituate Art Festival, center of Scituate. Festival is always on Columbus Day weekend. Great occasion for arts and crafts and antiques and fair food. Opportunity for Christmas shopping.

AppleBrake for Farm Stand! Salisbury Farm at Pippin Orchard Road and Plainfield Pike in Johnston is a multi-generational farm that celebrates fall with pumpkins, a corn maze; hay rides on the weekends; and a farm stand with strawberries, sweet corn, raspberries, pumpkins, hay and straw, and decorations. Map

  • From I-295 take Exit 4 to Route 14 West.
  • Go through the intersection with Route 116. You will pass over part of the reservoir and then into the pretty town of Scituate
  • Continue on Route 14 out of town and then turn left onto Route 12. This will take you across the Hope Dam.
  • At Route 116 turn left, traveling north. At Route 14 turn right and retrace your drive back to I-295.

Providence-Warwick Region


Goddard Park in Warwick/East Greenwich

Goddard Park, a local favorite surrounded by miles of beautiful stone walls, has miles of woodsy horse trails, open fields with large old trees, a beach and nine-hole golf course. Map

Fall Foliage in Rhode Island - Goddard Park in Warwick & East Greenwich
Points of Interest:
  • Goddard Memorial State Park, 1095 Ives Road, Warwick (401-884-2010). Big, green lawns with picnic shelter and grills; walks and horseback trails in wooded stretch along Greenwich Bay; golf course; swimming beach -- great for families, picnics, walks, celebrations.
  • From I-95 take Exit 8 to Route 2 South
  • At the first set of lights turn left onto Route 401 and take 2.5 miles into the village of East Greenwich, which has a sweet Main Street with lots of places to drink coffee or dine (it's also a hub of wedding apparel businesses)
  • Turn right onto Route 1 South. At next light turn left onto Forge Road
  • Goddard Park comes up on left behind the very long stone wall. Entrance is at the far end of the wall

South County Region


Route 3 Through West-Central Rhode Island

A quiet drive through many pretty, small towns. Map

  • Route 3 parallels I-95 from Exit 1 to Exit 6. Traveling north on I-95 take Exit 1 just after you cross into Rhode Island from Connecticut
  • Get on Route 3 North in Hopkinton. You'll drive through the little village of Hopkinton with its old country store and then on to Hope Valley.
  • At a traffic light in Hope Valley Route 3 forks to the left, and Route 138 to Newport goes to the right. Bear left, staying on Route 3. Pass the State Police barracks and travel under the interstate
  • Stay on Route 3 as you travel through Exeter and West Greenwich
  • After you pass a big field and cemetery on the left and travel down hill you will see an elevated I-95 running parallel on your left. You can soon rejoin I-95 at Exit 6.
Fall Foliage in Rhode Island - Route 3 Through West-Central RI

Route 1A along the Rhode Island Coastline

Route 1A is a delightful, scenic diversion from US Route 1. The road meanders along the coves and inlets, affording riders with views of water and the countryside. It is accessible from Route 1 at several points in South County. The following directions begin in Westerly, at the state's extreme southwestern corner. Map

  • Get to Westerly by taking I-95 (northbound or southbound) to exit 92 in Connecticut.
  • Follow Route 2 south of West Broad Street in Pawcatuck, CT
  • Turn left onto Broad Street and cross the Pawcatuck River and you will be in downtown Westerly
  • Follow signs for Route 1A through Westerly, and along the shoreline, traveling through communities and towns, including Misquamicut, Charlestown, Wakefield, Narragansett, Saunderstown, and into Wickford
Fall Foliage in Rhode Island - Route 1A along the RI Coastline
Points of Interest:
  • Misquamicut Beach, 257 Atlantic Avenue, Westerly. A classic sandy beach with all the normal summertime beach fun, outdoor concerts, car show, and more.
  • Burlingame State Park, Charlestown (401-322-7994 or 401-322-7337)
  • Ninigret Pond, Charlestown. This saltwater tidal pond opens to the ocean at the roaring Charlestown Breachway, a popular place for trailer camping, fishing, and just hanging out and watching the boat traffic. If you plan to kayak, aim for high tide.
  • Fantastic Umbrella Factory, 4820 Old Post Road, Charlestown (401-364-6616). Great place for gift shopping. Several very small, rustic stores are scattered paths winding through a wooded property with lots of small gardens scattered about. Also includes a sweet little café.

Route 138 through Hope Valley and North Kingstown

This route will take you past scenic farmland and the historic site of the University of Rhode Island.

Points of Interest:
  • Kingston University of Rhode Island, Route 138, (401-874-1000). Map
  • Take I-95 to Exit 3. Follow Route 138 East to Route 1 in Narragansett
  • Also possible to stay on Route 138 eastbound and cross the Jamestown-Verrazano Bridge into Jamestown and the Claiborne Pell (Newport) Bridge into Newport.