Rhode Island state and local Parks offer variety and fun, on sea and inland

Rhode Island > State > Outdoor Activities > State and Local Parks

On your Rhode Island vacation, plan to spend some time at state parks, where the whole family can enjoy hiking, biking, swimming, boating, exploring the tidal pools and much more.

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Rocky Point Park

1 Rocky Point Avenue Warwick, RI, 02889 Phone:

Pleasant park offers water views, public fishing pier, hiking and biking paths

For a century and a half, Rocky Point was known for its amusement park, which closed in 1995. Now a popular state park, Rocky Point Park is a pleasant place for beach strolls or for wading in tidal pools or exploring its hiking and biking paths. Leashed dogs are allowed. Set on 124 acres on a pointed outcrop in the upper part of Narragansett Bay, the park offers views of Conimicut Lighthouse and wide, open fields for recreation. There are plenty of benches to enjoy the bay views, and you’ll want to check out one of the “Peace Through Understanding” arches from the 1964 World’s Fair in Queens, N.Y., relocated to the park.There’s a picturesque public fishing pier.

Warwick City Park

Steven O'Connor Boulevard at Asylum Road Warwi, RI, 02889 Phone: 401-738-2019

Lots to do, including a sheltered-cove beach, at this bustling, spacious city park

On the end of a peninsula surrounded by two quiet bay coves, Warwick City Park provides a rich variety of outdoor activities for local residents and visitors. At the 126-acre park, you can go wading and swimming off Buttonwoods Beach, where the waves are small and the views impressive. There’s also a bathhouse. You can hike, bike or jog along three miles of paved paths through woods and along the coast. You can enjoy lunch at a sheltered picnic area. And, you can let your dogs romp in fenced-in parks for large and small pooches. The park also features three baseball fields, a basketball court, a field hockey area, kiddie play area – even a stone circle for meditation and contemplation.

Wilcox Park

71 High Street Westerly, RI, 02891 Phone: 401-596-2877

Lovely in-town Victorian Park; strolling; summer outdoor performances

This is a neat example of an urban park of the Victorian period. Beautiful walking paths, pond and fountain, dwarf conifers, day lilies, trees and shrubs. Some live entertainment, like outdoor Shakespeare performances, in summer. Breathtaking from spring to fall.
Hours: Open year-round, dawn to 11 p.m.

Warwick Office of Tourism

3275 Post Road Warwick, RI, 02886 Phone:

Park recreation ranges from hiking, biking to beach-going, horse-back riding and golf

The outdoors really is great in Warwick, where state and local parks provide trails, beaches, picnic areas, ballfields, playgrounds – even horseback-riding and golf courses. The horses and golf are at Goddard Memorial State Park. A sandy beach and lighthouse view can be found at Conimicut Point; there’s a handicapped-accessible fishing dock at Gorton Pond. Swim off a freshwater beach at Little Pond; go fishing at Sand Pond. Hikers love Rocky Point Park, and there are paved bike paths at Warwick City Park, which also has a saltwater beach and playground. Launch your boat at Warwick Pond or your kayak or canoe at Conimicut Point. Leashed dogs are welcome at many parks. Many park beaches have bathhouses; some have seasonal lifeguards.

Kid Fun, Unique Cuisine, Ocean View - Stay in Warwick, See Rhode Island!

Goddard Memorial State Park

1095 Ives Road Warwick, RI, 02818 Phone: 401-884-2010

Popular park features sandy beach, game fields, and a nine-hole golf course

Set on 472 acres along the scenic shore of Greenwich Cove and Greenwich Bay, the Goddard Memorial State Park is one of the state’s most popular parks. And it’s easy to see why, starting with the inviting, sandy saltwater beach, ideal for swimming, sun-bathing, fishing and paddling. There’s a seasonal lifeguard and bathhouses. The park also has a boat ramp, 11 game fields, 18 miles of bridle trails and a nine-hole, park-36 public golf course. (Call for a tee time, since there are no walk-in times.) The renovated pavilion offers occasional concert and equestrian shows. And, with 355 picnic tables and pleasant views (sunsets are superior), the park is the perfect location for a picnic lunch or dinner. - Park Map (PDF)

Haines Memorial State Park

On Bullock's Cove, off Metropolitan Park Drive Barrington, RI Phone: 401-253-7482

Beach for salt-water swimming on Narragansett Bay; picnic groves with a fireplace at each site; ball fields; restrooms, bath house. This is a stop on the East Bay Bike Path. In summer, the park hosts a farmer’s market. A boat ramp is accessible to wheelchairs.

Beavertail State Park

Beavertail Road Jamestown, RI, 02835 Phone: 401-884-9834

Beavertail State Park is located at the southern tip of Jamestown Island. It is on a dramatic promontory with a lighthouse. Fantastic views of Narragansett Bay. The coastline of the park is rocky. It is not good for swimming but perfect for rock climbing, exploring tide pools and tidal marine life, salt-water fishing (surf casting), walking the grounds, picnicking and kite flying. Views are tremendous. The Park operates a naturalist program to learn about the ecology of tide pools and local geology. Also, programs relating to crabs, fish, whales and intertidal zones. Open year-round, dawn to dusk.
Beavertail Lighthouse has a museum and gift shop in the assistant keeper's house. The museum is temporarily closed to the public, but when open the hours vary from May to Columbus Day.

Burlingame State Park

1 Burlingame State Park Road Charlestown, RI, 02813 Phone: 401-322-8910

This large (3,100 acres) and very popular state park is ideal for camping in woodlands. The park includes Watchaug Pond. Amenities at this park include a beach for freshwater swimming, and boat lauch for boating and fishing, campgrounds with fireplaces, drinking water, and toilets. The campground may fill early on summer weekends. - Campground Map (PDF) - Picnic Area Map (PDF)

Fort Adams State Park

80 Fort Adams Drive Newport, RI, 02840 Phone: 401-847-2400

Fort Adams State Park is, in face, a former fort guarding Newport Harbor and the east passage of Narragansett Bay. It is a very large area, with lots of lawns for walking and picnicking. There is also salt water bathing and fishing. Sail Newport, a non-profit organization based at the park, offers instruction and rentals of sailboats and windsurfing equipment. Sail Newport hosts sailing events and races with the park as its home base.
Fort Adams is known nationally and internationally for its Newport Jazz Festival and Newport Folk Festival, which draw thousands of guests to the property; many more listen to the music from boats in the harbor.
The Fort often hosts special historical events like reenactments of battles and the daily lives of soldiers in a historic setting. The original defenses still standing include walls, powder magazines, guns and cannons, and tunnels. The fort also welcomes people to seasonal events, like its Halloween season Fright and the Fort fun house.

Fort Wetherill State Park

Fort Wetherill Road Jamestown, RI, 02835 Phone: 401-423-1771

Great views of Newport; good for scuba diving, boating, fishing, hiking

Site of a historic defense battery and military training camp, the park offers spectacular views of Newport Harbor and Narragansett Bay from its location on 100-foot granite cliffs. Popular for scuba diving, picnicking, boating, fishing, and hiking.

Ninigret Park

Route 1A just off Route 1 Charlestown, RI Phone: 401-364-1222

Pond swimming, fishing; playground, fields, nature center, Frisbee golf

Interesting and beautiful park on Ninigret Pond, which is a salt-water tidal pond protected from the ocean by a long barrier beach. The park also includes freshwater pond with a beach for swimming, and lifeguards on duty in summer. The park has a playground, ball fields, basketball courts, a nature center and small observatory, restrooms, tennis courts, and a one-mile bicycle trail.
Fishing is done on the back side of the pond. A pavilion is available for rent, and it has grills, picnic tables, electricity, water, and bathrooms. Festivals, like the annual Charlestown Seafood Festivals, are held here seasonally. There is a Frisbee disc golf course on the back side of the park. Open year-round, 8 a.m. to sunset

Lincoln Woods State Park

2 Manchester Print Works Road Lincoln, RI, 02865 Phone: 401-723-7892

This beautiful, large, wooded inland park is in the Blackstone River Valley and an easy drive from Providence. The park has a lake for freshwater swimming and paddling, trout fishing, and fields for ball games and picnics. Permits are required for use of picnic areas and fields.
There are many trails for hiking, walking, jogging, horseback riding or mountain biking. Some trails are for horseback riding only and other trails are for multiple uses.
Lifeguards are on duty during the summer season. Motor boats are not allowed on the lake on weekends and holidays during summer. - Park Map (PDF)

Brenton Point State Park

Ocean Drive Newport, RI, 02840 Phone: 401-847-2400

Brenton Point State Park is located on the spectacular Ocean Drive. Its sloping, grassy lawns overlook vast views of Narragansett Bay, its islands, and bird life. Stiff breezes make this a favorite place for kite flying; a kite flying festival is held here every year on the second weekend of July. Visitors enjoy walking, picnicking, fishing on the rocky shore, and nature photography. Open year-round, sunrise to sunset. Bathrooms open May through October.

Colt State Park

Route 114 at Asylum Road Bristol, RI, 02809 Phone: 401-253-7482

Colt State Park is cheek to cheek with the eastern shore of Narragansett Bay. It has huge lawns for games, many curving drives and foot paths, fantastic views. Shore fishing. Ten large playing fields, picnic groves, flower beds, near the extensive East Bay Bike Path. This park is a favorite for family gatherings, reunions, and weddings. There is an open-air chapel, Chapel by the Sea. - Park Map (PDF)

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