Rhode Island Attractions Guide
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The short answer
America's smallest state packs Gilded Age mansions, a buzzing capital, and some of New England's best beaches into a compact, easy-to-drive package. Here's where to go, region by region.
Newport
- The Breakers β The grandest of the Newport mansions, Cornelius Vanderbilt II's 70-room Italian Renaissance palazzo.
- Marble House β William K. Vanderbilt's marble-clad "cottage" with a Chinese tea house on the cliffs.
- Cliff Walk β A 3.5-mile National Recreation Trail combining rugged shoreline with mansion views.
- Ocean Drive β A 10-mile scenic loop past mansions, rocky coves, and Brenton Point State Park.
- The Elms β A French chateau-inspired summer home with restored gardens and servant-quarters tours.
- International Tennis Hall of Fame β A museum and grass courts at the Newport Casino, birthplace of US tennis.
Providence
- WaterFire β A free art installation lighting the downtown rivers with braziers and music on select summer evenings.
- RISD Museum β The Rhode Island School of Design's museum, with 100,000 works from ancient to contemporary.
- Brown University campus β Stroll College Hill's historic green and the Van Wickle Gates on an Ivy League campus founded in 1764.
- Roger Williams Park Zoo β A 40-acre zoo in the city's grand Olmsted-designed park.
- Benefit Street β A mile of restored 18th- and 19th-century homes, called the "Mile of History."
Block Island
- Mohegan Bluffs β 150-foot clay cliffs with a stairway down to a secluded beach.
- Southeast Light β The 1875 brick lighthouse moved back from the eroding bluffs in 1993.
- Island beaches β Crescent Beach and Mansion Beach offer soft sand and clear Atlantic water.
- North Light β A granite lighthouse at the island's north tip, reached by a beach walk.
- 1661 Farm and Gardens β A working farm with animals and a corn maze near the island's center.
Narragansett
- Narragansett Town Beach β The town's signature surf beach, popular with surfers and sunbathers alike.
- Point Judith Lighthouse β An 1816 octagonal lighthouse at the tip of Point Judith, still active.
- The Towers β The surviving stone arches of the 1880s Narragansett Pier Casino on Ocean Road.
- Scarborough State Beach β A wide, family-friendly state beach with lifeguards and facilities.
Practical Tips
- Best season: June through September for beaches; Newport's mansions are open year-round (reduced winter hours).
- Getting around: a car makes the state easy β nothing is more than 45 minutes apart; seasonal ferries run to Block Island from Point Judith.
- WaterFire dates vary β check the schedule before planning a Providence evening.
- Block Island is walkable and bikeable; bring layers β ocean wind is chilly even in summer.
Frequently asked questions
How long should I spend in Newport?
One full day covers the Cliff Walk and two mansions; two days lets you add Ocean Drive and the harbor.
Can I do Block Island as a day trip?
Yes β the Point Judith ferry takes about an hour, and bikes or mopeds cover the island easily in a day.
Sources
- https://www.visitrhodeisland.com/
- https://www.nps.gov/rowi/
- https://www.nps.gov/
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