Plan your summer vacation to Rhode Island’s beaches

05.06.2024 - 16:45 / lonelyplanet.com

Rhode Island is America’s smallest state, but it's got plenty to offer for a great summer vacation. Here you'll find great food, fun wineries, rich history and spectacular beaches, making it a top getaway destination not just in New England, but up and down the eastern coastline. Whether you're a history buff, a nature lover, or simply seeking relaxation by the sea, this charming state will make you glad you came.

Summer in Rhode Island is all about embracing the outdoors. The state’s pristine beaches offer sun-soaked days of swimming, surfing, and sun-bathing. Don’t miss a visit to Newport, where you can stroll along the Cliff Walk and tour the opulent Gilded Age mansions like the Breakers. These are some of America’s most impressive mansions, legacies of railway tycoons and industrial moguls who came to Newport only in the summer, sometimes just for a week or two, yet who built mansions so decadent they’ve been used in movie adaptations of The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald.

There’s so much here that it’s impossible to fit into a few short paragraphs, so get out the calendar and start planning the trip. Here’s some suggestions on what to see and do.

Vibes: It’s hard to beat Newport in the summer – its influx of visitors means there’s plenty of things to do while you’re here.  Yes, it’s touristy, but it’s a classy crowd and it’s impossible to argue with the city’s quiet coastal charm. With the Newport mansions and the Newport Jazz Festival (held each year in August), there’s an artsyness and stately vibe that resonates beyond the beaches, bars and sunbathers.

Do: Visit the Cliff Walk, see the Breakers or the Marble House mansions, and gawk (or gag) at how luxurious, opulent, and excessive the upper 1% lived. Those who surf will want to wax up the boards and head out on some great swell. 

Eat: Flo’s Clam Shack is a great spot that’s only a few minutes' drive or a short walk away. It’s been in business since the 1930s and has cheap seafood that’s great for anyone craving a bite after a day on the beach.

Sleep: Surfers will want to check out Second Beach Family Campground. Yes, you’ll need to keep things family friendly (voices down, no drunkenness or substance abuse), but you can get up when the tide is right and literally walk to the beach.

Dig deeper with a trip to  Block Island: the perfect place for a New England beach getaway

Vibes: This delightful stretch of sand offers peace and quiet, a sharp contrast to frenetic Newport and its more popular beaches. The vibe here is chill and unpretentious: mostly families with kids, couples and college-aged sunbathers who stake out spots and enjoy the white-sand, pebbles, shells and the occasional crab or skate egg case.  

Do:  For those non-beach-goers who