Rhode Island's Best Beaches

Rhode Island's Best Beaches

Rhode Island has 400 mi of shoreline with more than 100 salt- and fresh-water beaches. Almost all the ocean beaches around the resort communities of Narragansett, Watch Hill, Newport, and Block Island are open to the public. Deep sands blanket most Rhode Island beaches, and most waters are clear and clean -- in some places, the water takes on the turquoise color of the Caribbean Sea. Newport's harbor glimmers from the beach at Fort Adams State Park; nearby Middletown has a long beach adjacent to a wildlife refuge; and Jamestown's Mackerel Cove Beach is sheltered from heavy surf, making it a good choice for families. With naturally occurring white sands and a rock reef to the north that's ideal for snorkeling, Mansion Beach on Block Island is one of the most splendid coastal stretches in New England.