When to Go

With its arts and music festivals and gorgeous beach days, summer is high season in Rhode Island and a great time to visit, but there are fun and exciting things to do here year-round. Newport's Jazz and Folk festivals heat up the town in late July and early August, just after the Newport Music Festival for classical music fans in July. This is also the time to take the ferry to low-key, beach-ringed Block Island for a day trip or overnight stay.

The shoulder seasons (April–May and September–October) bring pleasant weather and more affordable accommodations. In early fall, the return of student life to Providence colleges gives the capital city energy and a youthful vibe. October is a good time to catch fall foliage in the Blackstone Valley, around the University of Rhode Island in Kingston, or in picturesque Tiverton and Little Compton.

Late fall, winter, and early spring each have their own charms, such as restaurant week in Providence, Newport, and Narragansett, when eateries join together to promote special three-course prix-fixe menus.