Rhode Island Outdoor Guide: Campgrounds, Trails, Beaches & RV Spots
Key Takeaways
- Rhode Island only has five state-run campgrounds, so we cover all five plus the handful of private options actually worth booking
- The best family beaches (Roger Wheeler, Third Beach) have almost no surf; the best surf beaches (Misquamicut, Narragansett Town) trade calm water for atmosphere and waves
- South County — Charlestown, Narragansett, South Kingstown — is where camping, beaches, and RV parks all cluster together, so it’s the easiest home base for a trip that covers more than one thing
- Book state campgrounds and beach parking passes early; both sell out for summer weekends
- Skip Reserve America the day you want to go — popular sites and lots fill by mid-morning
Why Rhode Island Punches Above Its Size
Rhode Island is tiny — you can drive across it in under an hour — but that’s exactly what makes it a great weekend destination instead of a whole-vacation commitment. Five state campgrounds, a genuinely good trail system, and some of New England’s best family beaches all sit close enough together that you can string a few of them into one trip without spending half of it in the car.
This guide covers what’s actually worth your time in each category, based on real reviews and consensus, not just what shows up first in a search.
Campgrounds
Rhode Island keeps camping simple: five state campgrounds, plus a small handful of private options that consistently earn real praise. Here’s what each one actually offers.
The State Campgrounds
Burlingame State Campground — Charlestown
The big one — 700+ rustic sites spread through 3,100 acres of woods around Watchaug Pond, one of the state’s largest freshwater lakes. No hookups, but you get a freshwater swimming beach, boat ramp, canoe rentals, and easy access to the ocean beaches just across Route 1. DEM recently finished renovating three shower/restroom buildings, so the facility complaints that used to show up in reviews are largely out of date. Watch which site you book — a few flood in heavy rain.
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Fishermen’s Memorial State Campground — Narragansett
The best pick if you’re bringing an RV. 182 sites, with full hookups in two of the four camping areas — the only state campground with true water/electric/sewer. Walking distance to the Block Island Ferry, and minutes from Scarborough and Roger Wheeler beaches. Full-hookup sites book up to a year out, so plan ahead. The tent sites here are genuinely tight — if you’re not towing or driving an RV, Burlingame is the better tent option.
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George Washington Memorial State Campground — Chepachet
The rustic, inland choice, less than 40 minutes from Providence. 45 gravel sites on Bowdish Reservoir, no electric hookups, warm sandy swimming, and excellent fall foliage. It’s also home to the Walkabout Trail, so you can camp and hike from the same spot. One real quirk worth knowing: reviewers mention mice getting into food after dark — hang or seal anything edible.
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Charlestown Breachway State Campground — Charlestown
Oceanfront, but bare-bones — composting toilets only, no hookups, and self-contained RVs exclusively (no tents, no pop-ups). What you get in return: falling asleep to actual waves and some of the best striper fishing in South County. A favorite for anglers specifically.
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East Beach State Campground — Charlestown
The wildest of the five — just 10 primitive sites on an undeveloped barrier beach, 4WD required to reach them, self-contained units only. This is the pick if you want real solitude and don’t mind roughing it; it’s not a fit for most families with a standard vehicle or tent.
Learn morePrivate Campgrounds Worth Booking
Wawaloam Campground — Richmond
The top pick for families with young kids. Pool, waterslides, splash pad, mini-golf, a stocked fishing pond — genuinely described as “kid heaven” in reviews. Sites are big and well-maintained, and it’s close enough to South County beaches for easy day trips.
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Whispering Pines Campground — Hope Valley
Full hookups, big-rig-friendly pull-through sites, a strong activity calendar (chili cook-offs, Halloween festivals), and easy access to Arcadia Management Area if you want to hike from your campsite. Watch the narrow interior roads if you’re driving something large.
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Ashaway RV Resort — Hopkinton
The best pure RV resort in the state. Newer, clean, full hookups on every site, heated pool and hot tub, and about 15 minutes from Misquamicut. Sites run a little tight together, but the newness and staff consistently earn praise other RV parks don’t get.
Learn moreHiking Trails
RI hiking splits into two flavors: coastal walks with big water views, and inland forest trails through the state management areas. Both are worth your time, and neither requires technical gear.
Easy, Family-Friendly Walks
Newport Cliff Walk
RI’s most famous trail, running 3.5 miles along the ocean past Newport’s Gilded Age mansions. The paved northern half (from Easton’s Beach) is stroller-friendly; the southern half turns to rugged rock and isn’t. A storm-damaged section is currently detoured — check current status before you go.
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Sachuest Point National Wildlife Refuge — Middletown
A flat, ~2.5-mile loop around a rocky peninsula, genuinely the best bird-watching walk in the state. Harbor seals show up offshore in winter.
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Rome Point — North Kingstown
An easy 2.6-mile out-and-back to a rocky beach with Narragansett Bay views. Famous for winter harbor-seal watching, and one of the most-loved “favorite hike” mentions in local reviews.
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Beavertail State Park Loop — Jamestown
A 2.3-mile loop around the southern tip of Conanicut Island, past the third-oldest lighthouse in America and real tide pools. Easy enough for younger kids, with historic payoff built in.
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Trustom Pond National Wildlife Refuge — South Kingstown
A flat 2.6-mile loop to observation platforms over RI’s only undeveloped coastal salt pond. Genuinely one of the best wildlife walks in the state — osprey, swans, turtles. No pets and no jogging allowed here, so it stays quiet.
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Lincoln Woods State Park — Lincoln
A ~3-mile loop around Olney Pond, dotted with glacial boulders, and the easiest nature walk to reach from Providence.
Learn moreModerate Trails Worth the Extra Effort
Stepstone Falls via Ben Utter Trail — Arcadia Management Area
A 2.5-mile loop along the Wood River to one of RI’s only real waterfalls. Download a trail map before you go — the blazing gets confusing at intersections.
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Walkabout Trail — George Washington Management Area
Built by Australian navy sailors, with three color-coded loop options (2, 6, or 8 miles) through woods and along Bowdish Reservoir. The flexible distance makes this a good pick if your group has mixed energy levels.
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Weetamoo Woods — Tiverton
A 5-mile loop through woods and wetlands, passing the former homesite of a freed slave along the old Eight Rod Road. Start early in bug season — reviewers consistently flag mosquitoes.
Learn moreFor the Ambitious
Mount Tom Trail — Arcadia Management Area
RI’s best real workout hike, climbing to glacial bedrock ledges through pitch pine and oak. Loops range from 4 to 11 miles depending how far you go.
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North-South Trail
The state’s full 78-mile trail, running from the Atlantic Ocean in Charlestown to the Massachusetts border. Most people hike it in sections rather than all at once — treat it as a “pick a leg” trail, not a single-day goal.
Learn moreA few practical notes that apply across all the inland trails: wear fluorescent orange in the management areas during hunting season, and pack real bug spray from May through September — it makes or breaks the experience out here.
Beaches
RI beaches split cleanly into three types: calm and easy for little kids, lively with real surf, and quieter escapes from the crowds. Buy a season parking pass online before summer ($30 resident / $60 non-resident, covers all eight state beaches) — it saves real time at the gate.
Calm, Family-First Beaches
Roger W. Wheeler State Beach (Sand Hill Cove) — Narragansett
The calmest water on the whole southern coast, protected by a mile-long breakwater. You can wade out 30-40 yards before it reaches your chest. This is the pick for young kids and nervous swimmers. Arrive early — the lot fills.
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Third Beach — Middletown
On the cove side of Aquidneck Island, so there’s genuinely no wave action — warm, still water, and noticeably less crowded than the ocean-side beaches. No concessions, so bring your own food.
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Scarborough State Beach (North end) — Narragansett
Bigger and more developed than Wheeler, with a real pavilion and concessions. Stick to the north end — the south end has rockier patches and runoff issues locals steer around.
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East Matunuck State Beach — South Kingstown
Won a statewide “Best Beach” reader poll, and it’s easy to see why: clean sand, moderate surf that’s good for boogie boarding without being intimidating, and real facilities. Gets busy — arrive early or go in the evening.
Learn moreBeaches With Real Surf
Misquamicut State Beach — Westerly
RI’s biggest, most developed beach, backed by a full beach-town strip (arcades, mini-golf, ice cream). Real waves, a huge parking lot, and genuinely more atmosphere than any other beach in the state. Opinions on it are split — some love the energy, some find it too crowded and commercial. Bring your own chairs and umbrella; there’s no on-site rental.
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Narragansett Town Beach — Narragansett
The state’s premier surfing beach, with lessons and a junior lifeguard program. Note this is one of the only RI beaches with a per-person admission fee on top of parking.
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Second Beach (Sachuest Beach) — Middletown
Long, clean, and reliably good waves, right next to the Sachuest Point refuge if you want to combine a swim with a hike.
Learn moreQuiet Escapes
Blue Shutters Town Beach — Charlestown
Clean, family-friendly, with real waves but less chaos than the big state beaches. The lot is small and fills fast, so this rewards an early start.
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East Beach — Charlestown
Three miles of undeveloped barrier beach bordering a wildlife refuge. Minimal facilities, maximum solitude — good for stargazing, not for a family that needs bathrooms nearby.
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Goosewing Beach Preserve — Little Compton
A secluded conservation beach reached by a short walk from South Shore Beach. Undeveloped, peaceful, genuinely feels like a secret.
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Mansion Beach — Block Island
Wide, white sand, clear water, and rarely crowded even on holiday weekends, thanks to a rough dirt-road approach that keeps casual visitors away. Best reached by bike once you’re on the island. Permanent restrooms were added in 2024, replacing the old port-a-johns.
Learn moreRV Spots
If you’re specifically looking through an RV lens — hookups, rig size, real amenities — here’s the shortlist.
Best full-hookup resorts
Ashaway RV Resort (Hopkinton) is the strongest all-around pick — new, clean, full hookups on every site, rigs up to 60 feet. Whispering Pines (Hope Valley) and Wawaloam (Richmond) both offer full hookups too, with Wawaloam winning out if you’ve got kids who want a pool day built into camp life.
Best state-park option
Fishermen’s Memorial in Narragansett is the only state campground with genuine full hookups, plus it’s walkable to the Block Island Ferry. Book those sites up to a year ahead — they go fast.
RV-capable, no hookups
Burlingame and George Washington both accept RVs and have dump stations, but no electric — fine if you’re running self-sufficient, not if you need shore power.
Self-contained only
Charlestown Breachway and East Beach both require fully self-contained units (no tank hookups on-site at all), in exchange for genuinely unbeatable oceanfront or barrier-beach settings.
Planning Your Trip
If you’re only doing one thing, start with location: South County (Charlestown, Narragansett, South Kingstown) puts you within a short drive of nearly everything on this list — state campgrounds, the best family beaches, and easy day-trip hiking. Book your campsite or RV spot first, since availability is the tightest constraint, then build your beach and hike picks around how close they are to where you’re staying.