Best Beaches In & Near Newport

By The Beach Guide | Last Updated: August 25, 2023

Contents

Sachuest Beach
Easton's Beach
Tappens Beach
Narragansett Town Beach
Goosewing Beach
Scarborough State Beach
Misquamicut State Beach
Horseneck Beach
Mohegan Bluffs Beach
Goddard Memorial State Park Beach
Moshup Beach
Lucy Vincent Beach
Gay Head Town Beach
East Beach
Frank Moody State Beach
Napatree Point Beach
Menemsha Beach
Joseph Sylvia State Beach
Newport beaches map

Map featuring Newport beaches. Click on pins to view beach details

1. Sachuest Beach

ajay_suresh

Travel time from Newport: approx 0.5 hrs

Also known as Second Beach, Sachuest Beach is a south facing beach tucked between Newport and Sachuest Point National Wildlife Refuge. Made up of soft sand, it runs for approximately 1.5 miles along Rhode Island's Atlantic Ocean coastline.
Given its size, it's difficult for Sachuest Beach to ever feel particularly crowded, even on the warmest of summer days. Picturesque into the bargain, its sands are free of both litter and stones,… read more »
2. Easton's Beach

Dennis Heller

Travel time from Newport: approx 0.5 hrs

Easton's Beach is an urban beach uniting the east and west sides of Newport across the Easton Bay basin. Almost a mile long, Easton's Beach is Rhode Island's largest ocean beach, and consists of a broad expanse of off-white sand.
Also going by the name of First Beach and Newport Beach, Easton's Beach provides a city centre spot for swimming, and is also possibly the closest spot to a city anywhere… read more »
3. Tappens Beach

Zhengan

Travel time from Newport: approx 0.5 hrs

Tappens Beach lies at the end of a rocky cove on the eastern stretches of Rhode Island in Little Compton. Between the natural rock formations, visitors to this quiet Atlantic offering will find a modest area of sand not much over 100 yards long and only loosely speckled with stones and seashells.
A little overlooked by nearby homes on the rocks, Tappens Beach nonetheless makes for a worthy detour for nature… read more »
4. Narragansett Town Beach

dee & tula monstah

Travel time from Newport: approx 0.5 hrs

Narragansett Town Beach sits on the eastern side of Narragansett, and is split between a section of public beach and a privately-owned section. The public beach stretches for around half a mile at the southern end of Narragansett Town Beach. This is known as the rockiest area of the beach, although there is still ample sand.
A relatively undeveloped stretch of sand, Narragansett Beach is primarily visited for its swimming and… read more »
5. Goosewing Beach

Will_y_theweatherguy473737

Travel time from Newport: approx 0.5 hrs
read more »
6. Scarborough State Beach

Wheeler Cowperthwaite

Travel time from Newport: approx 0.5 hrs

The sands of Scarborough State Beach sit beside the slightest indentation of Rhode Island's Atlantic Ocean coast that it's difficult to even call it a bay. Running almost perfectly straight for the majority of its half-mile plus length, the beach is sometimes divided into north and south sections, the latter being a 1980s extension of the original beach dating from 1937.
The length and breadth of Scarborough State Beach means sunworshippers… read more »
7. Misquamicut State Beach

© Juliancolton

Travel time from Newport: approx 1 hr

Misquamicut State Beach is located in the very west of Rhode Island, just over the state line from New Hampshire. Not only is this one of the longest beaches in the state, it is the most popular, and for good reason.
Forming part of a sandy coastline that stretches off for miles in both directions, Misquamicut is a beach with something for everyone. Sitting on the edge of the little seaside… read more »
8. Horseneck Beach

LEONARDO DASILVA

Travel time from Newport: approx 0.5 hrs
read more »
9. Mohegan Bluffs Beach

JJBers

Travel time from Newport: approx 1 hr

Mohegan Bluffs Beach is situated on the southeastern coast of Block Island. The beach takes its name from the towering cliffs which reach up to 200 feet above the coast. From atop the cliffs, visitors can admire some stunning views out over the Atlantic Ocean.
The beach itself is fairly sandy but littered with large rocks close to the cliffs - which are in a constant state of erosion, so don't… read more »
10. Goddard Memorial State Park Beach

Joe Bar

Travel time from Newport: approx 0.5 hrs

Goddard Memorial State Park Beach sits on the northern side of the club-shaped peninsula pushing into Greenwich Bay from the south. This sand beach is widest at its midpoint, where there's parking and public access, before narrowing to either side.
Backed by dense woodland, Goddard Memorial State Park Beach has a total length of a little over half a mile. Well-known as a swimming beach, facilities range from restrooms to public… read more »
11. Moshup Beach

C. S. Imming

Travel time from Newport: approx 1 hr

Located on the exclusive barrier island of Martha's Vineyard, Moshup Beach aka Aquinnah Public Beach is a gem. It's also known as Gay Head or referred to by locals as "the cliffs beach" as that's what it is.
The cliffs are multicolored providing a stunning and dramatic backdrop to the beach. These cliffs are so special they are a National Landmark and are owned and protected by the Wampanoag Tribe of… read more »
12. Lucy Vincent Beach

N. Friedler

Travel time from Newport: approx 1 hr

Located near Chilmark on the island of Martha's Vineyard, Lucy Vincent beach is a beautiful stretch of golden sand that runs along the Atlantic coast. Sadly, unless you are a resident or renting a house in town, you cannot access this beach from June 1 through September 15. Beach passes are required during that time.
The beach was originally owned by the town librarian, Lucy Vincent, and upon her death… read more »
13. Gay Head Town Beach

Travel time from Newport: approx 1 hr

Many continue to call Gay Head Town Beach by its original name, although Gay Head Town has been known formerly as Aquinnah (meaning ‘land under the hill') by its population of 440 since 1997. At the end of Massachusetts' famed island of Martha's Vineyard, the beach is best known for its dramatic cliffs and the ocean views they deliver.
Designated a National Natural Landmark by the US National Park Service, Gay… read more »
14. East Beach

© Juliancolton

Travel time from Newport: approx 1 hr

Southeast facing East Beach lies in the southern suburbs of the town of Westerly, close to the state lines with Connecticut and New York State. It's one of Rhode Island's least developed beaches, meaning its broad sweep of golden sand provides a relaxed space in which to enjoy the sea air.
Despite this fact, East Beach still offers visitors a gravel parking lot, composting toilets and public changing rooms. There… read more »
15. Frank Moody State Beach

Swampyank

Travel time from Newport: approx 1 hr

Set within the Lincoln Wood's State Park, just to the north of Providence, this lakeside beach is actually one of the most popular in Rhode Island.
Great for swimming, sunbathing and fishing,the beach has plenty of sand and is equipped with showers, restrooms, and a concession stand.
Frank Moody beach is named after a local lifeguard and water safety instructor in recognition for his 60+ years of dedication to his job and… read more »
16. Napatree Point Beach

Rhododendrites

Travel time from Newport: approx 1 hr

Set on a narrow spit of sand jutting out towards Connecticut is Napatree Point beach - a lovely arc of near-white sand is backed by low grassy dunes and a small lagoon. The beach sits just to the west of Rhode Island's exclusive Watch Hill and the bay is overlooked by Watch Hill Lighthouse.
Now a nature reserve the headland here was once the site of an artillery installation. Today all… read more »
17. Menemsha Beach

N. Friedler

Travel time from Newport: approx 1 hr

Located on the exclusive island of Martha's Vineyard, Menemsha Beach is northeast of Menemsha Pond between Aquinnah and Chilmark. It is home to the local US Coastguard Station and featured in the filming of Spielberg's epic movie, Jaws.
This public beach is one of the white sandy beaches that the island is known for. It overlooks the channel of ocean known as Vineyard Sound with views to Gay Head Lighthouse and… read more »
18. Joseph Sylvia State Beach

MáVëRíC

Travel time from Newport: approx 1 hr

This glorious Joseph Sylvia State Beach has soft white sand and shallow water and is one of the most popular public beaches on Martha's Vineyard (many of the beaches are privately owned or for residents only).
Stretching 5 miles between Oak Bluffs and Edgartown, this easterly facing beach is on a spit, accessed across a bridge. It's a local landmark and popular for jumping off into the Nantucket Sound waters below.… read more »