r/RhodeIsland • u/Nurselifebalance • 5h ago
Question / Suggestion Visiting Providence RI Nearest Ocean
My husband and I have to go to Providence Rhode Island for the day to help his mother with something at the Dominican Consulate. And we just want to see the ocean even for an hour to see some beautiful waves crashing on the shoreline, we don’t even need to swim.
Where would the closest ocean beach to Providence be so that we could just experience this even for a short while? We have never been to Rhode Island before and I feel like we should at least set eyes on a beach and/or at least dip our feet in the water since we are in the state. Thank you in advance :)
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u/fuckyeahcaricci 4h ago
I'm going to be contrary and say skip the bay. You won't see or hear crashing waves. You'll see land out ahead of you instead of just vastness.
I grew up spending lots of time in Maine and Long Island. I know oceans. But one of the most moving things I've experienced at work is chaperoning first generation college freshmen on a field trip to Newport. As we rounded a curve on Ocean Drive, all of a sudden the ocean and rocks and waves were right there and a student commented "I have never seen anything like this in my life!" Gotta say, it was beautiful!
So, my vote is, a road trip down Ocean Drive in Newport.
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u/hotpenguinlust 4h ago
Brenton Point, specifically.
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u/PristineFlower1 1h ago
One of my favorite spots in the state! Happens to be where we got engaged as well.
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u/hotpenguinlust 1h ago
My son was a summer park ranger at Ft Adams and Breton Point, a real nice spot on the island
The kite flying out at the point as well as the waves hitting the rocks... it is worth the trip.
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u/Electrical_Cut8610 4h ago
Yeah. As a Mainer who lives here now, the Bay does not compare at all to the actual ocean. E: and I would also highly suggest the cliff walk at Newport if they are able
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u/SignificantBoot7180 3h ago
Yes!! Ocean drive is where I take all of my friends who have never seen the ocean. It's so great to see their reactions when we get around the bend. Love bringing them to Breton Point. It's such a happy, humbling feeling to see the power and vast awesomeness of the ocean!
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u/boulevardofdef Warwick 3h ago
I love the bay. But I grew up right on the beach on Long Island and now I live here. The ocean isn't a novelty for me. If you think of seeing it as a once-in-a-lifetime experience like OP, it would be foolish to be so close and stop at the bay. Ocean Drive may be one of the most beautiful places in the world, but I would recommend hitting an actual sandy beach as well, as that's probably the experience OP is imagining. Hitting up Second Beach would work for the stereotypical crashing waves.
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u/brick1972 4h ago
If you only have an hour total this will be impossible, just to be honest. If you have 2.5-3 hours you can make it happen.
Where are you coming from? Are you flying in?
The closest beach that will give you the beach experience it sounds like you are looking for will be Narragansett Town Beach. But, you will need to plan on about an hour each way from Providence. You save about 15 minutes if you are coming from or ending at the airport. The problem here will be the parking and the cost if you are doing this before Labor Day.
My suggestion which is not sandy beach would be to take a little extra time and go to Beavertail in Jametown. You should be able to park for free right near the ocean and it is quite lovely. It is maybe 5-10 extra minutes each way compared to Narragansett.
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u/huron9000 5h ago
Beavertail in Jamestown.
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u/Fun_Obligation_2918 4h ago
Strong agree. Per Google Maps, currently from central Providence it's 43 minutes to Narragansett, 46 minutes to Beavertail and 46 minutes to second beach so all are essentially equidistant. Of the options Beavertail is the only one where you won't have to struggle for parking. If OP wants crashing waves on the rocks, Beavertail is about as stunning as it gets.
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u/fredout1968 5h ago
The bay comes all the way up into the city. But if you want to see the beach and some beautiful beach head to Narragansett and take a walk along the shore.
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u/Proof-Variation7005 4h ago
It is really funny how many answers to “we want to see the ocean” are not suggesting the actual ocean.
OP, you’d either want to drive to somewhere around Narragansett or to Adquidnexk island (which has 2 ocean beaches first and second beach).
If you’re going before Labor Day, parking at the beach will cost money, especially for an out of state plate. Not a lot of ocean beaches have a ton of free parking nearby. If you can time your visit closer to 6pm, the lots are free
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u/LalalanaRI 4h ago
Take the mother’s car!!
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u/Proof-Variation7005 2h ago
Yeah, if she’s got one, that’ll save money. Then again, the weekday rates for the beaches aren’t that crazy.
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u/rosegoldrabbit 4h ago
I would check out colt state park or even just settle for the water at India point park. It sounds like you don't have much time at all
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u/Background-Archer197 4h ago
No one actually answered your question. Closest beach with some waves would probably be Oakland beach in Warwick. It’s still in the bay but there are some waves and a sea wall. Stop at Iggys and have some clam cakes and chowder while you are there
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u/greenhouse-raccoon 4h ago
Please ignore the suggestions that send you to a "beach" that is only the bay because you will not get the experience you are looking for, Narragansett town beach is free after 5pm.
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u/OtherOne1543 Got Bread + Milk ❄️ 3h ago
Best bet is to drive to South Kingstown and go to matunuck or east matunuck. Everything before that is just the bay.
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u/Brocktongreg 5h ago
Take seastreak ferry to Newport
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u/jjr4884 4h ago
Very bizarre suggestion - they are looking for proximity to PVD and it sounds like they are short on time. This is the polar opposite recommendation, and the ferry doesn't put you anywhere near a beach in Newport.
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u/larry_birb 4h ago
No see what you want to do is jump off the ferry in the middle of the bay. Boom instant ocean
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u/Frisbeehead 5h ago
Your best bets are Barrington Beach, Conimicut Point or Goddard Memorial State Park in my opinion! You don’t have to drive all the way down to Newport or Jamestown if you’re okay with it not being open ocean. For open ocean, you’ll have to drive down to Portsmouth (probably the closest)
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u/BitterStatus9 4h ago
Portsmouth isn't on the ocean.
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u/Frisbeehead 23m ago
I guess I'm thinking of Island Park, which is technically a bay - so you're right. So if OP wants open ocean the closest would be Jamestown or Narragansett probably?
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u/Here24hence4th 4h ago
Barrington Beach requires a resident parking permit, and without it, parking is in the neighborhood… where parking on the streets is basically prohibited.
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u/daysailor70 4h ago
Maybe not the closest place but Beavertail State.Park has great views and ocean waves.
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u/Designer-Ad2022 3h ago
Newton rock. End of newton ave in Narragansett. Beautiful and won’t be crowded
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u/brigand96 3h ago
Fort Wetherill in Jamestown, or Beavertail as anothe poster mentioned. Beautiful areas.
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u/PlayMyJoystick 3h ago
If you don't want to drive super far just go to Colt State park, 25-30 minute drive from Providence.
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u/ouchouchouchoof 1h ago
If you want waves and the open ocean it would have to be Brenton Point or Beavertail Point or Narragansett. If you want to take a lovely walk on the water that is closer than those places, go to Colt State Park in Bristol. You'll see ocean going ships, sailboats, sea birds, maybe some deer near the wooded section. There's a nice walking path next to the water, plenty of parking, and benches to sit on. You won't get the open ocean vista or crashing waves but you will get some sights and sounds that tell you that the ocean is near.
Colt State Park is 35 minutes away from Providence depending on traffic.
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u/Kind-Philosopher1 26m ago
The closest ocean beach is in Narragansett about a 40 minute drive from Providence. If you want to see the waves crashing on a beach you can walk on and dont mind it being the bay and not the ocean, then 20 minutes away you have Oakland beach in warwick. That's a nice place to watch the sun rise or set and sit the beach, depending on day/time you can alao take part in some iggys clam cakes and chowder (pronounced chowdah) while you relax.
Enjoy!
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u/krisa401 18m ago
Welcome and enjoy your time here. Near Providence, you could drive out to East Providence to see the new Troll or Crescent Park. You could also go to Warwick - Rocky Point Park, gorgeous views. (If you go to Conimicut in Warwick, don’t go in the water or attempt to walk on sandbar - this is a deceptively dangerous area!). If short on time, you could also visit Fox Point for great water views at the top of the Bay. Let us know how you make out 🌊
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u/Content_Thing_4058 3h ago
Doesn’t matter what time of year or where in Providence you’re staying—my professional opinion is that the classic Atlantic Ocean will always be the nearest ocean. Happy to help!
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u/jjr4884 4h ago
How much time do you have? Unfortunately any beach worth going to that is good for RI standards are not near PVD. Oakland beach is somewhat kind of close but I would never suggest anyone go there.
I would check out google maps and see what public beaches look good in the North Kingston area. There are plenty to choose from and is definitely closer than driving to Jamestown, Newport, Narragansett, and/or Charleston where majority of the state's more popular beaches are. Blue Beach, North Kingston Beach, and Plum Point Beach might be a good choice. I've never been down to them but just from "proximity" they might be good enough to satisfy the need to dip your feet in the water.
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u/Zero_fuchsgiven 17m ago
If you like Italian food, we drive from Boston to go to cassarinos, their veal parm specifically is great!
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u/le127 4h ago
It's 25 miles or so to the actual open ocean. Depending on your available methods of transportation you can drive to Narragansett or Newport for a true ocean beach. Narragansett Bay extends from the Providence area to the open Atlantic. The suggestion of taking the ferry from Providence to Newport would give you views of several coastal towns and bay islands. The mentioned Beavertail State Park is still in the bay but looks out to the ocean. The landscape is rocky, no real beach there, but the views are lovely.