Easton's Beach
Newport, RI
Easton's Beach, known locally as First Beach, sits at the edge of Newport's mansion district, a mile of sand with a carousel and snack bar at one end and the Cliff Walk's start at the other. It's the closest real beach to Newport's downtown, an easy walk from the harbor.
The combination of a real beach and the Cliff Walk right next door is hard to match this close to downtown Newport, though the parking fee and mansion district crowd make it feel more like a tourist stop than a locals' beach.
How we score beachesCombine a beach day with the start of the Cliff Walk at the east end. It's free, it's paved for the first stretch, and it runs right past some of Newport's grandest mansions.
Beach parking runs $25 on weekdays and $35 on weekends and holidays for the season.
The beach is flat sand with a paved boardwalk and easy access from the parking area.
Dogs are banned from the beach late May through Labor Day. Outside that window, leashed dogs are welcome.
Water stays cool, generally in the 60s to low 70s by August, typical of Narragansett Bay's mouth. Fall brings the Cliff Walk's best hiking weather alongside a much quieter beach.
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