Narragansett Town Beach
Narragansett, RI
Narragansett Town Beach sits below the Towers, twin stone arches that are the last remnants of a Gilded Age casino, with a beach known as much for its consistent surf as its sand. Local surfers treat this stretch of coast as Rhode Island's real surf capital.
A real surf culture and the Towers give it more character than most Rhode Island beaches, though the parking fee and summer crowd are steep for a day trip.
How we score beachesSurfers gather near the Towers at dawn, when the wind is calmest and the break is at its best. Even non-surfers should catch a sunrise session here at least once.
Daily parking runs about $20 on weekdays and $30 on weekends and holidays for non-residents, Memorial Day through Labor Day.
The beach is flat sand, directly accessible from the parking lot and pavilion.
Dogs are banned from the beach May 15 through September 15. Outside that window, leashed dogs are welcome.
Water stays cool, generally in the 60s to low 70s by August, typical of the Rhode Island coast. Fall brings the best surf of the year as swell builds from passing storms.
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