Rhode Island beaches offer a full range of options, including sandy, ocean surf beaches; surf-free family beaches and unique, rocky beaches with towering cliffs. Rhode Island also hosts a range of surf spots with both sandy, beach breaks and rocky point breaks.
Rhode Island's three most popular beaches sit on the Atlantic Ocean west of Narragansett Bay. They are:
- Scarborough Beach - a state beach in Narragansett, north of Point Judith
- Misquamicut Beach - a state beach in Westerly
- Narragansett Town Beach - a town beach in Narragansett (access restricted)
Newport's beaches lie on Aquidneck Island's southwestern corner and are commonly referred to numerically:
- First Beach (Easton's Beach) - ocean surf
- Second Beach - ocean surf
- Third Beach - cove-protected
Other popular beaches, some preferred by locals, include:
- East Matunuck State Beach - a family-oriented beach in South Kingstown
- Salty Brine Beach - a surf-protected, family-oriented beach in Narragansett
- Goose Wing Beach - a town beach in Little Compton (open access, pay to park)
- Horseneck Beach - a state beach in nearby Westport, MA
Some, especially those with young children, prefer surf-free beaches. Most are on Narragansett Bay, but some are protected by jetties on the Atlantic coast. These include:
- Colt State Park - a state beach in Bristol
- Buttonwoods - a beach in Warwick Town Park
- Sandy Point - Warwick
- Calf Pasture Beach - North Kingstown
- Salty Brine Beach - Narragansett; protected by jetties
Rhode Island also offers unique coastal areas that feature cliffs and other non-traditional beachscapes:
- Point Judith (surfing only)
- Fort Wetherill - boat ramp, scuba, cliffs, coves, surf-casting from rocks
