east beach

Get here early,limited parking. Best beach in RI. Limited parking means limited crowds. No pavilions,port-a-potty only.

Nice beach, soft sand, the water was perfect and the atmosphere friendly. We met many people from other areas and enjoyed ourselves

The beach is magnificent and the day was perfect. There is easy access from the parking lot just above the carousel. $20. is a steep parking fee but for a day with friends splitting the expense isn't bad at all for such a great beach experience. It's fun to browse in the shops or to walk along the streets to see the great houses in this little Newport.

If you are willing to walk with your beach gear from the public parking ($30) around the OceanHouse to the beach you find a pristine beach with lots of space, great waves and an amazing view.

We went yesterday. The beach was very clean. Good crowd of people. Water was clear enough to see my feet. Lots of area to set up "camp." I didn't see any life guards. I also did not see bathroom facilities, although I didn't necessarily look for any.Con: Parking -- nearest lot charges $30 for the day. you can park on the street near the shops but its only a 2 hr limit.Overall: Loved it! will go back again!

One of the better beaches in the area, but parking is crazy. There are very limited parking locations, and if you don't arrive early you'll either be paying a good amount, or stuck driving in circles for a while waiting for one of the 2 hour limit spots to open on the street. Don't try to chance leaving your car for over 2 hours, you WILL get a ticket. Besides the parking, the beach isn't usually too crowded, and we have a great time every time we go. I am also an avid paddle boarder, and this is one of the beaches in RI that allow paddle boards during the season.

East beach is the best uncrowned place to relax and soak up the sun and surf,parking is limited so get there early,Water was chilly and calm when I was there , Bathrooms are at the parking lot

Hey, the best beach around this area. yes, getting in has its obstacles, but I think it is worth it. make it a day, bring some extra clothes, and stop off at the Ocean House for a drink at the end of the day, so you can sample the environment. pack up for the full beach day. You have three main entrances for you to get there, which one is the best for you?. I think you should try taking the car down to Niantic ave, and driving down to their entrance, which is further down, but you can off load everything but the driver, and they can walk back from where they have parked downtown area. I know you have always taken the Everett ave street down, lugging all your stuff, but Niantic offers you just to off load, and a much shorter walk to set up.

This is a great New England beach, especially compared to others I've visited in New England. Being from New York, I find it difficult to find north east beaches as nice as those on the south east of LI. This is a nice sandy beach with very few rocks. I also didn't notice any shells during my August visit, so no opportunities for collecting. The waves were nice and the water temperature comfortable - I've found beaches further north in Massachusetts too cold for swimming, even in August. There are no lifeguards, or facilities, and it can get somewhat crowded.

Note to bikers>>>> sent this note to Watch Hill fire district My wife and I , and 2 other couples went to the Bay st area of Watch Hill to eat and shop today (july 20 2014). the street was busy, not much parking. by the way we are motorcyclists. We went into the bay street lot and were told where to park. I did park and waited as my friends parked. I was immediately told "You can't park there!" by another attendant, meanwhile my friends parked and they were told the same thing! Now the gate attendant told us, where to park! the attendants need to get their act together. There were at least 3 spots where we could have fit all 3 bikes. The attendants told us motorcycles cannot park in regular spots. Seriously??? We could have put all 3 bikes carrying the 6 of us in one"car" spot!We were planning to spend the afternoon eating and shopping. Apparently not welcome we left! spent our money somewhere else. The young men and women attendants could not give a reason other than their boss said so. We asked to speak to the "boss" and were told it was the watch hill fire district. Tourism is important to your community, I think you are passing up a lot of tourist $$ treating us this way! I will certainly pass the word around that Watch hill is a beautiful ride,however unfriendly toward bikers, so ride through but spend your money in Misquamicut.I was in watch hill a couple of years ago in October. We had no parking problems with our motorcycles, apparently our money is appreciated in the "off season times".While I WILL be riding through Watch hill again, you can be sure I won't be stopping or taking out my wallet ! With respect, Andy B

East beach is beautiful! The waves are huge for an East Coast Beach. I would recommend the West Beach (past the carousel towards the point is free) for families with small children, because of the strong surf and the undertow. But for older children and adults, this is the best place I have found for boogie boarding and body surfing on the East Coast. And as an added bonus, the path to the beach is stunning. Just beware that there is a two hour limit per day for on-street parking. The pay parking runs about $25-- cash only. Well worth it for this beach!

This beach is in Watch Hill. It is a public beach. No restrooms nearby and no lifeguards. Swim at your own risk. It is great for sunning and taking long walks. The coast has beautiful homes, including Taylor Swifts'. She purchased the Harkness House on the peninsula. The Ocean House is just breathtaking to look at. Be careful of the riptides. Definitely swim with your young children.

Watch Hill is beautiful; nice beach, great shopping, decent food- which is why I was so surprised at being nickle and dimed at every turn. I drove my children and beach supplies to the entrance to the beach and pulled into what I thought was a public parking lot. Not so fast, I was immediately informed that it was an employee lot and I'd have to head to the pay lot about 1/2 mile down the road. So I asked the gatekeeper if I could drop my kids and coolers and go park. With a heavy sigh and eye roll she agreed. Off I went to a $25 per day lot where they took one look at my Suburban and then at the mostly empty lot and sent me off to a space in it's farthest reaches. Hey, thanks a bunch. After a stroll back to the beach I was greeted by a sign that the beach itself had an admission fee. Another $32. There were charges for shower and changing room use too. Once settled on the beach it was pleasant, beautiful views, clean sand, no blaring radios or tattoos in sight. So, it's expensive but refined. The prices keep away the obnoxious element. The town was quaint and safe. My children could walk to get lunch and ice cream with no worries. We enjoyed shopping on our way out of town. However, we would have spent more with the merchants had we not spent over $50. on beach passes and parking. All in all it was a lovely day but not one I can afford to do more than once or twice a summer.

$20-25 to park or 2-3 hour street parking, and then either pay to get on the beach or walk a mile to get there. This beach is really for the cabana owners. If you could find somewhere to stay and don't mind a fairly long walk, the views are some of the best I have ever seen. Beautiful for photography.

I've been coming here for years now. This is your quintessential New England beach. Be sure to arrive before 10am on the weekends to get a parking space in one of the 3 private lots (~$25/day cash.) Then walk through town, grab a sandwich at The Bay Street Deli (I always get a number 2,) check out the oldest operating wooden carousel in the USA, and then make your way to the beach. Yes, there are no public bathrooms on the beach but its only a 5-7 minute walk back to the public bathrooms in town. This is by far one of the most beautiful beaches in New England. The open ocean waves and sandy shore are perfect for body surfing and the view is just breathtaking.