Day Trip to Watch Hill, Rhode Island

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A perfect Summer day can be found at the beaches Watch Hill, Rhode Island. You don’t have to be rich or even have money to enjoy a visit at the public beach. Parking, however, can be an issue unless you want to pay for the day. If you go be prepared to drive around the small town until a spot opens up because there is no parking on the side streets. If you do go for the entire day you might want to shell out the $20 it costs to park in the main parking lot but if you get lucky you can pay $10 and park next to the restaurant near the row of stores. Parking along the road and in the public parking lot is free but it will only give you two hours. Parking is monitored and you will get a ticket if you park in those free spots longer than two hours.

Once you park you will want to figure out where the beach is located so you can optimize your time there. Where you park you will be along the main road where all of the stores are located. Walk to the end of the row of stores until you see the carousel. Take a left and walk up the hill. At the top of the hill you will see the sign to enter the public beach. Make sure you take all of your trash when you leave because there are no trashcans on the beach.

The waves are great for a little light surfing and the water is clear enough to swim. You can see the Watch Hill lighthouse from the beach and the exquisite Ocean House that sits on the hill. The Ocean House has a private beach area that is not open to the public but you can walk past and see the cabanas.

If you want to avoid the crowds altogether don’t go to the main beach but walk to the right of the shops where it says private Misquamicut club beach. Walk all of the way around to the right and you can get on that beach for free without being a member. You will have to walk up on the sand dunes to get over to the beach. Once there you will find it much more private and so far we have never been asked to leave for not having a membership.

You don’t have to be rich to enjoy Watch Hill. It didn’t cost us a thing – well, except for the frozen Del’s lemonade that you just must try. While you are there check out the completely renovated Ocean House, sit on the beach, walk in the shops, watch the people go by, the yacht as they sail out to the ocean and just enjoy the day.

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Another thing you might want to do when you visit Watch Hill is to walk around The Ocean House. It has totally been restored and is just gorgeous. You can almost imagine ladies with parasols and men wearing striped pants walking along the perfectly manicured lawn that is trimmed with wild roses and lavender. Or a group of people playing croquet on the lawn.

Walk along the path on the side and it will take you all of the way down to the gate where guests and residents can go on the private boardwalk to the cabanas on the private beach area.