Easton's Beach
4.4(2.4K)google
3.6(100)yelp
SwimmingKidsSummer RetreatOutdoorOcean ViewBeachCarnival
Overview
Easton's Beach, locally referred to by residents as First Beach, is a vibrant, popular public sandy beach located at the exact starting point of Newport's world-famous Cliff Walk. This sweeping shoreline faces Rhode Island Sound, offering active, rolling surf that attracts swimmers, boogie boarders, and families from all over. The boardwalk features an array of classic beachfront amenities, including a historic indoor carousel, a public exploration center with touch tanks, and concession stands renowned for serving authentic, overstuffed New England lobster rolls, blending active fun with coastal relaxation.
Practical Info
Mon–Fri9:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Sat–Sun8:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Suggested Duration2-4 hours
Best TimeLocally known as First Beach, this family-friendly Atlantic sandy stretch peaks beautifully in mid-summer from July to August. Arriving at 8:30 AM on a clear weekend morning is highly strategic; it ensures you get first parking entry and lets your kids ride the iconic historic indoor 1950s carousel before intense midday heat and long entrance queues fully form.
Getting TherePerfectly positioned at the northern trailhead of the Cliff Walk at 175 Memorial Blvd (RI-138A E). Driving a car is highly direct: follow Memorial Blvd straight east out of downtown down the hill. The beach facility features its own enormous, well-organized municipal paid surface parking plaza stretching along the boardwalk dunes.
Travel Tips
- Also known as First Beach, this location regularly suffers from summer cyanobacteria blooms and elevated E. coli counts following heavy coastal rains. If the RI Department of Health issues a red flag advisory, a hard ban on swimming is immediately active.
- The expansive beachfront lot implements high-premium peak summer day rates and completely bars cash transactions. Payment requires credit cards or mobile scan applications; zero-tolerance street parking violation results in towing within 15 minutes.
- Per city ordinances, all dogs and pets are entirely banned from the sand and boardwalk from May 1 to September 30. Bicycles or electric balancing scooters utilizing the adjoining walkways must remain under 8 mph to avoid immediate fines.
Reviews
Positive
- As the natural starting point of the Cliff Walk, this wide sand beach offers stunning blue waves perfect for beginner surfers; truly delivers.
- The beach pavilion houses clean changing stalls, rinse showers, recycling bins, and an antique indoor carousel; highly entertaining.
- A large team of lifeguards patrolled the sand strictly with great crowd order and fully equipped first-aid, giving families high security.
- Sitting right off Newport's main artery, the beach features its own massive coastal lot, making driving along Memorial Blvd seamless.
Heads up
- Multilingual safety warnings and restroom signage are severely lacking on the sand; English-only text leaves foreign guests confused.
- Due to bay geography, certain months in July and August bring piles of rotting, smelly red seaweed that lack timely cleanup upkeep.
- The vehicle gate fees and the famous twin lobster roll combos at the snack shack are heavily overpriced, frequently drawing complaints.
- Holiday middays feature suffocating crowd bottlenecks of umbrellas and heads; the lots overflow into long lines, making it rowdy and packed.