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Looking for the perfect one day Newport, Rhode Island itinerary? There are definitely a lot of things to do in Newport, and if you only have one day in the city it can be difficult to decide what’s worth seeing. Here are my top picks for visiting Newport.
Must See Attractions in Newport, Rhode Island
Cliff Walk
If there is one thing you do during your time in Newport, RI and you’re physically capable, walk the entirety of the Cliff Walk. The Cliff Walk is a 3.5 mile pathway along the eastern coast of Newport, with views on one side of the Easton Bay and many of the Newport mansions on the other. There are several access points along the trail, if you’d prefer to only walk a portion during your day trip to Newport, however if you start from the south, be aware there is a 2 mile stretch where you can’t easily exit the trail.
I was a bit surprised at how rocky the terrain was. When we first started the walk it was on a concrete path that I assumed would continue along the entirety of the trail. However throughout the walk there are many areas where you’ll need to climb over boulders and step across rocks. In some cases you even go through underpasses carved into the rock. Even though it was a nice day, I wished I had my hiking shoes with me. I can’t imagine trying to walk across those difficult areas in flip flops or on a wet day when the rocks may be slippery, so always use caution the way you would with any hike.
Despite stopping a little while prior to starting the Cliff Walk, Mike had to use the restroom half-way through a two mile stretch of pathway without any way to leave the trail. After learning the hard way and being quite antsy and uncomfortable for the last half of the walk, we were able to get him to a bathroom before any more excitement ensued.
Pro Tip: If you choose to walk the Cliff Walk from north to south, the closest mansion, Rough Point, is a great place to stop and use the restroom if you pay for the $5 grounds pass. As a bonus, you can also check out the view from the back of the house and the estate’s gardens, including topiary camels.
Read: 10 Day New England Road Trip Itinerary
Newport Mansion Tours
There are many mansions from the “Gilded Age” to be found in Newport. Think Great Gatsby level wealth. The most popular of the mansions is the Vanderbilt home, The Breakers. While there are more than a dozen glamorous historic homes dotted across Newport, chances are you’ll only really get to experience one or two in one day. Check out my post on some of the historic mansion tours available.
My recommendations for which homes to visit if you have a short amount of time are of course the Breakers, and then we chose to do The Elms with the 2 House Ticket from the Newport Preservation Society. Both houses offer self-guided audio tours which take approximately an hour to complete.
Newport Trolley Tour
One of the first things we noticed when we arrived in Newport were all the trolleys zipping around. Because parking is so difficult in Newport, in can be worth it to find a spot and take a 90-minute trolley tour around the area. You can even get a trolley tour that includes admission to The Breakers.
Read: Weekend Getaway Guide to Mystic, Connecticut
Things to Add if You Have Time
Fort Adams State Park
Fort Adams State Park is home to one of the oldest and largest forts in America. While we unfortunately weren’t there at the right time for the tour (I wish I would have paid more attention when researching things to do in Newport), we did get to spend some time walking around Fort Adams. Since you aren’t allowed to go inside and tours only run a few times a day, you have to plan this relatively well in order to get the most of the park. If you don’t make it for a tour time or would just like to take a peek around, there is a path that runs along the exterior of the fort along the bay.
Ocean Drive to Castle Hill Lighthouse
If you want to check out the coast without needing to walk the 3.5 mile Cliff Walk, your best bet is Newport’s Ocean Drive. This ten mile stretch is full of majestic views and historical landmarks. If the weather is poor, this is one of the best ways to experience the coastline and doesn’t take much time out of your day.
The road wraps around the southern portion of Newport and leads to the western-most point, Castle Hill Lighthouse. The lighthouse was constructed in 1890, and while it appears quite short, its light could be seen for 10 nautical miles. While you can’t actually enter the lighthouse, it is worth making a quick pit stop to check out the scenery and the surrounding grounds. While there are signs marking the place as private property, as long as you are respectful of the space it shouldn’t be an issue. Check with the desk at the nearby Castle Hill Inn if you are unsure.
I definitely would save this stop for if you have time, especially if you are taking a road trip around New England. There are far more impressive lighthouses scattered throughout Maine, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut, but it could be a great place to stop as it’s only a short walk (max 10 minutes) out to the cliff edge.
Read: See the Best of Boston in 1 Day
Things to Skip
Bowen’s Wharf
Mike and I aren’t huge shoppers to begin with, so this was always lower on our list of things to see. The whole area just feels like one big mall and doesn’t have quite the charm or feel of the rest of Newport. Relative to even popular attractions like the Cliff Walk it felt like there were far more people around. Unless you’re planning to head down here for dinner (which even then the food at the restaurant we chose was mediocre at best), I’d say you’re safe skipping. I’d rather spend my time learning about history and enjoying the natural beauty of the island, but if you are looking to pick up a souvenir and do some window shopping this is a great place to start as most of the other areas are quite residential.
Alternatives to This Itinerary
Some other options for Newport activities include:
- International Tennis Hall of Fame
- Brenton Point State Park, full of opportunities for hiking, fishing, and the annual Newport Kite Festival
- Rail Explorers Railbiking in nearby Portsmouth Grove, RI (approx 20 min drive). We did railbiking in the Adirondacks which was a blast!
2 comments
The mansions sound so neat to see! i always drive through RI, but I think we need to make a stop one day in Newport to really experience all of the history.
They are nuts, I can’t believe people actually lived in these things! Although in many cases it seems like they were only inhabited for the summer. Imagine spending that much money for a house you use 8-12 weeks a year!