How to Spend a Weekend Getaway in Newport, RI
Newport, Rhode Island is a small town on Aquidneck Island that exudes historical charm and old money. The area offers a good variety of activities for all interests is compact enough to cover plenty of ground if you’re only visiting for a weekend. Here’s a full Newport, RI weekend itinerary to make the most of your time here.
Summer is the most popular (and most expensive) time of year to visit Newport, but tourist season lasts from late spring to early fall. A lot of places close down in the winter due to weather and diminished demand, so time your visit accordingly. We visited in July and really loved our time in Newport.
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HOW TO GET TO NEWPORT
For those who don’t live in New England, the closest airport to Newport, Rhode Island is Providence (PVD). PVD is about 40 minutes away from Newport, so you’ll definitely want to rent a car (we rented ours through Turo). There are 2 main ways get to Newport. The slightly shorter route takes you over the stunning Claiborne Pell/Newport Bridge but requires a toll. We opted to save the money and drive just an extra 20 minutes.
Providence is a smaller airport with limited flight options. Another great option is to fly into Boston Logan International (BOS). That drive takes about 2 hours, so you’ll need to build in extra time.
Parking in Newport can be difficult, so I recommend arriving into town early each morning and parking your car until you’re ready to leave for the day. There is a free trolley that can take you around town as well as Ubers and pedicabs. The town is also very walkable.
[RELATED: Why I love Turo for car rentals]
WHERE TO STAY IN NEWPORT
The Pell
We stayed at The Pell, which is a new JdV by Hyatt property. The hotel itself isn’t new, but it’s been refreshed prior to the re-opening. I booked our trip to Newport only a few weeks out and prices in the area can be steep during peak summer months. We paid 15,000 points per night (Category 3 property on peak dates).
This hotel is actually just outside of Newport in Middletown, Rhode Island. However, it was only about a short 10-minute drive into town. I’d recommend this strategy to anyone looking last minute or wanting to save some money as prices drop significantly outside of Newport.
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Castle Hill Inn
This iconic and historic hotel is set on 40 acres overlooking the water. Built in 1875, it served as a naval base during WWII and is now open to guests year-round. During peak season, rooms can easily go for over $1000 per night, so it really caters to luxury travelers. It has a high end, relaxed coastal vibe that many may be looking for in a weekend getaway.
The hotel has rooms in the main house as well as individual beach cottages available. Castle Hill Inn is away from the town center of Newport, so you’ll still need a car to get around.
ACTIVITIES
Cliff Walk
We kicked off our time in Newport with the beautiful 4-mile Cliff Walk. Designated as a National Historic Walking Trail in 1976, Cliff Walk is free to the public and passes in front of some of the most iconic mansions in Newport.
The scenery on the Cliff Walk is beautiful and you’re not obligated to complete the entire 4-mile path. We parked at Easton Beach and headed south to the start of the trail. The first section is paved but starting about halfway you have to scramble over some rocks to keep moving forward. It’s not particularly difficult if you’re able-bodied, but be sure to wear proper footwear. There’s also no shade, so bring sunscreen and a hat.
Right now, there’s a short detour due to construction on the path between Narragansett Ave and Webster Ave.
The path is not a loop, so you’ll need to find your way back to the start somehow. We decided to leave our car at Easton Beach and took a pedicab to downtown Newport to explore.
Newport Mansions
While you can get a view of some of the Newport Mansions from the Cliff Walk, the best way to experience their grandeur and beauty is to tour them for yourself. These over the top displays of Gilded Age wealth are so well preserved they are often used as sets for many movies and TV shows set around the turn of the 20th century.
The most famous “summer cottage” in Newport is The Breakers. Built in 1893 by Cornelius Vanderbilt, this mansion feels like it belongs in Europe and is more of a small palace fit for royalty.
We also visited Marble House and The Elms. The former was built in 1888 for William and Alva Vanderbilt and the latter was built in 1901 by the Berwind family who built their fortune on coal. While nothing is quite as opulent as The Breakers, these properties are both still magnificent.
While you don’t need to buy regular tickets in advance, figuring out which properties you want to visit can help save you some money. Here’s a breakdown of ticket prices for adults:
- Single property ticket to The Breakers: $29
- Single property ticket to any other property: $25
- Two property ticket: $38
- Three property ticket: $46
These are not dated, timed entry tickets, giving you a lot of flexibility. There’s a free audio tour that you can download via the Newport Mansions app and listen to as you go through the houses. I highly recommend this audio guide. It’s one of the best I’ve ever listened to! They provide great details about the architecture, the house’s history, and stories of those who lived and worked there.
Some properties also offer guided tours and the properties also host special events throughout the year.
Boat Tour
Newport has a rich sailing history due to its location on the water. It’s been a hub for both commercial trading and competitive sailing for centuries – it’s even the home of the America’s Cup. As such, there are few better ways to experience what Newport has to offer than from the water.
One option is to charter a private boat, but we chose to go the more economical route. We booked a 90-minute Classic Afternoon Sail on the Adirondack II through Newport Classic Cruises for $46.50 per person. There were ~50 people on our trip and it was a beautiful way to see the water.
Note: because the boat leaves on time, it’s critical to arrive early. Allow yourself plenty of extra time if you need to find parking.
The crew put the sails up as soon as we were out of the port, but the wind had died shortly before we’d boarded, leaving us running the engine the whole time. Despite this, we were still able to enjoy the lovely views of the bay, the Newport Bridge, and Clingstone, an off-the-grid house built on a rock island jutting out of the water. They had drinks for sale throughout the cruise and got us back to port right on time. If you can, book a spot on their daily sunset sail cruise!
International Tennis Hall of Fame
Our pedicab driver was actually the one who told us about the International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport. He stressed that the museum is interesting even if you’re not a die-hard tennis fan. The Hall of Fame and Museum opened in 1954 and today the grounds are open to the public for free. Museum admission is $20 for adults, but if you happen to be a USTA member, you get a discount.
We tried to check it out, but we just happened to be visiting during the annual tournament week when both the grounds and museum are closed to the public.
WHERE TO EAT IN NEWPORT
Castle Hill Inn
Even if you’re not staying at Castle Hill Inn, it’s worth a visit for food, drinks, or just views of the water. The Lawn at Castle Hill Inn features dozens of Adirondack chairs open for the taking on a first come, first serve basis. The Lawn is open 11:30AM-sunset and offers drink service only (no food). We loved the blueberry lemonade cocktail. The chairs overlook the beautiful water where sailboats float by in good weather. Due to its popularity, I recommend coming early.
We grabbed chairs and a drink at The Lawn for about 30 minutes before our lunch reservation at The Lawn Terrace. This restaurant offers great food and a high-end atmosphere. Reservations book up quickly, so book far in advance if you want to eat here. You have to choose indoor or outdoor seating when you book and if there’s inclement weather, outdoor reservations are cancelled. We were glad we ate inside for the air conditioning. Swimwear, sleeveless shirts, and athletic gear are not allowed on The Lawn and The Lawn Terrace restaurant.
If you’re coming for dinner, Castle Hill Inn also features The Dining Room, a Forbes Four Star restaurant. There is also a dress code to eat at this restaurant – collared shirts are required for men and ripped jeans, sneakers, and sandals are prohibited.
Del’s Lemonade
If you’re visiting Newport in the summer and want to cool off, the local go-to is Del’s Soft Frozen Lemonade. They have 6 locations throughout Aquidneck Island, including in downtown Newport at 337 Thames St and Brenton Point State Park. I lost count of how many frozen lemonades we had on our weekend visit, but it was the most delicious lemonade I’ve ever had and the frozen nature of the drink helped keep us cool.
Del’s business model is simple and streamlined – they only sell original frozen lemonade in 3 sizes. A small sells for $4, medium is $5, and a large is $6. They do accept both cash and credit cards.
You can buy their lemonade mix to make your own at home (in both original and watermelon flavors). I also spotted bottles of Del’s Lemonade in gift shops throughout the region and even a canned summer shandy that incorporated Del’s Lemonade.
FINAL THOUGHTS
I’d never visited Rhode Island before this trip, and our weekend in Newport was the perfect introduction. The area is gorgeous and steeped in so much history that has been well preserved for us to enjoy today. It’s also small enough that 2 days is enough time to take it all in without feeling like you missed out on anything.
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