Burlingame State Park —
Your Complete Guide
Rhode Island's big rustic campground on Watchaug Pond: about 700 sites, 20 cabins, a free pond beach and a nearly 8-mile trail.
What is Burlingame State Park?
Burlingame State Park is a 3,100-acre Rhode Island state park in Charlestown, built around Watchaug Pond. It has two parts: a rustic campground with about 700 campsites and 20 cabins but no hookups, from $18 a night for residents, and a free day-use picnic area with a sandy pond beach, seasonal lifeguards, picnic tables and a pavilion. RI DEM runs both.
DEM calls Burlingame one of Rhode Island's first campgrounds and one of the biggest in the eastern United States. The land became a wildlife preserve in 1930 and opened as Burlingame State Reservation in 1934, named for park commission chair Edwin A. Burlingame. The Civilian Conservation Corps built its first roads, trails and picnic grounds (history).
Two things to know right now. DEM is rebuilding the campground's restrooms through April 2027, so fewer sites are offered and the campground beach was closed for 2026; the picnic area beach stayed open. And all 2027 camping reservations are on hold while DEM selects a new booking provider (reservations).
Burlingame State Park at a Glance
What to Do at Burlingame State Park
DEM lists camping, swimming, picnicking, freshwater fishing, boating, hiking, sightseeing and photography.
Camping
about 700 rustic tent and trailer sites beside Watchaug Pond, no hookups, coin-operated hot showers, a camp store and a playground.
Campground Guide →
Cabins
20 rustic cabins with two board-based bunk beds and no electricity, $50 a night for residents. Bring air mattresses.
Cabin Details →
Swimming & Picnics
A free sandy beach on Watchaug Pond with seasonal lifeguards, picnic tables, fireplaces and a reservable pavilion.
Picnic Area & Beach →
Fishing & Paddling
Watchaug Pond is a DEM-designated trout water with an accessible state boat ramp on Sanctuary Road and no horsepower limit.
Licence & Boat Ramp →
Hiking
The John Vincent Gormley Trail circles the pond for nearly 8 miles on yellow markers. Leashed dogs welcome.
Gormley Trail →
Ocean Beaches
Charlestown Breachway, East Beach and Blue Shutters are a short drive south, with summer parking fees.
Charlestown Beaches →Trails at Burlingame
Distances from RI DEM and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Wear blaze orange in hunting season on the Gormley Trail.
Around Watchaug Pond through Burlingame and the Kimball Wildlife Refuge; follows roads in places and crosses a hunting area.
USFWS trail from the Kettle Pond Visitor Center to a tower over Ninigret Pond and the barrier beaches.
How to Get to Burlingame State Park
Two entrances: the campground on Burlingame State Park Road, and the day-use picnic area off Sanctuary Road.
Campground
1 Burlingame State Park Road, Charlestown, RI 02813. Check-in 1:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.. Directions.
Picnic Area
Route 1 to the Prosser Trail exit, then left on Sanctuary Road. No beach fee. Picnic area.
Contact
Campground stays (401) 409-1138. RI DEM district office (401) 322-8910.
Beaches and Places Nearby
The ocean is a few minutes south. RI DEM runs the state beaches at Charlestown Breachway and East Beach, and the Town of Charlestown runs Blue Shutters Beach, which accepts non-residents. The town's Ninigret Park has a small swimming pond, a bike course and the Frosty Drew Observatory, and the federal Ninigret National Wildlife Refuge has trails that link into Burlingame. See things to do in Charlestown.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many campsites does Burlingame State Park have?
RI DEM lists about 700 rustic campsites and 20 rustic cabins at Burlingame State Campground. Fewer are offered while the restroom rebuild continues through April 2027.
Does Burlingame have electric hookups?
No. DEM says utilities are not available at Burlingame: no electric, water or sewer at the sites. There is a dump station, a water filling station and coin-operated hot showers.
How much does it cost to camp at Burlingame?
A site is $18 a night for Rhode Island residents and $36 for non-residents; cabins are $50 and $75. Online and phone bookings add a $8.75 reservation fee.
When do Burlingame reservations open for 2027?
DEM has not set a date. All 2027 state campground reservations are on hold while DEM selects a new reservation provider, and it says customers will be notified when booking reopens.
Can you swim at Burlingame State Park?
Yes, at the free Burlingame Picnic Area beach on Watchaug Pond, with lifeguards from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. in season as staffing allows. The campground's own beach was closed for 2026 because of construction.
Are dogs allowed at Burlingame State Park?
At the campground, up to 2 dogs or cats per site on a leash of 6 feet or less, with a rabies certificate. Animals are banned from the picnic area April 1 to September 30.
What time is check-in at Burlingame?
Check-in is 1:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.; check-out is 11:00 a.m. sharp. Quiet hours run 10 p.m. to 7 a.m.
Can you drink alcohol at Burlingame?
Not in the campground. DEM's camping policy bans possessing or drinking alcoholic beverages in any campground operated by the State of Rhode Island.