Charlestown RI Beaches

Charlestown, Rhode Island has four public ocean beaches run by the state and the town, one of which does not accept non-resident passes, and two pond beaches. The state beaches, Charlestown Breachway and East Beach, are open to everyone for a parking fee of $6 to $14 a day in summer. The town's Blue Shutters Beach accepts non-residents for $30 to $45 a day; Charlestown Town Beach does not accept non-resident passes. For a free swim, Burlingame's picnic area beach on Watchaug Pond charges nothing.

The Quick Comparison

• Charlestown Breachway (RI DEM): golden sand facing Block Island Sound, strong surf at times, top saltwater fishing, restrooms, beach wheelchairs. Small lot. Self-contained RV campground.
• East Beach (RI DEM): three miles of barrier beach between Ninigret Pond and the ocean, the least developed state beach, composting toilets only, tiny lot. 4x4 camping.
• Blue Shutters Beach (Town of Charlestown): 469 East Beach Road. Residents and non-residents. Set hours, 5 p.m. close.
• Charlestown Town Beach (Town of Charlestown): 557 Charlestown Beach Road. Non-resident passes are not accepted.
• Burlingame Picnic Area (RI DEM): Watchaug Pond, fresh water, no surf, free, seasonal lifeguards.
• Little Nini Pond, Ninigret Park (Town of Charlestown): a pond beach at 150 Park Lane.

Fees in 2026

State beaches (Breachway, East Beach), per car in season:

• Residents: $6 weekdays, $7 weekends and holidays; season pass $30
• Non-residents: $12 and $14; season pass $60
• Seniors: residents $3 and $3.50 (season $15), non-residents $6 and $7 (season $30)

One state season pass covers all eight state beaches, including Misquamicut in Westerly and East Matunuck in South Kingstown (both charge higher daily rates).

Town beaches (Blue Shutters, Town Beach), per car:

• Daily: $30 weekdays, $45 weekends and holidays (seniors $25 and $40)
• Season stickers: resident $75, resident senior $35, non-resident $150 (Blue Shutters only), non-resident senior $75, cottage pass $475
• Walk-ons with no car: free

Burlingame Picnic Area: free. DEM charges no fee at beaches inside state parks.

Hours and Seasons

• State beaches: in 2026 amenities opened May 23 and stayed open daily through Labor Day. In season, parking and lifeguards run 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays and 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekends and holidays. Gates close at sunset.
• Town beaches: in 2026, May 23 to Labor Day, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekends and holidays.
• Burlingame Picnic Area: sunrise to sunset; lifeguards 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. in season, as staffing allows.

Off season, the state beaches stay open for walks, and swimmers go in at their own risk.

Which Beach for You

• Non-resident, want the cheapest ocean day: a state beach, at $12 to $14.
• Non-resident, want a town beach: Blue Shutters, the only town beach that accepts non-resident passes.
• Fishing: Charlestown Breachway, outside lifeguarded hours.
• Quiet and wild: East Beach, if you get there early enough to park.
• Small kids: the freshwater beach at the Burlingame Picnic Area, with no surf.
• With a dog: none of these in summer. State rules bar animals from state beaches, East Beach and the Burlingame Picnic Area from April 1 to September 30, and town beaches ban animals 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. from Memorial Day to Labor Day. See dogs.

Parking Tips

State beach lots close when the sand reaches capacity, even if there are empty spaces. DEM posts live lot status on its beach page. Buy a state pass online at beachparkingri.com so you can use the express lane; season passes are not sold at the entrances. Town beaches close at 5 p.m., cars left after 9 p.m. may be ticketed or towed, and RVs, campers and trailers are not allowed in the lots (except boat trailers in a designated area at Town Beach).

Rules That Apply Everywhere

No alcohol and no glass at the state and town beaches. No fires on town beaches without permission. Smoking is banned at the Breachway and East Beach, and on the town beaches outside designated areas. Town beaches also ban fishing from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. between Memorial Day and Labor Day, and surfboards, skim boards and floats in the swim area.

From Burlingame

The four ocean beaches are a short drive south of Burlingame State Park, across Route 1. During the 2026 construction, DEM pointed Burlingame campers who wanted a swim to the Burlingame Picnic Area and Ninigret Park.