One of the Top 10 beaches in New England: Sachuest Beach in Middletown, RI
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Sachuest Beach, also known as Second Beach, is consistently ranked among the Top 10 beaches in New England. If you are looking for a budget friendly alternative to the Newport Mansions, or simply seeking more fun for your Newport summer itinerary, it’s a beautiful addition. We decided to check it out during the heatwave this week, as it will likely be too cool for another beach day anytime soon.
Unfortunately, it was still a bit too cold to be considered comfortable – but hey this is New England, not Florida! This beach definitely held up to its’ reputation. It’s such a scenic, clean beach with great views in the background. Best of all, it was relatively uncrowded which I did not expect given the city’s popularity. The views of the houses along the coast were gorgeous!
While you can catch a glimpse of some of the iconic mansions from this beach, I really recommend touring them, or at least taking a scenic stroll on Cliffwalk. On this 3 mile trek, you will get to see the beautifully landscaped exterior of the most iconic mansions like The Breakers.
There is also a nice view of historic St. George’s Church, an architectural gem built in 1928.
I was surprised at how warm the water was at this beach. I expected the New England waters to be too cold to swim in this early on in the summer season, but this wasn’t the case! Plenty of people (myself included) were swimming and/or surfing in the warmer waters.
A nice view off the greenery surrounding the beach. The backdrop is so pretty here. I am not a big fan of flat beaches with nothing in the background, so I absolutely loved the nature setting here. This is what I love most about New England – really, it’s nature at its’ best.
It’s a fun spot to bird watch. I’ve found that most preserves and beaches in Newport County are beautiful places to birdwatch. You will mostly find shorebirds here. For more great birdwatching, I recommend checking out nearby Norman Bird Sanctuary where you can enjoy 7 miles of trails.
Lots of surfers out enjoying the waves! I didn’t know anyone surfed in Rhode Island to be honest! According to experts, fall is the best time to surf as this is when waves are at their highest intensity in this area. Winter surfing is actually a thing too. This is considered the time when there is the best swell. One of Mike’s coworkers is actually a winter surfer.
Pros
- Beautiful views
- Clean white sand. Also a prime destination for collecting shells!
- Rinsing stations so you don’t drag sand into your car
- Snack stand and Del’s Lemonade on site
- Quiet and peaceful – no noisy or obnoxious beach goers
- Located a short drive away from Sachuest Point Wildlife Refuge (I recommend walking the beautiful Ocean View loop here)
- Close to Newport (about a 10 minute drive). Drive over to Newport before or after for plenty of lunch and dinner options, many on the waterfront with beautiful patio dining areas.
- Close to the Newport Mansions and CliffWalk attractions
Cons
- Parking is steep on weekends from Memorial-Labor Day. Rates are $35 on weekends and holidays and $25 during the week. Tip: Visit during the off-season for free parking.
- I didn’t notice any changing stations – not good if you want to change out of your beach wear and go somewhere else.
- Only Porta Potties located on-site
- Red Tide is a frequent occurrence. Red Tide is a harmful algal bloom, which means there is a high concentration of a microscopic algae (plantlike organism) in the waters.
More info
Address: 474 Sachuest Point Rd Middletown, RI 02842
Amenities: Restrooms, snack stand, outdoor showers, bike racks, leashed pets allowed from 5:00pm – 7:45am
