Misquamicut State Beach
257 Atlantic Ave
Westerly, RI
A wide, half-mile arc of open Atlantic sand in Rhode Island's southwest corner, born from the ruins of the hurricanes that once wiped this coast clean.
Misquamicut is the biggest state beach in Rhode Island, a broad, open half-mile of Atlantic sand in the seaside village of the same name in Westerly. Its takes its name from the Indigenous people of this coast, and its shallow, sun-warmed surf and generous width have made it one of the most beloved family beaches in New England. Behind the sand runs a compact strip of old-fashioned seaside fun, so a day here can be as simple as a towel and the waves or as busy as a carousel ride and a round of mini-golf.
But the beach you enjoy today carries a hard history just beneath its easygoing surface. This low, exposed coast was struck again and again by hurricanes in the 20th century, storms that swept away nearly everything people built here. The state beach exists precisely because of that violence: after the last great blow, the state stepped in, cleared what remained, and set the shoreline aside so the public could have it for good.
What Guests Love
- A wide, half-mile beach of soft sand, the largest state beach in Rhode Island, with room to spread out
- Gentle, warm Atlantic surf that is friendly for families and swimmers
- The lively strip just behind the beach, with a vintage carousel, mini-golf, and water slides for the kids
- Big sunrises over open ocean and easy day trips to Watch Hill and Napatree Point nearby
Worth Knowing
- It is a state beach with a seasonal parking fee, and the lots fill early on hot summer weekends, so arrive in the morning
- This is open Atlantic coast, so heed the lifeguards and be mindful of rip currents on rough-surf days
- Facilities like restrooms, showers, and lifeguards run in the summer season; the beach is far quieter and unstaffed off-season
- There is little natural shade on the open sand, so bring an umbrella, water, and sunscreen
Details
Westerly, RI
Learn about Misquamicut State Beach
The hurricanes that remade the coast
Before the storms, this stretch was a thriving Victorian-era resort known as Pleasant View, lined with grand hotels, cottages, and beachfront amusements by the early 1900s. The community formally took the name Misquamicut in 1928. Then came September 21, 1938, when the Great New England Hurricane roared ashore without warning and drove a storm surge said to reach seventeen feet across the low-lying beach. Nearly the entire four-mile shoreline was swept clean of buildings. The next day the local paper's headline said it plainly: Misquamicut, wiped out.
It was not a single disaster but a pattern. Hurricanes battered this coast again in 1944 and once more with Hurricane Carol in 1954, each time tearing away homes, hotels, and whatever had been rebuilt in between. Along the shore you can still find quiet reminders of the vanished resort, like old concrete steps that now climb to nothing, remnants of cottages the sea carried off.
How a public beach was born
After decades of watching private buildings rise and then be destroyed, the state decided the shoreline should belong to everyone. Following the repeated devastation, the governor began condemnation proceedings to acquire the storm-battered land, and out of that effort Misquamicut State Beach was created in 1959.
It was a fitting outcome for such a hard-luck coast. Where hotels and cottages had been swept away time and again, the state built a durable public beach with parking, bathhouses, and lifeguarded swimming, land that could take a storm and simply be reopened rather than rebuilt from scratch. What the hurricanes destroyed for private owners, they ultimately preserved for the public.
A day at Misquamicut
Today the beach is pure, uncomplicated summer. The sand is soft and wide, the surf is warm and gentle by New England standards, and the half-mile of open shoreline gives families room to breathe even on a busy day. Lifeguards, restrooms, and showers make it an easy place to spend a full day with kids in tow.
Just behind the state beach, the Misquamicut strip keeps the old seaside-resort spirit alive with a vintage carousel that has turned since the early 1900s, along with mini-golf, water slides, and arcade games. When you want something quieter, the elegant village of Watch Hill and the wild sand spit of Napatree Point are a short drive west, so the area offers everything from carousel music to solitary dune walks within a few miles of the same parking lot.
Closest Boutels
The closest Boutel™ stays, so you can turn this stop into an overnight. Each is an independently owned, editorially selected place to stay.
Things to Do Near Westerly
Watch Hill
About 4 miles
A genteel seaside village with a historic lighthouse and the Flying Horse Carousel, said to be the oldest continuously operating carousel in the country.
Napatree Point Conservation Area
About 5 miles
A wild, undeveloped sand spit reaching into the sea off Watch Hill, great for a long shoreline walk and watching shorebirds and seals.
Downtown Westerly
About 6 miles
A handsome old mill town on the Pawcatuck River with granite architecture, a leafy central park, shops, and restaurants.
Ninigret Park and National Wildlife Refuge
About 12 miles
A large coastal park and refuge in Charlestown with trails, a salt pond, a swimming beach, and one of the region's best spots for stargazing.