Fort Adams State Park RV & Campground Guide
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Fort Adams State Park sits at the entrance to Narragansett Bay and is a historical marker in the history of Newport, Rhode Island, and its environs. The Fort Adams Bay Walk provides a great viewpoint for the sunset, often called "The Best Sunset in Newport." The fort was originally built in 1799 and revamped in 1824 as part of the Third System of Seacoast Defense of the United States. This series of forts was established to protect important harbors from European invasion, often consisting of two tiers of cannons that ranged from 10-inch Rodman guns to 42-pound seacoast defense guns.
Nearby Cities:
Newport, RI
New Bedford, MA
Providence, RI
Boston, MA
Spring 44-60 F
Summer 61-78 F
Fall 43-58 F
Winter 27-42 F
RV Resorts & Campsites in Fort Adams State Park
There are no camping facilities of any kind at Fort Adams State Park.
Melville Ponds Campground
Located in Portsmouth, the Melville Ponds Campground offers a wide variety of activities on-site. They include, but are not limited to, fishing, hiking, volleyball, and basketball. The campground has its own camp store and is conveniently close to Newport, Bristol, and Tiverton, so you won't have to worry about going out of your way to get something you need.
Hookups: 30-amp full-hookup sites
Wi-Fi: Yes
Pet friendly: Yes
Other amenities: Cable TV on all RV sites, many on-site activities, hot showers
Fort Getty Park and Campground
The Fort Getty Park and Campground is located in Jamestown, just 10 miles away from Fort Adams. The campground has a two-week minimum duration for RV sites, so if you're planning a longer stay in the area, this may be the place for you. The area offers many interesting sites for you to enjoy, such as the Kit Wright walking trail, a rocky beach, and, of course, the fort itself.
Hookups: 30-amp electric and water hookups
Wi-Fi: No
Pet friendly: Yes
Other amenities: Hot showers, fire rings
What to Do at
Fort Adams State Park
The most popular activity at Fort Adams State Park is to take a guided tour of the grounds and the buildings upon them. Fishing and picnicking are a close second. People like to walk or rollerblade along the paths, which are also stroller-friendly.
Have a picnic, cast your line, or even set out into Narragansett Bay in a canoe or a kayak.
Inside Fort Adams State Park
Fort Adams State Park offers a wide variety of activities to choose from. You can learn about the history and restoration of Fort Adams during one of the hourlong guided tours or explore the grounds yourself. The park also offers saltwater bathing, fishing, and picnicking. You'll find the sandy beach facing into Benton Cove. Throughout the year, the park hosts events like Movies At The Fort, golf tournaments, and annual summer folk and jazz music festivals.
Hiking
The Fort Adams Bay Walk, which is great for sunset viewing, is an easy 2.2-mile walk along a boardwalk that provides exceptional views of both the bay and the Atlantic Ocean. People like to bird-watch along the walk as well.
Flora and Fauna
Seabirds make up most of the wildlife at Fort Adams State Park, but more than 100 species of birds either make their home there or make it a stop on their various migrations throughout the year. You can spot everything from seagulls to Canada geese. Bitterns, egrets, merlins, and buffleheads are among the other species that frequent the park.
Fishing
Striped bass is the king of fishing in Narragansett Bay and in the ocean off Fort Adams State Park. You can also catch scup, tautog, Boston bluefish, black sea bass, and flounder. You can surf cast or fish from a boat. There are streams, too, and if you fly-fish, then you can do it either in fresh water nearby or in salt water. This variety of options is one of the reasons that Newport is a popular destination for sport fishing.
Boating
The boat launch is in the southwest corner of Fort Adams State Park. You can set forth from there for a pleasure cruise or a fishing extravaganza.
Swimming
You can swim at the saltwater beach within the park. It's the Atlantic Ocean, though, so the water, even in July, is less than 70 F. In other seasons, you'll need an insulated wetsuit to swim, particularly in February when the water temperature is just 38 F.
How to Get to
Fort Adams State Park
From Boston and points all points north, take Route 90 west to Route 95. Proceed south on Route 95 to Providence. At Providence, take Route 195 east until you reach the exit for Route 114, which is also known as East Shore Drive. It becomes many other street names along the way, so follow the signs for Route 114. Take Route 114 south, and cross the Mount Hope Bridge. Eventually, Route 114 becomes West Main Road. Follow West Main Road south. Once you go past the junction of Admiral Kalbfus Road and Miantonomi Avenue, West Main Road becomes Broadway.
Continue south-southwest on Broadway until you reach Marlborough Street. Take Marlborough Street west to Thames Street. Turn south on Thames Street. Thames Street ends at the junction of Morton Avenue and Carroll Avenue. Proceed southwest on Carroll Avenue, which becomes Old Fort Road. Follow Old Fort Road to Ruggles Avenue, and turn west. Ruggles Avenue becomes Wickham Road. Follow Wickham Road west to Brenton Road, and continue west on Brenton Road, which becomes Beacon Hill Road. Continue on Beacon Hill Road until it becomes Harrison Avenue. Follow Harrison Avenue until you reach Fort Adams Drive. Turn North on Fort Adams Drive, and follow it all the way to Fort Adams State Park.
From any other destination, follow any applicable road to Providence, and then proceed from there as you would have were you to have started in Boston.
Alternatively, should you not want to bring your RV to the park, you can park in Newport and take the Jamestown Newport ferry for $28 per adult and $18 per child older than 4 for a round-trip.
Entering Fort Adams State Park
Parking is free at Fort Adams State Park.
Fort Adams State Park Per Vehicle : $0.0
With so many things to do at Fort Adams State Park and in Newport, you're sure to have a blast. The team at RVshare would love to hear about your adventure, so tag the site in your social media posts and share your trip photos by sending them to [email protected].
Frequently Asked Questions About Fort Adams State Park
Summer is undoubtedly the best time of year to visit Fort Adams State Park. The water is fairly warm for swimming, the fish are running, and the weather is mild for strolls through the park and along the Fort Adams Bay Walk.
Seabirds make up most of the wildlife that you'll see at Fort Adams State Park. There are also songbirds like warblers, sparrows, and juncos. In addition to the migrating seabirds, such as terns, petrels, and gulls, there are also wading birds like egrets, bitterns, dowitchers, and sandpipers.
No, there are no camping facilities at all.
There are no campsites, so reservations are moot. The costs of parking and entering the park are free. The guided tours are $12 for an adult and $6 per child between 6 years of age and 17 years of age. There is also a family pass for two adults and up to four children between 6 and 17 that costs $30. Children 5 years of age and younger are free.
Yes, pets are welcome everywhere except on the beach. You must use a leash of no more than 6 feet in length and must clean up after your pets.