3 Lighthouses to Visit in Rhode Island
A Guide to Scenic Light Stations on the Southern Shoreline
Nov 24, 2008
Lighthouses currently serve as beacons for pleasure boats and commercial ships navigating the coastline, and as tourist attractions, picnic spots or photographic subjects. Most working lighthouses today are operated and maintained by the United States Coast Guard, such as these three scenic light stations in southern Rhode Island.
Tourists might be able to make a quick visit to all of them in one day. But each of the spots on this tour is quite special, so taking a full day to travel to and appreciate each lighthouse and its surroundings is recommended.
Please note that none of these lighthouse towers are currently open to the public. For those who scare easily, remember that at each of these points, a loud automated fog signal can catch a person off-guard because of its proximity to ground level.
Watch Hill Light
Watch Hill Light is situated in Watch Hill, south of Westerly, at one of the most beautiful beach areas in southern New England—a must-see. Access can be tricky, especially in the busy summertime. Upon arrival in Watch Hill, seek the advice of a local, who can give advice on the best place to park and how to find Lighthouse Road. This hidden lane off Larkin Road leads through a residential area, and signage restricts general auto traffic. The lighthouse is a five minute walk down the lane. There is limited parking available on lighthouse grounds for seniors and those with handicap permits, though. While the lighthouse cannot be entered by the public, the sweeping grounds are fully accessible.
For another view, head to Napatree Point on the west side of Watch Hill. Napatree is free, open year-round, and has a 1.5-mile long beach and grassy, protected dunes that are home to abundant wildlife—a hotspot for birdwatchers and photographers. From an elevated vantage point here, the lighthouse is in plain view, but bring binoculars or a camera with zoom.
Point Judith Lighthouse
At the most southern edge of Narragansett, RI, is Point Judith Light. Visitors are allowed to walk onto the fenced-in property and right up to the lighthouse, leaving their cars next door at Nulman park (also known as Point Judith Park). Have a good map handy to find this spot at the end of Ocean Road. There is a large, grassy lawn surrounding the brownstone tower, and the beach below is covered with large stones that are often piled by visitors into interesting formations. This notoriously dangerous point off Block Island Sound is a haven for surfers; on– and off–season they can be seen congregating there, enjoying their passion. The fence is closed after sunset, so visitors and surfers must return to their vehicles outside the gate by dark.
Beavertail Light
The final stop on this tour is Beavertail Light in Jamestown, Rhode Island, the third oldest lighthouse on the Atlantic coast. This lighthouse is located in Beavertail State Park, at the southernmost tip of the island of Conanicut—a peninsula whose shape resembles a beaver’s tail. Free to visitors to explore, the area affords a dramatic view of the southern Rhode Island coast. Witness the power of enormous waves crashing against large rock ledges on either side of the point, as a variety of boats glide past in Narragansett Bay. A narrow road circles the point, so it is possible to drive or walk past the square, granite lighthouse. While visitors cannot climb the tower, a small museum in the keeper’s house, operated by the Beavertail Lighthouse Museum Association, is open seasonally. There is a fee.
Learn more about each of these three lighthouses in southern Rhode Island by visiting the web page “New England Lighthouses: A Virtual Guide,” or the “Coast Guard Historic Light Stations” page for Rhode Island.
