When is the Best Time to Visit Rhode Island?

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The best time to visit Rhode Island might shock you. It’s in the fall between the months of September and October! This is for numerous reasons, including the great fall foliage, cooler weather, and smaller crowds than those you’d experience if you were to visit during the summer.

The fall in Rhode Island is truly the best time because of the beautiful colors and because there is so much to do there, including picking apples, going to corn mazes, and even heading out on a road trip across the state. During this time of year, the temperature is perfect sweater weather, so what’s not to love? On average, the temperature will generally be in the high 40s or 50s but can drop depending on how late into the season it is.

Learn more about what it’s like to visit during other times of the year below.

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Best Things to do in Rhode Island in Winter

Stop by Rhode Island’s Christmas tree farms to find the most perfect holiday tree to bring home. There are many different farms throughout the state, so wherever you’re visiting, you’ll most likely be able to find one not too far away.
Celebrate Christmas in Rhode Island by attending the Newport Illuminated Boat Parade! If you don’t like parades, you can also go skiing, ice skating, tubing, and even snowboarding to get outside during the holiday season.
Visit the stunning lighthouses throughout the state. They’re absolutely magical in the winter when you can visit and see them covered half in snow! Some great ones to visit include Southeast Light, Rose Island Light, and Pomham Rocks Light.
Attend some of the best activities in Newport during Christmas! There’s the Holiday Lantern Tour with Newport History Museum, the Newport Nutcracker at Rosecliff, and more.
Cozy up at a great Providence coffee shop with your favorite cup of coffee or tea! There’s Cafe La France, Blue State Coffee, Madrid European Bakery and Patisserie, and more. This is one of the top things to do during winter in Rhode Island!

Best Things to do in Rhode Island in Spring

Get out and enjoy the beautiful nature by going on a hike! Rhode Island is filled with incredible hikes, which many people don’t know, like the Roger Williams Park trails, the Beavertail Trail, and even the Tillinghast Pond Loop through a forest.
There are so many gorgeous waterfalls in spring, so be sure to visit them during this time of year, like Pawtuxet Falls or Wolf Hill Quarry Falls. Some of the waterfalls require a short hike, but others are just a short pleasant walk!
Go on a trip and visit some of the most beautiful places to visit in Rhode Island! Some can’t-miss spots include the Newport Cliff Walk, Brown University Campus, Narragansett Beach, and Sachuest Point National Wildlife Refuge.
Rent a boat and kayak or canoe on a lake! Even though Rhode Island is the smallest state in the USA, there are incredible outdoor spots to visit, like Boone Lake, Lake Washington, or even Echo Lake.
Head to a Providence brewery and have a pint by supporting locals! This is an excellent activity for the evenings… and honestly, the breweries also tend to have some of the tastiest food around. There are other great Providence restaurants, though, if you’d rather not go to a brewery, including Italian ones!

Best Things to do in Rhode Island in Summer

Aerial view of a town near the ocean with a giant beach. — Editorial credit: solepsizm / Shutterstock.com

See all the mansions that Newport is famous for by going on a Newport RI Mansion Tour! You won’t want to miss eleven different mansions, including The Breakers, Rosecliff, and Hunter House. Even if you don’t like architecture, you’ll be in awe at some of these homes.
Relax and catch some rays at a Rhode Island beach! Some of the best spots to go for beaches include Newport, Block Island, Middletown, Narragansett, and Westerly. Pretty much anywhere near the coast!
Have the absolute best Rhode Island summer! Get wet and go wild at Yawgoo Valley, visit the Capitol, wine and dine in Newport, and even quench your thirst at the vineyards (seriously, these are a must-do).
Step back in time by heading to historical sites throughout the state! This can be a great way to learn more about Rhode Island’s history. Even if you’re not a history buff, the historic sites are pretty cool and interesting.
Hit up the Rhode Island state parks, which are highly underrated. You can even camp under the stars at some of them with just a tent, or rent a lean-to if you’re feeling really adventurous!

Best Things to do in Rhode Island in Fall

Head to Pippin Orchard or Dame Farm & Orchards, some of the best places to go apple picking in Rhode Island! Save yourself some money by buying a whole bag that you can just fill with apples as you pick – you won’t regret it.
Go to a pumpkin patch to find the perfect pumpkin to carve! This is a super fun activity to do for families visiting the area. Some of the patches even have hayrides and other fun activities that you won’t want to miss out on.
Time yourself and your friends to see how long it takes you to escape a corn maze! There are Scary Acres in Hope, Salisbury Farm in Johnston, and even Cucumber Hill Farm in Foster.
Go on a ghost tour, see the foliage on a fall foliage cruise, or even attend Jack O Lantern Spectacular, some of the top things to do during fall in Rhode Island.
Visit Newport, which is lovely year-round! There’s so much fun there, with activities like the Cliff Walk, the Ocean Drive, and even the International Tennis Hall of Fame.

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Amy Hartle

Amy is the founder of New England with love. A proud Vermonter, she hopes to share her love of New England and help you find the best adventures in the region. Amy is also blogger/founder at Two Drifters, where she writes alongside her husband about romantic and couples travel, relationships, honeymoons, and more. When not working on websites, Amy is probably reading, cuddling with her husband, son, and cats, & drinking a maple latte.