Fred Benson Town BeachBlock Island, RI

Visibility is an estimate — wind, rain, tide & water alerts.

Getting in

Shore access, walk in off the sand

Getting through the gate

The town's beach pavilion, called the Beach House in its own fee schedule, rents chairs ($10/day), umbrellas ($15/day) and boogie boards ($10/day), runs a full concessions stand, and charges $2 per four-minute hot-shower token. Taking a vehicle onto any town beach needs a Rhode Island CRMC beach-driving permit, $100 a year for Rhode Island registrations and $200 for out-of-state per the town fee schedule, and the beach ordinance bars vehicles from this stretch from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., May 15 to October 15. The island is reached by Interstate Navigation's Block Island Ferry, a year-round car ferry from Point Judith to Old Harbor (55 minutes), plus seasonal high-speed boats from Point Judith (30 minutes) and Newport (about an hour).

Parking

Town lots at the beach; the fee schedule lists no charge for parking or entry.

On site

restrooms, rinse showers, lifeguard on duty, parking lot, gear rentals nearby

Checked 2026-08-27. Sources: Town of New Shoreham: Facilities (Recreation Department), Town of New Shoreham: Beach Fire Permits, Town of New Shoreham: Schedule of Fees (PDF), Town of New Shoreham Code of Ordinances, Ch. 9 Art. II: Beaches, Interstate Navigation Company / Block Island Ferry: About Us, Interstate Navigation Company / Block Island Ferry: FAQs.