Rhode Island may be the smallest state in the country, but it has plenty of interesting landmarks! Rhode Island landmarks include the State House, a lighthouse, and several Gilded Age mansions (although their owners considered them “summer cottages.”)
Here are the top Rhode Island landmarks that you’ll want to check out.
Top Landmarks in Rhode Island
Rhode Island Landmarks
Fort Adams State Park
Fort Adams State Park is on the mouth of the harbor in Newport, Rhode Island and you’ll get beautiful views of Newport Harbor and Narragansett Bay. The state park is home to Fort Adams, the historic former army post that was established in 1799.
You can tour the fort, or swim, boat, picnic, or use the soccer and rugby fields. In summer, there are also jazz and folk festivals, but you can enjoy the park year-round.
Attractions and Camping Nearby
There are lots of things to do in Newport, including some of the attractions on this list. Make sure to check out the Newport Art Museum!
Unfortunately, there are no campgrounds at Fort Adams State Park, or in Newport, Rhode Island at all, in fact. But here are a few Rhode Island campgrounds that are nearby.
International Tennis Hall of Fame
Located in Newport, the Tennis Hall of Fame includes a museum and multiple tennis facilities. The museum’s collection of memorabilia and artifacts includes photos, videos, equipment, and trophies from some of the most influential tennis players and figures in the sport.
Guests can also reserve the indoor and outdoor tennis courts by the hour and coaching and lessons are available.
Attractions and Camping Nearby
As mentioned above, Newport is chock-full of things to see and do. We highly recommend seeing the Sailing Museum and National Sailing Hall of Fame.
As the International Tennis Hall of Fame is in Newport, the nearby campground options are the same as those for Fort Adams State Park.
The Breakers
A visit to the Italian Renaissance-style Breakers will make you feel like you stepped into “The Great Gatsby.” This Gilded Age mansion in Newport was built in the 1890s as a summer home for the Vanderbilt family. Not only was it the largest and most opulent house in Newport when it was built, but it’s also become one of the most-visited attractions in Rhode Island.
The mansion is a National Historic Landmark and is owned by the Newport Preservation Society as a museum. It’s open to the public year round for tours of the building and grounds.
Attractions and Camping Nearby
The Breakers are in Newport, Rhode Island, meaning you can see any of the aforementioned attractions while you visit. We also really love the Audrain Auto Museum.
Any of the above-listed campgrounds are great options, or you can move further afield and stay in Connecticut while exploring Rhode Island. Sun Outdoors Mystic is a great choice if you decide to go this route.
Ocean Drive Historic District
The Ocean Drive Historic District is along Ocean Drive on the southern shore of Newport. It’s the area where wealthy New Englanders had their summer “cottages” in the late 1800s and early 1900s.
This area is part of Newport’s Ten Mile Drive which includes these mansions, public parks, and public access to the beaches along the Atlantic shoreline.
Attractions and Camping Nearby
You can drive your RV along the Ocean Drive Historic District and take your own driving tour of the area. We also recommend checking out the National Museum of American Illustration.
You can camp at any of the above campgrounds, which are near Newport. If you want to go farther out, you can try Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park Camp-Resort: Cranberry Acres in Massachusetts.
Cliff Walk
Newport, Rhode Island’s Cliff Walk is a beautiful 3.5-mile walk along the ocean shore. This public access walk winds its way along the coast of Aquidneck Island. You’ll get views of the ocean, the rocky shoreline, and the occasional Gilded Age mansion.
It’s a National Recreation Trail and most of the walk is easy to traverse. There are 16 QR code trail markers located at significant stops along the walk that people can watch for. Scanning the QR codes on a smartphone will give visitors information on the historic mansions as well as on local geological features.
Attractions and Camping Nearby
Other things to see in Newport include the Green Animals Topiary Garden and Newport Windmill Tower.
The Cliff Walk is in Newport, so any of the above campgrounds would work as options. You can also stay near historic Plymouth, Massachusetts at Sandy Pond Campground. It’s about 42 miles from the Cliff Walk, but you could explore two historic areas.
Arcade Providence
Step back through history and visit the first indoor shopping mall in the United States. The Westminster Arcade, also known as the Arcade Providence or the Providence Arcade, was built in 1828 as the country’s first enclosed shopping center in Providence, Rhode Island.
The arcade was built in the commercial Greek Revival architecture style, and has gone through several renovations over the past 200 years. Today, it’s a mix of apartments, dining, bars, and retail shopping.
Attractions and Camping Nearby
There are tons of things to do in Providence. We especially love Roger Williams Park and Roger Williams Park Zoo.
There are a few campgrounds near Providence.
Rhode Island State House
The Rhode Island State House is an impressive capitol building in Providence. Designed in the Neoclassical style, the building features the fourth largest structural-stone dome in the world.
Aside from housing part of the state’s government, the Rhode Island State House is open for tours and is home to a Visitor Center and gift shop that sells locally made items.
Attractions and Camping Nearby
Looking for more awesome stuff to do in Providence? The RSID Museum is a gem that everyone should see while visiting the area.
You’ll want to look for campgrounds near Providence to be close to the State House. Here are a couple.
Block Island Southeast Lighthouse
The Block Island Southeast Lighthouse sits atop of Mohegan Bluffs and is one of two lighthouses on the island. It’s also the easiest to visit. Built in 1875, this National Historic Landmark provides visitors with fantastic views of the ocean and the rest of the island.
Tours of the lighthouse are offered during summer and the grounds are open year-round.
Attractions and Camping Nearby
Block Island is the perfect place for a beach day, so that is exactly what you should plan on experiencing while you’re there.
There is no RV camping on Block Island. However, once you get back, you can camp at the Charlestown Breachway State Campground and get great views of Block Island Sound.
Goddard Memorial State Park
One of Rhode Island’s popular metropolitan parks, Goddard Memorial State Park in Warwick covers almost 500 acres and includes the forests, fields, a golf course, and the beach.
Visitors can hike, go horseback riding on the 18 miles of bridle trails, and go canoeing. There are sports fields, a 9-hole golf course, and a swimming beach.
Attractions and Camping Nearby
Other things to do nearby include Rocky Point State Park and the adorable Morris Farm.
You can’t camp at Goddard Memorial State Park, but there are parking areas that can accommodate an RV for the day. You can camp near Warwick, even though you can’t camp at the park itself. We recommend Fishermen’s Memorial State Park & Campground.
Touro Synagogue National Historic Site
Construction on the Touro Synagogue began in 1759 and was completed in 1763. The synagogue was dedicated during that year’s Hanukkah celebrations.
Tourists can visit the synagogue grounds and learn about this national historic site in Newport.
Attractions and Camping Nearby
The synagogue is in Newport. Visitors to the city can also see all of the amazing Newport attractions and sights listed above.
As mentioned above, you can’t camp right in Newport, but there are several campgrounds nearby where you can stay.
Planning an RV Trip to Rhode Island
There are a surpassingly large number of interesting Rhode Island landmarks considering it is the smallest state in the country! We highly recommend exploring the state via RV so you can see all of the best Rhode Island campgrounds and state parks.
