Overview
Portsmouth is a town in Newport County, Rhode Island. It is a small quaint town with a strong sense of community that has a lot of history for any traveler to discover. It was settled in 1638 by a group of religious dissenters from Boston, including Dr. John Clarke, William Coddington, and Anne Hutchinson.
4 sights · 5 things to do · 7 places to eat · 1 bars & cafés · 1 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Portsmouth
Green Animals Topiary Garden
Gorgeous, fanciful and set on a sprawling estate, the Green Animals Topiary Garden is a must-see. It is the oldest garden of its kind and the grounds are pristine. Kids and kids-at-heart will love the green menagerie of …
Greenvale Vineyards
Nestled on the beautiful Sakonet River, this family-operated vineyard offers a variety of artisan wines. The vineyard is open for wine-tastings and tours from 10AM to 5PM, the vineyard is a pleasant, romantic way to spen…
Old School House
The Old School House is, quite literally, old school- it's the oldest schoolhouse in America. The Old School House is a fascinating and well-preserved historical attraction. It features antique textbooks, the original de…
Portsmouth WInd Turbine
The Town of Portsmouth has constructed an impressive 2 MW wind turbine on the grounds of the Portsmouth High School. It is truly an engineering site to see. The turbine is over 300 ft tall with a blade diameter of 246 ft…
Escobar’s Highland Farms Corn Maze
A quick 20-minute drive that should be a top priority on a to-do list. Run by Escobar's Highland Farms, this seasonal corn maze is a popular attraction for team building, families and dates, both on competitive and non-c…
Sandy Point Beach
Sandy Point Beach is a quiet local beach perfect for relaxing. It is on deep in the bay on the Sakonnet River which means there is little surf perfect for recreation such as swimming, rowing, boating, and scuba diving.
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: May–Sep. Summer highs reach about 80°F; winter lows dip to about 24°F. Cold months (Jan, Feb) can bring snow and ice; check road conditions. Wettest: Mar and Oct. (climate data from nearby Newport)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- NPT Newport State Airport, Newport — 5 mi away. Directions
- PVD Rhode Island T. F. Green International Airport, Providence/Warwick — 13 mi away (major hub). Directions
Though it is on an island, Portsmouth is most readily accessible from RI Rt. 138.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Sample 2-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Green Animals Topiary Garden, Old School House, Escobar’s Highland Farms Corn Maze
- Lunch Rocco's Little Italy
- Afternoon Newport International Polo Series, Montaup Country Club
- Dinner The North End Pizzeria
- Evening Schooners Bar & Beer Garden
Day 2
- Morning Greenvale Vineyards, Portsmouth WInd Turbine
- Lunch Green Valley Country Club
- Afternoon Sandy Point Beach, Green Valley Country Club
- Dinner West Main Pizza
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Photos
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Get in
Though it is on an island, Portsmouth is most readily accessible from RI Rt. 138.
Avoid the traffic on West Main Road by taking a left onto Access Road (next to a Courtyard Marriott) and follow. Go down a hill and take a slight right onto Defense Road. Follow until taking a sharp right ontp Stringham Road, which will bring you back up to West Main Road. By taking this quiet, scenic road, you bypass traffic and the commercialized portion of West Main Road.
Get around
As it is a small, quaint town, it is easiest to get around Portsmouth by car. Unlike a more metropolitan city which can easily be navigated on foot or by public transportation, Portsmouth is far too rural and suburban to rely on these types of transportation.
The Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA) does, however, have buses running to and from Portsmouth.
See
See Green Animals Topiary Garden
Gorgeous, fanciful and set on a sprawling estate, the Green Animals Topiary Garden is a must-see. It is the oldest garden of its kind and the grounds are pristine. Kids and kids-at-heart will love the green menagerie of towering hedges pruned into animal shapes. The estate also features a splendid Victorian home, an orchard, and vegetable gardens.
See Greenvale Vineyards
Nestled on the beautiful Sakonet River, this family-operated vineyard offers a variety of artisan wines. The vineyard is open for wine-tastings and tours from 10AM to 5PM, the vineyard is a pleasant, romantic way to spend an afternoon, and indulge in some high-quality wine.
See Old School House
The Old School House is, quite literally, old school- it's the oldest schoolhouse in America. The Old School House is a fascinating and well-preserved historical attraction. It features antique textbooks, the original desks and school bell and other old-fashioned school supplies.
- Portsmouth Abbey Wind Turbine The Abbey is home to Rhode Island's first wind turbine. The blades first started turning on March 31, 2006. Within the first year, the turbine generated 1.3 million kWh of "clean" electricity and supplied 39.35 percent of the school's electrical energy use. This successful trend has continued.
See Portsmouth WInd Turbine
The Town of Portsmouth has constructed an impressive 2 MW wind turbine on the grounds of the Portsmouth High School. It is truly an engineering site to see. The turbine is over 300 ft tall with a blade diameter of 246 ft.
Do
Do Escobar’s Highland Farms Corn Maze
A quick 20-minute drive that should be a top priority on a to-do list. Run by Escobar's Highland Farms, this seasonal corn maze is a popular attraction for team building, families and dates, both on competitive and non-competitive basis. Escobar’s Highland Farms’ main attraction is the corn maze but its other attractions include hayrides, cow trains, pumpkin festivals, Halloween parties and other events that will occur during the operating months of August through November.
Do Sandy Point Beach
Sandy Point Beach is a quiet local beach perfect for relaxing. It is on deep in the bay on the Sakonnet River which means there is little surf perfect for recreation such as swimming, rowing, boating, and scuba diving.
Do Newport International Polo Series
Portsmouth holds an international polo competition annually. A great event for the entire family, it was voted "Best Evening with the Kids" in Rhode Island Monthly Magazine in 2005. The 100 sprawling acres of green grass offers plenty of entertainment for children. Matches take place every Saturday throughout the summer and early fall at 5PM in June, July, and August and 4PM in September. Picnics are welcome, although food and beverages are offered at the game.
Buy
Shop The Portsmouth Shop
Fine women's and children's clothin, and gifts. It features a large selection of unique and well-made jewelry, stationery, serving ware and other interesting finds.
Eat
Eat Rocco's Little Italy
Great Italian cuisine, especially their pizza.
Eat The North End Pizzeria
A mixture of an old, antique history and fun, quirky atmosphere create an allure palpable as soon as you walk past the restaurant windows. There is a wide range of pizza choices available, Mexican to spinach to buffalo chicken are all options depending on your craving of the day.
Eat West Main Pizza
Voted best pizza and best calzones by RI monthly magazine.
Eat Custom House Coffee
Voted Best Coffee House in Newport County 2008 & 2009. A very friendly and inviting environment, Custom House offers a wide variety of coffees, teas, and specialty drinks as well as freshly made pastries and sandwiches. Enjoy your cappuccino in one of their large leather couches while surfing the web or watching television.
Eat Clement's Marketplace
A great, locally owned marketplace with all of your typical grocery store brands, but without the big-store feel. Also, the deli has a great "to-go" lunch menu, including arguably the best tasting paninis on the island.
Eat Foodworks
Foodworks is a family-owned restaurant with a friendly local atmosphere. Foodworks provides only a breakfast menu with a wide variety of affordable meals to choose from.
Drink
Sleep
Stay Newport RV Park
This clean, family-friendly campground features hiking trails, a fishing pond, and secluded spots for RVs and tents. The showers and bathrooms are well-kept. The campground is minutes away from Newport's gorgeous beaches, and the hiking trails are the perfect place for a nature walk. Avid bird-watchers will enjoy scouting out their favorite species, and fishers can follow the blue trails all the way down a freshwater fishing pond.
Go next
- Newport: The breathtaking and beautiful town located right on the shore. Attractions of all kinds: streets filled with shopping, the town is surrounded by the beach, arts and theatre to add to the culture aspect of this well known spot. Go to their website, click on “things to do” and you will see an events calendar to your left. Check it out and plan a trip!
- University of Rhode Island: 30 minutes away. Sporting events, concerts at the Ryan Center and around the beautiful campus. Make sure to check out the school’s website to see what’s happening at URI.
- Providence: The state capital can either drive or take the RIPTA to experience a wide range of culture through various entertainment establishments or take the day to shop around the eclectic area.
- Bristol: Visit this small, patriotic town on the Fourth of July and you’ll think you’re at the Thanksgiving Day parade in New York City. Bristol has hosted the oldest Independence Day parade in the nation, comparing to nothing else.
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My experience
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