Overview
If you are trying to find South County on a map, then you might have a problem. South County doesn’t really exist! “South County” is the name that the locals have given to the southern part of Rhode Island. This corresponds mostly to Washington County, though the South County Tourism Council includes East Greenwich, which is in Kent County, and excludes New Shoreham, better known as Block Island, which has its own vibe.
South County is a coastal region, centered around the mostly seasonal vacation communities along the Rhode Island Sound.
2 things to do
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about South County
Theatre by the Sea
This is an old and theatre in Rhode Island; it was originally opened in 1933. After being closed down for four years, Bill Haney purchased and reopened it in 2007 and ever since has been showcasing musical and dramatic t…
The Ryan Center
Home to all of the main events such as basketball games, boat shows and concerts. The schedule for events is available here . Along with the Ryan Center there is the Boss Ice Arena.
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: May–Oct. Summer highs reach about 83°F; winter lows dip to about 22°F. Cold months (Jan) can bring snow and ice; check road conditions. Wettest: Oct and Mar. (climate data from nearby Narragansett)
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.
- WST Westerly State Airport, Westerly — 14 mi away. Directions
- NPT Newport State Airport, Newport — 16 mi away. Directions
- PVD Rhode Island T. F. Green International Airport, Providence/Warwick — 20 mi away (major hub). Directions
Rhode Island has three AMTRAK train stations - South Kingstown (close to the beaches of Narragansett and Charlestown), Providence (in downtown Providence), and Westerly (close to the RI/CT border). Amtrak trains often run late, so do not rely on them for time-sensitive trips.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Sample 3-day trip
- Day 1: Narragansett — Port of Galilee, Scarborough State Beach, Bass Rock.
- Day 2: Westerly — Watch Hill Lighthouse, Granite Theatre, Babcock-Smith House Museum.
- Day 3: Block Island — North Light, Mohegan Bluffs, Southeast Light.
Built from the best-covered destinations in this region; open each for its own day plan.
Photos
Places in South County
Narragansett
City / town · 95 listings
Westerly
City / town · 73 listings
Block Island
City / town · 64 listings
Wickford
City / town · 63 listings
North Kingstown
City / town · 60 listings
Wakefield
City / town · 41 listings
Charlestown
City / town · 36 listings
South Kingstown
City / town · 34 listings
Watch Hill
City / town · 32 listings
Richmond
City / town · 31 listings
Exeter
City / town · 19 listings
Wyoming
City / town · 15 listings
Hopkinton
City / town · 14 listings
Matunuck
City / town · 14 listings
East Matunuck
City / town · 12 listings
Quonset Point
City / town · 4 listings
Ashaway
City / town · 2 listings
Arcadia Wildlife Management Park
Park
Other destinations
- Arcadia Wildlife Management Park
- Block Island (New Shoreham)
- Quonset Point
Get in
By train
Rhode Island has three AMTRAK train stations - South Kingstown (close to the beaches of Narragansett and Charlestown), Providence (in downtown Providence), and Westerly (close to the RI/CT border). Amtrak trains often run late, so do not rely on them for time-sensitive trips.
The MBTA Commuter Rail serves Providence, T. F. Green Airport in Warwick, and Wickford Junction in North Kingstown.
By car
South County, Rhode Island is accessed most easily by Interstate 95. From South (New York/Connecticut Area): Head north on I-95N into Rhode Island. Take exit 3A for RI-138 E/S Kingstown and merge onto RI-138 E/Kingstown Rd. Head straight on RI-138 until you enter South Kingstown
From North (Providence/Boston): Head south on I-95S into Rhode Island. Take exit 9 onto RI-4 towards South County. Head straight on RI-4 and continue onto RI-1 towards Kingston and Wakefield.
By plane
South County is accessible by plane via TF Green Airport. Once at TF Green, one can follow the directions to South County by traveling south on I=95 (as seen above).
By boat
Galilee in the town of Narragansett is accessible from Block Island and Newport by using the Block Island Ferry. You can purchase tickets online or by calling +1 401-783-7996. Block Island Ferry offers the Hi-Speed Ferry and the Traditional Ferry. The Hi-Speed Ferry arrives in approximately 30 minutes and the Traditional Ferry arrives in approximately 60 minutes.
Get around
Traveling by car is the most common way to get around in South County, but public transit lines and taxi cabs are available.
By car
- Routes 1 & 1A are the primary means of travel north/south through South County. Route 1A runs along the local beaches and is extremely busy during the summer season.
- Route 138 is the dominant east/west route and travels through South Kingstown and by the University of Rhode Island.
- Route 108 is the state route that travels westward through Narragansett and South Kingstown that intersects Route 1A and US Route 1.
By bus
- South County is served by RIPTA Bus, (Rhode Island Public Transit Authority), Phone: +1 401-781-9400. M-F 6:30AM-9PM, Sa 8AM-6:30PM, Su 11AM-6:30PM. A single ride on RIPTA costs $1.50.
By taxi
- Wakefield Cab CO Incorporated, Wakefield +1 401-783-0007
- Wrights Taxi, Saunderstown and Westerly +1 401-789-0400
- Eagle Taxi, Narragansett +1 401-783-2970
See
Beaches
South County's main attraction during the warmer months is its many miles of coastline and public beaches. This can attract very large crowds, especially on weekends or holidays. Daily passes are available for residents, non-residents and seniors, and range from $5 to $14. Season passes are also available and range from $20 to $60. All beaches are free (but unguarded) before Memorial Day and after Labor Day. Beach phone numbers may be seasonal.
Foliage
- South County enjoys a brief period of fall colors. The main roads throughout the region, such as Route 1, Route 138, Route 108, Route 2 and Ministerial Road (Route 110) make for enjoyable drives during the autumn season.
Points of interest
Sights to see throughout the year include:
- Wilcox Park, Westerly. A beautiful Victorian-era walking park.
- Arcadia Wildlife Management Park, Nooseneck Hill Road, Exeter. Over 13,800 acres of fishing and hiking for family.
Art galleries
- Fine Arts Center Galleries at URI, Upper College Road, Kingston. Tu-F Noon-4PM, and weekends 1PM-4PM. The University of Rhode Island Fine Arts Center boasts three fully staffed galleries, including one devoted specifically to photography. The galleries exhibit contemporary artists from across the nation and around the globe year-round. Free. Unfortunately, URI is closing the galleries due to budget cuts.
- South County Art Association's Helme House Gallery, South Kingstown.
Do
Recreational activities
- Camping: Burlingame State Park, Charlestown, +1 401-322-7337. The park has 3,100 acres of rocky woodland surrounding Watchaug Pond in Charlestown. The entrance to the park headquarters and camping area is off U.S. Route 1.
- Nature trails: Kimball Wildlife Sanctuary, Charlestown, +1 401-949-5454. A 29-acre property located on the southern shore of Watchaug Pond. The land abuts Burlingame State Park and trails lead from the refuge to the state land.
- Biking: South County Bike Path +1 401-783-8886 is used by walkers, runners, bikers. It extends 8 miles in length passing through South Kingstown and Narragansett.
Theaters and cinemas
- URI Theatre, Upper College Rd (Fine Arts Center), Kingston. +1 401-874-2627 Live theatre productions, Concert Choir and University Chorus performances, and occasional non-URI performances.
Do Theatre by the Sea
This is an old and theatre in Rhode Island; it was originally opened in 1933. After being closed down for four years, Bill Haney purchased and reopened it in 2007 and ever since has been showcasing musical and dramatic theatricals.
The Ryan Center and Boss Arena
Do The Ryan Center
Home to all of the main events such as basketball games, boat shows and concerts. The schedule for events is available here . Along with the Ryan Center there is the Boss Ice Arena.
- The Boss Arena, Lincoln Almond Plaza. Offers ice-skating to the public at designated times.
Buy
For the shopping enthusiast, South County provides a multitude of options. Although you won't find many chain stores, South County has many boutiques, used book stores, and souvenir shops. Wickford, Wakefield, and Westerly all have historic downtowns that contain many interesting shops.
Cities and towns
- Wickford
- South Kingstown , including the villages of Kingston and West Kingston
- Wakefield , including the villages of Matunuck and East Matunuck
- Exeter
- Narragansett
- Westerly , including the villages of Bradford and Watch Hill
- Charlestown
- Hopkinton , including the village of Hope Valley.
- Richmond ,
- including the village of Wyoming.
- Ashaway
Nearby
Dutch Island
Park · 10 mi away
Jamestown
City / town · 48 listings · 12 mi away
Brenton Point State Park
Park · 1 listings · 12 mi away
West Greenwich
City / town · 24 listings · 13 mi away
Newport
City / town · 127 listings · 14 mi away
East Greenwich
City / town · 46 listings · 14 mi away
North Stonington
City / town · 10 listings · 16 mi away
Middletown
City / town · 34 listings · 16 mi away
My experience
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