Overview
Wakefield is a village of the town of South Kingstown in the state of Rhode Island. Settlers came to Wakefield early in the 18th century due to its proximity to the Saugatucket River. In the middle of the 19th century, Kenyon’s Department Store was founded, and Wakefield soon became the business center of South Kingstown. As time progressed, the mills throughout the village became bigger and allowed for population growth. By 1895, there were 1,543 people living in the village. The first hospital was created in 1919 inside a house, and by 1925, the South County Hospital building was erected. It is still in the same location today. The village of Wakefield is rich in history, and its proximity to beaches and other attractions bring in thousands of tourists each summer.
5 sights · 10 things to do · 11 places to eat · 8 bars & cafés · 2 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Wakefield
Hannah Robinson Tower and Rock
This 100 ft tower was constructed in honor of Hannah Robinson, daughter of wealthy townsperson Rowland Robinson. The tower was constructed in 1938, and was rebuilt in 1988. It overlooks Narragansett Bay and the Atlantic …
Fishermen's Memorial State Park
This park is near the beaches but does not have the best reputation for cleanliness. Fishing, swimming, and other water activities are allowed at this park.
Burlingame State Park
The campground has restrooms with shower facilities, a playground, arcade, freshwater beach, boat ramp, canoe rentals and hiking trails. The season is from April 15th until October 30th and reservations for sites and or …
South County Bike Trail
Beginning at the Kingston Train Station, the South County Bike Trail extends 8 miles, passing through Peace Dale and Wakefield, ending into Narragansett. The trail offers scenic views, as it passes through the Great Swam…
Tuckertown Park
Next to a pond, it has baseball fields, soccer fields, tennis courts, picnic area, and a playground. Fishing, swimming, and other water activities are allowed at this site. Pets are also allowed as long as they are train…
Warden Pond Family Campground
The park is family-owned and family-friendly. Fishing, swimming, and other water activities are allowed. No tent camping - RVs, campervans and trailers only. They have recreational activities such as fishing, playgrounds…
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.
- NPT Newport State Airport, Newport — 13 mi away. Directions
- WST Westerly State Airport, Westerly — 17 mi away. Directions
- PVD Rhode Island T. F. Green International Airport, Providence/Warwick — 20 mi away (major hub). Directions
Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Sample 3-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Hannah Robinson Tower and Rock, Tuckertown Park, All South County Luxury Cinemas
- Lunch Brickley’s Ice Cream
- Afternoon Old Mountain Field, Adventure Rhode Island Fishing Charters
- Dinner The Bluebird Cafe
- Evening The Mew's Tavern
Day 2
- Morning Fishermen's Memorial State Park, South Kingstown Public Library, Warden Pond Family Campground
- Lunch The Breakfast Nook
- Afternoon Double Down Fishing Charter RI, South County Bike Trail
- Dinner DB’s Pizza,
- Evening Java Madness
Day 3
- Morning Burlingame State Park, Extreme Airsoft, The Neighborhood Guild
- Lunch Phil's Restaurant
- Afternoon Old Mountain Lanes, Snug Harbor Fourth of July Parade,
- Dinner Camdens
- Evening Bagelz
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
By plane
- T.F. Green Airport, 2000 Post Rd, Warwick, +1 888-268-7222, . Parking as low as $11 a day or $56 a week (Lot E). T.F. Green Airport is easy to get to off RI Interstate 95 North and South at Exit 13. It is also accessible via Rt.295, connecting to 95.
By car
- From Boston or all points north: I-95 S to Exit 9 in RI. Stay left to take RI-4 S (Exit 9) toward North Kingstown. Merge onto Tower Hill Road/Rt. 1 by taking a slight right. After 7 miles, take the Wakefield ramp off the right.
- From New York or Connecticut: I-95 N to Exit 92. Take a right onto Liberty St/Rt. 2. Merge onto CT-78 E toward Westerly. After 5 miles, take a left at the light to go onto Rt. 1 N. Take the Wakefield exit off the right.
Get around
Because Wakefield is small, you can get anywhere by talking a walk through town. If you have a car, it only takes 5 minutes to get from one side to the other. There are buses that run from Wakefield to other locations all over the state.
- RIPTA (Rhode Island Public Transit Authority), +1 401 781-9400, . The RIPTA has many pick-up and drop-off locations scattered throughout Wakefield, and the busses travel all over the state. The 66 bus, which is the one that serves Wakefield, runs from 6AM to 10:05PM on weekdays, and until 10:25PM on weekends. It starts at Kennedy Plaza in Providence and ends at the Block Island Ferry (Galilee). $1.50 per ride, $5 for a day pass.
See
Wakefield is close to all of Rhode Island's beaches, ranging from Misquamicut beach on the western edge of the state to Second Beach in Newport. South Kingstown, the township of which Wakefield is a village, is home to three of the most beautiful beaches in the state, East Matunuck state beach, South Kingstown town beach in Matunuck, and the Moonstone Beach National Wildlife Refuge, the longest stretch of undeveloped beach in the state. There are numerous tourist destinations within an hour's drive, including the mansions of Newport, Rhode Island's Renaissance city Providence, the aquarium and seaport at Mystic, the world's largest casino Ledyard, and the ferry connecting to the breathtaking beauty of Block Island.
See Hannah Robinson Tower and Rock
This 100 ft tower was constructed in honor of Hannah Robinson, daughter of wealthy townsperson Rowland Robinson. The tower was constructed in 1938, and was rebuilt in 1988. It overlooks Narragansett Bay and the Atlantic Ocean (on a clear day).
See Fishermen's Memorial State Park
This park is near the beaches but does not have the best reputation for cleanliness. Fishing, swimming, and other water activities are allowed at this park.
See Burlingame State Park
The campground has restrooms with shower facilities, a playground, arcade, freshwater beach, boat ramp, canoe rentals and hiking trails. The season is from April 15th until October 30th and reservations for sites and or cabins can be made on their website. Fishing, swimming, and other water activities are allowed at this site. Pets are also allowed as long as they are trained, get along with people and other animals, and are cleaned up after, however Burlingame has a strict one-pet policy.
See Tuckertown Park
Next to a pond, it has baseball fields, soccer fields, tennis courts, picnic area, and a playground. Fishing, swimming, and other water activities are allowed at this site. Pets are also allowed as long as they are trained, get along with people and other animals, and are cleaned up after.
Do
Do Double Down Fishing Charter RI
Fishing out of Snug Harbor Marina, can fish inshore for striped bass and fluke, or offshore for shark, tuna and mahi-mahi.
Do Old Mountain Lanes
Old Mountain Lanes is a great place to bowl with auto scoring, cosmic bowling, billiards, and two large restaurants, one with a sports bar. On Friday and Saturday night, Old Mountain Lanes has “Rockin-Bowl” between 9PM-1AM, where they play loud music and flashing lights, which is popular with the youth/teenage group. Old Mountain Bowling can be busy at nights, but is generally pretty open during the afternoon hours.
Do Old Mountain Field
Over 60 acres with skating park, softball field, baseball field, basketball court, nature trails, tennis courts, picnic area, and swings. Every Fourth of July, Old Mountain Field becomes a popular destination for fireworks. With attendance of hundreds of people, the fireworks at Old Mountain Field have become notorious within the area, attracting families and groups of friends of all ages. Admission is free and usually starts around 10PM. There is parking available at South Kingstown High School, which is located a street away on Columbia Street, or if arriving early enough, there is free parking along Rt. 108. During the summer, Old Mountain Field Camp occupies many of the recreational activities, so it can be busy during the day between May–September. Also, softball and baseball leagues occasionally occupy the fields. During Easter, Old Mountain field has an Easter Egg hunt for children 8 to 10 years of age.
Do South County Bike Trail
Beginning at the Kingston Train Station, the South County Bike Trail extends 8 miles, passing through Peace Dale and Wakefield, ending into Narragansett. The trail offers scenic views, as it passes through the Great Swamp, which has a variety of wildlife. It is in excellent condition and is very spacious, allowing room for many. During spring, summer, and fall months, the trail is occupied by runners, bicyclists, walkers, and rollerblading. The trail is a fun spot to exercise, with beautiful surroundings. Parking is available at the Kingston Train Station (on Rt. 138), where the trail begins. Enjoy the beautiful scenery while you run, jog, walk, bike, skateboard, and rollerblade along the smoothly paved bike path.
Do The Neighborhood Guild
With over 1,000 programs, the Neighborhood Guild provides activities for all ages. They manage the town parks, the South County bike path, Old Mountain Field, and the Town Beach. The Neighborhood Guild offer classes for children, teens, and adults, ranging from subjects of art, financial planning, heath and fitness, nature, sports, dance, music, and general interest. In the summer there are camps for children and teenagers, specially designed for specific interests, or general activity. At the Neighborhood guild there are tennis courts, a playground, and a picnic area. During the winter months, the tennis courts are converted into a skating rink, where many town residents come to enjoy the winter sport. Hosts concerts, activities, clubs and has a popular park out front. Over the summer, there are outdoor concerts on the park.
Events
Do Snug Harbor Fourth of July Parade,
What began as a few people celebrating in the streets of the quaint village of Snug Harbor, has grown into an event celebrated by people all over and outside of the state. Every Fourth of July, the people and businesses of Snug Harbor celebrate our independence by parading their handmade floats throughout the streets. With a somewhat wild atmosphere, the Snug Harbor Fourth of July parade provides a small town New England perspective on a national holiday.
Buy
Main Street has a variety of shops of all kinds including jewelry, shoes and clothes. There are also a number of antique shops.
Shop The Purple Cow
Small, eclectic store that has a wide variety of gifts, from clothing to jewelry to furniture.
Shop The Wakefield Mall
The Wakefield Mall is not much of an attraction for the serious shopper, but it does have some claim. It is one of the smallest malls in New England. It occupies less that 200,000 sq ft. It is home to Panera Bread, Shaw’s grocery store, Staples, FYE, Olympia Sports, Payless Shoe Store, Fashion Bug, GNC, Jennifer’s Chocolates, Hallmark, POW Science, and soon to be the home of Wet Seal as well. While not vastly populated with customers, locals and tourists alike walk the corridor do find what they need in the mall. The busier spots are the larger businesses that call the mall home, like Shaw’s. This is also a bus stop for the Route 66 bus into and out of Providence.
Shop Looney Tunes II
A quaint yet novel record store in the middle of all the hustle of Wakefield, Looney Tunes provides reliable and friendly service that knows just what to do for their customers' musical appetite. Be it the latest best-selling CD, or your favorite LP, Looney Tunes is bound to have it for you. If the product you are looking for isn't in stock, you can always have them pre-order it for you online as well. The employees have a very deep appreciation of music of all kinds; you can approach any of them for their opinions on what is commendable, and they are enthusiastic about what they know.
Eat
Budget
Eat Brickley’s Ice Cream
Brickley’s is very popular with locals, and is very busy during the summer months. Located on Main St, many people enjoy their ice cream while walking downtown or sitting on a bench nearby. The family owned and operated ice cream shop has a second location in Narragansett at 921 Boston Neck Rd., which is where all of the ice cream is made.
Eat The Bluebird Cafe
Serving breakfast and lunch opened until 2PM.
Eat The Breakfast Nook
The Breakfast Nook is not the most revered breakfast diner in the area, but it has been around a long time and is said to have a great cup of coffee.
Eat DB’s Pizza,
A local pizza making business.
Eat Phil's Restaurant
This little diner offers great breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Known for the homefries.
Mid-range
Eat Camdens
Homestyle food. Connected to the Old Mountain bowling alley.
Eat Luk Thai
Authenic Thai cuisine.
Eat Tony’s Pizzeria & Ristorante
Though Tony’s specializes in pizza and pasta, they also serve burgers and subs. The restaurant is well maintained and a pleasant setting for eating. The price ranges from $7-15, and it is open for lunch and dinner.
Eat Trattoria Romana,
This Italian restaurant has an extensive food and drink menu.
Splurge
Eat Kabuki
A modern Japanese restaurant offering everything from classic sushi to Kabuki’s original rolls to Japanese interpretations of delicious American dishes. Offers 15% off for URI students.
Drink
Bars
Drink The Mew's Tavern
69 draft beers on tap, including one specifically made by Magic Hat for the Mews. There are three different sections to the bar, including a bar upstairs known as the “Celtic Pub”. $5 drafts, $6 mixed drinks. Mew's also has a large lunch and dinner menu with possible burger, pizza, burrito, and vegetarian options. During the day, there is generally no wait, but at night, the wait can be 1-2 hours.
Coffee
Drink Bagelz
They offer WiFi at both locations and tables and chairs for the students and workers as well as couches and more relaxed seating for those who just want to enjoy the atmosphere. Bagelz offers a variety of bagels and spreads as well as breakfast sandwiches. There is also a full menu of non-breakfast items including soups, salads, sandwiches, wraps, and other baked goodies, like muffins and cookies. Also on the menu is a variety of coffee beverages, teas, and bottled juices, milks, and energy drinks. Bagelz is frequently habited by students, but the menu is very eclectic and appeals to people who appreciate their gourmet coffee blends, and unique bagel flavors and spreads. There are also a number of vegetarian and vegan food options available.
Drink Java Madness
Great local coffee with a beautiful location of Salt Pond, a small bay area that offers exceptional views during all seasons. Java offers a variety of flavored coffees, teas, hot chocolate, and iced beverages. Java Madness also sells various bakery items, including bagels, muffins, pastries, and other sweets. Also provides a wide selection of sandwiches and salads that are made fresh every day. Java features new artists every month, hanging their paintings around the shop and selling them for reasonable prices. They host local musicians on the regular throughout the summer season and even host a local theater company’s improv troupe once a week.
Drink Caf Bar
It is a nice place to sit with your coffee.
Wine & spirits
Drink Wakefield Liquors
The largest liquor store in wakefield, this sprawling three room establishment offers a wide selection of fine wine, beer, and spirits. With two full rooms devoted to wines from countries all around the world. Wakefield Liquors has the largest selection of microbrews, imported beers and small batch bottle-conditioned beers in Rhode Island. Also offers cigars, cigarettes, soda, and snacks. Wine tastings are offered on Fridays from 4PM-7PM and Saturdays 2PM-5PM, and also offer beer tastings on Saturdays from 4PM-6PM.
Drink Geaber's Liquors
Family owned since 1966, Gaeber’s offers a decent selection of wines, beer, and spirits. They also offer cigars and tobacco products, as well as lottery.
Drink Sweeney's Wine & Spirits
Located away from the center of town, Sweeney’s offers the typical selection of wines, beers, and spirits. Offers a monthly beer special.
Drink Patsy's Package Store
A family-owned and -operated store that has been in business for over 50 years. The liquor is kept behind the counters and is inaccessible to customers, while wine and beer are kept on a counter that circles the rather small store.
Sleep
Stay Hampton Inn
South County Commons. Oversized indoor pool and whirlpool, fitness center. The area near the Hampton Inn South Kingstown-Newport Area Rhode Island hotel has numerous restaurants with water views of Narragansett Bay. It is in walking distance to shops and dining in the Commons.
Stay Sugar Loaf Hill Bed & Breakfast
On 1½ acres, Sugar Loft Hill B&B is in a charming historic area, in downtown Wakefield. The back of the house was built in 1720 and was used as a farmhouse and then in the mid-1800s, the main house was added to the front. Sugar Loft Hill B&B has three rooms, all with private baths. Twin, queen, and king size beds are available. Breakfast is included. The Inn is in the center of Wakefield so it is in walking distance of all the shops and restaurants on and nearby Main St.
Campground
See Warden Pond Family Campground
The park is family-owned and family-friendly. Fishing, swimming, and other water activities are allowed. No tent camping - RVs, campervans and trailers only. They have recreational activities such as fishing, playgrounds, horseshoe pits, basketball court, and sand volleyball courts. During the summer, there is live entertainment such as karaoke and DJ. Stay for a night, or an entire season.
Go next
Most of the people that come to Wakefield end up vacationing on one of the many beaches close to the town. If that doesn't appeal to you, here are a couple of things that you might want to do.
- Mystic, Connecticut, a 45-minute drive from Wakefield offers great shops and restaurants by the water. Mystic Aquarium is on 55 Coogan Blvd, and is ideal for families with children who want to get away and enjoy a stroll or the shows that are available. Mystic is a great place to get ice cream or a drink and sit by the water and watch the boats and relax.
- Newport: Newport is one of the most beautiful places in Rhode Island. There are many fine restaurants and bars that are in walking distance of each other. If that doesn’t sound like something you’d like to do, take a ride down Bellevue Ave. to see all of the historic mansions. First beach is also right next to the mansions if you want to catch some rays.
Nearby
South Kingstown
City / town · 34 listings · 2 mi away
Narragansett
City / town · 95 listings · 3 mi away
East Matunuck
City / town · 12 listings · 5 mi away
Matunuck
City / town · 14 listings · 5 mi away
Dutch Island
Park · 7 mi away
North Kingstown
City / town · 60 listings · 7 mi away
Brenton Point State Park
Park · 1 listings · 8 mi away
Charlestown
City / town · 36 listings · 8 mi away
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