Island conditions Wind — Ferry: see schedule Sunset —

Sunday, August 9, 2026 — New Shoreham, R.I.

GET BLOCK ISLAND

The Island, Covered.

The beaches, ranked by people who actually swim here

Block Island is seven miles long and has seventeen miles of beach, which tells you most of what you need to know about the shoreline-to-everything-else ratio here. Nearly all of it is public. Much of it is walkable from the ferry. None of it charges admission.

The short version: Mohegan Bluffs is the showstopper, Crescent Beach is the everyday classic, and Mansion Beach is where you go once you've done the first two. Everything else depends on what you're after — surf, scene, or solitude.

One piece of timing advice that outranks every ranking below: the island's beach parking lots are small and finite. In July and August the Mohegan Bluffs and Mansion Beach lots are full by mid-morning. Go at 8, or go by bike. The light is better at 8 anyway.

  1. Mohegan Bluffs

    141 wooden steps down from the Payne Overlook, and every one of them is worth it. Clay cliffs behind you, open Atlantic in front, and the smallest crowds of any swimmable beach this dramatic. The catch: what goes down must climb back up.

    Full guide →

  2. Crescent Beach

    The long, forgiving stretch running north from Old Harbor — this is the beach most people picture when they picture the island. Fred Benson Town Beach sits in the middle with lifeguards, showers, and chair rentals, so it earns the family vote.

    Full guide →

  3. Mansion Beach

    Named for the ruins of a mansion that burned down decades ago, reached by a dirt road, and quieter than it has any right to be. Surfers like the break; everyone likes the sand. Parking is scarce — get there before 10 or ride a bike.

    Full guide →

  4. Scotch Beach

    Crescent Beach without the pavilion crowds. Gentler waves, easy sand, and enough parking to make a full day of it. The move for families who want space between blankets. Full guide coming this season.

  5. Ballard's Beach

    The social one. Steps from the ferry, food and drinks a short walk from your towel, live music most summer afternoons. If you want quiet, go literally anywhere else; if you want a scene, this is the scene.

    Full guide →

  6. Black Rock Beach

    The wild south shore: rugged, unwatched, and beautiful in a way that makes you lower your voice. Surfcasters swear by it. No facilities, no lifeguards — pack out what you pack in.

    Full guide →

  7. Baby Beach

    Shallow, calm, protected — the name is the review. When the ocean side is churning, the little ones can still get a swim in here.

  8. Surf Beach

    Between the ferry and Crescent proper, with a rockier bottom than its neighbors. Water shoes help. Convenience is the draw: you can be on it minutes after walking off the boat.

  9. The secret ones

    Vaill, Dorry's Cove, Grace's Cove, Andy's Way, Dinghy Beach — the beaches islanders would rather we didn't list. We listed them anyway, with the etiquette that keeps them worth finding.

    Full guide →

All beach guides

Beaches

Ballard's Beach: the social one

Steps from the ferry, food and drinks behind your towel, live music most summer afternoons. Ballard's Beach is Block Island's scene — here's how it works.

Good questions

What is the best beach on Block Island?
For scenery, Mohegan Bluffs — the walk down the stairs under the clay cliffs is the single best beach arrival in Rhode Island. For a classic easy beach day with facilities, Crescent Beach around Fred Benson Town Beach is the safe pick.
Which Block Island beach is best for families?
Fred Benson Town Beach on Crescent Beach: lifeguards in season, restrooms, showers, food, and rentals. Scotch Beach is the quieter runner-up, and Baby Beach has the calmest, shallowest water for toddlers.
Are dogs allowed on Block Island beaches?
Generally yes, on a leash. Rules tighten in summer, so check posted signs at each access point before you unclip anything.
Do you need a car to reach the beaches?
No. Crescent, Surf, and Ballard’s are walkable from the ferry, and everything else is a bike ride. If you do drive, know that the small lots at Mohegan Bluffs and Mansion Beach fill by mid-morning in July and August.