Learn about Newport, Rhode Island's street layout, trolley service, and where to find parking garages and lots, metered parking, smart cards, beach parking and public restrooms.
Getting Around Newport
Learn about Newport, Rhode Island's street layout, trolley service, and where to find parking garages and lots, metered parking, smart cards, beach parking and public restrooms.
Downtown and the Wharves
In contrast to the rest of the city, the historic downtown near the wharves illustrates a much different Newport. Established in 1639, the port city's small, narrow, brick-lined streets remain, but many have been converted to accommodate one-way traffic. If there's logic to the roads in Newport, beyond those early needs, it's yet to be understood.
A few quick hints...
Highway 114 or Broadway is the main street from Middletown into Newport. At Bull St. it flows into three different roads.
1) To the left is Spring St., a one-way southbound that leads to Bellevue Ave. and the mansions.
2) To the right is Marlborough St., which goes to the Gateway Visitor Center, located on America's Cup Ave., where traffic flows in both directions.
3) Straight ahead brings visitors past the Colony House (on the left) to Washington Square (a street) and down to Thames St., where visitors can make a left onto a narrow one-way cobblestone thoroughfare (angle metered parking on the passenger side), home to restaurants and shops. After Church St., those who remain on Thames will be forced to make a left on Mill St. (east side of the church) and head uphill away from the water. From Thames St., drivers could have continued going south had they made a slight right after Mary St. and then a quick left onto two-way America's Cup Ave.
Trolley Service & Parking
The bad news is that parking in Newport is challenging. The good news is that the Rhode Island Public Transportation Authority (RIPTA) operates a quiet, natural gas powered trolley service from the Gateway Visitor Center on America's Cup Ave. with stops at the International Tennis Hall of Fame, as well as at the mansions. Use their all-day unlimited pass for added convenience. When you ride RIPTA, receive reduced parking rates at the Gateway Visitor Center.
There are several public pay lots:
1) The Gateway Center, home to the visitor center at Marlborough St. and America's Cup Ave., features a parking lot, as well as a garage. The Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA) operates service from here. This is an exceptional way to avoid the narrow streets and limited parking conditions, while taking in the city's many attractions. The parking lot is an easy walk to Thames St. shops and restaurant, and Bannister and Bowen wharves.
2) Long Wharf - to access, take Marlborough St., make a left on America's Cup Ave. and then a right onto Long Wharf. A pedestrian walkway makes it impossible to drive between Thames St. and America's Cup Ave. on Long Wharf even though some maps indicate a roadway is there. This is a metered, round-the-clock parking lot that has a maximum limit of nine hours.
3) Between Mary St. (one-way eastbound) and Church St. (one-way westbound) east of and uphill from Thames St. and the waterfront. It is popular with the residents because of its excellent location. Public restrooms are located here.
4) The Touro St. pay-and-display parking lot is between the Opera House Theater at 19 Touro Ave. and Jane Pickens Theater at 49 Touro Ave. Because of the one-way streets, it is easier to go west on Washington Sq. and make a U-turn onto Touro St. (one-way eastbound).
Parking in residential neighborhoods, many of which are one-way streets, requires residential parking permits.
Metered Parking
According to the city, metered parking can be found downtown in the Washington Square area, at Long Wharf, on the north end of Thames St., by Easton's Beach on Memorial Ave. and adjacent to Bowen's Wharf. Rates are approximately $1 per hour. Pay with debit cards or change.
The meters operate May to October from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. in most areas. Pay-and-display parking is available at the Touro lot (#3 above) and at Washington Square (#4 above). These act the same as regular meters, but also take credit cards, and require that a receipt be posted and visible from the windshield.
Smart Cards
Smart cards allow users to select the desired time and pay with a debit card, eliminating the need to carry change. Smart cards are available for meters in the downtown area. They may be purchased at:
· Gateway Visitor Center, Marlborough St. and America's Cup Ave.
· Harbormaster's Office, south end of Perrotti Park on Newport Harbor
· Newport Mansions Store on Bannister's Wharf
· Bowen's Wharf Information Booth
Beach Parking
Beach parking fees are in effect from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day with rates posted at Easton's beach entrances.
Free Parking
Many free spaces exist with hourly limitations along Broadway, Spring St. and lower Thames St.
Public Restrooms
- Mary Street parking lot
- Harbormaster's Office, south end of Perrotti Park on Newport Harbor
- Gateway Visitor Center, Marlborough St. and America's Cup Ave.
- Newport Yachting Center - from Marlborough St., make a left on America's Cup Ave. After the second stoplight, the center will be on the right.
- Bowen's Wharf, north of Bannister's Wharf
- Armory Center on Thames St.
- King's Park, off Wellington Ave., south end of Newport Harbor
The Mansions
There's a larger than life feeling in and around the mansions. While today Bellevue Ave. is a wide, two-lane roadway, it's conceivable it wasn't always that way. Adjacent to the avenue are expansive shoulders and sidewalks making it easier for those unfamiliar with the city to navigate. Most mansions have on-site parking, as street parking is extremely limited. |
