Updated 01/09/2024: While there are hundreds of vacation locations that claim to be dog friendly, many are not. But Newport, RI is one place that is truly dog friendly.
What makes a vacation location dog friendly? For me it means a place where I can find not only sleeping accommodations that will accept dogs, but also dog friendly places to eat and enough dog friendly activities to keep us all busy while we are there.
It’s this last condition. of dog friendly activities, that most places lack. After all, what good is dog friendly accommodations if there is nothing to do with your dog once you get there. Especially since most hotels do not allow you to leave your dog in the room while you are not there.
But Newport, RI met all three of my dog friendly requirements. Continue on to find out some of the things that make Newport, RI Dog Friendly.
If you are looking for dog friendly cities to explore check out Dog Friendly Albany, NY.
13 Dog Friendly Activities In Newport RI
To be a dog friendly vacation destination in my book there needs to be enough dog friendly activities that are of interest to both people and their dogs. I mean who really wants to travel to visit a dog park. I don’t.
This is where Newport RI is a cut above many of the other dog friendly vacation spots. They have activities geared towards humans but that also allow dogs.
Note: Before going to any of these activities, please confirm with the venue that dogs are still allowed and if the requirements have changed. Information listed here is subject to change without notice. While we strive to insure accuracy on Happyoodles.com accuracy cannot be guaranteed
1. Newport Cliff Walk
This free activity is a must for everyone that visits the Newport Area whether or not you have a dog. As the name suggests, the cliff walk is a path along a cliff that follows the Newport shoreline. It is also a public right of way on the private property that meanders behind the gilded mansions of yesteryear.
As you walk along the cliff walk you will see beautiful views of the cliff, bay and some sneak peaks of the mansions that line the shore.
The walk is just under 3.5 miles long, but only part of the trail is paved. About 2 miles of the trail is either a dirt path or very rocky. You can learn more about the Newport Cliff Walk in my post “Is the Newport, Rhode Island Cliff Walk Dog Friendly?“
2. Newport Polo
Looking for something different? How about attending one of the seasonal, weekly Polo matches at the Newport Polo Club. Located just outside of Newport at 250 Linden Lane, Portsmouth, RI 02871, the Newport Polo Club allows leashed, well behaved dogs to hang out with their owners on the lawn.
You can also bring a blanket and picnic to enjoy during the match. You can find additional information including match times and prices at the Newport International Polo Series website
3. Fort Adams State Park Bay Walk
Fort Adam State Park Bay Walk is another great place to visit whether or not you have a dog. The Fort Adams Bay Walk is approximately 2.25 miles long and runs around the outside of Fort Adams. The trail is an easy, paved walk. But there is very little shade along the path.
The Fort Adams Bay Walk is both free and dog friendly. All dogs are to be leashed and you need to pick up after them.
The day we did the walk it was overcast and with low visibility. Unfortunately, there were no sailboats out that day.
But on nice days you should be able to see the boats on the Narragansett Bay. You should also be able to see:
- Clingstone – Also known as the ‘House on the Rock’
- Castle Hill Lighthouse – Look for it on the coast to the south
- Beavertail Lighthouse – Look towards the southern tip of Jamestown to find it
- Rose Island Lighthouse – Located on the island in front of the Newport Bridge as you look from the bay walk to the north.
Unfortunately the Fort Adam tours are for humans only, so we did not get to see inside the fort. If you decide to take the tour you can purchase tickets inside the gift shop. There are also public bathrooms and a section in the gift shop that serves food and drinks.
The gift shop even had a section for doggy treats.
4. Newport Harbor Walk
Newport, RI is the self proclaimed the sailing capital of the world. While Annapolis, MD might disagree with this statement, Newport’s sailing history dates all the way back to the 18th century.
This claim is not a surprise since Newport has hundreds of boats moored in their harbor and they hosted the American Cup for over a decade.
If you are a sailing fan or like me, just enjoy looking at all the boats in the water, a stroll along the Newport Harbor is a must.
Starting over by the Safe Harbor Newport Shipyard you will begin to see the hundreds of boats moored in the harbor.
Look up as you pass by the shipyard, you just might get a glimpse of a sailboat mounted high on stands. Continue your walk past the Newport Yacht club and up towards the America’s Cup Ave. If you keep walking you will find Bowen’s wharf.
Here you will find an assortment of shops and moored boats. Unfortunately many of the outdoor restaurants were not dog friendly when we went. But many did provide takeout so you could grab lunch and eat at one of the nearby parks.
If you find this area a little too congested you can also stroll along the Fort Adam Bay walk on the opposite side of the harbor and still see the boats.
5. Go for a Boat ride
If you would prefer to be on a boat rather than just watching them go by there are a few boat companies where you can charter a boat.
- The Antique Yacht Collection offers privately chartered boats that allow dogs to come for the ride. You can find them at 31 Bowen’s Wharf, Newport, RI. Just make sure to reserve your spot before you go.
- The Charter Tabasco also allows dogs on their private charters. They are also located at 31 Bowen’s Wharf Newport, RI. Reservations are required in advance.
6. Rail Bikes
Looking for something different to do on this vacation? Check out the dog friendly Rail Explorers in Portsmouth, RI. Rail Explorers gives you the opportunity to ride the train rails on either a tandem or quad rail bike. They have a few tour options but all tours take you along the Aquidneck Island Coast.
7. Ocean Drive
Ocean Drive is a 10 mile long road along the scenic Atlantic shoreline in southern Newport. The drive starts at Ocean Drive and Coggeshall Ave, but we chose to drive along Bellevue Ave to look at the mansions first and then went straight onto Ocean Drive.
You can find Ocean Drive just a short distance from the Bellevue Ave and Coggeshall Ave intersection.
As you drive along you will discover beautiful vistas, private beaches and gorgeous homes on both sides of the road. Just make sure to keep your eyes on the road as you drive.
Part of the road passes right through Brenton Point State Park which is another great place to get out and stretch your legs.
8. Brenton Point State Park
Brenton Point State Park offers a little of everything. Beautiful views, open spaces, monuments and hidden trails.
We spent most of our time walking along the water. The path above the rocky shoreline offers benches to enjoy the view and there are steps to a small rocky beach area.
As you can see from the picture below we went on an overcast day so the views were limited but we still enjoyed the ocean breezes.
The area is well known for its constant winds and even has a kite stand there, but it was not open on the day we went.
In addition to the rocky shore there are also open fields and picnic tables to enjoy a meal. Since we were traveling with our dog we chose to grab sandwiches at Marco’s Cafe’ at 382 Spring Street, Newport and eat them here so we didn’t have to worry about finding a dog friendly restaurant.
On the other side of Ocean Drive you will find a monument that is dedicated to all the navigators who assisted in the discovery of maritime routes.
Just a short walk away you will also find a building with bathrooms. There is a port-a-potty in back of the building for when the building is closed.
Beyond the building you will find a trail that leads to the ruins from the former estate that used to sit on this land. At the time we visited the park, some of the ruins were behind a chain link fence and in the process of slowly falling down.
9. Beavertail State Park
Beavertail State Park is another location with beautiful vistas and dog friendly spaces. This park is located just outside of the Newport on the southernmost tip of Jamestown, RI
Here you can enjoy the sights from four overlooks or walk the rocky coastline. There is also the Beavertail Lighthouse and Museum that is stated to be the third oldest lighthouse in America.
Next to that you can find the small Beavertail Aquarium which is open seasonally. Dogs are not allowed in either of these buildings.
10. Head to Block Island
Block Island is only 60 minutes away from Newport via the high speed ferry, making it an easy day or overnight trip. You can also catch a high speed ferry from the Point Judith ferry terminal to Block Island. That ride is only 30 minutes.
The great thing about Block Island is that most of the beaches there are dog friendly. So if you want to spend a little time in the sand with your pup this is the place to be. However, Fred Benson Town Beach, which seems to be one of the only beachs with lifeguards, is not dog friendly.
For more pet dog friendly beaches, visit our post: Dog Friendly Beaches in Massachusetts (MA). Dog Friendly Beaches in Cape Cod and Dog Friendly Beach Vacations.
11. Go for a Hike
Most dogs love to be outside. If you and your dog do too, here are a couple of long hikes near Newport.
The Sakonnet Greenway Trail is the longest contiguous nature trail on Aquidneck Island at 10 miles long. The trail offers views of wildlife across meadows and woodlands as well as pastoral views of farms and agricultural landscapes.
Across the water from Aquidneck Island you can find seven miles of moderate trails at Weetamoo Woods in Tiverton.
If your dog loves to hike than check out our post on Lake George NY: 14 Dog Friendly Things to Do.
12. Grab a drink
If your idea of the perfect day is a cold beer while relaxing with friends, Newport offers more than a few breweries that allow dogs to chill out with their owners. Here are a few of the Newport Areas establishments that are dog friendly.
Newport Craft Brewing Co. is located at 293 JT Connell Road in Newport. They are just a short drive from downtown Newport. At the time of the writing they were working on a huge renovation but they have an outdoor patio that is dog-friendly and open in season.
Ragged Island Brewing Co. is located on a 37 acre farm with views of the Narragansett Bay. Well behaved dogs on a leash are allowed. Their address is 54 Bristol Ferry Road, Portsmouth, RI.
Six Pack Brewing, which is located at 87 Gooding Avenue in Bristol, has based their whole theme around dogs. The name Six Pack is in honor of the six dogs the family has had. They also named some of the beers after their dogs and new beers are named after guest dogs.
13. Visit Historic Wickford Village
Historic Wickford Village is a quaint town just a 20 minute drive from Newport, RI. This quaint village is a hidden gem that is worthy of a side trip. To learn more about the village check out our post; Historic Wickford Village: A Dog Friendly Trip to the Past.
Going on a dog friendly vacation shouldn’t cost a small fortune, you are looking for ways to keep the costs down, read our post on: Cheap Vacations With a Pet: Budget Friendly Ideas
Newport RI Dog Friendly Places to Eat
O’Briens Pub – located at 501 Thames St, Newport. This dog-friendly pub offers a spacious garden patio for you and your pup to have dinner.
Diego’s – located at 11 Bowen’s Wharf, Newport, allows dogs on their outside patio. They even have an Instagram account called Dogs of Diego’s that features the dogs that have dined there.
Clementine’s Homemade Ice Cream – Located at 62 Wave Avenue Middletown, RI offers homemade ice cream in traditional flavors that are made on site daily.
They also offer some unique flavors such as oatmeal cookie and Pistachio. You can even get dog-friendly ice cream there so you and your best friend can have a treat together.
Newport RI Dog Friendly Accommodations
You can find an assortment of dog friendly accommodations from hotels to Bed & Breakfasts’ to home rentals in the Newport Area. Here are just a few of the accommodations you can find.
Paws on Pelham – located at 96 Pelham Street in Newport, is a B&B that caters to the doggy crowd.
The Wayfinder – located at 151 Admiral Kalbfus Rd in Newport, offers dog friendly rooms for up to two dogs. Nightly pet fees are charged.
Hotel Viking – located in the heart of Newport at 1 Bellevue Avenue Newport. They offer dog friendly accommodations for up to two dogs under 25 pounds. They also have two dog friendly outdoor dining venues that are opened seasonally. Nightly pet fees are charged.
East Island Reserve Hotel – located at 985 East Main Road in Middletown offers dog friendly cottages. The two story cottages can accommodate up to 4 guests and 2 dogs. Pet fees are required
Sonesta Select – located at 9 Commerce Drive Middletown, offers dog friendly rooms that can include special amenities like a dog bed, bowls, and waterproof mats at check-in. Up to two dogs are allowed with a per stay pet fee.
Residence Inn Newport Middletown is located at 325 West Main Road Middletown. They offer suite style rooms with kitchenettes. Pet fees are required
Before booking a pet friendly hotel, check out our post on Hotel Stays with a Dog: 23 Tips, Tricks and Hacks.
You can also find an assortment of vacation rentals in the area.
Where did we stay for our Newport Dog Friendly Trip?
For our short, last minute trip we used our Marriott Bonvay awards to book a free hotel stay at the North Kingstown’s TownePlace Suites which is about 30 minutes away from the Newport Harbor.
This hotel met our requirements of having a small kitchen and was dog friendly. It was also the closest Marriott to Newport that met these conditions and had available rooms.
Beside the distance to Newport, which was a little further then I would have liked, the TownePlace Suite was an excellent choice for us. There was a Dave’s Marketplace across the street which made getting supplies for our stay quick and easy.
Plus, it has a large grassy area next to the hotel which served as a convenient place for our dog to go. They even provided poop bags if you forget to bring one down with you. The staff was also very friendly and helpful.
If you are looking for more dog friendly travel ideas check out our posts on Dog Friendly Guide to Cape Cod and Saratoga Springs – Dog Friendly Things to Do, plus Traveling With A Dog: Tips For An Easy Trip.
Newport RI Dog Friendly Disclosure
Disclosure: This post is for informational purposes only. While we do our best to ensure the information is accurate at the time of writing we are not responsible for incorrect or outdated information. The mentioning of a business on this page should not be viewed as an endorsement for the business. Please do your own due diligence before doing business with any company mentioned in this post