News You Can Use

Beach now, not later

By Michelle Mercure  
Posted 5/21/25

Memorial Day is right around the corner, and that means summer is too! With warmer weather comes beach season — and so comes the parking fees at Rhode Island state beaches. State beaches …

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News You Can Use

Beach now, not later

Posted

Memorial Day is right around the corner, and that means summer is too! With warmer weather comes beach season — and so comes the parking fees at Rhode Island state beaches. State beaches (with the exception of Roger Wheeler) will officially open daily starting Saturday, May 24. Buying passes now means less waiting in line, as parking passes are now linked to license plates. Seasonal parking passes can be purchased online at www.beachparkingri.com. For more information, visit www.dem.ri.gov .

For those who are not interested in leaving the East Bay, find some information on purchasing passes for local beaches below.

Barrington Beach 

Residents: $40 season, free for seniors

Warren Town Beach 

Resident (BWRSD family): $20 season, free for seniors and veterans 

Sandy Point Beach (Portsmouth) 

Residents: $10 season 

Tiverton Beaches (Grinnell’s and Fogland) 

Residents: $10 season, free for veterans and active duty members

Bristol Town Beach 

Bristol residents (BWRSD family): $20 season, with senior citizens, active military and veterans receiving a free beach pass

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Jim McGaw

A lifelong Portsmouth resident, Jim graduated from Portsmouth High School in 1982 and earned a journalism degree from the University of Rhode Island in 1986. He's worked two different stints at East Bay Newspapers, for a total of 18 years with the company so far. When not running all over town bringing you the news from Portsmouth, Jim listens to lots and lots and lots of music, watches obscure silent films from the '20s and usually has three books going at once. He also loves to cook crazy New Orleans dishes for his wife of 25 years, Michelle, and their two sons, Jake and Max.