Rhode Island State Beaches: Parking Passes The tiny Ocean State is home to an astounding 400+ miles of coastline. Season beach parking passes allow entry into parking lots at all eight of Rhode Island's state beaches. Beach Season Update All state beaches, except Scarborough North, are open daily through Labor Day from 9 AM to 6 PM on weekdays and 8:30 AM to 6 PM on weekends and holidays, weather permitting. Scarborough South opens Saturday, June 17. Get your season beach parking pass today! Parking Rates Beach parking passes are required to park at state beach lots during operational hours from the opening day in May through September (Labor Day). Patrons must purchase a new pass each year. Season beach parking passes may be purchased online anytime from January through September or in-person at specific times in Narragansett. Beach entrances accept CASH OR CREDIT CARDS only for daily parking fees. IF YOU PLAN TO PAY WITH CASH OR CREDIT, PLEASE HAVE YOUR PAYMENT METHOD READY AS YOU PULL UP TO THE ATTENDANT TO HELP KEEP TRAFFIC MOVING. Gift Certificates may be redeemed on weekdays for a season beach pass only. Season passes allow entry into parking lots at all eight of Rhode Island's state beaches: Charlestown Breachway, East Beach in Charlestown, East Matunuck in South Kingstown, Misquamicut in Westerly, Roger Wheeler, Scarborough North and South, and Salty Brine in Narragansett. Resident Season Pass: $30 Daily: M-F $6; $10 at Misquamicut Sat/Sun/Holidays $7; $15 at Misquamicut Non-Resident Season Pass: $60 Daily: M-F $12; $20 at Misquamicut Sat/Sun/Holidays: $14; $30 at Misquamicut Senior Resident Season Pass: $15 Daily: M-F $3; $5 at Misquamicut Sat/Sun/Holidays $3.50; $7 at Misquamicut Senior Non-Resident Season Pass: $30 Daily: M-F $6; $10 at Misquamicut Sat/Sun/Holidays: $7; $15 at Misquamicut Learn more about the fees at Misquamicut State Beach 2023 Season Dates AMENITIES OPEN OFF-SEASON Charlestown Breachway 5/27 9/4* East Beach 5/27 9/4* East Matunuck 5/27 9/4* Misquamicut 5/27 9/4* Roger Wheeler 5/13 9/4** Salty Brine 5/27 9/4* Scarborough North 5/13 9/4** Scarborough South 6/17 9/4*** *OPEN DAILY THE SATURDAY BEFORE MEMORIAL DAY THROUGH LABOR DAY. **OPEN WEEKENDS FROM MAY 13 THROUGH MEMORIAL DAY. OPEN DAILY FROM MEMORIAL DAY THROUGH LABOR DAY. ***OPEN DAILY FROM FATHER’S DAY WEEKEND IN JUNE. OPEN WEEKENDS ONLY FROM THE THIRD WEEKEND IN AUGUST THROUGH LABOR DAY. THE OPEN SEASON FOR AMENITIES AT SCARBOROUGH SOUTH STATE BEACH IS DEPENDENT ON CURRENT SEASONAL STAFFING LEVELS AND MAY BE SUBJECT TO CHANGE. Online Beach Passes Get Your Parking Pass! Parking at RI state beaches no longer requires a physical pass, instead your vehicle's license plate will serve as your credential to enter state beach parking lots. Beach attendants use hand-held devices to scan the front license plate for information and anyone who buys their pass online or before heading to the beach can use express lanes for quick entry. Simply go to the website and fill out the form to create your beach parking pass account. Get Started Gift Certificates You can purchase a gift certificate towards a RI State Season Beach Pass anytime - even during the off season. Gift certificates are good towards a resident, non-resident, or senior RI state beach season pass. A gift certificate cannot be used towards the purchase of a daily or pay-as-you-go pass. Give the Gift of Beach Parking Quick Links Parking Rates Season Dates Buy Your Pass Online Pay As You Go Pass (Daily Flex Pass) Parking Lot Status Gift Certificates 4x4 Pass Frequently Asked Questions Questions? Contact RI State Parks staff at 401-667-6200 or DEM.RIparks@dem.ri.gov. Need technical assistance purchasing a pass online? Contact LAZ parking. State Beach Parking Check here for the near real-time status of parking lots at our busiest state beaches. Frequently Asked Questions How is the online beach pass system different from previous seasons? RI State Parks has worked with our beach parking vendor to launch a website that allows customers to buy online gift certificates, season passes, and pay as you go passes. Customers with a season pass or pay as you go pass are able to use the Express Lanes at larger state beaches. Beach entrances use license plate recognition technology that scans the license plates of prepaid customers’ vehicles and operates gate entrances. What are Pay As You Go Passes? A Pay As You Go Pass (formerly called a Daily Flex Pass) allows you to save your payment method in our online system. You'll only be charged the daily rate when you enter a state beach parking lot. Once purchased, you can use the Express Lanes at larger state beaches that use license plate recognition technology to scan the license plates of prepaid customers' vehicles and operate gate entrances.Go to www.beachparkingri.com to create an online state beach pass account and choose a Pay As You Go Pass. Does a daily pass allow me to park at multiple State beaches in a single day? No. A daily pass allows you entry into one beach parking lot for the day. It does not allow you to visit multiple locations in a single day for the same cost. However, a season pass does allow multiple entries in a single day. Can I purchase a season pass at beach entrances? No, season passes are not sold at beach entrances. We are working hard to reduce traffic and wait times. Passes are still available to purchase in-person at the Scarborough State Beach overflow lot located across the street from Scarborough State Beach (on Burnside Avenue, Narragansett) on May 13, 14, 20, and 21 and weekdays starting May 30 from 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM through August 11. Or you can purchase your pass online. How Can I Purchase A Season Beach Parking Pass Online? It’s easy! Just go to www.beachparkingri.com to purchase a resident, non-resident, or senior season beach at any time and follow the instructions. Online credit card purchases are charged a 6% transaction charge; the total for a $30 RI resident season pass purchased online is $31.80. Daily Flex Passes (previously called daily passes) are also available online. Learn more about daily flex passes. Your license plate will be your way into state beach parking lots. Passes can be purchased online annually beginning in January. It can take up to 7 to 10 days to verify your account if your pass is purchased prior to Memorial Day. After Memorial Day, it takes up to 24-hours to verify your account. We highly recommend you plan ahead and purchase your pass BEFORE you plan to go to the beach. You will be required to pay the day rate, if your pre-paid pass has not been activated. Follow the instructions in the email to finish your pass purchase and then you're ready to head to the beach! What if I want to buy my pass online and head to the beach immediately? Passes can be purchased online annually beginning in January. It can take up to 7 to 10 days to verify your account if your pass is purchased prior to Memorial Day. After Memorial Day, it takes up to 24-hours to verify your account. We highly recommend you plan ahead and purchase your pass BEFORE you plan to go to the beach. You will be required to pay the day rate, if your pre-paid pass has not been activated. Can I still purchase a season beach parking pass in person? Yes. Passes are still available to purchase in-person at the Scarborough State Beach overflow lot located across the street from Scarborough State Beach (on Burnside Avenue, Narragansett) on May 13, 14, 20, and 21 and weekdays starting May 30 from 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM through August 11. Or you can purchase your pass online. Season passes are not sold at beach entrances. Note To prevent traffic back ups on busy days, in person sales are not available when the overflow lot is being used for beach parking. Why can't I buy a season pass at beach entrances? As part of DEM's Beach More, Wait Less initiative, we are working hard to reduce traffic and wait times. It takes several minutes to purchase a season pass in person, which adds up to significant delays with thousands of cars on busy summer weekends. By having pre-purchased season passes on the cars when they approach the entrance, traffic will lessen, and you'll get to the beach faster! Why have beach passes moved online? Moving the sale of beach passes online is an effort to make the process of obtaining a season pass as convenient and efficient as possible. DEM is also responding to requests from local town authorities to help reduce traffic build ups at state beach entrances for safety purposes. Passes are still available to purchase in-person at the Scarborough State Beach overflow lot located across the street from Scarborough State Beach (on Burnside Avenue) weekdays from 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM. Note To prevent traffic back ups on busy days, in person sales are not available when the overflow lot is being used for beach parking. There's no traffic, why can't I purchase a season pass at the beach? As part of DEM's Beach More, Wait Less initiative, we are working hard to reduce traffic and wait times. It takes several minutes to purchase a season pass, which adds up to significant delays with thousands of cars on busy summer weekends. By having pre-purchased season passes on the cars when they approach the entrance, traffic will lessen, and you'll get to the beach faster! This new policy is set and structured to keep beach entrances free from traffic and reduce any confusion or frustration among our patrons and our workers. Can I buy season passes for town or local beaches on your website? Will this pass let me into other beaches? The season beach passes available online at www.beachparkingri.com are for state beaches only. These beaches include: Charlestown Breachway, East Beach, East Matunuck, Misquamicut, Roger Wheeler, Scarborough North and South, and Salty Brine. Who manages state beach parking? After a competitive bidding process, Rhode Island DEM contracted with LAZ Parking to operate and modernize parking at state beaches. The company - which manages more than a million parking spaces across the country for clients including California State Parks and Beaches and TF Green Airport - is using better technology to speed up entrance booths, expand online purchasing options, and track revenue in real time to ensure that fees are being collected accurately. I need technical assistance buying my pass online. Who can help me? If you have questions or need assistance, please call RI Parks at (401) 667-6200 (M-F 8:30 AM - 4 PM) or LAZ at ribeaches@lazparking.com. Does purchasing a season pass online cost me more? The cost of a parking pass online and in-person is the same. A 6% convenience fee is charged on online purchases to offset the cost of the system. What is the cost of a Rhode Island State Beach Season Parking Pass? The daily beach parking fee for residents is $6 on weekdays and $7 on weekends and holidays. The fee for a season pass for residents is $30 and, through September 2, will be available for purchase at state beaches. Non-resident parking is $12 on weekdays and $14 on weekends and holidays. A season pass is $60 for non-residents. A 50% discount on daily parking fees and season passes applies for senior citizens 65 years and older. All Rhode Island-registered vehicles will be subject to resident parking rates; non-Rhode Island plates will be subject to non-resident rates. Fees are based solely on the vehicle registration (i.e. license plate) of each vehicle entering beach facilities. (By law, a "vehicle" is defined as any street-legal equipment, motorized or non-motorized, properly registered for over-the-road travel.) NOTICE: New fees are in effect for daily parking at Misquamicut State Beach; there are no changes to fees at any other state beach location or to the cost of season passes. The new rates are as follows: The daily parking rate for non-residents is $20 on weekdays and $30 on weekends & holidays; The daily parking rate for RI residents is $10 on weekdays and $15 on weekends and holidays. The additional funds raised from the new fees will be reinvested in DEM's Division of Parks and Recreation and will also increase the amount of revenue provided to the Town of Westerly, which is the host community. Under RI law, a municipality that has a state beach within its jurisdiction receives 27 percent of the daily beach parking fees annually. DEM held a public comment hearing on the proposed changes on April 26, 2021. Learn more about the fee changes at Misquamicut State Beach here. How do I redeem my RI state beach gift certificate? During the beach season, gift certificates purchased at the RI State Parks headquarters can be redeemed for a season beach pass at any state beach entrance on on weekdays. Who qualifies for a no-cost beach parking pass? By Rhode Island State Law 32-1-17, no fee shall be charged to any person with a disability regardless of age, or to automobiles transporting a non-driver with a disability at any recreational facility owned by the state, provided, however, proper identification is presented as prescribed by the Department of Environmental Management. For the purpose of this section "person with a disability shall mean an individual who has a physical or mental impairment and is receiving: [A] Social Security disability (SSDI), [B] Supplemental Security Income benefits (SSI) or Veterans benefits and who shall be determined under applicable federal law by the Federal Department of Veteran's Affairs to be 100% disabled through a service connected injury. INFORMATION FOR PASSES: View Factsheet Are RI State beaches accessible? All state beaches with pavilions are equipped with ramps that allow access from the parking area up to the pavilion and down to the beach. To help navigate to the water, some locations also offer beach-accessible wheelchairs, walkers, and access mats designed to help people with limited mobility access the beachfront. All are available without charge on a first-come, first-served basis. Learn more Can I purchase one season pass to switch between all my family's vehicles? Unfortunately, each season pass is required to be registered to only one vehicle. Season passes may not be switched between different vehicles. Your vehicle's license plate is your credential into the lot. If you'd like more than one season pass, you will have to purchase each additional pass individually. What qualifications are required for a resident beach pass? The vehicle must be registered in Rhode Island. For the purpose of administrating these fees, resident and non-resident vehicle fees shall be based solely upon the state of registration. vehicle shall mean any street legal equipment, motorized or non-motorized, properly registered for over the road travel. Once I purchase a pass, can I use it for my second car? No, your pass is pass is non-transferable. It is tied solely to the vehicle information you provided when you purchased your pass and cannot be used for more than one vehicle. I live in Rhode Island and my company provides me with an OUT OF STATE registered vehicle, can I obtain a resident Pass? No, the vehicle must be registered in Rhode Island. What is the Senior Citizen age for fee discounts? Both for residents and non-residents, you must be 65 years of age or older. I am stationed in RI with the US Military. Can I purchase a resident season pass? Yes, military personnel whose permanent duty station is located in Rhode Island can be issued resident season passes or pay the resident day rate. You must provide a copy of your orders and drive and own the vehicle. I participate in the RIPAE program. Am I exempt from paying an entrance fee to the State Beaches? State Law 32-1-18: No entrance fee shall be charged to any person who is sixty-five years of age or older and who is eligible to participate in the RI Pharmaceutical Assistance to the elderly program. You must be driving and be eligible for the 60% income level indicated on the card. RIPAE Card must be marked 8018 not 8019 or 8020. Daily confirmation only, season passes are not issued for this program. I am disabled; Am I exempt from paying an entrance fee to the State Beaches? Yes, if you have the specific documentation required for this fee exemption. To obtain this pass, you must provide either your Social Security Administration Benefit Verification Letter for the CURRENT YEAR or your Disable Veteran’s Administration Certificate for the CURRENT YEAR. You must also bring a current photo ID. Disability passes are available exclusively at RI State Parks Headquarters, located at 1100 Tower Hill Road, North Kingstown Monday-Friday, from 9:00 AM- 3:00 PM. For questions, call 401-667-6200. INFORMATION FOR PASSES: View Factsheet Where can I obtain a Four-Wheel Drive Barrier beach pass for East Beach/Ninigret? Coastal Resources Management Council (CRMC) is now processing all Beach Vehicle Permits/Trail passes ONLINE: http://www.crmc.ri.gov/offroadvehicles.html. *Please Note: Once you've finished completing your online Beach Vehicle/4x4 Permit application, the CRMC will contact you to make an appointment to pick up your Beach Vehicle/4x4 Permit sticker.* Parking on East Beach is on a first come first served basis. Therefore purchasing a Beach Vehicle Permit does not guarantee access to the East Beach Sand Trail. For information on pricing, equipment requirements and other regulations regarding barrier beach permits, visit the CRMC website. Can I park my RV at a RI State Beach? RV parking - outside of designated campground areas at RI State Beach locations - is only available at Scarborough South and Misquamicut State Beach. Are there currently any public lands, parks or trails available for ATV use? No, not at this time. There is no public property that is available for ATV use in the State of Rhode Island. Is there smoking allowed on RI state beaches? The RI Department of Environmental Management and the RI Department of Health ask all visitors to refrain from using tobacco at Rhode Island state beaches to reduce exposure to second-hand smoke and litter from tobacco use. Lung health is important now more than ever. Smoke free spaces are key when protecting your lungs. The associated litter from smoking is also a threat to children, wildlife and the environment. We ask for your participation in helping to keep our beaches clean, healthy, and smoke-free. If you are at a state beach and concerned about active smoking activity, report it to a Park Ranger or the Beach Manager located at the beach pavilion. Please do not report non-emergency activity to lifeguards. What is the Carry In, Carry Out Policy? Everyone who enjoys parks, beaches, and public outdoor spaces has a responsibility to keep them clean. The carry-in, carry-out policy asks visitors to take personal responsibility by disposing of their trash responsibly by discarding it in receptacles, if available, or taking it with them. We agree with the National Park Service and most state park systems across the country that this is a best practice because it promotes conservation, fosters a sense of stewardship, and leads to better visitor experiences. Learn more More than 1 million patrons visit state beaches between Memorial Day and Labor Day every year, and the sheer volume of customers during peak season inevitably strains services and creates challenges related to trash management. DEM rangers clean up trash on beaches and in the parking lots throughout the day; after hours, DEM beach-cleaning contractors send out crews to pick trash. By the next morning, contractors send other crews out combing the beaches and parking lots along with tractor rakes cleaning up excess litter and seaweed and smoothing the sand for the new day. Learn about the Trash Program at Misquamicut
Quick Links Parking Rates Season Dates Buy Your Pass Online Pay As You Go Pass (Daily Flex Pass) Parking Lot Status Gift Certificates 4x4 Pass Frequently Asked Questions Questions? Contact RI State Parks staff at 401-667-6200 or DEM.RIparks@dem.ri.gov. Need technical assistance purchasing a pass online? Contact LAZ parking.