11 Top Places To Visit In Rhode Island This Fall
The Ocean State is the smallest in the country and is surrounded by water, two reasons it is often overlooked in autumn as visitors suspect it may have little foliage. But that is not true. Rhode Island is more than 50% forested, meaning that nearly half of the state is home to amazing, lush green vegetation that transforms into a color spectacle in fall. Expect these colors from late September to late October across the state, starting with the northern areas. There are many places for leaf-peeping, like state parks, scenic drives, and hiking trails. Pack up the car and check out the top places to visit this fall in the charming little state of Rhode Island.
Scituate Art Festival, North Scituate
Scituate Art Festival is one of the most acclaimed festivals in Rhode Island, and it is held every fall. Although perfect for art lovers, anyone can partake in the festival, which features live music, good food, and a cheerful atmosphere. It is also an avenue for families to spend time together appreciating artworks and sampling different foods. The festival hosts over 200 artists and artisans, featuring their incredible sculptures, paintings, and photography, which are awe-inducing to guests.
History buffs are included, too, as the festival hosts an antique section where one can purchase relics. The 2024 edition of the festival takes place between October 12th and 14th on the Village Green in North Scituate town.
Autumnfest, Woonsocket
Autumnfest is the largest fall festival in Northern Rhode Island. It is held on Columbus Day Weekend, between October 12th and 14th, 2024, in the town of Woonsocket. The festival takes place at the World War II Memorial State Park in the town, drawing thousands of tourists from across the state and beyond.
During its four-day period, the festival offers amusement rides, a harvest garden, and a grand parade on the last day, featuring marching bands and elegant floats as they entertain guests of all ages. The event also presents a fireworks show on Sunday night and a crafts fair featuring over 100 artisans and their works. Moreover, great food, souvenirs, and good music are part of this iconic fall festival.
Escobar’s Highland Farm, Portsmouth
Fall is a perfect time to cherish family fun moments, and at Escobar's Highland Farm, the fun is as lively as it comes. From September 7 to November 3, the farm opens its corn maze on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays for guests of all ages to explore and immerse in the thrill of each moment. The 8.5-acre maze features over 2 miles of mind-boggling twists and turns, making the fun more special and adventurous.
Additionally, the farm have activities like Flashlight Nights and Cow Train rides for kids. Hayrides, picking pumpkins from the patch, and playing with animals in a petting zoo are other exciting activities on the farm. Food trucks are also available on weekends to offer apple cider and other sensational treats.
Lincoln Woods State Park
Lincoln Woods State Park is a public recreational hot spot in Lincoln, providing some of the most magical vistas of fall foliage. This 627-acre park is centered around the beautiful Olney Pond, with its shimmering waters reflecting the breathtaking colors of the surrounding autumn leafage. Visitors can stroll around the pond to savor the views and enjoy picnics since the pond is less crowded in October.
Alternatively, hike into the forest soaked in yellow and red trees to catch more scenery. The 6.9-mile Upper Pond MTB Loop is a great place to start for hikers seeking a bit of adventure and scenic foliage colors as the trail runs across rocky terrains. Meanwhile, the Lincoln Woods Trail (3.1 miles) and Les Pawson Loop (2.9 miles) offer easier and shorter walks, plus great views.
Conanicut Island (Jamestown)
Conanicut Island may be a secluded place, home to the small town of Jamestown in Narragansett Bay. However, this island boasts one of the finest views of coastal scenery in Rhode Island. It really comes alive in fall when driving through, with views of stunning houses, colorful trees, lush fields and gardens, salt marshes, and wetlands.
Road trip lovers and leaf peepers can drive along East Shore Road or North Main Road, stretching from North to South, to enjoy views of Narragansett Bay decorated by fall foliage. A notable stop towards the southern end of the route is Beavertail State Park, a lovely park worth visiting in the fall for its elegant colors and iconic lighthouse.
Route 102
Route 102 is the longest scenic drive on Rhode Island at 44 miles and is ideal for those seeking longer drives to bask in the glory of fall foliage. The route begins in Wickford, Western Rhodes Island, and courses through a great deal of the state’s rural scenery in the west. It swerves into Exeter before heading north and running for almost the state’s entire stretch, terminating in the village of Slatersville, which is located in North Smithfield.
Since it traverses mostly rural areas, road trippers will enjoy endless views of foliage colors, especially around Scituate Reservoir, a highlight of the route that deserves a stop. Also, the Audubon Society of Rhodes Island George Parker Woodland Wildlife Refuge is a must-stop on the route for a scenic hike. The park is in the town of Coventry, and a hike through it, especially along its creeks flanked by trees with yellow leaves, promises to be sensational.
Ten Mile Drive, Newport
The Ten Mile Drive or Ocean Drive is a scenic drive offering incredible scenery, especially in the fall. This 10-mile loop winds around the southern edge of Aquidneck Island, starting from between Downtown Newport (Wellington Avenue and Thames Street). The drive effortlessly blends ocean views with foliage scenery as visual treats for drivers.
Highlights on the drive include the Gilded Age Mansions along Bellevue Avenue, such as Breakers and Rosecliff, surrounded by trees, dazzling their orange, red, and yellow hues. The densely forested boundaries of Brenton State Park, Fort Adams State Park, and the cascading hills of Swiss Village Farm are also great stops to soak in the foliage.
Long Pond Woods, Hopkinton
Long Pond Woods is a charming destination for hikers in the fall to witness the elegance of foliage. The 220-acre wooded area is also rocky, with large and small boulders dotting its landscape as it borders the Long and Ell Ponds. The foliage here comprises thick groves of mountain laurels, oaks, hemlocks, and rhododendron trees that flame in magical colors as they form shades along the area's two-mile-long trail.
On the trail, leaves carpet the floor, coloring it in yellow, red, green, and orange shades. However, the trail is quite challenging due to its rocky terrain leading to cliffs with gorgeous views of Long and Ell Ponds. On arrival at any of the cliffs, hikers can relax on a boulder to soak in the stunning and colorful panorama of foliage while snacking.
Goddard Memorial State Park, Warwick
The Goddard Memorial State Park beckons visitors to come and enjoy its vibrant fall colors, which remain some of the best in the country. Across 490 acres and with over 80 different species of trees, the park spoils its visitors with enchanting foliage scenery, glistening with various hues of red, orange, yellow, and purple.
Even better, the park’s location along the shores of Greenwich Cove and Bay further enhances the sight with spectacular vistas of the ocean. There are 18 miles of bridle trails that run through the park and offer access to its gorgeous foliage. The 1.2-mile Goddard Park Short Bridle Trail is one of the park’s top trails for easy walks, while the 3.7-mile Extended Loop Trail is another, albeit harder. Meanwhile, visitors to the park can always enjoy picnics in one of the pavilions or at the beach.
Roger Williams Park, Providence
Roger Williams Park is a quintessential foliage destination in Providence, boasting thousands of trees in its 435-acre park area. There is also a botanical garden in the park, and along with its army of trees, the foliage here is on a fiesta of colors every autumn. Soak in these gorgeous views by strolling through the park’s numerous pathways, while stopping at recreational ponds and enjoying picnics in its public gardens.
Remarkable plants in the park to keep an eye out for include the 100-foot American Sycamore (featuring charming yellow leaves), the Scarlet Tree, with its deep red colors, and the Weeping Beech, with its golden bronze. For event lovers, the park hosts a weekend of fun fall activities every September at the Boathouse Lawn, featuring art displays, a food truck Friday, and a Saturday evening music concert.
Arcadia Management Area
Arcadia Management Area is the largest recreational area in the Ocean State at over 14,000 acres, and it is comprised mostly of forests and a few ponds. As a result, it is a hiker's haven in October, with colorful foliage at every turn. There are about 11 principal trails in the area to hike, with the 2.7-mile out-and-back Ben Utter Trail being one of the easiest. This trail runs along the Wood River and is complemented by foliage views with highlight attractions such as an old grist mill foundation, stepstone falls, and a picnic pavilion. The 1.6-mile Breakheart Pond Dam Loop is another interesting hike here offering stunning foliage views around a 44-acre pond framed by colorful pine trees. Adventurers can also boat and fish on the pond while soaking in the colors reflecting on the water.
Rhode Island is a New England gem state that may be small but has breathtaking land and sea scenery. This island state is the pinnacle of natural beauty in autumn, with dazzling foliage views from Goddard Memorial and Beavertail State Parks, as well as scenic drives and forests. Visit these destinations in the state this fall and prepare to be blown away by the mix of ocean scenery and fall foliage.
