Hours & Fees

Goddard Memorial State Park is open from sunrise to sunset every day of the year, and it is free to enter. There is no parking or beach fee: RI DEM says there are no fees to access beaches within state parks. What you pay for at Goddard is a reserved picnic site, shelter or field (April 1 to October 31), a round of golf, or a rental of the carousel pavilion or equestrian area.

Park Hours

Rhode Island's state park rules do not allow anyone, on foot or in a car, inside a state park between sunset and sunrise without official written permission. The City of Warwick's page on the park puts it simply: the park is open year-round from sunrise to sunset. Check the day's sunset time before a late walk, especially in winter.

Park Office Hours

The City of Warwick lists the park office's hours as 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The park number is (401) 884-2010, ext. 1, and that is also the number RI DEM gives for picnic and shelter reservations and for questions about group events. The city also lists seasonal numbers for the golf course, (401) 884-9834; the beach bathhouse, (401) 884-9620; and ranger headquarters, (401) 884-0088.

Beach and Lifeguard Hours

DEM says lifeguards are on duty at Goddard's beach seasonally from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., as staffing allows. State rules set the bathing season from the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend until 6 p.m. on Labor Day unless the parks division gives other notice. When no lifeguard is on duty, swimmers are responsible for their own safety. The beach guide covers water-quality closures, which the Rhode Island Department of Health announces.

Picnic Season

From April 1 to October 31, DEM requires a reservation and rental fee to use Goddard's pavilions, shelters, gazebo, designated fields and picnic tables. Outside those dates, every area is first come, first served with no fee. Reservations open on the first business day of the year for the coming season. The picnic areas page lists every site and its price from DEM's rental map.

What Things Cost

• Entry, parking and the beach: free.
• Picnic sites and shelters: $10 to $100 a day by site on DEM's 2025 rental map; the state's per-table fee is $5 a day.
• Same-day picnic grove sites: $10 per site in the Oak and Maple picnic groves.
• Carousel performing arts center: $350 a day, booked at least a year ahead; banquet tables $10 each.
• Equestrian area (groups with a special use permit): $30 a day or $100 a season.
• Golf, nine holes: $15 on weekdays and $20 on weekends; $10 and $12 for players 65 and over or 12 and under. Carts are $15.

State rules waive golf fees for people with disabilities with proper identification, and DEM's golf page lists $0 for golfers with a disability or RIPAE documentation (carts are regular price).

Golf Season

DEM closed the golf course early for 2026, on September 21, to repair turf lost to crabgrass and drought; the last day of play was September 20, 2026. As of October 2026 DEM's page says "Stay tuned for 2027 Season Updates". See the golf course guide for tee-time rules.

Equestrian Area Season

DEM says the Goddard Memorial Equestrian Area operates from April 1 to November 30, and reservations are required in that window. Guided rides are run by C and L Stables; see horseback riding.

Holidays and Winter

The park stays open all year, and after October 31 the picnic sites become first come, first served at no charge. The City of Warwick's list of activities at Goddard includes ice skating, and DEM lists hiking and walking among the park's experiences, so the park is used through the cold months too.