Warwick, RI Beaches

Warwick, Rhode Island's main public swimming beaches are Goddard Memorial State Park's beach, which is free and run by RI DEM, and two City of Warwick beaches — Oakland Beach and Warwick City Park's Buttonwoods Beach — which charge for parking in beach season. All three are saltwater beaches. Check RIDOH's Beach Viewer map for water-quality closures before you go.

Side by Side

Goddard Memorial State Park beach

• Run by: RI DEM (state park).
• Cost: free — no beach or parking fee.
• Lifeguards: in season, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., as staffing allows.
• Also there: picnic sites, a nine-hole golf course, bridle trails, a boat ramp, a bathhouse and restrooms.
• Dogs: not on the beach April 1 to September 30.
• More: Goddard Park beach guide.

Oakland Beach

• Run by: City of Warwick.
• Cost: parking fee during beach season.
• Lifeguards: a lifeguard during the summer, per the city.
• Also there: restrooms, restaurants nearby, a boat ramp on Bay Avenue, complete wheelchair access.
• More: Oakland Beach guide.

Warwick City Park / Buttonwoods Beach

• Run by: City of Warwick.
• Cost: park admission free; parking fee at the beach in season.
• Also there: three miles of paved bike paths, ball fields, picnic shelters, a playground, toilets; alcohol prohibited.
• More: Warwick City Park guide.

Waterfront Parks Without a Listed Swim Area

• Rocky Point State Park: 120 acres on Warwick Neck with paths, an accessible fishing pier and the 1964 World's Fair arch. DEM does not list swimming.
• Conimicut Point Park: the city's park on Point Avenue facing Conimicut Light, described by the city as scenic and peaceful.

State park rules allow swimming only in designated areas, so stay out of the water where no swim area is listed.

Water Quality: Check Before You Swim

The Rhode Island Department of Health tests licensed beaches through the summer and recommends closing a swimming area when bacteria counts are high. A closure covers the water, not the beach: you can still use the sand and the park. To check:

• RIDOH Beach Viewer map, linked from health.ri.gov/beaches.
• RIDOH beaches phone line, 401-222-2751 (recorded message).

The City of Warwick points beachgoers to the Department of Health for beach status and closing information.

Lifeguards Out of Season

State rules set the bathing season at state beaches from the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend to 6 p.m. on Labor Day. Outside it, and outside posted hours, there is no guard: in October 2026 the city's parks page noted that no lifeguards were on duty at that time. Swim with a buddy and supervise children closely.

Dogs at Warwick Beaches

At Goddard, a state park beach, no animals are allowed from April 1 to September 30 (service animals excepted). At the city beaches, RIDOH notes that town beach rules vary and are generally posted at the beach. See dogs at Goddard.

Which Warwick Beach Is Best?

• Free with a lifeguard: Goddard.
• Food nearby: Oakland Beach.
• Paved bike paths and a playground beside the beach: City Park.
• A whole day with picnics, golf and riding: Goddard.