Newport beach guide · Reviewed October 2026
Bailey’s Beach in Newport, RI is a private, members-only beach club, and so is nearby Hazard’s Beach, so most visitors can’t swim at either one. You can still see both from the Cliff Walk and Ocean Avenue, and a short drive away there are public beaches with lifeguards, restrooms and parking. This guide explains what the two clubs are, the one small stretch of sand near Bailey’s that the public can use, and where to go instead.
Bailey’s Beach and Hazard’s Beach at a glance
| Beach | Who runs it | Can visitors swim? | Best way to see it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bailey’s Beach | Spouting Rock Beach Association (private club) | No, except the small public strip at the Cliff Walk end | Walk the southern end of the Cliff Walk |
| Hazard’s Beach | Private beach club | Members and their guests only | Drive or bike Ocean Avenue |
| Gooseberry Beach (between them) | Privately owned, open to the public | Yes, with a daily car pass | Buy a pass ahead of time |
Bailey’s Beach Newport RI: what it is
Bailey’s Beach is the everyday name for the Spouting Rock Beach Association, a private beach club on Ocean Avenue at the southern end of the Newport Cliff Walk. It was founded in the 1890s and has been a gathering place for Newport’s summer society ever since. Over the years its members have included Vanderbilts and Astors, and it is mentioned alongside clubs like the Newport Casino and the Redwood Library as one of the city’s old social centers.
The way the club began is a good bit of Newport history. In the 1890s, trolley service made it easy for day-trippers, including mill workers from Fall River, to reach Easton’s Beach, which was then the fashionable beach. Wealthy summer residents moved a few miles south to the shore near Spouting Rock, where the trolleys didn’t go.
Today the club has several hundred member families, and new members are rarely admitted. The 1938 hurricane destroyed the original clubhouse. The current clubhouse and cabanas look fairly modest from the road, but the beach is closed to the public.
The public strip at the end of the Cliff Walk
There is one exception. The northeast end of Bailey’s Beach, where the Cliff Walk finishes, is open to the public. Locals often call this little stretch “Rejects’ Beach.” It’s small and has no lifeguards or restrooms, but it’s a nice spot to rest after the long, rocky southern section of the Cliff Walk. Stay on the public end and respect the club’s boundary.
When you leave the Cliff Walk here, the city’s Cliff Walk guide says you can turn right and walk about a block and a half past Ledge Road to the RIPTA #67 bus stop. The #67 runs back to downtown along Bellevue Avenue, which saves you from walking the whole trail twice. Read our Forty Steps Cliff Walk guide and Cliff Walk parking guide to plan where to start.
What is Hazard’s Beach?
Hazard’s Beach is a private beach club farther west on Ocean Avenue, on the other side of Gooseberry Beach from Bailey’s. It’s open only to members, who can bring guests for a fee. Like Bailey’s, it has cabanas and a clubhouse, and you can see it from the road but not use it.
Its history goes back to John Alfred Hazard, a descendant of one of Newport’s founding families. In the mid-1800s he owned a large property along this shore called Rocky Farm. He died in 1880, and after a disputed will the land went to Newport Hospital. Over the following decades, local citizens set up separate companies to own and run two beaches on that land: Hazard’s Beach and Gooseberry Beach. Most of the rest of Rocky Farm became the seaside homes you pass on Ocean Avenue today.
Can you visit Bailey’s Beach or Hazard’s Beach?
Not for a beach day, unless you’re a member or a member’s guest. Here’s what you can do:
- Walk the Cliff Walk to its southern end. You’ll get views of Bailey’s Beach and can sit on the public strip where the trail ends.
- Drive, bike or take a tour along Ocean Avenue. The road passes Bailey’s, Gooseberry and Hazard’s, then keeps going past rocky coves and big summer homes. It’s one of the best scenic drives in New England.
- Swim at Gooseberry Beach instead. It sits right between the two clubs and is the closest public way to enjoy this stretch of shore.
Please don’t try to slip onto either club’s sand. Both are private property, and there’s no public parking or posted public right-of-way at either one.
Public beaches near Bailey’s Beach
For a full comparison, see our Newport RI beaches guide. Here are the best public options, starting with the closest. Prices below are from recent seasons. Confirm current rates before you go.
Gooseberry Beach
Gooseberry is a calm cove on Ocean Avenue protected by a spit of land and large boulders offshore, which makes it good for easy swimming. It’s privately owned but open to the public. In recent seasons visitors needed a daily car pass bought online (about $30 plus tax per car, up to five people) through the Gooseberry Beach website. Walk-ons and drop-offs aren’t allowed, but you can arrive by bike or scooter. Lifeguards have worked 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in season, and the snack bar has been cash only.
Easton’s Beach (First Beach)
Easton’s is Newport’s main public beach, at the start of the Cliff Walk on Memorial Boulevard. It has waves for boogie boarding, lifeguards from Memorial Day through Labor Day, and accessible restrooms. In recent seasons parking has been $25 on weekdays and $35 on weekends and holidays from April through November, and free from December through March.
Fort Adams State Beach
This small beach inside Fort Adams State Park has free parking, a roped-off swimming area for kids, showers and a picnic area. Lifeguards have worked 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. in season. It’s a good choice for families with little ones.
King Park Beach
King Park, on Wellington Avenue along the harbor, has calm water, a playground, a pavilion and restrooms. Street parking is limited, so come early on summer weekends.
Second Beach (Sachuest Beach), Middletown
Just over the town line, Second Beach is long and wide with surf lessons, a concession stand and showers. In recent seasons parking was $25 on weekdays and $35 on weekends, rising to $30 and $40 from July 1.
Check our best time to visit Newport guide for beach-season timing.
Water quality notices
The Rhode Island Department of Health tests water at licensed beaches through the summer, including private ones. In August 2025, for example, it recommended closing Bailey’s Beach and Gooseberry Beach for a time because of high bacteria levels. Before a summer swim anywhere in Newport, check the current list on the RIDOH beaches page or call (401) 222-2751.
Where to stay near Bailey’s Beach and Ocean Avenue
There are almost no hotels on Ocean Avenue itself. It’s mostly private homes. The best plan is to stay near the Cliff Walk or the mansions on Bellevue Avenue, then walk, bike or drive to the southern shore.
- Hotels near the Cliff Walk: walk the trail all the way to Bailey’s Beach from your door.
- Hotels near the Newport Mansions: Bellevue Avenue inns close to the #67 bus route.
- Newport hotels near the beach: easy access to Easton’s and Second Beach.
- Romantic hotels in Newport: for a sunset drive on Ocean Avenue.
Frequently asked questions
Is Bailey’s Beach in Newport public?
No. Bailey’s Beach is the private Spouting Rock Beach Association and is open only to members and their guests. The small northeast end where the Cliff Walk finishes is open to the public.
Is Hazard’s Beach open to the public?
No. Hazard’s Beach is a private beach club on Ocean Avenue for members and their guests. Gooseberry Beach next door is the nearest beach the public can use.
What is Rejects’ Beach in Newport?
Rejects’ Beach is the nickname for the small public stretch at the northeast end of Bailey’s Beach, where the Cliff Walk ends. It has no lifeguards or facilities.
Why is it called Bailey’s Beach?
The club’s official name is the Spouting Rock Beach Association, named for a rock formation on that shore. “Bailey’s Beach” is the name most people in Newport use.
Where is the closest public beach to Bailey’s Beach?
Gooseberry Beach, just west on Ocean Avenue, is the closest. You’ll need a daily car pass bought online or you can arrive by bike. Easton’s Beach and Fort Adams State Beach are also short drives away.
Can you walk from the Cliff Walk to Bailey’s Beach?
Yes. The Cliff Walk ends at Bailey’s Beach, about 3.5 miles from the Easton’s Beach end. The southern stretch is rough and rocky, so wear sturdy shoes, and check the city’s current Cliff Walk conditions first, since part of the trail has had a signed detour.