Newport parking guide · Updated October 20, 2026
The two most dependable parking areas for Newport Cliff Walk are Memorial Boulevard near Easton’s Beach and Narragansett Avenue at Forty Steps. The right choice depends on which section you plan to walk, how long you need and whether the current detour affects your route.
Staying overnight? A hotel within walking distance removes the parking problem. See hotels steps from the Cliff Walk ↓
Best parking for the Newport Cliff Walk
| Parking area | Best for | Typical limit | Important detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Memorial Boulevard meters | Northern entrance and shorter walks | Generally 3 hours; check each sign | Closest street parking to the Easton’s Beach entrance |
| Easton’s Beach public lots | Longer beach-and-Cliff-Walk visits | Lot rules vary seasonally | Daily beach-lot pricing can exceed meter costs |
| Narragansett Avenue | Forty Steps, restrooms and mansion section | Generally 4 hours | Pay by plate; current detour affects southbound routing |
| Hotel parking | Overnight guests | Hotel policy | Confirm whether parking and re-entry are included |
| Gateway Center | Park once and use transit or rides | Longer stays available | Not beside Cliff Walk; requires an onward connection |
1. Memorial Boulevard parking
Metered spaces along Memorial Boulevard place you near the northern Cliff Walk entrance by Easton’s Beach and The Chanler. This is usually the clearest choice for a first visit, an easy paved walk or an out-and-back toward Forty Steps.
The City of Newport prices these beach meters at $2 per hour with a 3-hour limit between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. Meters are enforced 9 a.m.–9 p.m. from May 1 through October 31. Pay at the station or in the Passport app using zone 40104. Rates and payment zones can change, so read the sign attached to the actual space rather than relying on a screenshot or old article.
2. Easton’s Beach parking lots
Easton’s Beach lots offer more capacity than the curbside meters and are useful when combining the beach with Cliff Walk. Public access, operating dates and daily rates are seasonal. For 2026 the city charges $25 per car on weekdays and $35 on weekends and holidays, plus 7% sales tax, from April 1 through November 30. Parking in the lots is free December 1 through March 31.
Before paying for a full day, decide whether you need beach access or only a 60-to-90-minute walk. A legal meter may cost less for a short visit, while the lot may reduce circling and time pressure on a longer outing.
3. Narragansett Avenue parking at Forty Steps (40 Steps)
Narragansett Avenue has pay-by-plate parking near Forty Steps and the seasonal public restrooms. The City of Newport allows up to four hours here between 6 a.m. and 9 p.m., making this the stronger starting point for travelers focused on Salve Regina, Ochre Court and The Breakers area.
Enter the license plate correctly; a receipt normally does not need to be displayed. From May 1 through October 31 the meters run 9 a.m.–9 p.m. at $2 per hour. The pay station sits near the restrooms and takes coins, cards and bills, or you can use the Passport app with zone 40105. Overnight parking (9 p.m.–6 a.m.) is not allowed on this stretch.
Cliff Walk parking map
The map below shows the full Cliff Walk, from Easton’s Beach in the north to Bailey’s Beach in the south. Tap a link for turn-by-turn directions to each parking area.
- Directions to Memorial Boulevard meters (northern entrance)
- Directions to Easton’s Beach lots
- Directions to Narragansett Avenue at Forty Steps
Cliff Walk parking rates and hours (2026)
These are the current rates published by the City of Newport and Discover Newport. Newport’s metered parking season runs May 1 through October 31.
| Where | Rate | Time limit | Paid hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Memorial Boulevard meters (by Easton’s Beach) | $2 per hour | 3 hours | 9 a.m.–9 p.m. |
| Narragansett Avenue at Forty Steps | $2 per hour | 4 hours | 9 a.m.–9 p.m. |
| Easton’s Beach lots, weekdays (Apr 1–Nov 30) | $25 per car, plus 7% tax | All day | 9 a.m.–9 p.m. |
| Easton’s Beach lots, weekends and holidays (Apr 1–Nov 30) | $35 per car, plus 7% tax | All day | 8 a.m.–9 p.m. |
| Easton’s Beach lots (Dec 1–Mar 31) | Free | — | — |
- How to pay: Narragansett Avenue is pay-by-plate. The pay station is next to the restrooms, and you don’t need to display a receipt. You can also pay and extend your time in the Passport Parking app. Passport zones are 40104 for Memorial Boulevard and 40105 for Narragansett Avenue. Easton’s Beach lots 1 and 3 take credit and debit cards only, or Passport (zone 40100).
- Season pass: Non-residents can buy an Easton’s Beach parking permit for $150 ($100 for ages 65+) through the Passport customer portal.
- Newport residents: Cars with a City of Newport residential parking sticker park free year-round in Easton’s Beach lots 1 and 3.
Rates can change during the season. The sign at your space and the payment system always have the final word.
Free Cliff Walk parking: when and where
- Easton’s Beach lots are free from December 1 through March 31.
- City meters, including Memorial Boulevard and Narragansett Avenue, are free from November 1 through April 30, but time limits still apply until 6 p.m. This winter’s free season starts Sunday, November 1, 2026.
- Newport Gateway Center downtown is also free from November 1 through April 30, a good option if you plan to walk or ride to the Cliff Walk.
- Free street parking near the Cliff Walk is rare. Most nearby streets are residential with posted restrictions, so don’t count on it in summer.
Which parking area should you choose?
For the easiest Cliff Walk section
Use Memorial Boulevard or Easton’s Beach. Walk south on the paved northern path and turn around before time is half used.
For Forty Steps and mansion views
Use Narragansett Avenue. Follow the signed detour as needed and continue toward Webster Street, Salve Regina and Ruggles Avenue.
For the complete one-way walk
Do not assume you will find legal parking at the southern terminus. Park at the northern end, arrange pickup near Bellevue Avenue or use a taxi or rideshare. Confirm the pickup point before starting.
For a beach day plus walking
Use the Easton’s Beach lot and compare the full-day fee with the available meter duration. Arrive early on warm weekends.
For travelers staying nearby
Leave the car at the hotel if the property allows it and walk or take a short ride to the entrance. This can be more valuable than saving a few dollars on the room rate.
Can you park near Ruggles, Marine Avenue or Ledge Road?
These streets function as Cliff Walk access points, but they should not be treated as guaranteed visitor parking areas. Much of the surrounding neighborhood is residential, and restrictions vary by block and season. Do not park in resident-only spaces, block driveways or improvise along narrow roads.
For southern-section walks, a planned drop-off and pickup is usually more dependable than hunting for a legal space near Ruggles, Marine Avenue or Ledge Road.
Accessible parking
City guidance states that designated accessible spaces are available to vehicles displaying a valid placard on a first-come basis. Exact rules and availability must be confirmed on site.
The paved section from Memorial Boulevard to Narragansett Avenue has no steps, but width, slope and surface vary and do not consistently meet ADA standards. The current detour may add street crossings. For mobility-specific planning, use the northern entrance and consider a short out-and-back.
Payment tips
- Photograph the parking sign, space or zone number before walking away.
- Enter the license plate exactly, including letters and numbers.
- Keep the payment confirmation or app receipt.
- Do not assume paying more overrides the posted maximum time.
- Set an alarm with enough time to walk back to the car.
- Check whether the payment app allows extensions; the legal maximum may still apply.
Parking mistakes to avoid
- Using an outdated online rate instead of the posted 2026 sign
- Assuming winter meters have no time limit because payment is free
- Parking on a resident-restricted street near a secondary entrance
- Starting a long one-way walk without return transportation
- Entering the wrong license plate at a pay-by-plate station
- Leaving valuables visible in the vehicle
- Ignoring festival, construction or beach-event restrictions
When parking is full
Do not keep circling the narrow residential streets around Cliff Walk. Consider parking at your hotel, using the Newport Gateway Center and completing the trip by trolley, taxi or rideshare, or returning earlier the next morning. Parking pressure is highest on warm summer weekends and major event dates.
Free trolley (2026 season): RIPTA’s Route 67 Bellevue/Salve Regina trolley is free through October 31, 2026 and stops near the Mansions and Cliff Walk. Park at the Gateway Center and ask the driver for a voucher that lowers the lot rate to $5. Check RIPTA Route 67 for the current schedule.
Hotels that simplify Cliff Walk parking
Staying within walking distance can remove the parking decision entirely. Compare properties by whether overnight parking is included, valet re-entry rules and the distance to the entrance you actually want.
- The Chanler at Cliff Walk sits right at the northern entrance, about a 1-minute walk to the path, with self-parking included. The luxury pick. Check rates →
- Cliffside Inn is a Victorian B&B about a 5-minute walk from the Cliff Walk near Forty Steps, with parking included. Check rates →
- Newport Beach Hotel & Suites is across the street from Easton’s Beach, roughly a 14-minute walk to the northern entrance. Check rates →
- Atlantic Beach Hotel Newport is near Easton’s Beach, about a 15-minute walk, with one parking space per reservation. Usually the value pick. Check rates →
These are affiliate booking links. If you book through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Rather walk it with a guide? Guided Cliff Walk and mansion tours meet near the path, so you only need one parking spot. See Cliff Walk tours and prices.
This is an affiliate booking link. If you book through it, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Plan the walk after parking
Parking is only half the logistics. Use our complete Newport Cliff Walk Guide for entrances, current detours, terrain, mansion landmarks and suggested short-to-full routes.
Frequently asked questions
Where do you park for the Cliff Walk in Newport?
Most visitors park in one of two places: the Memorial Boulevard meters by Easton’s Beach at the northern entrance ($2 per hour, 3-hour limit) or Narragansett Avenue at Forty Steps ($2 per hour, 4-hour limit). For a longer beach-and-walk day, the Easton’s Beach lots hold more cars.
What is the closest parking to the Cliff Walk?
The Memorial Boulevard meters sit right at the northern entrance near Easton’s Beach and The Chanler, and the Narragansett Avenue spaces end at Forty Steps, just steps from the path. Both put you on the Cliff Walk within a minute or two.
Is there parking at the southern end of the Cliff Walk?
Not dependably. The southern end near Ledge Road and Bailey’s Beach is residential with posted restrictions. For a one-way walk, park at the northern end and arrange a pickup, taxi or rideshare from Bellevue Avenue.
Is there free parking at Cliff Walk?
Yes, in the off-season. The Easton’s Beach lots are free from December 1 to March 31, and city meters are free from November 1 to April 30 (time limits still apply until 6 p.m.). From spring through fall, expect to pay.
How much does Cliff Walk parking cost?
Memorial Boulevard meters are $2 per hour (3-hour limit), and Narragansett Avenue at Forty Steps is $2 per hour (4-hour limit). The Easton’s Beach lots are $25 per car on weekdays and $35 on weekends and holidays, plus tax, from April through November.
Where do you park for the Forty Steps?
Park at the end of Narragansett Avenue. The pay-by-plate station is beside the public restrooms, and the Forty Steps are right there.
Is the Cliff Walk open?
Most of it is. A section just south of Forty Steps, between Narragansett Avenue and Webster Street, is closed after a 2022 collapse, with a posted detour through the Salve Regina campus. State regulators approved the repair plan in October 2026, and the city expects construction to start in 2027 and finish in 2029. From Narragansett Avenue, walking north toward Easton’s Beach avoids the closure.
Where is the easiest place to park?
Memorial Boulevard and the Easton’s Beach area are usually simplest for the northern entrance. Narragansett Avenue is best for Forty Steps and mansion views.
Can I park at The Breakers and use Cliff Walk?
Mansion parking is intended for ticketed property visitors, not as general Cliff Walk parking. Follow the property’s posted rules.
How much time should I pay for?
Allow time for the walk, photos, detours and the return to the car. Never exceed the posted maximum even if the payment app appears to offer additional time.
Editorial note: Parking rates, enforcement hours, lots, payment zones and detours can change without notice. Details were checked against City of Newport and Discover Newport information on October 20, 2026. Posted signs and active payment systems control. Hotel links on this page are affiliate links.