Just nine miles off the coast of Rhode Island, Block Island is one of those unique places that feels worlds away, even if you’re only visiting for a day. I’ve been to Block Island many times over the years, for both day trips and longer getaways, and it’s a destination I return to again and again for its beautiful beaches, scenic coastal trails, historic lighthouses, and walkable downtown filled with great food and local character.
Even though it’s a small island, it’s just big enough that you’ll need to have a plan before visiting to maximize your time, and see all the best places before heading back to the ferry. This Block Island day trip itinerary is designed to help you make the most of one full day on the island, and including can’t-miss highlights, fantastic water-front dining, the cute downtown, and awesome beaches – all without rushing or overpacking your schedule.
I also have suggestions after the itinerary if you want to come to the island just to explore the beaches for the day, so this post is perfect for all kinds of travelers.
And with that, let’s start planning your day trip to beautiful Block Island!
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Block Island Day Trip Itinerary
Morning – Breakfast
I recommend arriving on the island by 9:30-10a at the latest to really maximize your day.
After arriving by ferry, you may need some breakfast if you haven’t eaten already. My favorite spot for a quick breakfast is Persephone’s Kitchen. They have a great mix of breakfast sandwiches, toasts, and bowls – all of which are excellent. They have a smaller location just down the street called Persephone’s Petite, which has a more limited menu, but does not offer breakfast sandwiches. Both are located a very short was from the ferry terminal – not more than 5-6 mins.
This is a popular spot that deserves the hype, which means, the lines can get really long. But don’t worry! They actually offer call-ahead or online ordering. I usually place my order just before departing on the ferry if taking the 30 minute high-speed ferry, or half way into. the ferry ride on the traditional 1-hour ferry.
Morning Sightseeing – Beaches, North Lighthouse & Clay Head Preserve
After breakfast (or, skipping breakfast because you ate before catching the ferry), I recommend starting to work your way up to the northern tip of the island. For this, you’ll need either a bike, or a car. I’ll share more information below on which is the best option for your day trip.
Heading out of town via Corn Neck Road, you’ll pass by Crescent Beach and Great Salt Pond. These are definitely worthy stops to make on your way up. Crescent Beach is the long stretch of sandy store on the eastern side of the island, and is made up of multiple beaches – the most popular being Town Beach (also known as Fredrick J. Benson Beach). Parking for these beaches is along the road, and completely free, so make a quick stop here to enjoy the sandy shoreline and walk on the beautiful beach for a bit.
While parked, you can take a walk on the road (or drive/bike the short distance) to Dingy Beach. This is a cool hidden gem spot that a lot of people miss, and offers a nice view of Great Salt Pond – a gorgeous tidal lagoon that spans over 750 acres. You’ll see a little boardwalk that takes you to the pond view point. It only takes a few extra minutes to make this stop.
Next, head back to your car or bike, and continue up Corn Neck Road. From here, you have two options, depending on the time you have, and the type of traveler you are.
Option 1: Stop At Clay Head Preserve to hike to a beautiful bluff overlook
Option 2: Head to Settler’s Rest and walk to North Lighthouse
Option 1 Details: Clay Head Preserve (Allow 1.5 hours)
Clay Head Preserve’s hike is really beautiful – I do it most of my Block Island visits because it never gets old. It’s a 3.5 out-and-back trail that takes you up a viewpoint overlooking the tall bluffs, which is really pretty. The view is similar to one you’ll see later in the day at Mohegan Bluffs, so that’s one thing to keep in mind.
Pro Tip For The Clayhead Trail: There is poison ivy on the trail, so you’ll want to come prepared with high socks and the appropriate footwear to stay protected. You should be find as long as you stay on the trail, though. I’m highly reactive to poison ivy (as in, if my skin gets a whiff of it, it’s all over my body within the hour and I generally have to go to Urgent Care), and I’ve never gotten it while on the trail. But you’ll see it frequently.
Option 2 Details: North Lighthouse (Allow 1.5 hours)
This is also a bit of an adventure! you’ll drive to the end of Corn Neck Road where it ends, and you’ll see a parking area by the beach. You’ll walk across the beach for about three quarters of a mile each way, and you’ll feel like you’re at the end of the world.
Once you reach the lighthouse, you’ll be able to walk right up to it, and enjoy the beaches around it, which are never super crowded – even in peak summer months. The lighthouse isn’t open for climbing, but if you visit in-season, you may be able to visit the small museum while there. The hours vary, depending on when you visit.
Pro Tips For North Light: You’ll want to have the appropriate shoes for the walk along the beach. The beach is rocky and sandy, so you’ll want something that’s sturdy on the rocks, but can also get wet and sandy.
Afternoon – Lunch At The Oar
One of the most popular spots for lunch on the island is The Oar, and for good reason. Located at the Boat Basin on Great Salt Pond, you have the option of waterfront dining on their lawn, or open-air dining upstairs in their dining room overlooking the marina.
The food here is delicious, and they also have a great sushi menu. One of their most popular menu items is their mudslide cocktail, so definitely consider getting that while here. It’s so good, and the perfect, refreshing pick-me-up after your morning exploring the island.
Afternoon – Mohegan Bluffs & Southeast Lighthouse
After lunch, you’ll be back to more sightseeing, with Mohegan Bluffs as your next step. This is the most popular viewpoint on the island, and rightfully so. The staircase that leads down to the shoreline, overlooking the towering bluffs, is simply spectacular. It makes for awesome photos, and then you have the option to take the stairs down to the shore to walk on the beach (which I highly recommend).
Parking At Mohegan Bluffs: Parking here is limited, but much easier with bikes. If arriving with a car, you’ll want to keep this in mind. If the parking area is full when you arrive, you can head just down to the road to Southeast Light, and do that first, and then come back here in hopes of getting a spot.
After Mohegan Bluffs, you’ll head to Southeast Lighthouse, which is just 3 minutes away by car, and 5-6 minutes away by bike. They’re very close to one another. There’s a small parking area by the lighthouse, but additional parking along the road, making it a bit easier to park than Mohegan Bluffs.
Southeast Lighthouse sits inside a grand lawn overlooking the ocean, offering beautiful panoramic water views. In-season, you can also climb to the lighthouse tower for a more unique experience.
Late Afternoon/Early Evening – Explore Old Harbor
After the lighthouse and Mohegan Bluffs, you’ll head back to the main town where you arrived, which is called Old Harbor. This is where most of the island’s shops are, so you can spend some time leisurely walking around, visiting the shops, and maybe even grabbing a bit to eat before catching you ferry back – depending on your departure time.
I specifically like to end my Block Island day trips in town so that I don’t feel rushed to get back to the ferry before it leaves. This allows a nice, relaxed day, with plenty of buffer time before you have to get back on the ferry.
If you’re looking for a sweet treat while in town, I especially love the Ice Cream Place, which has a large variety of flavors to choose from, as well as homemade baked goods.
You can also head over to Aldo’s Bakery, which is right by the Ice Cream Place, and pick up a box of baked goods to bring back with you.
Lastly, you can also head to Blocksicle for a refreshing popsicle, if you’re looking for something on the lighter side.
A few of my favorite shops to check out in town are:
→ Glass Onion
→ Mary MacGill Block Island for jewelry
→ Island Bound Bookstore
→ Lazy Fish
→ Beachcomber
→ Blocks Of Fudge
You’ll also spot a few souvenir shops near the ferry and around town, so if you loved your day on Block Island, you can easily pick-up a t-shirt or sweatshirt to commemorate your trip with.
If you’re taking a later ferry back, you also have the option for sticking around for dinner. In this case, I recommend these spots for dinner:
→ The Surf at the Block Island Beach House, which is right by the ferry
→ The Atlantic Hotel, which is about a 10 minute walk from town. You’ll dine outside on their terrace, and advanced reservations are highly recommended. Click here to make reservations.
→ The Spring House Hotel, which is about a 10 minute walk from town. You can either do drinks and appetizers on their lawn, or dine in their barn or main dining area. Reservations highly recommended for the barn and dining room, which you can make by clicking here.
How To Spend The Day On Block Island To Visit Beaches
If you’re coming to Block Island strictly to visit the beaches, or plan a full beach day, this is a great destination for that! All the beaches on the island are free to visit, and free to park at.
Here are some of my tips for planning a beach day on Block Island:
→ Know what beach you want to visit before arriving. There are only a few beaches that are an easy walk from the ferry, and the best ones are a bit further out of town, requiring a car, bike, or taxi.
→ For a day trip, the most popular beach is Ballards Beach, which is known as the party beach on the island. It’s a 5-minute walk or less from the ferry, and it usually has live music or a DJ of some kind, and easy access to beach rentals, on-site foods and drinks, and even private cabanas. This is the easiest way to plan a beach day, but you’ll want to know the vibe is very lively here.
→ If you’re looking for a more quiet beach day that’s not too far from the ferry, Crescent Beach would be my next pick. The beaches along Crescent, including Town Beach (Fredrick J. Benson) and Surf Beach, are about a 5-minute drive, or a 7-8 minute bike ride. Town Beach also has beach equipment rentals, like umbrellas and chairs, making this a great option for day trips.
→ If you own a bike, it’s worth bringing it to the island for a beach day, as biking allows you to not worry about parking, and also, getting to the beaches easily if you want to venture outside of town.
→ For food, Town Beach has concessions, as as mentioned, Ballards Beach has a full restaurant with drinks available. If you want to get your own food, you can stop at places in town for food before heading to the beach.
How To Get Around Block Island On A Day Trip
The two best ways to get around the island for a day trip are biking or by car, and there are advantages and disadvantages to both.
A car will allow you a lot of flexibility, and you’ll be able to maximize your time since it won’t take you as long to get around. That said, you’ll then need to decide if you want to pay to bring your car on the ferry (and if so, you’ll have to take the traditional ferry, which takes an hour, as opposed to the 30-minute fast ferry). Or, you’ll need to rent a car when you arrive, or rely on taxi service.
Taxi service on the island is pretty well-versed in showing people around the island, so this is an option. However, you’ll want to arrange it ahead of time, and explain what you’re looking to do – and also be ready to pay for it since it will add up having it over the course of the day.
Biking around the island is what most people do, and while it seems like the easy choice, it’s important to know that the island is actually hillier than most people realize. I learned this the hard way on my first-ever visit! Let’s just say, I was in tears because I was exhausted getting around all day in the summer sun 😂 If you rely on a bike to get around the entire day, you’ll want to be a somewhat experienced biker (I was not, just as casual biker when traveling on vacations), or simply just be up for the challenge. The entire island isn’t hilly, but there are a lot of sections that are.
So, what do I recommend?
Personally, I usually bring my car to the island, and just work it into my budget. That’s also because I really don’t like a lot of physical activity in one day in the sun (especially because I like to do Clay Head or North Lighthouse on day trips, which require a good amount of walking). However, you’ll have to be aware of parking challenges, especially downtown.
If you’re an experienced cyclist, I would bring your bike, or rent one when you arrive, as you’ll likely be comfortable enough getting around this way.
Is There Uber On Block Island?
No, there are no Ubers, or any rides hare services on the island. However, there is a good taxi system, and they usually wait by the ferry terminal, and can also be arranged ahead of time before your arrival.
What To Pack For A Day Trip To Block Island
For a Block Island day trip, you’ll want to pack light enough that you don’t feel like you’re lugging around too many things all day, but also pack enough that you’ll be comfortable. Below is a list of some things you may want to consider bringing with you for the day.
→ A small backpack or tote bag to carry everything (a backpack is better if you plan to bike around)
→ Sunscreen
→ Sunglasses
→ A baseball or sunhat to protect your face and head from the sun
→ Camera
→ Refillable water bottle (you can refill at Nicholas Ball Park in downtown!)
→ Beach flip flops or shoes for walking on beaches (sturdy enough to walk on rocky shoreline)
→ Extra set of clothes (including underwear) and a beach towel if you plan to go swimming at any of the beaches, and especially if you’re only coming to visit the beaches. I always take these Dock & Bay towels with me for beach day trips – they take up a lot less space than a traditional towel, and dry way faster.
→ Driver’s license if you want to rent a car or bike.
→ Cash for parking at the ferry (some places take cards now, and some are oddly still cash only)
Other posts you may find helpful:
- Best Things To Do In Westerly, RI & Watch Hill
- Summer In New England: Best Places To Go & Things To Do!
- Best New England Day Trips
- The Perfect 7 Day New England Road Trip
- The Most Incredible New England Lighthouses To Visit
- Gorgeous New England Islands Worth Visiting
- Must-See Towns On The New England Coast
That’s A Wrap On The Best Things To Do On A Block Island Day Trip
Now you’re ready to head out on your Block Island day trip with this itinerary! You’ll get to see the best places on the island, see most of what it has to offer, and enjoy some amazing food and scenery along the way. Happy planning!
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