Along the farm coast in Rhode Island is the small but mighty town of Tiverton – which just so happens to be one of my absolute favorite places in the entire state. It was love at first sight during my initial visit to this charming destination, and every visit since, Tiverton hasn’t lost its appeal.
Nearby Tiverton, you’ll also stumble upon some gorgeous coastal gems in Little Compton, which offers the best of both worlds during your day trip or getaway: stunning farmland scenery and beautiful shoreline views.
This post is all about my favorite things to do in Tiverton, as well all the must-make stops during your visit, so you can explore like a local during your trip. With that, let’s get started!
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Things To Do In Tiverton: Must-See Places
1. Tiverton Four Corners
The main place to see in Tiverton, and what the town is known for, is the Four Corners. This historic intersection is lined with charming houses rooted in history that have been converted into amazing boutiques and eateries. Stroll up and down the sidewalk on both sides of the street to enjoy the charm and whimsy of each local business.
Groundswell is probably the top store and café to visit at the Four Corners, and for good reason. When I’m here, I kind of want to linger all day and never leave. Housed in about three separate buildings, you’ll find a European-inspired café, a home and garden shop, and an interiors shop. And each building is more stunning than the last. I don’t think I’ve ever left one of their shops without a full shopping bag of unique gifts and finds. The café’s front porch and back seating areas are wonderful places to enjoy a cup of coffee or lunch, too.
But before or after your visit to Groundswell, be sure to budget enough time to visit all the shops, as each are worthy stops to make. You’ll find handmade jewelry, art galleries, a bookshop, and more.
2. Grinnell’s Beach
On your way into Tiverton, you’ll pass by Grinnell’s Beach, which is a nice place for a quick stop before exploring the rest of town and the Four Corners. This small beach area has a short but scenic walkway, with views of the Sakonnet River Bridge and waterways, and is a lovely way to introduce yourself to the area after your drive into town.
You’ll also find a World War I memorial, the Doughboy Statue, which was erected to honor those who served and died in the war.
Pro Tip: Grinnell’s Beach parking is free off-season, but you’ll need to pay a fee to park in-season. So, this may not be worth it for you to visit, depending on the time of year. If visiting in season, and you can find a spot along the street, you can easily walk over to enjoy this area. In fact, my next suggestion makes it worth the effort to park nearby …
3. Coastal Roasters
A short walk from Grinnell’s Beach is Coastal Roasters, and this is my favorite coffee shop in town (tied with Groundswell, but they’re so different it’s hard to compare the two 😉). This special coffee stop offers cozy little spots to enjoy your drink with views of the bay. Plop into one of their colorful Adirondack chairs and enjoy the scenery!
And while I’m not a coffee person, I can confirm that their chai and tea drinks here are great. But my husband loves the coffee here (he’s a self-proclaimed coffee enthusiast, so I always trust him when he points out how great coffee places are).
Pro Tip: Parking around this area can be tough in-season, as it’s all street parking. If visiting during a peak time on a weekend, you’ll want to keep that in mind.
4. Fogland Beach
A bit further past the Four Corners, you’ll find Fogland Beach, and there are two great reasons why this is worth a visit.
One, the drive out there through the farm coast is beautiful. I’ve done the drive around sunset, too, which was especially amazing. You’ll pass by stunning houses surrounded by scenic farmlands, and it’s really such a pretty route, despite the fact that it’s only about 7 minutes from the Four Corners 😉
Fogland Beach itself isn’t the most amazing beach in Rhode Island, but it’s still a lovely stretch of coastline that’s worth seeing when in the area. The shoreline is a bit more rocky, and lined with shells, but the scenery still makes for a peaceful stroll.
Pro Tip: Fogland Beach is a public beach, but there will be a parking fee in-season. You can click here for rates, so you can decide if it’s worth the admission or not, depending on your plans that day.
5. Audubon Emilie Ruecker Wildlife Refuge
A wonderful free activity in Tiverton is the Audubon Emilie Ruecker Wildlife Refuge, which is home to a 50-acre nature haven nestled along the Sakonnet River. Meandering through woods, salt marshes, and red maple swamps, the refuge has approximately 1.6 miles of easy, well-marked trails—perfect for a peaceful stroll or bird‑watching.
Along the way, you’ll encounter scenic spots overlooking tidal marshes and a chance to spot osprey, egrets, and harbor seals. The parking area here is small, but I’ve always been able to find a spot when I’ve visited in spring and fall. It’s open sunrise to sunset, and I’ve really enjoy walking the trails around sunset here.
6. Fort Barton & Weetamoo Woods
Two other free nature areas to visit in Tiverton are Fort Barton Woods & Weetamoo Woods, both of which have peaceful trails and scenery to explore.
At Weetamoo Woods, enjoy the expansive woodland offering trails through forest, wetlands, meadows, and historic sites. Some of the cool historic attractions here are the colonial-era sawmill ruins and cellar holes, and there are also about 7 miles of marked trails to explore.
Fort Barton & Barton Woods is only about 8 minutes away from Weetamoo, and offers a similar vibe and experience that’s also worth your time. You’ll find more scenic overlooks and bridges along the nature trails here, with about 3-3.5 miles of trails to explore. Fort Barton also has a deeply-rooted history, and you can see some of the remaining Revolutionary War earthworks during your visit.
Both parks offer designated parking areas, and they can fill up fast on weekends during peak season. However, during my spring and fall visits, I’ve never had a problem finding parking.
7. Little State Flower Co.
This flower stand is such a fun little gem to visit when exploring Tiverton. I first discovered it by finding a sign for it at the Four Corners, and decided to take a drive to find it – and gosh, I’m so glad I did!
This flower farm has a seasonal stand featuring their freshly-cut flowers arranged into gorgeous bouquets. Much better than anything you’ll find at the grocery store 😉
Pro Tips: They only accept payments via Venmo, so make sure you’ve got an account all set-up before visiting, if you don’t have one already. Also, for current hours, be sure to check their Instagram here, but they’re usually open Thursdays through Sundays in-season. If you don’t have the time to make the short drive to their flower stand, they also often have fresh bouquets available at Groundswell on Fridays at the Four Corners.
8. Sapowet Marsh
Lastly right in Tiverton, Sapowet Marsh is a nice scenic spot that’s worth spending some time at. This is a 138-acre salt marsh wildlife management area, where meadow-like estuaries meet the Sakonnet River.
Free to visit, you can walk down to a small rocky beach and protected launch site to enjoy the marsh vista views, and even spot Portsmouth and Newport across the water.
When you arrive, you’ll cross a little bridge and then immediately see a parking area on your left (I almost missed it my first time visiting). Looking straight ahead, you’ll see the marsh and water scenery, but even just looking down the long the road offers lovely views, especially in the summer and fall.
Sapowet Marsh is free to visit, too!
What To See Near Tiverton: Beautiful Little Compton
Just minutes from Tiverton is the neighboring town of Little Compton, which is well-worth a visit when in the area. You’ll find another stunning beach and a few other fun places to check out. The only downside to visiting Little Compton is that in-season, it’s very limited to residents and folks staying in-town at a local rental or the inn. I’ve made notes down below when you need to be aware of this.
At minimum, it’s always worth the drive through town to enjoy more of the beautiful farm coast and gorgeous houses.
9. South Shore Beach & Goosewing Beach Preserve
This is my favorite spot in Little Compton, and both of these beaches are open to the public. The reason these are grouped together is because they’re actually right next to each other – you’ll have to park at South Shore Beach to access Goosewing.
Goosewing is a mile‑long barrier beach, flanked by grassy dunes and some of the prettiest coastline in Rhode Island – bordered by Quicksand Pond on one side and the Atlantic Ocean on the other, you’ll get amazing views regardless of which side you walk on (but I recommend both, of course 😉).
In addition to just laying in the sand and swimming at Goosewing, the Nature Conservancy manages the 75-acre preserve, and educates its visitors on maintaining habitats for the endangered piping plovers, making this an important area to support in the state. During your visit, you can also explore a few well‑marked dune trails, some of which lead from the Benjamin Family Environmental Center down to the beach, offering bird‑watching and interpretive signage along the way.
Pro Tip: There’s a charge for parking at South Shore Beach in-season, which you can learn more about by clicking here. From there, it’s just a short walk over to Goosewing, and the parking fee allows you access to both beaches. Parking is free off-season.
10. Sakonnet Point & Lloyd’s Beach
This next suggestion comes with a bit of a disclaimer, but in short, this area is a great one to visit outside of the summer season, as parking here technically isn’t allowed.
Allow me to explain …
Sakonnet Point and Lloyd’s Beach are located at the very tip of Little Compton, offering views of a little spark plug lighthouse, beautiful coastline, and glimpses of Newport from across the water. However, the catch is that parking here is technically for residents only at the end of the dead end road. But, in speaking to some of the locals, they’ve told me on separate occasions that if you go there off-season and park in front of the “No Parking” signs, it’s fine. They reported the signs are meant to deter visitors who don’t live there in the summer months.
Now, this is not coming from me, but since they were locals, I trusted their advice and went on a few different occasions in the spring and fall season, so this is a risk you’ll want to decide to take for yourself. I’ve parked here for about 30-45 minutes at a time during those off-season months, and no one has ever said anything to me.
However, in the summer, you won’t be able to park here, unfortunately.
Okay, so on with the good news! This scenic spot has very rocky coastline, but it’s beautiful and dramatic, making it worth visiting if you can. And Sakonnet Lighthouse is about a half mile from shore, but can be seen when visiting (bring binoculars, though, if you’re hoping to get a better view of it!). It’s really such a pretty area that I look forward to seeing when in town.
11. Wilbur’s General Store
This cute little general store in Little Compton is worth a quick stop while exploring town. It’s not one of the most amazing general stores I’ve been to, however, it’s very cute. In addition to grocery items and such, they have a few other gift and souvenir-oriented things to check out.
Some things you may want to look for here are the Little Compton Seagull Droppings and Lobster Squirts candies.
12. Sakonnet Vineyards
Rhode Island may not be known for its wines, but Sakonnet Vineyards is a really lovely place to check out during your visit. On the grounds, you’ll step inside a renovated barn that serves as their tasting room, where you can get tastings, glasses, and bottles of their wines.
While here, I’d recommend focusing on their whites, with their Vidal Blanc being a favorite, which featuring citrus, pear, and honeysuckle notes. Whichever wine you choose to taste while visiting, you’ll enjoy it while overlooking their beautiful vineyards, which is not a bad way to spend an afternoon!
13. Art Café
If you’re in the area and in need of a little pick-me-up, Art Café is a wonderful stop to make. This tiny little Cape Cod-shingled house welcomes you inside for coffee, tea, baked goods, and snacks, and might be the cutest little pitstop you’ll make during your trip.
14. Visit The Local Farms & Farm Stands
Since you’re on the farm coast, you’ll find a lot of local farm stands, of course! And pretty much all of them are worth stopping for. But a few stand-outs are:
Young Family Farm is a popular one that offers really great pick-your-own opportunities, including strawberries, blueberries, flowers, apples, and tomatoes. There’s also a farm stand for quick stops.
Wishing Stone Farm is another popular one that has an awesome farm stand loaded with seasonal produce, as well as flowers during their growing season.
Small World Farm has a farm stand inside their cute little barn, which offers fresh seasonal produce, and fresh flowers during their growing season.
But really, driving through the area, you’ll see tiny little stands on the side of the road featuring local produce, so I love to make multiple stops and get one thing from each place that looks good to support as many small farms as possible 😊
15. Sakonnet Gardens
One of the best hidden gems in Rhode Island is Sakonnet Gardens, which is a private garden that spans just over an acre.
The garden features multiple themed areas, each with its own distinct character and plant life, showcasing the creativity and expertise of its creators. Some especially cool spots inside include the “Pinkie” garden, with a grove of incense cedars, and the “Punchbowl,” which is filled with rhododendrons in the spring. They also has a Pollinator Plus garden, which was designed to support insect populations.
Pro Tip: Since this is a private garden, there is a fee to enter, and you must make reservations in advance, which you can do by clicking here. It’s also good to know that admission is pricey, but profits go back into maintaining this special spot.
16. Sakonnet Marina
Last on my list is Sakonnet Marina, which is such a scenic place to visit in town. However, the downside to this is, unless you’re staying in the area and can walk over, there’s no place to park, especially in-season.
I usually drive out here on my way to Lloyd’s Beach off-season, and have been able to park at the marina for a few minutes to enjoy the scenery without a problem, but do this at your own risk, of course.
However, if you’re staying at the hotel I recommend below, you can easily walk here during your visit, which is why I wanted to recommend it. It doesn’t take long to visit this area, but there’s a nice rock jetty you can walk out onto, and just enjoy the waterfront scenery.
Where To Stay When Visiting Tiverton
There aren’t any hotels right in Tiverton, but fear not! There’s a fantastic option in Little Compton that I recommend, which is …
Stone House Inn: This inn is such a wonderful hidden gem in the area, and you’ll be able to walk to a beach and the marina from here. It’s listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and the beautiful estate has been lovingly renovated to offer a modern but charming stay. They can even arrange sails on a schooner for you!
→ Click here to check rates & availability at Stone House Inn
Visiting Tiverton, RI – FAQ’s
Is Tiverton, RI Worth Visiting?
As I’m sure you’ve gathered from this post, it absolutely is! It’s one of my top places to visit in Rhode Island, and a town I have to visit every time I travel to the state. It’s a quieter destination that sees fewer crowds (for now, anyway), and just has that perfect blend of rural scenery, coastline, nature preserves, unique shopping, and history.
Does Tiverton Have A Beach?
Yes, you can visit Grinnell’s Beach, which is a smaller one as you drive into Tiverton, or head to the bigger Fogland Beach. However, the best beach in the area is Goosewing Beach Preserve in nearby Little Compton.
Does Tiverton Have A Downtown?
Yes, the Four Corners is considered the downtown area of Tiverton, and where you’ll find most of the shops and cafés. It’s an amazing spot for independent retailers and unique finds, in a charming setting.
How Far Is Tiverton From Newport?
Tiverton is about 35-40 minutes from Newport, RI without traffic. During rush hour or a busy weekend in the summer, it take take a little longer. But, it’s very easy to do as a day trip from Newport if you’re in the area for a few days.
That’s A Wrap On Tiverton!
And there you have it! My insider’s guide to visiting Tiverton, and all the things to do that have to be on your itinerary when you visit for yourself. Whether you’re looking for a day trip from Newport or a quiet getaway that’s a bit more off-the-beaten path, this is such a wonderful little gem to consider that’s loaded with charm and beautiful New England scenery. Happy planning! 😊
