A 70’s style beach experience with good side trips.
A 1970’s vibe beach, a nearby vibrant town, some excellent beach food, good biking, and good surfing.
Misquamicut State Beach is the central feature — wide sand, strong surf, and a honky tonk strip of beach bars and arcades. But the real surprise is Westerly, a nearby town with a Victorian park, riverfront dining, and some of the most creative food in Rhode Island. Camp at Burlingame, ride to Watch Hill and back, and spend your evenings in Westerly. This is a destination of contrasts.
🏕️ Camping – Burlingame State Park and Campground
Burlingame Campground in Rhode Island features approximately 700 campsites and is located next to Watchaug Pond. It offers amenities such as restrooms, showers, a playground, and access to hiking trails and a freshwater beach.
This may be one of the oldest state campgrounds in New England. It is currently undergoing some updating to facilities and that will be an improvement. Construction on the park began in the early 1930s and it opened in 1938. I don’t believe any campsite offers a hookup of anykind.
🏖️ Beaches – Beach Names & Quirks
Blue Shutters Beach – Charlestown
Small, sheltered sandy beach on Ninigret Pond (saltwater tidal pond) offering calm waters and a protected shoreline ideal for families and kayakers. It’s less than 2 miles from the campground.
This town beach is open to residents only for parking. Ride your bike to avoid paying and the residency requirement. No questions asked. The beach can get crowded as the day goes on. Mornings are best.
There is a small parking area, picnic tables, restrooms/seasonal lifeguards at times, and nearby boat launch for non-motorized craft; limited on-site services—plan to bring supplies. There are outdoor showers.
East Beach – Charlestown
East Beach is similar to Blue Shutters but Atlantic-facing, with surf and tidal flats. No photo yet — but it’s worth the ride.
Misquamicut State Beach
This beach was the summer beach destination of my youth. It was and still is a party beach. A wide, sandy Atlantic-facing state beach on Rhode Island’s southwestern coast with strong surf, shifting sandbars, and expansive tidal flats at low tide; backed by dune systems, beachfront businesses, and a developed summer district.
During the day it’s an energetic, family- and tourist-oriented beachfront with a lively summer atmosphere—vendors, arcades, seaside restaurants, and seasonal events—plus scenic sunsets over the water. There are a lot of beach bars.
Lifeguarded swimming areas (seasonal), large paid parking lots, restrooms and outdoor showers, boardwalk sections, picnic areas, and nearby concessions; rental shops for chairs/umbrellas and water-sport equipment.
The adjacent Misquamicut business district offers restaurants, ice cream stands, arcades, and summer lodging; nearby Watch Hill and coastal villages provide additional dining, boutiques, and a marina. Inland salt ponds, marshes, and walking trails offer quieter nature options close by.
If you are looking for a serene beach experience this isn’t it.
🚴 Bike Rides – Route Descriptions
From camp to Blue Shutters beach with an additional trip to East Beach is only 6.5 miles round trip. Very easy.
Dunn’s Corner to Watch Hill and back along the shore is an excellent ride. Not too long and lots of points of interest along the way. Ideally, you’d ride from Burlingame to Watch Hill. But that adds significant miles. So drive to Dunn’s Corner (5 minutes), park at Walmart, and start the 17-mile loop from there. The car moves once — then you’re back on two wheels.
🍽️ Food – Fresh, Local & Unique
Be warned this may get long. There is no shortage of good places that are nearby. Perhaps more than any other destination. I’m going to list more than I normally do.
Dave’s Coffee – Charlestown
Start your day at Dave’s Coffee. It’s a short bike ride from the campground. Just about 1 miles. A cozy, local coffee shop in Charlestown serving carefully brewed espresso, house-roasted beans, and scratch pastries in a relaxed, seaside-village setting.
I love their blueberry muffins with a black coffee. I’ll sit for awhile and plan my day on my laptop. The key item in the picture is the coffee syrup. This is a unique Rhode Island product. You add it to milk for a genuine Rhode Island coffee milk. It’s good and I’ll get one in the afternoon if I’m not up for coffee. Try one and get yourself a bottle!
Sunny Side Up – Westerly
Just under 4 miles from the campground this breakfast joint is just right. A classic breakfast diner: a warm, unpretentious spot serving hearty morning favorites—eggs any style, fluffy pancakes or waffles, crisp bacon or sausage, hash browns, home fries, omelettes, and generous coffee refills. Portions are generous, prices reasonable, and service is casual and familiar.
Monahan’s Clam Shack – Charlestown
Just off the shore in Charlestown, Monahan’s Clam Shack serves up authentic, unfussy coastal fare: generous plates of crispy fried clams and scallops, creamy clam chowder, and lobster rolls served hot with plenty of butter. Portions are hearty, service is fast, and the picnic-table setup means you’ll be eating with sea breeze and salt air—an ideal, budget-friendly stop to refuel after exploring the beaches.
Cinder Restaurant -Westerly
Cinder is a cozy, river side restaurant in Westerly. It has one of the more interesting menus I’ve encountered in my New England seaside travels. It offers elevated American comfort food with a focus on fire-driven flavors—think charred vegetables, wood-grilled proteins, and smoky house-made sausages. The menu combines seasonal ingredients with craft cocktails and a curated wine list; attentive service and a warm, rustic dining room make it a solid choice for date nights, weekend dinners, or a relaxed celebratory meal.
To get an idea of the creative dishes at Cinder consider the appetizer dish pictured below.
Lemon garlic hummus with seed & onion jam, feta, cilantro, and with warm naan for chips.
River Bar -Westerly
This is a great restaurant in Westerly. A bit more upscale than my customary “beach food” cuisine but you have to treat yourself once in a while. River Bar is a relaxed waterfront restaurant and bar on the Pawcatuck River offering elevated pub fare, fresh seafood, and a solid selection of craft beers and cocktails. The menu mixes approachable plates—fried seafood, burgers, salads, and seasonal specials—with shareable appetizers and daily catches; portion sizes are generous and prices reasonable. Dining focuses on casual comfort with indoor seating and outdoor riverfront tables (great for sunset views), plus a friendly, neighborhood vibe that suits families, date nights, and post‑beach crowds.
Awesome “Rhodes Island style” clam chowder. Got some sourdough bread with a garlic butter and a pesto butter.
Hanger steak done perfectly.
📜 Local Knowledge & History
🏛️ Wilcox Park
Wilcox Park is a Victorian-era landscaped park and arboretum. In the summer there is theater. Grab a gelatto from Pompelmo’s on the street and enjoy a pleasant evening stroll.
🎥 Video Highlights
Here’s a video tour of Burlingame State Park campground which leaves the camp and heads down to Blue Shutters beach.
A video of the bike ride listed above from Dunn’s Corner into Watch Hill. From Watch Hill we go into Misquamicut State Beach and stop there to take it all in.
This video shows more of Misquamicut State Beach and rides along the “strip” of amusements, restaurants, and bars. It show more of the honky tonk vibe. It begins in Watch Hill and ends at the Weekapaug area.
📌 Tips for Misquamicut & Westerly
- Get into Westerly for dinner – This town is delightful. It’s not a tourist area. Great food and Wilcox Park is awesome.
- Ride your bike – Avoid parking fees and residency requirements.
- Ninigret Park – For something different check out the scuiptures known as the Troll Trail.
- Watch Hill – ho hum. Skip this pretentious burg, keep riding.
- Enjoy the beach food – Hot dogs, burgers, fried dough, pizza, and seafood.
📸 Photo Gallery
New page created for The Summer of 100 Beaches.