Rhode Island beach season 2026 to begin Memorial Day weekend

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Rhode Island 2026 beach season is officially set to begin Memorial Day weekend, with all state beaches scheduled to open on Saturday, May 23.

According to the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, beaches will open with lifeguards, concessions, restrooms, beach staff, and other seasonal amenities in place.

Construction projects nearing completion

State officials said improvement work at Misquamicut State Beach is expected to wrap up this month, while construction at Roger Wheeler State Beach should be mostly completed by Memorial Day, though some work may continue into June.

DEM said the remaining construction is expected to have minimal impact on beachgoers during the summer season.

Parking passes now available

Season beach parking passes are already available for purchase online through the Rhode Island State Parks system. Resident, non-resident, and senior passes are all being offered for the 2026 season.

Officials noted online purchases may take up to 24 hours to process and validate. Returning customers with unchanged registration information can skip parts of the verification process.

Passes can also be purchased in person at the LAZ Parking office located at Fishermen’s Memorial State Park & Campground.

Parking lots may be temporarily closed during peak times to help prevent overcrowding. Beachgoers can check the DEM’s real-time beach capacity tracker for current updates.

Summer hiring underway

DEM is also continuing to hire seasonal workers ahead of the busy summer months, including lifeguards, park rangers, and additional beach and campground staff.

Rhode Island beaches traditionally see large crowds beginning Memorial Day weekend as the state enters the unofficial start of summer.