Best Block Island Beaches

Where are the best Block Island beaches? On this island the answer is everywhere. Accessible from almost any direction, you'll find a spectacular patch of sand to suit you. There's no such thing as a bad beach here so try them all. Before you explore one of the more hidden Block Island beaches you might try the main beaches on the east side of the island. Read on or use the links to find a different spot for each day of your family vacation.

On the southern side of the Block Island ferry dock and jetty this beach is right in front of Ballard's restaurant and inn, popular with boaters and with the young crowd. There are cocktail waitresses on the sand, and daily live music outside. There's also a busy volleyball court here with daily games and tournaments. There are lifeguards here, it's busy and sometimes noisy. If you are just on island for the day it's an easy stroll to the beach, right in town.

For a whole different experience you can try one of the more secluded, off the beaten path areas. Harder to get to, maybe not the best for small children, but otherwise a must see.

Continue south up Spring Street, pass by the southeast lighthouse and turn into the Mohegan bluffs entrance. A spectacular view awaits you from this point. Descend a mere 141 steps to a rocky area leading to the sandy shore. This is among the best Block Island beaches. At the bluffs you will also find lots of green clay. Block Islanders like to use this clay as a skin therapy.

Try it yourself: Smear the clay on your body, let it dry in the sun, then jump in the water and wash it off. It's as good if not better than any spa body treatment. And it's free.

Be careful on the south side of the island. People do swim here though the surf can be rough, the undertow strong, rip currents can sweep you away and it's very rocky, no lifeguards. If you look up at the steep cliffs along the sand you will see where the island is eroding. This can be very dangerous as there is no warning as to when a chunk of land will fall from above. The same is true at the top of the bluffs. Do not walk to close to the edge. For this reason the main bluffs overlook is now closed to sightseers.

Continuing south from the bluffs you'll run into a place called Vail. You can get there by parking at the first left on Snake Hole Road, where the painted rock is. There's only room for two or three cars here and the path can be a difficult hike. This is a popular surfing spot when the surf is up. You won't find many people here. It's very rocky, no sand and the surf is usually too rough for swimming.

Another popular surfing spot, not easy to get to for the average sun bather. Drive all the way down Snake Hole Road, there's parking and then a steep walk down a treacherous path to the beach. Nude sun bathing is popular here. Not good for swimming. Strong current and rip tides.

If you continue south from Black Rock you will soon be turning a corner to the southwest side of the island. Most of the rocky beaches along the southwest side are only accessible by private paths. You will rarely see sunbathers and swimmers here. These areas are really only frequented by surfers and fishermen.

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