We had a fun time walking around the state park. There were some sailboat races happening on the water, and it was a breezy, clear day to walk around the outside of the fort. We will have to come back again to see the inside, it was nearing closing time when my friends and I ended up walking over so I'd be interested in seeing inside at some point. read more

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As far as forts go, I've seen more impressive forts but this is a good place for a walk. There is a walking trail. Plenty of parking. As far as walking trails go, it is not a scenic walk. Some would say boring. I walked the entire big loop in about half hour and I rarely stopped for pictures. There are better spots for sunsets and I don't think it's here. There is a restroom in the area and also opened in December, which is nice. read more

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I'll start off by saying I'll have to revisit this review down the road, as there was a car show going on at the site so I couldn't fully enjoy or explore the site. From what I did experience, the site offered some historical facts and nice views. Some things were blocked off, and the place was stormed with people and cars and it got a little chaotic. I'm not agorphobic by any means, but it got to be a little much for me. read more

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We had a great tour! I can't recommend the guided tour enough. BJ our guide was wonderful, very knowledgeable and nice. His tour was very easy to understand and follow. You could go into more places with the guide than walking on your own. I love how engaged the Fort is with the community as well. They have different events and even weddings here which I didn't know. Easy parking out front. Tours meet in the building slightly to the left of the welcome center/ gift shop. read more

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Fort Adams State Park preserves a large fort located at the harbor mouth in Newport, Rhode Island. It was built in 1841. President Eisenhower used the commander's house here as a summer White House during his presidency. People use this park for a myriad of recreational activities. We walked our dog around the Bay Walk and enjoyed fabulous views of the busy harbor and bay. read more

Fort Adams State Park - The Bay Walk - Parks Near Me - Newport, Rhode Island

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Went here with my parents on Wednesday July 17th 2024 as part of our Newport, RI vacation. We went to view the historic fort adams. First i read about it online a little bit to see if i was interested in it. Parking is free. Fort entrance is easy to find. They offer both self guided tours, and guided tours. While it was more money, we decided on a guided tour of the fort. Unfortunately, or fortunately, we had to wait about 30 minutes for our tour to begin. So we went to the cafe, which also had a restroom. Restroom was pretty clean. My dad brought chips and a Strawberry banana smoothie from the cafe which was pretty good. There was also a penny machine in the gift shop and got another penny as a souvenir. We also brought a magnet from the gift shop as well. Before you know it, it was time for our guided tour to begin. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable about the park itself. some highlights was that we saw where the general would stay the headquarters, as well as some of the crew, we also saw a nice view at the top of fort adams. i forgot his name but he was very enjoyable, and even recommended to stop by St. Mary's where JFK and Jacqueline Kennedy got married. (since it was our first time in Rhode Island) You can see the whole town of newport, and it is very pretty. Fort Adams is one of the oldest forts in america, and it is the first to have sound tunnels. As a guided tour, we were able to go in the sound tunnels, and it is a cool experience. not recommended if one is claustrophobic though. I enjoyed both the tour and the experience with the sound tunnels and recommend that one stops by and sees history for themselves! read more

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We came for a walk, knowing very little about the park. There is a 'gatehouse' at the entrance that was unmanned. Road signs point the way to the visitor center near the Fort. A narrow, paved walkway follows the water around the fort. Expect to get plenty of sea breeze (sturdy hat or hair tie would be helpful) and lots of sun. The park has plenty of lawn, including a rugby pitch. Tickets to tour Fort Adams may be purchased in the visitor center gift shop, where they also offer a cafe. Sail Newport offers sailing lessons to the public from the park. Check out their website for details. There are a few spots to moor your boat in summer. Contact the dock office for details on that. They also have event spaces here and host a variety of summer time public events. They even have a small event museum near the fort. A tiny beach area is located in a small cove. There are 3 or 4 parking spots dedicated to beach goers nearby. Another, much larger parking lot is near the visitor center. Public restrooms are accessed from outside the buildings at the visitor center and dock office. There are also port-a-potties behind the visitor center. Lots to explore here. I look forward to our next visit. read more

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Our tour guide B.J was the best! Highly recommend doing the hard hat tour. Such rich history

Impressive! It was a nice self walk tour. Be sure to go to the top to look out over the water.

Lots to learn here at Fort Adams State Park. The hours are pretty limited; from 10 AM to 3 PM daily during the Summer. I believe they only open on weekends during the Spring and Fall. We arrived to the large parking area in the early afternoon on a cloudy Saturday. The parking lot is massive so there were lots of spaces available. Before you enter the Fort, you have to go to the right toward a building where you can buy tickets, snacks and drinks, and souvenirs. There are also bathrooms there too. We opted to do the self tour ($7 adults, $4 children) but after visiting the Fort, I regret that we didn't do the guided tour ($15 adults, $8 children). Throughout the fort, there are tidbits of information scattered around and a small interior section with some museum-style exhibits and information panels. With the guide tour, you get all of that, but a guide takes you around and tells you about each area of the Fort. In the guided tour, you also get access to additional locations, like the tunnels! After visiting the inside of the Fort, be sure to head toward the North of the Fort, behind it...you will see some awesome views of the water from there. There were alos a bunch of people fishing there...though I don't know the permit requirements there. read more

Fort Adams State Park - Parks Near Me - Newport, Rhode Island

There is always something good to see at Fort Adams. Ships of all sizes coming and going, amazing views from all angles, and a big walking trail to stretch your legs and see it all. This has been the site of many corporate events, a spooky haunted house, and tons of people just getting out to enjoy Rhode Island. read more

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this is one of the best forts I've been to. The grounds were clean, the water view was amazing, staff was nice, plenty of free parking, and veteran events. They offer free admission or paid tours read more

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A short detour off 10 Mile Drive will take you to this historic fort. It was once the second largest bastioned fort in the United States, originally designed to be the most heavily armed fort in America and garrison up to 2,400 troops. Today it is most notable for its views of the bay and as home to both the Newport Folk and Jazz Festivals. It is also the home to the flagship SSV Oliver Hazard Perry as well as a Del's Frozen Lemonade truck. read more

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A lighthouse is a cool retro landmark for historic relics needed before Global Positioning Satellites. Each lighthouse revolves at a different speed do mariners can tell from a chart which lighthouse they are by. read more

Steve was an excellent guide! Honestly best tour guide I've ever had the pleasure of encountering. He really made the experience fun. His fun facts and expert knowledge on the fort really kept it interesting. You learn a lot about the history of Rhode Island, as well as realize important war techniques that kept the fortress impenetrable. Steve thank you for your time, you were brilliant! read more

Beautiful location to enjoy scenic Newport! I have been coming here since I was a little girl and have always enjoyed it! They usually hold a lot of different events and festivals here. It's also a great spot for a cozy picnic, a walk around the water, a tour of the fort, or to just sit and relax to take in that salty air!!! There is always something to look at! Never a dull moment! read more

Fort Adams State Park - Gorgeous views - Parks Near Me - Newport, Rhode Island

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Quick story for you which I am still very puzzled about. I came to Fort Adams State Park with my kids to explore. We went to use the public bathrooms inside their gift shop. I threw my small bag of trash inside a bigger trash can located in the bathroom. A staff member picked it out of the trash to bring it back to me and rudely said "here's your trash." I politely said okay and took it back. Then I proceeded to find another trash can inside the store and threw it in there instead. Wait, what?!?!? I threw my trash INSIDE OF A TRASH CAN. Make it make sense!!!! Shame on the staff member for doing that. Here I am being a good citizen and not throwing it on the ground like most people in this world do. read more

Went on an incredible guided tour of the fort with Steve. I learned so much more than I would have had I done it self-guided. So great exploring the intricacies behind the architectural decisions that for made due to the geographical location of the bay and surrounding landscape. As a non-history buff, this was time and money well spent. After a tour, you can peruse the gift shop and walk around the beautiful peninsula. There are great views of the bay, ships, and surrounding homes. Must stop when in Newport. read more

Park: Cute park to walk by the water, have a sunset picnic, or just run around and play with the family. In the winter I come here to sled down the hills at the entrance of the park. In the spring and summer I come here to walk and see the boats, the water and the sunsets here. Some boats are available to rent and there are sailing classes available. Fort Adams: they have tours where you can walk around the inside of the fort for a small fee. For an additional fee you can get a hard hat tour and wAll around the inside of the facility and underground- I've never done it but have always wanted to. During the summer there are also several events here such as the jazz fest and folk fest where for a hundred or so dollar fee you can spend a day listening to a line up of various artists- hozier comes to jazz festival almost every year. read more

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Came here for a day a was very impressed - it's a gem of a place for history buffs. The fort was phenomenal and the ship parked next to it was very beautiful. Wonderful place to be on a sunny day and lots of things to do. It's notable that Dwight Eisenhower vacationed at Fort Adams while he was president! Definitely recommend visiting. read more

Fort Adams State Park - Parks Near Me - Newport, Rhode Island

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Was so much more than I expected. Not just a rainy day activity, but should be in the Todo list for Newport

The female employee shouted at another employee, "everyone and their r****ded uncle is here this weekend!" (There was a golf tournament going on.) My husband and I were in the process of unloading our toddler and infant for a day at the fort after driving over from base. I know our 2 year old heard her. We looked at each other and silently just walked away. No interest in visiting again - don't know why this woman is in customer service. We were in the parking lot so maybe she didn't consider herself "on the clock" yet, but she was wearing her Ft. Adams shirt (as was the man she was talking to). Not a great way to represent yourself or the place you work. read more

yesterday we discovered they have a nice big picnic area. they have a beautiful fishing area. my dad loves to fish. i love eating the fish my dad catches. they had a lot of events going on yesterday. there were a lot of fishermen. i think they were having a fishing competition. they had stuff for the kids. they had some kind of private event going on. i was there once, and there was a wedding going on. there is a lot to do at fort adams. i want to go back, so my dad can fish, and i could tour the fort again. maybe if i am lucky i will see a ghost or two. if i do, i hope they are friendly. i dont like mean ghosts. read more

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Fort Adams has become one of my favorite places to drive down during the week to go on a walk with my 4-month old in the stroller on a nice day. Parts of the 2-mile walking path called the Bay Walk could use some much needed improvements and better signage, but other than that, it's nice. I've also been here when they have events like the Clam Chowder Cook-Off and when they hosted the Volvo Ocean Race recently. It's also a military housing area, as well as where President Eisenhower's summer home is and currently used for weddings and other social events. Be warned, traffic getting there during the summer (especially weekends) can get pretty bad. read more

Nice walk... Came here to visit the Fort last month in January but was disappointed that it was closed for the season until May. Fort Adams wasn't part of our vacation itinerary but it would've been nice to see a part of history. We did walk around the perimeter and got a beautiful view of the bridge and Newport harbor. We took a few pictures of the outside and its beautiful surroundings to take home a little bit of history with us back to California because who knows when I'll be back to the east coast again... Review #0055 read more

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Love Fort Adams. Perfect place to see the sun set. Picnic tables and bathrooms available. Great views from all angles. read more

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We took a tour with Tony and had a great time. He shared some history and was very knowledgeable. Was a little bit of walking so make sure you have comfortable shoes and some water. Definitely a high point of a visit to the area. read more

We were visiting from Louisiana and made it a point to visit Fort Adams outside of Newport. We didn't take the tour of the fort itself. Instead, we did some research on our own and decided to do the Bay Walk trail. Given it's fall, there weren't many people out and about and we were truly able to enjoy the scenic views and take in all of nature's beauty at our own pace without feeling rushed. It's so easy to lose an entire day out there admiring all of the views. No regrets here whatsoever though. Would certainly return. read more

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I drove in this afternoon and looked around the park a little. Since it is in the middle of the winter and also the 1st of the year, there wasn't a lot to see. I'll have to stop back later in the year when I can get into the fort for a tour. read more

Fort Adams State Park - State Park entrance - Parks Near Me - Newport, Rhode Island

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Was in Newport Rhode Island , had one day to sightsee. It was raining so we decided to visit Fort Adams . Tony was our guide, very informative and made the visit very enjoyable. If you're in this area it's a must see. read more

When we came it was whipping around rain and windy for a summery day. Out of caution, they were closing so we were unable to sail. The shop was fun to pick around and buy a few things. We were able to drive by Eisenhower's house but otherwise left. The park is huge and looks like a lot fun on a sunny day. read more

Were in town for a regatta being held at the park, great docks with loads of space for relaxing after a day on the water.

Really enjoyed our guided tour of Fort Adams this past Memorial Day Weekend. They offer hourly tours for $12 each (but $2 off with AAA discount!), and we got one of the last ones of the day. Our tour lasted nearly 90 minutes -- and it was super informative and very cool! We had fun climbing up to the top of the fort for a great view of the bay, walking through the old drafty barracks, and crawling underneath the walls as a "tunnel rat!" Learning about its unique history as a never-used military fortress made for a fun afternoon. We didn't spend too much time exploring the surrounding area other than the fort -- there was a sailing event happening at the same time, so we didn't venture toward the stage or watch any of the boats. There was plenty of free parking available, even with the boat show in town. The main office / shop was nice, and they offer small snacks & drinks in addition to the usual gifts & mementos. All in all, we thought it was a great adventure & an appropriate activity for Memorial Day Weekend. Glad we took the time to see it! read more

Fort Adams State Park - Fort Adams on a foggy Memorial Day weekend. - Parks Near Me - Newport, Rhode Island

Where are all these great reviews coming from? We did the self guided tour and it was a huge disappointment. The whole fort is just filled with trash, paint cans, etc. No interesting displays, in need of MAJOR refurbishment. I can't believe they charge for this. Saw one area that looked slightly interesting and a woman came running to screech at me that it was only part of the guided tour. No one told me certain areas were only part of the guided tour when I purchased the tickets. The worst stage park I've ever been to, no exaggeration. read more

Super awesome, super cool, super everything. What a great way to experience history! It's a bit of a drive, even from Newport, but the place is awesome! Even without the Fort, the view of the harbor and the sailboats all around is terrific! I'm running out of superlatives, so I'll just end this review with ALL CAPS and exclamation points. GO HERE ASAP!!! read more

Fort Adams State Park - Parks Near Me - Newport, Rhode Island

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Beautiful and cool park with nice views of the water and boats. It is free to go to the main area, park, and walk around. You can pay to go inside the actual fort -- which looks really cool too. There you can also walk through small tunnels for a really interesting experience. read more

Beautiful fort that's very big and spacious and on the water. I had a great time here with my family!

Seems to me this must be yelped already and I just can't find it. Middle of January, so it looks like my craving for summer is right on schedule: Only seven more months until the 2008 Newport Jazz Festival at Fort Adams! Won't I feel silly if they change the location this year. Usually the second week in August. I confess to not knowing much else of what goes on here aside from the Newport Folk Festival. It's a great place to be on a sizzling summer day/weekend with jazz greats on the stage, and boats crowded in to hear on the ocean behind the seating area. I do not like reserved seating as you're stuck in seats. General Admission gives you some freedom and if you get there by 10 a.m. or so, you get a good spot. I'm getting used to the 3 stage arrangement, but I don't like missing so much. Often I think the artists appearing on those smaller stages should be on the main stage. Why don't they ask me about these things? They began serving wine and beer last year, but the lines were formidable so I was having none of that. Sure would be nice to be able to bring a bottle of wine. But nooooooooo :-p There are plenty of vendors selling all kinds of clothing, jewlery, art, music, and a variety of food vendors selling Thai, BBQ, Greek Salads and meat skewers, Chowder, Steak and Cheese/Sausages, coffee, lemonade, ice cream and the like. Just bring lots of sun block and a light longsleeve shirt, to protect you from all-day sun and wind, especially if you're light complected. Other things I like to bring: sweatshirt water crackers, cheese and fruit comfortable chair (lowish so people don't freak behind you) blanket (so you can make more room in front of your chair and so you can stretch out and close your eyes towards the middle of the afternoon) binoculars camera comfortable, yet stylish, footwear http://www.festivalnetwork.com/events.php read more

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Fort Adams is a great spot for picnicking and taking a walk while enjoying great views. Self guided tours of the fort cost around 6$ and do not include access to the underground tunnels or overlooks. There really isn't much to see with the restricted access. Guided tour of the fort costs 12$ and takes you to top of the Fort walls to the depths of the underground listening tunnels. They also have a ghost tour on Fridays at 7 PM which costs 15$. You can take a stroll along the 2.2 mile Bay Walk. Walking around the park is free. Along the walk way you can enjoy great views of Narragansett Bay, Newport Bridge, boats in the Newport harbor, lighthouses and Clingstone- The 'House on the Rock'. Keep a few quarters on you to enjoy the view from the Pay Observation Binoculars. Sail Newport is located in the park near a small public beach - it offers instructional sailing programs, fleets of rental boats. Eisenhower House and the Museum of Yachting are also located in the park. Every year, the park hosts the Newport Jazz Festival and the Newport Folk Festival. Parking is free in the park. Restrooms are open May-October. The park is open from sunrise to sunset. read more

Fort Adams State Park - Parks Near Me - Newport, Rhode Island

During a recent visit to Newport our family planned to stop in at the State Park. We figured we would be able to kill a couple of hours walking around and enjoying the views. We were pleasantly surprised to learn via a quick Yelp search that the park offered guided tours that were unanimously well-reviewed. With a AAA membership the admission to the tour for our family of four was $24. This is without question the best deal on the island. The tour guide was amazing. He immediately captivated the kids on the tour with interactive games including loading and firing a cannon. He was extremely knowledgeable and engaging with the adults as well. He guided us through the officer's quarters, kill zones and the underground tunnels. What an amazing experience! read more

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