What an amazing way to end the summer! We ended up booking a sunset tour for 730 and the instructions began promptly at that time. The staff are friendly and accommodating and explain the rules of riding on the rail and how to operate the cart. This is the first time I did a night trail so I was pretty stoked to find out we had a little lights on the carts! The whole trail is about 6 miles long with 3 miles to the halfway point. We got off here and had a campfire with two s'mores per person. We enjoyed 20 to 30 minutes of sitting by the water enjoying a campfire while the rest of the peddlers made their way to the fire pits. However, this time is based on your spot in line. We were probably the sixth cart out of the whole lot. So we were there pretty early and had about 10 to 15 minutes to enjoy before the last cart pulled in. Pedaling back was cool. We did see a lot of wildlife and even spotted a buck on the side of the trail. A little scary knowing the wildlife is that close to you. Overall, I had a very good time, and I will continue to book these tours read more

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We booked Rail Explorers in Portsmouth RI for my son's birthday and we had the best time. It was a bucket list item we wanted to check off. The first time I've seen it was on the show, The Real Housewives of RI. The weather was chilly and drizzly, but it turned out nice for us at our 5 pm departure. It's kid-friendly, we got to stop at a picnic spot with a fire and beautiful views of the water and the Newport bridge. It was easy but exhilarating; definitely a unique experience and I highly recommend. We booked a week in advance. The check in process was seamless. The ride took about an hour and a half with the stop at the picnic spot (there were bathrooms too). There is a parking lot as well. Yes, we would definitely do it again! read more

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What an amazing time on rail explorers! We did the sunsets and smores ride and it was amazing catch a view of the beautiful coast and sunset . Then get to the turn around point and roast marshmallows on an open fire and make smores !!! Staff here was super helpful/ friendly. read more

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The best thing my teen and I did on vacation in Rhode Island! Fairly easy pedal, great view, smores and firepits for each group. Clean bathrooms and hand wash stations. Friendly staff! No faults found at this place! Worth every penny!! The best time! Book it! read more

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A group of 4 of us did the Lantern Ride at 7:30pm in April for $215. We thought the weather would be nice in April, but it was quite cold and chilly. We stopped at the scenic waterfront Bayside Station and there was a s'mores bar available while sitting fireside. The wood-burning fire pits kept us warm. After staying there for about 30 minutes, we pedaled back to the beginning. With the same group, the 4 of us did the Sunday Morning Brunch Tour/Bayside Brunch at 9am in August for $270. The weather was a lot better now than in April. We stopped at the scenic waterfront Bayside Station where we were able to use our 2 tickets for alcoholic drinks like Mimosas, Bellinis, and Bloody Marys. Death Wish Coffee and juice were complimentary. There were also complimentary muffins, danishes, and other pastries and fruit. Adirondack chairs were placed facing the water to enjoy the views. The 6 mile roundtrip tour is always an unforgettable experience. The staff are always very friendly and offer to take pictures to capture the memories. A brief instructional talk is always provided at the beginning and now they have a microphone so everyone can hear. Safety is of utmost importance. read more

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Such a fun experience! Your reservation is required beforehand, and they book very quickly. This is not a walk-up type of place. You're greeted by friendly staff, a warm crackling fire, and corn hole games. There's a little shop inside that you can purchase little souvenirs. Depending on your party size, you get a 2 or 4 person rail-car. One person is designated (or volunteered) as the person responsible for handling the breaks. Then you get to have a relaxing and invigorating peddling experience following the water on an old railway. The team along the way were awesome giving us high fives with a small picturesque stop along the water. You're welcome to bring snacks, drinks, camera, etc. Overall, a really great experience especially in the fall. I would happily return back during other seasons to experience it year round. read more

Rail Explorers Rhode Island Division - Tours Near Me - Portsmouth, Rhode Island

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Rail Explorers Rhode Island is an absolute blast! The ride is smooth, the views are ridiculously gorgeous--think sparkling coastline, small patches of trees, and postcard-perfect bridges--and the whole experience feels like a mini adventure you didn't know you needed. The staff makes it even better: super friendly, upbeat, and clearly love what they do. If you want something fun, relaxing, and totally unique, this is the move. read more

Rail Explorers Rhode Island Division - Tours Near Me - Portsmouth, Rhode Island

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Sunset tour was great fun. Staff were efficient and friendly. The facilities were excellent (comfortable Adirondack chairs at the start and mid point, rail cars were clean, etc). Will look for other tours in different cities. read more

Rail biking in Rhode Island was the absolute highlight of our trip! We had a blast on the superb, six-mile ride. It was so slow and relaxing--pure immersion in nature. The staff were fantastic, even snapping pictures for us at scenic spots and making sure everyone was safe at the street crossings (since we were on the tracks, haha!). If you have a location nearby, you have to try it out! read more

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Bought tickets and reserved a spot last minute for the lantern tour at night. They first go over instructions with you and then you find your name on the cart and jump in to place your items in a basket and buckle up. You need to be a minimum of 16 years old to sit in the brake seat. They provide umbrellas in the cart if need be which we needed. It is three miles to the half way point and then they had smores and a campfire for us along with water and restroom. Then we pedaled back, the whole experience was about 2 hours and all staff were really nice. Definitely a good exercise and view. read more

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I can't recommend this business enough!!! Easily one of the coolest experiences of our trip around New England. Now I'm looking up other states that offer it. The staff here were great also very patient and helpful! The 6 mile ride goes by in no time!! read more

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We had a great time on the lantern ride. It's just long enough to keep the kids legs from wearing out. Such a good way to spend a summer evening. The staff is great! read more

Rail Explorers Rhode Island Division - S'mores spot on lantern tour - Tours Near Me - Portsmouth, Rhode Island

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Great experience. Very different from anything else. Well staffed and good service. I really appreciate that the staff offered picture opportunities and it wasn't at an upcharge. read more

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This was so much fun and well coordinated!! Wanted to try something different on vacation with my hubby. Their cars run on railroad tracks that no longer have trains, but do ride along the coast toward Newport. Think recumbent bicycle on rails. Cars can hold 2 or 4 people. Behind us was a mom and child participating. We did a sunset ride that traveled south and had bonfires and s'mores at the point we rode to. They have their own parking lot. And yes there are bathrooms available. If you want to try something different, this is a good choice. I would do something like this in one of their other locations. Highly recommended!! read more

Such a cool experience. Easy to peddle, some parts of the track could be considered moderate for an older crowd. Would recommend packing a couple drinks. The halfway point was gorgeous and we're able to see some animals on the way back! The staff were very friendly and helpful. read more

Rail Explorers Rhode Island Division - Tours Near Me - Portsmouth, Rhode Island

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My husband and I booked the Brunch Tour on 05/24/2026, it started at 9AM, it was a rainy day. Despite that we both had so much fun. The staff were all genuinely happy to work despite the rainy day. I personally thought that I wouldn't make the tour as I am not phyisically fit. But the 1st 3 miles were a breeze because most of the time it is going downhill. Then we had brunch- there was an assortment of croissants, muffins, breakfast pastries, coffee, tea and juices. They also provided 2 tickets each/ person for alcohol. No one in our tour drank alcohol as it was too early. The second 3 miles of going back was a tiny bit hard because you are going uphill, but because you are enjoying yourselves too much- you wont even feel the pain. The staff kept on asking if we want our pictures taken. That was constant. You don't have to ask them. They will ask you. This is truly a good experience. I am so glad we did it. read more

A delightful experience and ride to complete with one or three other close friends! There are certain spots along the trail that are absolutely beautiful to view during the bike ride. Surprisingly easy to keep the tandem bike going as you take in the views. Staff is extremely kind and friendly. Only 4 stars since it is a bit more on the expensive side, but well worth it for a splurge, reunion, or anniversary! read more

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Was super excited for this but admittedly a little underwhelmed. Disclaimer: this was the Southern circuit route, which was 3 miles there and 3 miles back The weather was super cloudy and I saw that Friday, but when I called, no one answered. When I called the next day, they weren't nice and told me no changes whatsoever because it was the day before- even though I called the prior day. The people actually there were super nice, but the customer service over the phone was quite bad. Felt like they didn't care if I had a good time. It was advertised as a sunset tour, but it was too cloudy to see a sunset, and when we got back, it was dark and cold. In regards to the views, it was kind of underwhelming. There were 2 pretty spots overlooking bodies of water, but it was mostly construction/roads/dead trees. Also possible that this is considerably better in summer/early fall. The actual biking wasn't hard and the bikes have a basket if you want to bring things with you! In the middle of this route, you stop by these little campfires while they turn the bikes around. Would've been nice if there was food or s'mores but it's really just sitting and waiting. Last note is that the confirmation email didn't say where to check in but make sure you do so they set aside a bike for you! read more

Had an absolute blast here. My boyfriend surprised me with a sunset tour. Such a fun experience and the team here made it simple for us to understand. The team was very helpful and went out of their way to make our experience memorable. We saw gorgeous views of the beach and bridge. 5/5 stars would do it again! (We brought our own s'mores and waters, which we highly recommend. You get 40-60 mins with a fire pit. So make sure you bring everything you need, including skewers or sticks for the marshmallows!) read more

The trip was a pleasant and relaxing experience. The rail journey had a beautiful scenic views, making it a peaceful way to enjoy the landscape. I wish there were more amenities at the rest stop, such as a small store to buy snacks or water. The return trip was the same route, and it would have been nice to experience a different path on the way back. I did feel like it was a bit overpriced for what you get, I will still recommend this experience if you're in the Rhode Island area. Is it something I will do again? Most likely not. read more

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This was such a fun experience! The workers were super friendly and helpful to get you all set up. There are fire pits, cornhole, and a gift shop to visit while you wait for your tour to start. Once we were seated there's room between you to put your bags, snacks, waters, and SUNBLOCK- bring it you'll need it trust me! We opted for the north tour which was about 5.5-6 miles in one direction. During this tour we saw so much- we went through beaches, residential areas, forests, bridges, and more. It was cool how it wasn't the same scenery the entire time. I had the best time snacking on some strawberries and admiring all the views. I also loved how there were workers at different check points and they took a lot of pictures for us! I would love to do this again. The bus ride on the way back was a perfect way to end the activity. Definitely check out the Rhode Island location- so fun! read more

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A good experience. Probably a little overpriced, and the views weren't that great, but for a new/different experience you could do worse. Super friendly and personable people. This is one of those things where everyone's mileage will vary but it was a fun albeit unspectacular time for me. For the record I did the northern tour. read more

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This was such an awesome and unique experience! The staff is super friendly! It's super easy while getting to see the beautiful coastline.

My friends and I did the dinner ride which was absolutely fabulous. The food was exceptional

It's a fun way to spend 2 hours on Aquidneck Island. This is my third time riding on the Rail Explorers. We have always taken the southern route. Once during the day time and twice during the night time. My kids like the night time excursion way more. I'll explain later. So make sure you book these trips early. During weekends it almost always sells out weeks to months in advance. We got really lucky last time and got a last minute booking on a quad. You don't have to arrive crazy early or anything. Maybe 20 minutes so you can sit down and relax around the serene environment. There is a nice bathroom on site and the parking is ample. You have to sign a waiver in case you decide to stick your hand under the rails. Pretty basic stuff. Pro tip. It's byob. So bring some libations and enjoy the ride. But don't over do it as the restrooms at the turn around is a portapotty and there will be a line to get in. Make sure you properly empty yourself at the beginning. The rail cars are pretty cool. You pedal and brake. They give you ample space between riders for you to go fast and slow and everything in between. While the scenary is nice it's not awe inspiring or anything. If a drive around Ocean Drive is a 10 this is more like a 7. Don't get me wrong it's still very nice. The night ride starts at 8pm and is a 6mile ride to the turn around and back. While waiting for the cars to be turned around there is a nice picnic area with a campfire and Adirondack chairs. Here you can relax and have a few beers. We brought with us a smores kit for the kids. This is probably the main reason the kids like a night ride. All in all it's a very fun 2 hours. Be sure to try it. read more

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Went on it during the summer. It was a bit too hot, but a great ride. Really great views of Newport. read more

Very good activity for out of town guests. It was drizzling the whole time but it would be even more beautiful on a nice day. Ocean views, couple deers were nearby. Great staff! read more

Went today with my sister. Very well organized. The staff is friendly and amazing. They offer to take pictures of your party before starting on your journey. They have bathrooms in the beginning and at the rest stop. Very clean. It's 3 miles in then you stop at a picturesque spot overlooking the ocean. It was extremely windy today. The ride in was considered easy. The people ahead of us was too slow so the staff changed the sequence on the way back. You have 30 minutes to stop and relax or eat. I will tell you pack a light meal because my sandwhich was in my throat on the way back. Much harder time going back working against the wind. I workout 3-4 times a week and this was a cardio workout. It was challenging. I would not recommend this for people whi have knee or back issues. Expect to have this be exertional. I definitely would recommend this experience at this location. read more

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Had a great experience last night. My group (6) booked the sunset tour (8pm). We rented one quad and one tandem. Our route was the 3 mile round trip with the rest point in the middle. We initially booked it for 5 passengers but asked a friend to come (since the price is based per rail bike not per passenger). They adjusted it over the phone with no problems at all. It literally took about 3 minutes and I instantly got an email with my new booking. Just have the extra person arrive early to fill out the waiver. The station has tons of options of seating with nice Adirondack chairs. Some seats had stones in front of them that could be used as ottomans or a coffee table. Some had little side tables. There is a trailer that is converted into a mobile rest room. The women's room had 4 stalls and 2 sinks. I guess some people don't know how to flush camping toilets but other than that they were generally pretty clean. There's also a traditional port a potty next to it. On the side of the station you can find a simple ring game. Hanging from a beam outside of the station you will find a ring dangling from a string. The object of the game is to hold the ring taut and release it just right so that it catches onto a hook that is attached to a vertical post. Kept us busy for a bit. Some cheap old fashioned fun! I did not see the corn hole board any where. On certain days there's a train that serves food out of it but it's closed on Mondays. After a short safety talk we were headed on our way. We started boarding our rail bikes around 8:20. The order of the rail bikes are assigned. The bikes were outfitted with small led lanterns and small headlights and brake lights. Some of the path was lit up along the way in the beginning but only about 30 seconds of biking time. Biking was not an issue for us. It was really effortless to pedal. I was in the quad and we had to hold off on pedaling many times to avoid getting too close to the rail bikes ahead of us. There are 2 points in the ride that have traffic crossings. But at each crossing there was an employee waiting there to wave us through or to warn us of traduce (we didn't see any cars). This made me feel really safe. Also the first rail bike and last rail bike have employees riding so I felt a lot safer. At the back of each rail bike, there's a basket to put your belongings. The floor also has a tight grating and I never felt like my stuff would fall through. The bike seats are very easily adjustable. The seat belts felt very secure. Flanked on both sides of your bike seat there are handles. I found these very useful as I held onto these for dear life lol. We noticed some rail bikes had rubber handles and some had bare metal. We had the metal but I think I would prefer that over the plastic anyway. At the half way point there's a picnic area with more of the Adirondack chairs all circling around a fire pit. Each grouping of riders were assigned a seating area so it was nice that we didn't have to fumble sound in the dark looking for a seating area with 6 chairs. It's already set up for you. The group next to us brought marshmallows to toast. I think next time I'll bring some of those magic campfire packets that change the color of the flames. Not sure if there were adult beverages for sale like other commenters noted because it was so dark. I'm not certain if the fire pits are lit on any other of the time slots. The 8pm ride was a bit more expensive and I think it's for the fire pits. It was about $30 more (for the quad and tandem) than rides earlier in the day. The views over the water were amazing. In the summer months- the 8pm tour lines up nicely with the sunset. Heading back to the station the sky was pretty dark and many stars were out. My youngest and I liked to turn our heads up all the way and pedal. It's slightly dizzying but calming and beautiful. Makes me feel like I'm inside of a swirling snow globe. If you're doing the 8pm ride I recommend bringing a light jacket or a throw blanket. We were all in shorts and shirt sleeved tops. The pedaling kept us warm for a little bit but the coastal breezes and the wind from riding fast gave us a chill. The terrain is 100% flat. The Rhode Island Rail Explorers are the only rail bikes in the US that don't have the electric brake assist because of our flat track. This ride is easy enough for anyone to do. A few cars in front of us had a cane wielding early man with his daughter and they were doing fine. Come check it out. The whole process was easy to book, modify, and do. read more

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Absolutely amazing experience!!! My boyfriend and I came up from CT for my birthday weekend, this being our main attraction. We chose to do the night lantern ride and it was such an unforgettable adventure! The staff is extremely attentive and super friendly. They answer any questions and concerns that you may have. The lantern ride is a bit different than the day time. For the night time slots, the ride is 6 miles round trip of pedaling along. You ride down to the substation(3 miles), take a break by a relaxing bon fire and then pedal back another 3 miles. I suggest emptying your bladder before the ride begins (the bathrooms are very clean and spacious) as it'll take you a while to reach the rest point. Before you take off they ensure you are strapped in, know the mechanics of the bike and allow ample space in between parties to ensure you get the best experience possible by being able to go at your own pace. I encourage those booking the ride to pack a cooler (byob) and lots of snacks. The only things I wish we did differently was pack a s'mores kit - as you will have the perfect opportunity to kick back and relax at the bon fires (on the evening ride) and pack some glow sticks as the trail gets super dark. It was also bit foggy and drizzly when we went but we didn't care because it was so peaceful and SUCH an experience. As you board your bike, they give you a rail explorers booklet. The booklet holds all the historical information about the railway with provided numbered markers along the way. As you pedal, you will see the markers on the path, which makes it even more surreal. You are literally pedaling on by where some of Rhode Island's most vital history took place! If you are a history buff, YOU NEED TO GO!!! We will remember this for years to come and cannot wait to visit again to try the other trail! **To the Portsmouth staff, Thank you for making my birthday weekend so special, you guys rock!** read more

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We had so much fun! Three of us rented a quad rider, including one with some pre-existing knee issues and one probably just a touch past middle age, and had no problem moving along at a good pace. Ok, ok, after about 5 minutes of pedaling I was thinking that there was no way I'd be able to complete the full 6-mile northern route, but about a minute or so later it turned out we'd hit a patch where we moved by inertia and the short break from pedaling made the rest of the trip a breeze - until the end of the journey when we stood up and all of us felt the gentle but real workout. Seriously though, almost anybody can do this (so easy that after the ride the person with knee issues decided to take up the recumbent bike)! The Rail Explorer staff were great. Very friendly and polite, and present enough along the trail to be helpful. There were good instructions, including about social distancing (I see you, Covid), signaling the car behind you when you slow down, and public cross streets. I only wish the route had better signage since two of us pedaled past the Green Acres Topiary Garden without turning our heads to the right to peek at the display at the bottom of their lawn. We also couldn't tell which towns we were riding through or which fancy golf/country clubs we were passing. No instructions were needed to find the ride under the Mount Hope Bridge a real highlight! Even the bus ride back to the home base was well handled, and less of a downside to the experience than we expected. We are coming back to take the round trip 3 mile route. Such a fun experience for residents and it was a real hit with an out of state visitor! read more

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What a cool family experience!!! Highly recommend for all ages. We did the 6 mile one way trip. They have a bus waiting for you at the half turn. read more

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I came here for the 11:30 AM tour (Northern route) on a Sunday morning with a group of 4 people so we booked a quad rail bike. I was very impressed by how professional and organized the experience was. We checked in at 11:15 AM and they provided a booklet with all the points of interest along the way. The safety briefing was about 10 minutes before the tour. The rail bike was really easy to pedal and it was nice to see the scenery along the way. There was the shoreline, golf courses, the Blue Trail, random people's backyards, and a wildlife sanctuary. It was fall and 70 degrees outside so it definitely all depends on the weather to have the best experience. It was a fun experience so I would definitely recommend! read more

Rail Explorers Rhode Island Division - All the rail bikes - Tours Near Me - Portsmouth, Rhode Island

If you have never experienced a Rail Ride, these guys will do you right. We (group of 4, $40 each and $3 processing fee on a quad) opted for an 11am Northern Route on a Sunday. Weather was beautiful, as was the Fall ride. Staff I think might be too friendly and accommodating however. There was a group that had a dog (really cute) which seemingly fit ok on the car, but it's behavior was unpredictable. Something happened I'm sure on the track as there was a good 10 minute delay from the bus leaving the end and coming back, so I'm not sure having pets allowed is a good thing as it affects others. Also, there was a dining car and other train cars on the property that weren't open so besides the rail ride there wasn't much to do on the property while waiting. Staff is friendly and helpful to take pictures with your phones and whatnot so that's a great plus. read more

What a bummer. We've ridden five times - each year in August with our grandkids and their parents. This year the first car (a crew member set the pace) was so boring and slow we will never be back. What a waste of time and money. read more

Fun experience overall, however I wish we did the Northern Ramble instead of the Southern Circuit. There was not much to sightsee except the side of the highway, bushes along the way, however you could see a nice view of the ocean for a short part of the trail. Crew members were nice and we started on time. read more

Rail Explorers Rhode Island Division - Tours Near Me - Portsmouth, Rhode Island

Staff members were polite and kept the seats dry before we boarded. The scenery along the track was breath taking. The weather however made the experience less enjoyable since we had to hold umbrellas up during our ride. I wish the cars were equipped with canopies. My legs were a bit wobbly after the ride. Lol read more

Rail Explorers Rhode Island Division - Tours Near Me - Portsmouth, Rhode Island

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Very nice. Great way to spend a morning, peddling along the edge of the bay. Lots of beautiful views and my wife spotted an American Redstart, a life list bird for her. The rail bikes worked great and were amazingly efficient, very little effort required. All the employees were friendly and knowledgeable. About 90 minutes including a 10 min break at the turn around point. read more

Rail Explorers Rhode Island Division - Getting ready to peddle the rails. - Tours Near Me - Portsmouth, Rhode Island

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Rode the Rail Explorers, RI, with a friend and had a wonderful experience! We weren't sure what to expect but the trip exceeded our expectations! The rail bikes were easy to pedal, but still so much fun. The trip was a perfect duration - not long enough that it became boring, yet long enough that we were ready to be done! We did the Mimosa Tour, the view was beautiful and the drinks / treats did not disappoint. We took lots of pictures and made another great memory. I would recommend Rail Explorers to anyone, and already have! read more

Fantastic experience and the staff is very nice. Definitely recommend for a nice summer day activity. Also the business takes steps to operate in a sustainable manner, which is very refreshing to see. read more