Jamestown sits on Conanicut Island in Narragansett Bay, with coastal terrain that ranges from rocky shorelines to small, protected beaches. Summer temperatures typically range from 65°F to 80°F with occasional foggy mornings due to the maritime climate. Wind conditions can be significant factor, especially for tent campers, with evening gusts often exceeding 15 mph near shore sites.
What to do
Beach exploration: 2 miles from Fort Getty Campground. Mackerel Cove offers a swimming area with small waves appropriate for families. According to one visitor at Fort Getty Campground, "Such a beautiful destination for tourists, travelers, & beach goers...Talk about being right on the water with access to excellent swimming. Such a lovely vantage point with your tent location from the top of FORT GETTY."
Historic lighthouse tour: 10-minute drive. Visit Point Judith Lighthouse, operational since 1810. A camper at Fishermens Memorial State Park Campground noted, "Close to Narragansett, an adorable beach community with lots of shops and places to eat as well as close to the ferry to Block Island."
Fishing opportunities: Available onsite. Multiple campgrounds offer pond or shoreline fishing. At Wawaloam Campground, a visitor mentioned, "This our favorite campground, lots for the kids to do, and safe for them to run free. Water and power are good, no internet to speak of, and many sites do not have sewer, but pump out is low cost and convenient."
What campers like
Easy access to ferries: The Block Island Ferry runs from Point Judith, approximately 20 minutes from Jamestown. A camper at Fishermens Memorial State Park Campground shared, "Love the closeness to the ferry to block island, shops & restaurants."
Pet-friendly beaches: The shoreline areas accessible from several campgrounds allow dogs during specific hours. At Melville Ponds Campground, one reviewer mentioned, "We got a great pull through full hookup with a 5 minute walk to a huge dog park. There are also a bunch of beautiful trails right from the park."
Stargazing opportunities: The coastal location offers dark skies away from city lights. A visitor at Horseneck Beach State Reservation reported: "The area is very dark at night so if you are into stargazing, this is a great place to bring a telescope or a good camera to take some pictures. We woke in the middle of the morning to see the Milky Way in the sky above us quite clearly."
What you should know
Site selection matters: Choose sites away from high-traffic areas for more peace. A camper at Burlingame State Park Campground advised, "If you want a good visit do not stay down by the lake!!!"
Noise considerations: Some campgrounds experience late-night activity, particularly during peak season. A Fort Getty visitor noted, "Very loud music, bright lights until 3am. Zero enforcement of 10pm curfew in sites 16 and above. Complaints to guard only got softer music."
Seasonal bugs: Beyond ticks, mosquitoes can be prevalent in wooded areas. One Horseneck Beach camper shared: "The tick situation was just very difficult. We drowned ourselves in tick spray, but the ticks were overwhelming. If it wasn't for the ticks, we probably would have loved this campground."
Tips for camping with families
Dog-friendly activities: Several trails accommodate pets within 5-10 minutes of Jamestown. A visitor at Newport RV Park mentioned, "We chose this park due to its location close to downtown Newport (a mere five miles). The other camping option, which did appeal to us, was Fishermen's Memorial State Park but it was a good 30-40 minutes away from downtown Newport."
Water activities for kids: Look for campgrounds with dedicated swimming areas. A camper at Wawaloam Campground reported: "Pool and slide were great - wish the slides were open the whole day. It may have just been the time of year we were there though. Site was huge. Having food and ice cream there was a plus."
Weather preparation: Coastal storms can develop quickly, especially in fall. One camper at Horseneck Beach advised: "We stayed in early June and found both nights to be very cold with the constant wind coming off of the water so bring an extra blanket."
Tips from RVers
Hookup availability: Plan for limited or no sewer connections at some state parks. A camper at Carr Point Recreation Facility noted, "There are 6 spots with water and electric, there's a campground not too far with a dump station for $20. The view is nice and there's a recreation area next to the campground."
Site leveling: Many campgrounds require blocks or levelers. A visitor at Melville Ponds reported: "Our site had a slight downhill slope so it required some extra blocks to level out. Overall, the whole place is a great campground."
Premium site availability: Request specific sites when making reservations. At Fishermens Memorial, a camper advised, "There are four areas, and each has advantages and disadvantages. Area One has the best views and full hookups but there is no bathhouse; Area Two also has full hookups, no view and some of the sites (55-65) are decidedly not level."
Legend
