Fishermens Memorial State Park Campground provides water and electric sites for pet owners situated 1.5 miles from Narragansett Beach. The campground has four distinct areas with varying hookup options and site levels. Full hookup sites in Area One offer ocean views while Area Four provides more separation between campers with water/electric only. Most sites accommodate large RVs with paved pads in three of the four camping sections.
What to do
Beach access nearby: Fishermens Memorial State Park Campground positions campers close to water activities with easy access to beaches and Block Island Ferry. "About a little over a mile walk to Narragansett, an adorable beach community with lots of shops and places to eat as well as close to the ferry to Block Island," notes Kristen B.
Hiking trails: Wooded hiking trails around Melville Ponds Campground allow for short nature walks directly from your campsite. "There are also a bunch of beautiful trails right from the park," mentions Ilana F., who appreciated the convenience of not needing to drive elsewhere for outdoor recreation.
Stargazing opportunities: The coastal location of Horseneck Beach State Reservation offers exceptional night sky viewing due to minimal light pollution. "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," reports Kyle C.
What campers like
Clean facilities: Bathrooms and shower facilities receive positive reviews at many campgrounds near Saunderstown. "Bathrooms were super clean. Friendly park rangers," reports Rae H. from Fishermens Memorial State Park Campground, while another camper mentioned, "Electric and water work. Bathrooms are spotless."
Water activities: Fort Getty Campground offers direct access to waterfront recreation with swimming beaches. "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," writes Leah R.
Spacious sites: Wawaloam Campground provides generously-sized campsites with good separation between neighbors. "The trailer on the door side is probably 50-60 feet away," notes Johnny W., while Greg S. describes, "Large sites, great stone fire rings, full hookups... this place brings a lot to the table for a very fair price of 60 bucks."
What you should know
Different rates for residents vs non-residents: State park campgrounds in Rhode Island often charge significantly higher fees for out-of-state visitors. "This was our first visit to a Rhode Island State Park so not sure if they are all like this but this one definitely caters to Rhode Island residents who camp in large RVs! The sites with the best views are the full hookups and the rates for out of state campers are significantly more than for residents," explains Lee D. from Fishermens Memorial.
Noise considerations: Campgrounds vary significantly in noise levels, with some experiencing late-night disturbances. At Fort Getty, one camper reported "loud music, bright lights until 3am. Zero enforcement of 10pm curfew in sites 16 and above," while another noted people "kept us all up talking really really loudly and making noise till past 2am."
Tick prevention essential: Burlingame State Park Campground and other wooded areas require vigilant tick protection. "Bring an extra blanket," advises Kyle C., who found coastal nights colder than expected, while Jessica A. recommends, "Be prepared for dirty restrooms and come armed with hand soap (they no longer provide any), paper towels, and Clorox wipes."
Tips for camping with families
Water parks and activities: Wawaloam Campground offers extensive water recreation facilities for children. "Lots of stuff to do for kids...tons. Pools close at 8pm so that's a bummer," notes Johnny W., while another camper describes "a huge pool and a water slide park (extra fee) and a mini golf course (extra fee)."
Playground access: Mystic KOA provides numerous scheduled activities and recreational facilities for children. "This KOA provides a lot to do for kids and families. The pool is small and usually crowded, but still very well kept. And then there's mini golf, hay rides, and lots of fun planned activities," describes Cynthia K.
Pet-friendly options with space: When camping with both children and pets near Saunderstown, choose campgrounds with adequate room for animals. "We got a great pull through full hookup with a 5 minute walk to a huge dog park," reports Ilana F. about Melville Ponds Campground, making it convenient for exercising pets while keeping them separate from play areas.
Tips from RVers
Site leveling requirements: Prepare for uneven terrain at many campgrounds in the area. "Many unlevel sites," notes Shawn from Fishermens Memorial State Park, while Brad B. explains that at Newport RV Park, "The main campground is on a slope, so be prepared for some leveling requirements, especially sites #216 and #217 (front to back)."
Hookup variability: Electrical service quality varies between campgrounds, with some experiencing power issues during peak times. "Water pressure is ok and power is a bit iffy when the park is full," reports David V. about Wawaloam Campground, while Rebecca D. notes at Burlingame, "Hundreds of sites, some level some not, some dirt sites, some grassy, some with a ton of shade, some out in the open."
Off-season benefits: For pet-friendly camping near Saunderstown without crowds, consider visiting in spring or fall. "We were there the weekend after Labor Day weekend in 2014, and it was pretty quiet. Nice for biking, cute little beach, dog friendly," shares Katelain T. about Horseneck Beach State Reservation.
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