Newport RV Park, near Portsmouth, Rhode Island, is a fantastic spot for campers looking to enjoy a mix of comfort and outdoor fun. With 175 sites, it’s designed to accommodate both RVs and tents, making it a versatile choice for different camping styles.

The park is well-equipped with amenities like electric hookups, drinking water, and clean restrooms, which visitors appreciate. Many have highlighted the friendly staff, noting that they go out of their way to help, especially during busy times. One camper mentioned, “The staff was wonderful, clean tent sites are amazing,” which sums up the general vibe here.

For those who love the outdoors, there are easy hiking trails nearby, and the Portsmouth Dog Park is just a short walk away, perfect for furry friends. While the campground is a bit further from downtown Newport than some might expect, it’s still a great base for exploring the area. Visitors have enjoyed the local beaches, which are only a short drive away, and the peaceful atmosphere of the park itself.

With a mix of shaded and open sites, there’s something for everyone, whether you’re looking to soak up the sun or enjoy a bit of shade. Newport RV Park is a solid choice for a camping trip, offering a blend of convenience and natural beauty.

Modern, full hook up RV Sites only 5 minutes from historic Newport, Rhode Island and breathtaking ocean beaches. Founded as Melville Ponds by John O. Thayer, our decades of hosting guests feels like welcoming family back for another experience that will be treasured long after check out.

Located on Aquidneck Island, Newport is a feast for the senses. A veritable banquet of salt air, gilded mansions, and ocean breezes. Newport's food scene is a destination in and of itself. With over one hundred dining establishments, one could spend weeks just sampling the epicurean delights.

Newport RV Park offers all accommodations needed for a short or long term stay. All 100 plus RV sites offer full hookup and your choice of a back in or premium pull thru site for your stay. If you prefer a shaded site or an open air/no overhead obstructions location- we've got a site that will fit your unit comfortably throughout the park. For those who want to experience a classic camping experience, rustic tent sites are available in a separate area of the park.



ON-SITE AMENITIES:

• 5 miles from Historical Newport

• Sandy Point Beach – 5 miles

• Close to shopping, tourist train, fine dining & theaters

• Beautiful RV & tent campsites

• Shaded and level campsites

• Full-hookup campsites

• 30 & 50 AMP on all RV sites

• Picnic tables and fire rings at every campsite

• Clean comfort station

• Complimentary hot showers

• Ice & firewood available on-site

• Stocked camp store

• Complimentary WIFI and digital cable

• Water and Sewer on all RV sites

• Dog Park

• Fishing at Melville Park (RI Fishing License required)

• Access to Hiking & walking trails

• Playground

• Obstruction free campsites - full sun

• Covered pavilion

• Coin op laundry

• Pull thru & back in campsites

Newport RV Park

Searching for the best camping near Portsmouth, RI? Portsmouth is an adventure-filled destination for those who love the outdoorsy camper lifestyle. But it's also great for those who prefer to spend time near the city, exploring and sightseeing. At The Dyrt, campers like you share their favorite spots, plus tips and photos. No matter where you're headed in Portsmouth, you'll find the best spot for you and your camping crew.

Portsmouth

The Best Camping Near Portsmouth, Rhode Island

We chose this park due to its location close to downtown Newport (a mere five miles). There is a lot to do in this area and we wanted to spend time sightseeing. 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 and required paying bridge tolls so we decided to give Melville Ponds a go. There is another RV park closer to downtown but it seemed more like a parking lot not very appealing. Melville Ponds worked out the best for us because it was adjacent to a county park with wooded hiking trails, a large pond and an off-leash dog park which were very appealing because of our dog.

The park has over 100 sites and spread out over many acres. Roads are gravel and easy enough any size RV to navigate. Some sites are set beneath large trees in an attractive wooded setting while others are in an open grassy area with pads being both gravel and grass. The park is a mix of seasonal and transient campers. Site types include full hook-up (max 30 amp), water/electric only, dry camping, and a large tent section. There is a dump station located at the entrance to the park and gray water dump stations are spread among sites without sewer. Each site has a picnic table and fire pit. The bathrooms and shower house are located in the middle of the park and were very clean. There is a small camp store, large playground, basketball court, and open air covered pavilion with picnic tables.

We chose a site in the open because the winds were projected to be 40-50 mph while we were there and we did not want falling branches on the coach. Our site (F4) had 30 amp and water. Satellite reception (Dish TV) was good and we were able to get a number of air antenna channels. The section that we were in was very big rig-friendly and one site that can be used as a pull-thru.   

The park is open from April 15th to November 15th. Prices vary depending on the season, if you have a weekly/monthly rate, and the type of hook-ups you want. We paid $38/night for water and 30 amp service.

The park is located within 1/2 mile of restaurants, gas stations, grocery, shopping, and more. Downtown historic Newport is a 10-minute drive away and you are only 35 minutes from Providence.  There is definitely lots to do in Newport and Providence. You can tour 70-room mansions, visit the beach, brush up on tennis history at the International Tennis Hall of Fame and Museum, watch boats cruise in and out of a beautiful harbor, shop, eat at fabulous restaurants, and gawk at the charming historic homes. 

The location of this park was great for what we were doing – not too far from Newport but in a nice quiet section of town. The distance between sites was far enough that you did not feel cramped or on top of your neighbor. The nearby hiking trail was perfect for our dog and while it was just a few miles long, it was great because it was within walking distance and she could swim in the pond. The close proximity of restaurants was an added bonus.

Great location to Newport 

great for the family. their is a nice pond to go fishing at as well. about an 20 min drive to local beaches

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

Best dog park

This is the perfect place to stay if your visiting Newport,RI.  We had a great time at this small campground, very clean and nice staff.  Not many amenities but we where there for the beaches and mansions.  Will stay again

Great Place to stay for Aquickneck Island

I stayed for one night and have to say it was a very lovely place to spend the night. Full hookups at each site and the place is away from the busy street.

Very clean and organized 

This is a cute little campground that’s easy to access. It’s 20 minutes from downtown Newport and about 45 minutes to downtown Providence. 

It’s well shaded, has a nice playground, bathhouse, and a laundry room. My biggest complaint is the dryers are terrible. I had to dry my clothes 3 times ( that’s 3 hours). Nobody has time for that. Also if you’re tent camping, the bathrooms are very inconvenient. 

Finally, our site was not angled and that made it tougher to get in to it. 


Quiet, small, bigger sites, no amenities 

Excellent location for exploring the cites and beaches of Rhode Island!  Call ahead to check on shade versus full sun sites if that’s important and take note of grass and course gravel pad material as well.  The main campground is on a  slope, so be prepared for some leveling requirements, especially sites #216 and #217 (front to back).  Also, our site #215 was at the bottom of the hill, so it was a bit mucky.  This site also sloped down on both sides of the pad significantly reducing the usable footprint of the area.  Otherwise a perfect experience with friendly hosts, clean facilities and centrally located!

Excellent Location & Clean Facilities !

We stayed in the premium pull through sites here. The whole campground is gorgeous. You’ll notice how clean and quiet it is right when you first arrive. Check in was under a minute; the staff already had everything prepared which made it super simple. The premium sites have no shade and are a little close to the neighbors. However, they have great paver stone patios and fire pits. They also had a slight downhill slope so it required some extra blocks to level out. Overall, the whole place is a great campground. Plenty of hiking within walking distance and a short drive to all local attractions. Plenty of amenities and a modest camp store as well. I’ll be back for sure. 

Clean and quiet camping close to downtown

The campground is close to relatively easy hiking trails and Portsmouth Dog Park. Clean site areas, but many are on a slight slop so leveling blocks are needed. We Took one of the nearby Trails get to the Portsmouth Publick House restaurant, which is dog friendly, for lunch. The waterfall along the blue trail is picture worthy. 

Clean sites and easy hiking trails

  

  

Wonderful staff clean tent site are amazing great place to camp and fish and hike great place to take a dog

Great staff

We stayed for the Newport folk fest in 2021 and although expensive because you have to stay four days it was worth it. Steve saved us honestly because we had no reservation here. By chance they had a cancellation. He also gave us ice and firewood as we were stressed after the ordeal of realizing no way we’ll find a place with no reservation last minute! We had one at another place that neglected to say on website RV only. No showers or toilets!!  We were two girls camping and needed a good safe place. This was it!  Clean Bathrooms with music piped in. Love this place to pieces. 

This place is near perfect 

Pay one price, no hidden fees- the park was recently updated and was beautiful. Spoke to the nice gal in the office and she pointed out that the owners (who are the same one even though they just changed the name of the place from Melville Ponds) that there were these cute airstreams that can be booked on Air BnB- which would be a fun option for some non-camping friends we have who don't want to pay the high cost of a hotel in Newport. There's a cottage to rent to- but 3 bedrooms is more than anyone we know would need. So glad we found this place and we've already booked our 2023 stay!

Absolute Gem of an RV Park

Sites were not bad. They did have stone down for a base. Sites are 1/2 in wooded areas and 1/2 in open field.
We went on a Holiday Weekend but they were not very personable and did not give us events going on around. There is no pool here. Beaches are about a 15-20 min drive

Sites

This park was very nice, but they advertise being 5 miles away from historic Newport, and it’s more like 8. There are zero bike paths that are immediately accessible and Newport drivers are not walker/biker friendly. No sidewalks on the Main Street to get you here. Ubers and Lyfts can be scarce and very expensive depending on the time of day. Between $16 to $78 rides…so, if you’re not towing, just something to be aware of. Neighbors were super nice and there is a great dog park (we think it’s city owned) with super nice doggo humans. Was good for a short stay - we just wish we had known how far out it really was because we really would have loved to spend more time downtown.

Nice, but further out than we thought 

Der Camping Platz ist super ausgerüstet. Die Plätze sind grosszügig und gut gepflegt. Auch wenn der Platz eher teuer ist, bekommt man dort sehr viel. Das Personal ist sehr zuvorkommend und flexibel. Von der Lage her ist man auf ein Auto angewiesen. 

Top Platz!

Good size sites.  Trees. Decent WiFi. Clean and quiet. Not much for amenities - no camp store, pool, activities. 

Photos of Newport RV Park

Real photos from real campers