2025's Towns In Rhode Island That Come Alive In The Fall
From mid to late October, Rhode Island reaches its peak of fall foliage. Simply driving through the state in the fall offers a display of fiery reds and yellows, but there are small towns that celebrate the display in big ways. From the state’s largest pumpkin patch in Cumberland to farmers’ markets serving up fall-flavored treats, the colorful foliage is just the icing on the cake. So, when you want to kick off your fall foliage road trip list, keep these small communities in mind!
Smithfield
Northwest of Providence is where you’ll find the small community of Smithfield. It reaches its fall peak in late October, giving you plenty of time to catch a glimpse of the foliage. If you want to experience the colorful beauty of Smithfield on foot, the Stillwater Scenic Trail is one of the more popular trails in the area. It follows an old railroad bed that passes through forests and the crystal-clear waters of Stillwater Pond and Capron Pond. It’s a beautiful trail year-round, but it explodes in fiery colors during peak foliage season.
Smithfield also has plenty of farms in the area, allowing you to get your fill of fall treats. Jaswell’s Farm is a local favorite that offers pick-your-own apples and pumpkins, as well as a farmstand bakery renowned for its cider donuts. Or, you can head to the Appleland Orchard that also offers pick-your-own apples and pumpkins alongside a bakery with pies, jams, honey, and house plants. If you plan your visit during the first week in September, you can catch the Seven Cedars Farm Fall Festival held at Seven Cedars Farm. It’s a wonderful way to shop for seasonal produce and goodies when the air is still warm and the leaves are just starting to change.
Charlestown
In late October, the leaves reach their peak in the sleepy coastal town of Charlestown. It’s a magical place in the fall on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean, where the summer crowds disperse and the beach feels like your own. You can take a quiet stroll at Blue Shutters Beach, with the sounds of the ocean and a display of color in the distance. Moving inland, the Francis C Carter Memorial Preserve provides miles of protected land and breathtaking trails. It is a magical place where the air is sweet, the dense forests seem to glow in the fall, and you can launch a canoe on the calm waters of the Pawcatuck River.
Charlestown’s General Stanton Oktoberfest, held in early October, coincides with the first hints of color before peak foliage arrives later in the month. It takes place on the historic grounds of the General Stanton Inn, featuring a flea market, live music, local vendors, and more. It’s a heartwarming community event, set against the backdrop of the leaves just starting to change, creating a stellar scene against the historical inn.
Little Compton
In the summer, the coastal town of Little Compton can get a little crowded. Once the kids return to school and the leaves start to change in early October, visitors can take in the fall wonder of the area without the crowds. While you can certainly take a relaxing stroll down the windswept South Shore Beach, the best place to admire the changing leaves is at the John C. Whitehead Preserve. It’s a blend of deciduous forests, wetlands, and wide open meadows that explode in vibrant colors in the fall. It even has an ADA-accessible boardwalk, making the trail ideal for the whole family.
The best thing about Little Compton is that it is a part of Rhode Island’s Farm Coast, which means pumpkin patches, apple orchards, and fall-themed farmers’ markets. The Young Family Farm is a local favorite, with pick-your-own pumpkins in wide open pumpkin patches, and a farm stand where you can buy treats. It’s also where you can attend the Annual Fall Festival in mid-October, when early foliage color sets in before the full peak later in the month, with hayrides, face painting, and tasty food trucks.
Westerly
Late October is the best time to visit the quiet community of Westerly if you want to bask in its natural beauty in the fall. Located along the banks of the Pawcatuck River, it delivers both coastal and wooded scenery within its city limits. The best place to go for a fall hike in Westerly is the Dr. John Champlin Glacier Park. This park offers trails ranging from easy to challenging, with high vantage points that provide breathtaking views of the changing leaves, Winnapaug Pond, and Block Island Sound.
Wilcox Park is another great place to take in the autumn views in Westerly. As a 14-acre park in the heart of downtown Westerly, it features paved walking trails, fountains, and manicured gardens in vibrant shades during the fall. Or you can take a scenic drive down U.S. Route 1 to Manfredi Farms, which comes alive in the fall with pumpkin patches and farm stands stocked with plenty of treats. In mid-September, Westerly hosts the annual Misquamicut FallFest Weekend. This happens before peak foliage, offering a festive kickoff to autumn
Middletown
Mid-to-late October is the best time to visit Middletown, when the fall foliage is at its peak. It is a wonderful coastal town that blends wooded scenery with off-season beachy vibes, making it a great place to visit on your Rhode Island fall road trip. If you want the best views of the changing trees, the Norman Bird Sanctuary is your best option. It offers over 300 acres of wooded trails and dramatic ocean bluffs that ignite in shades of red and orange in the fall. Hanging Rock, found within the nature preserve, is well worth the hike to the top. It provides breathtaking views not only of the changing trees but also of miles of the Atlantic coastline below.
In early October, the Norman Bird Sanctuary hosts its annual Harvest Fair, just as the leaves begin to change ahead of peak foliage. It’s a lovely community event in the scenic backdrop of changing leaves, featuring pumpkin painting, live music, food trucks, and craft vendors. If you miss the festival, there are plenty of fall-themed farm stands nearby. The most popular farm in Middletown is Sweet Berry Farm, famous for its apple cider donuts, pumpkin patches, and quaint hayrides through the Rhode Island countryside.
Tiverton
Driving down Route 77 in Tiverton in early October has some of the most stunning fall foliage in the state. Scattered throughout the countryside along Route 77 are quaint farm stands and hiking trails that are too hard to resist. The Tiverton Farmers Market hosts its Fall Harvest in mid-October, aligning with the early stages of fall color and leading into peak foliage. The farm used to be the home of the Fall Harvest fest, but has since moved to the grounds of the Sakonnet Vineyard, which hosts over 70 craft vendors, food trucks, and live music.
If you want to experience the fall wonder of Tiverton on foot, there are a few hikes that are worth checking out. The Weetamoo Woods and Pardon Gray Preserve boasts over 700 acres of lush, shaded woods and hiking trails that truly shine in the fall. The trails at the preserve are color-coded, with nine trails of varying difficulties that are perfect for the whole family.
Cumberland
Cumberland is a hidden New England town that lives for the fall harvest season. When the leaves are at their peak in late October, the entire community comes alive with festivals, decorated porches with pumpkins and mums, and delightful farms that lean into the fall spirit. One of the best places to visit in Cumberland is Phantom Farms, featuring a garden center, a bakery (try their pumpkin cannoli!), and a serene farm setting that comes alive in the fall.
Cumberland is where you’ll find the largest pumpkin patch in Rhode Island, Adams Farm. It’s the perfect place to spend the day among the foliage, with playgrounds for the kids, corn mazes, and pick-your-own pumpkins. If you prefer to enjoy the scenery in a natural setting, Diamond Hill Park is a local favorite. The park features wide open fields, forested trails, and rocky ridges that glow with color in October, making it one of the best foliage spots in northern Rhode Island.
Burrillville
In the northwestern corner of Rhode Island is Burrillville, a quiet community with a huge heart. Its peak season is in late October through early November, with plenty of scenic trails to take in the view. One of the popular trails is the Black Hut Management Area, offering visitors 1,500 acres of wilderness that lights up in a colorful display in the fall. The trails travel through dense forests and wetlands that positively glow in October. For more isolated views, the Clear River Preserve isn’t as busy as some of the more popular trails. It’s an untouched stretch of wildness, perfect for wildlife viewing and quiet strolls through the fall scenery.
The Burrillville Fall Harvest Festival, held every September, takes place before the peak foliage season but signals the beginning of fall. The festival offers a classic New England vibe that evokes a sense of nostalgia. The festival takes place on the grounds outside the Assembly Theater, where the town comes alive with craft booths, fall-flavored treats, and family-friendly activities.
Rhode Island’s Best Towns for Fall 2025
Each of these towns captures a different side of the season, from wooded trails and riverside preserves to coastal lookouts and family harvest events. Whether it’s a quiet walk in late October when the colors peak, or an early autumn festival that opens the season, Rhode Island delivers fall in compact but vivid form. These communities show that even the smallest towns can frame the state’s forests and shores in their brightest colors.
