Rhode Island's 6 Most Laid-Back Towns For 2025
In a state as small as Rhode Island, you don’t have to travel far to find peace, quiet, and a slower way of life. From island hideaways to harbor villages, these six towns capture the Ocean State’s most relaxing side. Slow down in New Shoreham with bike rides, cliffside walks, and lighthouse views, unwind in Charleston at Ninigret Park, and in Jamestown, simply enjoy panoramic ocean views from Beavertail Lighthouse. Spend time in nature in Tiverton, discover early colonial life in Wickford, and take a long, slow bicycle ride in Warren. When it comes to slowing down, Rhode Island has it all figured out.
New Shoreham
Nothing says laid back more than island life, which is precisely what you’ll discover in New Shoreham, a small island on Block Island in the Atlantic Ocean, off the coast of Rhode Island. The smallest town in the smallest state in the U.S., even the pork chop shape of the island hints at homey comfort food, casual clothes, and an all-around easy-going vibe. The island is accessible year-round by ferry service from Point Judith, which is the only way to bring your car to the island. Depending on the time of year, cars are optional, as bikes and mopeds can be rented right from the ferry dock at Old Harbor Bike Shop.
Explore the pretty town streets filled with one-of-a-kind shops, galleries, and restaurants, fueling up with breakfast at Persephone’s Kitchen, before heading off for a bit of sightseeing at the stunning Mohegan Bluffs, perched on a cliff overlooking the ocean. Walk down the 140-odd steps to the base of the clay cliffs and enjoy the secluded rocky beach below and the soothing sounds of the surf. Hike back up and continue to the nearby Southeast Lighthouse, where you can take a tour of the lighthouse tower, and visit a small museum and gift shop.
Tiverton
The laid-back town of Tiverton sits on the border with Massachusetts, across Narragansett Bay from Newport. It is famous for its historic intersection, Four Corners, a well-preserved example of an 18th- and 19th-century crossroads village. Once home to blacksmiths, old-timey general stores, and taverns, those same buildings today house art galleries, cafés, antique stores, and a charming European-style café + bakery, Groundswell, where you can buy small-batch roasted coffee and fresh pastries. The shop is part of Groundswell Guild, a brand that caters to a rustic, artsy, and effortlessly relaxed lifestyle.
After indulging in a little retail therapy, explore the nearby Emilie Ruecker Wildlife Refuge, a 50-acre nature preserve where you can wander through woods and salt marshes with well-marked trails and peaceful views of the Sakonnet River. A bird watcher’s paradise owned by the Audubon Society, bring binoculars and have fun spotting snowy egrets, glossy ibis, and osprey from the blind in the marsh.
Charlestown
For the ultimate in a calm, coastal escape, head to Charlestown, Rhode Island, renowned for its pristine beaches, protected natural areas, and unhurried small-town charm. The hub of Charlestown is the 850-acre Ninigret Park, home to wooded swamps, grasslands, and the state’s largest saltwater pond, where locals hike, picnic, and celebrate everything from summer festivals to sunset strolls along the pond. For outdoor enthusiasts and birders, the 409-acre Ninigret National Wildlife Refuge is home to over 250 bird species, including the threatened piping plover, spread over 4 miles of hiking trails.
After exploring the refuge, visit the Frosty Drew Observatory and Science Center, which is also located in the park. The center is typically open for stargazing every Friday night and for notable celestial events, such as the Perseid Meteor shower in August, lunar eclipses, and blood moons.
Wickford
Like Cape Cod’s quieter cousin, Wickford is a laid-back harbor village, full of colonial cottages, sailboats, and all things nautical. Spend time leisurely strolling through town, listening to the clinking of halyards against the masts on the boats in the harbor, or nab a table on the patio of Wickford on the Water, and enjoy a classic New England lobster roll and a Pumpkin Pie Martini. Enjoy a self-guided historic walking tour of Wickford Village, the Wickford Walk, featuring 13 markers highlighting Indigenous settlements, shipbuilding, black heritage, and local legends.
Dig deeper into Wickford’s early colonial life with a visit to nearby Smith’s Castle, one of the oldest homes in the state, dating back to 1678. The castle is actually a house museum, filled with period furnishings, artifacts, and exhibits on colonial history, and overlooks Cocumscussoc Brook. If you time your visit right, you may be able to catch a seasonal event at the property, such as a reenactment, Colonial Day, or a holiday open house.
Jamestown
The ultimate in island simplicity, Jamestown may be only a bridge away from Newport, but it might as well be another country. One of Rhode Island’s oldest English settlements, the town on Conanicut Island is a peaceful retreat where you can savor a leisurely breakfast or lunch at the Village Hearth Bakery & Cafe before heading off to spend the afternoon discovering one of the most beautiful vistas on the New England coast in Beavertail State Park.
The park is home to Jamestown’s most visited landmark, the Beavertail Lighthouse Museum. The lighthouse was the third-oldest established in the American colonies before it was destroyed by fire. Boston Light on Little Brewster Island, built in 1716, is the oldest, and Brant Point Light on Nantucket Island is the second-oldest, built in 1746. While the tower is open only on dedicated Tower Climbing Days throughout the year, you can still see the museum inside the Keeper’s quarters next to the tower. Explore six rooms filled with historical artifacts, an Oil House, and a small aquarium.
Warren
Warren is a waterfront town where vestiges of its bustling seaport past have been replaced by artist studios, independent shops, and cozy cafes like the Cafe Water Street, where you can linger over homemade bakery goods and lattes with a view of the serene waterfront. After breakfast, stop by Chomp Kitchen and Drinks for a packed lunch of Philly roast pork sandwiches and drinks-to-go, and then it’s time to explore Warren and its surroundings by bike.
You can BYOB (bring-your-own-bike) and rent an electric bicycle or a single-speed coaster bike at Bristol Bikes, and take the East Bay Bike Path, which weaves its way along the scenic shore of Narragansett Bay from Providence to Bristol. In Warren, the path runs through Burr’s Hill Park, where you can take a pit stop for a picnic and photographs. Finish the laid-back day watching the sunset at the Warren Town Beach.
Where To Unwind In Rhode Island
These six small towns in Rhode Island invite us to trade hurry for harmony and screens for scenery. In places like New Shoreham, conversations linger, coffee tastes better, and time seems to slow down. At the same time, over in Wickford, time stands still just long enough to notice the sound of halyards in the harbor and the scent of salt air. These quiet, laid-back Rhode Island towns remind us that slowing down doesn’t have to be a luxury; it can be a new way of life.
