Block Island offers different perspectives on nature and history: hiking trails, nature preserves, a bicycle loop tour, and historical collections each provide a distinct focus. When choosing accommodations, include transportation to and around the island in your plans.
Plan Your Trip and Accommodation
Travel to Block Island requires a boat trip or a flight. Passenger ferries operate in summer from Newport and Montauk, and year-round from Point Judith. Schedules can change, so check the times before you travel. There is no public transportation or rideshare service on Block Island. Departure points vary by season.
Trails, Wildlife, and Activities
More than 28 miles of hiking trails are open to the public free of charge, providing access to the island’s nature, heritage, and wildlife. Year-round activities at the Block Island National Wildlife Refuge include fishing, hunting, wildlife observation, environmental education, and photography. The Lewis-Dickens Farm Wildlife Refuge offers easy hikes through coastal meadows; birds of prey and migratory birds can be spotted there in fall. The seasonal focus therefore varies: activities at the Block Island National Wildlife Refuge are available year-round, while birdwatching is a highlight at the Lewis-Dickens Farm Wildlife Refuge in fall.
A Bicycle Loop Tour with Clear Details
The Block Island Bicycle Tour follows a 7.5-mile loop with nine stops at significant sights in the southern part of the island. The details offer different guidance for choosing between cycling and hiking: here, one loop with stops is described, while the trails form a network totaling more than 28 miles. The tour visits sights in the southern part of the island; no duration or walking or cycling pace is specified.
Lighthouse and Museum
The Southeast Lighthouse was built in 1875 and stands on the Mohegan Bluffs, 200 feet above the water. The lighthouse grounds are accessible; check current access conditions before your visit, as they may change. This combines a specific historical reference with the building’s location on the bluffs.
The Block Island Historical Society Museum is located at Bridgegate Square, at the intersection of Old Town Road and Ocean Avenue. Its extensive collection on Block Island’s history ranges from Manissean stone tools and points to early New England maritime and agricultural exhibits. It also features colonial memorabilia and enlarged historical photographs from the Victorian era. The museum thus offers a different focus from the lighthouse: its history is presented through varied groups of artifacts, exhibits, and visual materials.
Discover more destinations: Point Judith, Narragansett, South Kingstown, Bonnet Shores, Westerly, Charlestown, North Kingstown
Return to the main travel overview: Washington.
