Is it worth visiting Newport, Rhode Island in November? Yes it is! However, there are a few things to consider, depending on the weather and the time of November. Read on for all my Newport travel tips, including the best time to come in November, where to find free parking, and how to make the most of your time in Newport.
We were inspired by the show The Gilded Age, so we took a trip to Newport, Rhode Island in November. I was afraid that New England in November would be cold and miserable, but we had a really nice time and would gladly come back!
More New England getaways to plan: Day Trip to Provincetown, MA
Top 5 tips for traveling to Newport, RI in November
- The weather can make or break your time in Newport (more on that later). Book a 100% refundable hotel with free cancellation from booking.com, then check the weather as it gets close to your trip date. If it’s too cold or rainy, you can always cancel.
- Wear layers. Wear wool. Not your grandma’s itchy wool sweaters. I highly recommend Merino Tech for thin, soft, wool shirts that keep you warm without overheating. Easy to layer, easy to wear.
- Bring extra socks and shoes. If your shoes get wet, you can continue your adventures in dry cozy shoes.
- Plan enough time to go beyond Newport and see the nearby areas: Beavertail State Park is scenic and peaceful, the Norman Bird Sanctuary is a great place to spend a few hours in nature (especially if you have kids). I 100% recommend this if you’re going while the Fall colors are at their brightest.
- Embrace the Fall! Wrap a cozy chunky scarf around yourself, grab a seasonal latte from a Newport coffee shop, enjoy the foliage, and spend time appreciating the dramatic coastline in November.
More New England trips to plan: Cape Cod Vacation with Family
Newport in early November
If you come in early November, you might get lucky with:
- Gorgeous sunny days in the 50s or even 60s. Perfect weather for doing the famous Cliff Walk, shopping on Thames Street and the wharfs, and watching surfers at Easton beach.
- Amazing fall foliage. The first week of November is usually either peak foliage or juuust past peak, so all the leaves are still colorful. Track the foliage using the New England foliage map so you know what to expect.
In addition, November is great because it is just past peak tourist season:
- Hotels are cheaper
- Restaurants are not as crowded
- Street parking is FREE in a lot of places!
- For the Cliff Walk, we parked at the very end Webster street and then again at the end of Ledge road. Both parking spots were FREE and unrestricted in November, and we got to see two totally different sections of the Cliff Walk without having to hike for hours. (We love to hike for hours, we just didn’t have enough time!)
- For Thames Street, we parked on Washington Street right outside of Belle’s restaurant, then took a stroll to Thames street after brunch. Parking is FREE there in November, compared to $20 per hour in some lots on Thames street.
Newport in late November
November can get cold quickly, but if you bundle up and visit after Thanksgiving, you’ll see the city lit up for the holidays and it is GORGEOUS. In addition to all the outdoors activities still being available (just dress for the weather), you can always duck into a mansion to warm up. Tickets are likely to be available even last-minute because there are fewer crowds in November.
More Fall activities for the family: Pumpkin Picking and More Fall Ideas
What to do in Newport
I won’t go into too much detail here because if you’re researching whether to come in November, you already know that Newport is a charming historic city with a beautiful Cliff Walk, awesome mansions, historic forts, great seafood restaurants, and lots of things to do for the whole family.
The Hamilton Aquarium is great if you haven’t been to larger nearby aquariums like the New England or the New York Aquarium.
The Cliff Walk has sections of paved and fenced paths for families with younger kids or elderly folks (around Ochre Court and Salve Regina University), as well as great rock-hopping sections for families with older kids or those traveling without kids (the south end).
The food scene is great and has enough diversity no matter your preferences.
Just remember that there are also many gorgeous nature places to see right outside of Newport. If you are visiting from far away and are not likely to come back soon, you might want to add an extra night to stop by the nearby state parks, nature preserves, and bird sanctuaries.
RELATED: Fall Camping Tips for Families
What to eat in Newport
I can’t definitively tell you where to eat because we have not tried all the restaurants in Newport and I don’t know your budget or favorite cuisines. Here’s where we ate in Newport:
We ate brunch at Belle’s Restaurant, and really enjoyed it. It has a creative menu with a kids’ section, the food was fresh, fast, delicious.
We packed a picnic lunch to eat at the Cliff Walk. Highly recommend this to spend more time outdoors!
We ate dinner at Mountain Moose Noodles and I had one of the best noodle soup bowls of my life: the Khao Soi curry. It was super casual, so it’s a great place to go with kids (if they like Asian food).
We grabbed coffee at the Nitro Bar.
We had some chowder at the Newport Chowder Company, just because we were in New England and needed to have some chowder.
Where to stay in Newport
We stayed right outside of Newport, just because Newport itself is very expensive. Literally 2-3x the price just for being inside the Newport border, versus huge savings for staying 10 minutes outside of downtown Newport.
So it’s totally up to you. Look at reviews of Newport places to stay on booking.com. If all that is too pricey then look at Middletown, RI. Literally 10 minutes away. Save that money for a nice dinner instead.
If saving money matters to you, check out my Affordable Family Vacation Ideas and my Top Tips for Teaching Kids to Ski on a Budget!
I hope this post was helpful for your planning your trip to Newport, RI in November! Be sure to SAVE it for later on Pinterest!
