See the Luxurious History of Ocean Drive

The city of Newport, RI, has an air of luxury, having served (and still does) as a summertime playground for the wealthy and powerful. The Ocean Drive plunges you right in the middle of it all.

You won’t find a road called “Ocean Drive” in Newport, however. It’s just a name for a ride around the southern shore of Aquidneck Island. Other names for the stretch include the Ten-Mile Drive or simply the Drive if you’re a local (or want to pass for a local).

As one of its names implies, the Ocean Drive is only 10 miles long. What it lacks in length, it more than makes up for with beauty. Each yard of the ride is incredibly scenic. 

I recommend starting the ride at the intersection of Thames St and Wellington Ave. Heading east from this point, you get to start by immersing yourself in early American military history, as the northern section of the ride hosts significant fortifications and monuments.

For a large part of the ride, you’ll be on Ocean Ave, which skirts the Atlantic just a few feet away. The ocean views, with private boats out on the blue expanse, are sure to take your breath away.

On the coast, you’ll also find unique jagged rocks. The vistas opening from them make for great photo ops and give you a chance to stretch your legs. However, be careful if you decide to climb across them in riding boots—the rocks can be extremely slippery, especially during high tide.

The ride ends in the lap of luxury on Bellevue Ave, where you roll past multiple swanky mansions and fabulous summer homes from the Gilded Age. The Vanderbilts, the Astors, and the Morgans all vacationed in Newport in the 19th century.

Having seen the views, you can probably understand why.

The Ocean Drive ends as Bellevue Ave meets Memorial Blvd. That’s no reason to end the ride, though, as the wider region around Newport offers plenty of things to explore, from old structures and museums to jaw-dropping natural beauty.

And, of course, you can always simply swing your motorcycle around and ride Ocean Drive in the other direction. It is just 10 miles, after all.

Points of Interest

Fort Adams State Park

The Fort Adams State Park houses its titular fort, first constructed in 1799. The fortifications found at the site today date back to the Third System of U.S. coastal forts, built between 1824 and 1857.