Best Things to Do in Block Island, RI With Kids
Block Island's best family days are the ferry crossing from Point Judith (the way onto the island — a high-speed option cuts the ride), a bike rental and island loop out of Old Harbor, the Mohegan Bluffs staircase down to a quiet beach below the Southeast Lighthouse, a swim at Fred Benson Town Beach, and a calm-water kayak or paddleboard rental on the Great Salt Pond.
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1Area photo: Timothy J. Quill / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)Block Island Ferry (Point Judith)
The only way onto the island. The high-speed ferry cuts the crossing to about 30 minutes, which matters with young kids; the traditional ferry is slower but has more open deck space to move around.
Watch out: Car ferry reservations book out weeks ahead in summer and cost significantly more than walking on — skip the car and rent bikes on the island instead. High-speed departures are more limited in schedule than the traditional ferry.
2Area photo: Timothy J. Quill / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)Bike Rental & Island Loop
Block Island is small and hilly but manageable by bike, with light traffic on most roads. Rental shops sit right off the Old Harbor ferry dock, so there's no logistics hassle to start riding.
Watch out: The climbs near the bluffs are genuinely steep — expect to walk the bike on a couple of stretches with younger kids. Wind picks up in the afternoon, especially near the coast; bring a light layer even in summer.
3Area photo: Timothy J. Quill / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)Mohegan Bluffs & Southeast Lighthouse
The island's signature view: 200-foot clay bluffs, the red-brick Southeast Lighthouse at the top, and a 141-step staircase down to a quiet, uncrowded beach at the bottom.
Watch out: 141 steps down and the same number back up — not stroller-friendly, and tough on very young kids or anyone with mobility issues. No lifeguard at the beach below the bluffs, so treat it as a look-and-explore stop, not a swim beach.
4Area photo: Timothy J. Quill / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)Fred Benson Town Beach
The family swim beach — lifeguarded in season, gentle surf, with a snack bar and bathrooms right on site. This is the beach to plan a full swim afternoon around, not the bluffs beach.
Watch out: Parking fills by late morning in July and August — arrive early or bike over instead of driving. The Atlantic water stays cold even at the height of summer.
5Area photo: Timothy J. Quill / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)Great Salt Pond Kayak & Paddleboard Rental
A calm, protected alternative to paddling in the open Atlantic — good for a first family kayak outing. Osprey and seal sightings are common on the pond, which keeps kids' attention up.
Watch out: Wind picks up on the pond in the afternoon, so book a morning slot. Life jackets are required for kids and most operators require them for adults too. Not the pick for very young kids who can't sit still in a kayak for an hour.
Frequently asked
Do we need a car on Block Island?
Most families don't — bikes and the walkable Old Harbor village cover the island well, and a car ferry reservation is expensive and hard to get in summer for what little driving you'd actually do.
Best beach for young kids?
Fred Benson Town Beach — lifeguarded, calm, with facilities right there. The beach at the base of Mohegan Bluffs has no lifeguard and involves 141 steps each way.
How many days should we plan?
One full day works for a highlights trip (ferry, bike loop, bluffs, beach). Two to three nights let you add the kayak day on the Great Salt Pond without rushing.
Budget for a day trip, family of 4?
Ferry tickets, bike rental, beach chairs, and lunch typically run $350–$550 for the day.
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