New Shoreham, Rhode Island is located on beautiful bucolic Block Island. The island is the southernmost part of Rhode Island and is a quick ferry ride from the Rhode Island coast. It ranked as home to one of the most beautiful beaches in the country, and strikingly resembles Malibu, California, haphazardly earning its title as the “Malibu of New England.”
How to get to New Shoreham
Since New Shoreham is part of Block Island, the only way to get there is via ferry. There are a few ferry options for New Englanders.
You can take the Pt. Judith from Narragansett, Rhode Island, a 55-minute ferry or take the Hi-Speed ferry which gets you to Block Island in just 30 minutes. The town of Narragansett, where the ferry departs, is about a 1-hour 40-minute drive from Boston, making the total trip time about 2 hours and 10 minutes if you board the hi-speed ferry.
There is also a ferry that departs from Newport, Rhode Island and the trip is 1 hour. If you don’t have a car, this might be the easiest way to get to the island. Travel by train from Boston to Newport, then hop on the ferry.
Maybe you find yourself in the Hamptons this summer. If coming from Montauk, New York the ferry is 75 minutes.
Explore Mohegan Bluffs and more!
The Mohegan Bluffs are what has drawn much praise for New Shoreham. The bluffs closely resemble the picturesque cliff walks of Malibu. The grassland clay cliffs overlook crystal-clear waters. You’ll find a 141-step staircase that leads you down to the beach.
On the beach are artfully stacked rocks that resemble those of Westward Beach in Malibu. You can relax on the sand or swim in the water. The rocks and hilliness of New Shoreham do make for a pretty strenuous beach day, but the marvelous views are well worth it! Mohegan Bluffs are recognized a USA Today’s Reader’s Choice “10 Best Beaches in the Northeast!”
Mohegan Bluffs has over 700 glowing TripAdvisor reviews. One visitor noted the resemblance to Malibu:
I’ve been to Malibu, and this area is a dead ringer for Westward Beach. Mohegan Bluffs is a beautiful area on Block Island that has over 100 steps from the top of the clay cliffs, down to the rocky beach below. It’s easy going down and a bit of a challenge going back up, but definitely worth it. Along the shore there are giant boulders and rocks of all sizes, with plenty of space to swim safely. Walk to your right for a while and you will have the beach to yourself. There are lots of “stacked stones” everywhere, too. It’s like some kind of outdoor art gallery from another planet.
New Shoreham things to do
As Block Island’s only town, New Shoreham is home to all of the action. Mansion Beach is a less crowded option that also resembles Malibu, with its rocks and magical bluffs. Hiking the Clayhead Trail is a lovely activity as the weather cools and is similar to the Great Ocean Walk adjacent to Milanesia Beach in Victoria, Australia.
The Southeast and North lighthouses are also fun to explore and make for a great photo-op! Take a waterfront trail ride on horseback with Rustic Tides Farm for a fairytale day on Block Island!