Middletown is home to beautiful sandy beaches, picturesque hiking trails, and green open spaces.  But there’s yet another way to enjoy Middletown’s amazing natural environment: our shoreline access points, also known as coastal rights-of-way, or ROWs.

Middletown has ten ROWs, officially designated by the RI Coastal Resources Management Council (CRMC).  Each ROW has its own unique characteristics, offering a variety of opportunities to enjoy the natural beauty of Middletown’s coastline.

As you get to know Middletown’s ROWs, there are a few simple guidelines to follow:

1. All ROWs provide public access, but some ROWs are on private land.  Please be respectful of private property and stick to the path to reach the shore.
2. All ROWs are carry-in/carry-out, meaning, no trashcans are provided, so please be sure to take your trash with you.  And please help keep ROWs clean by picking up any litter you come across.
3. Some ROWs can be tricky to navigate, with uneven trails and steep rocky paths, while others offer easier access.  Assess current conditions and consider your own abilities before accessing a ROW.
4. Some ROWs offer parking, while others are accessible on foot or by bicycle.  To help plan your trip, please refer to the descriptions below to identify the nearest parking options.
5. No bathrooms are available at ROWs.  Bathroom facilities are available at Second Beach/Surfers End and Sachuest Point National Wildlife Area, as well as some local businesses, such as Cumberland Farms and 7/11 on Aquidneck Avenue.
6. Our ROWs are a fragile resource – please act responsibly to minimize impacts on coastal habitat, and please report any damage or misuse of ROWs.

For a list of Middletown’s ROWs and a map showing their locations, visit our “Access Points” page. For a complete list of RI CRMC public access points, see https://www.crmc.ri.gov/publicaccess.html.