PROVIDENCE – With the forecast predicting sunnier, warmer, "beachier" weather than has recently been the case, the Department of Environmental Management (DEM) is encouraging beach-goers to buy seasonal passes today to help ease weekend traffic tie-ups tomorrow and Sunday. Per-vehicle transaction times at beach entrance booths for sales of seasonal beach passes take three minutes a car while day pass sales take less than a minute. DEM offers the following tips to ease traffic lines at the entrance booths this weekend.
1. Have Payment and Vehicle Registration Ready. Nobody likes waiting, especially on a hot sticky day. But you can speed things up – for yourself and the people behind you – by having your cash or credit card and your vehicle registration ready when you reach the entrance booth. Your registration is not your license. It includes your vehicle identification number, registration fee, license plate number, and home address. (Most likely, it's in the glove compartment along with your proof of insurance and related information.) By regulation, DEM relies only on vehicle registration to administer parking fees.
2. Buy Seasonal Beach Passes Even If It's Not "Beach Weather." The forecast calls for mixed clouds and sun on Saturday and mostly sunny on Sunday. Both days are expected to be in the low- to mid-70s. If the forecast does not hold and the weather is gloomier than expected, however, take advantage of it and buy a seasonal pass when fewer people will be at the beach.
3. Daily and Seasonal Parking Rates. The fee structure for the 2018 season is the same as last year. The daily beach parking fee for RI residents is $6 on weekdays and $7 on weekends and holidays. The fee for a season pass for residents is $30 and, through September 3, will be available for purchase at state beaches. Non-resident parking is $12 on weekdays and $14 on weekends and holidays. A season pass is $60 for non-residents. A 50% discount on daily parking fees and season passes applies for senior citizens 65 years and older. Fees are based solely on the vehicle registration (i.e., license plate) of each vehicle entering beach facilities. All Rhode Island-registered vehicles will be subject to resident parking rates; non-Rhode Island plates will be subject to non-resident rates.
4. Once You Have Your Seasonal Beach Pass. Please affix it to your windshield and do not transfer it to another vehicle. Your seasonal pass is not valid if it's not displayed on your windshield. A receipt or proof of purchase will not be accepted in place of an actual pass. For questions, call the State Parks office at 401.667.6200 or email dem.riparks@dem.ri.gov.
5. Beach Hours.
Charlestown Breachway: Monday – Friday 8:30 AM – 4 PM ; Weekends + Holidays 8 AM – 4 PM East Beach, Charlestown: Monday – Friday 8:30 AM – 4 PM ; Weekends + Holidays 8 AM – 4 PM East Matunuck, South Kingstown: Monday – Friday 9 AM – 4 PM ; Weekends + Holidays 8:30 AM – 4 PM Misquamicut, Westerly: Monday – Friday 9 AM – 4 PM ; Weekends + Holidays 8:30 AM – 4 PM Roger Wheeler, Narragansett: Monday – Friday 9 AM – 4 PM ; Weekends + Holidays 8:30 AM – 4 PM Salty Brine, Narragansett: Monday – Friday 8 AM – 4 PM ; Weekends + Holidays 8 AM – 4 PM Scarborough North, Narragansett: Monday – Friday 9 AM – 4 PM ; Weekends + Holidays 8:30 AM – 4 PM Scarborough South, Narragansett: Monday – Friday 9 AM – 4 PM ; Weekends + Holidays 8 AM – 4 PM
Follow DEM on Twitter (@RhodeIslandDEM) or Facebook at www.facebook.com/RhodeIslandDEM for more information on recreation in Rhode Island as well as other timely updates.