How to get to Newport, United States?

Nicknamed the City by the Sea, Sailing Capital of the World, America's Society Capital and the Queen of Summer Resorts, Newport is a delightful town located on the Aquidneck Island part of the State of Rhode Island. It's fairly simple to travel to Newport from New York with trains starting at $50 and buses at $65. Once there, local buses start at $2 and taxi rides at $10.

Newport Key Information

Newport is one of the oldest towns in the US, and one of the greatest ports of the original colonies.

The town is rich in American colonial history and it housed several of the most wealthy families of its time. The mansions and estates still remain to this day, many becoming museums, inns or properties offering tours.

Its beaches, impressive cliffs and lighthouses offer the traditional style of New England, and have become an inspiration for writers, artists and film directors.

Not only its cultural value and nature, but also the variety of nautical sports and delicious food such as the fresh clam chowder and the lobster make of Newport a great destination for a wide variety of tourists.

The tricky part

Leaving the metropolitan area of New York City can be a bit complicated. Even if all rented cars include GPS, there are a number of tunnels and bridges and routes that need to be taken in order to leave the area. These streets can become quite busy during weekends as many people leave the city to spend a day in the countryside.

For people who aren't used to driving around big cities, we would not recommend renting a car in Manhattan or Brooklyn, instead we would advise taking the Amtrak or a bus.

Writer's note: as personal experience, Manhattan gets extremely busy during events such as the UN Sessions and Assemblies. Avenues and streets get blocked and redirected, causing the already complex urban driving to become a very challenging and long task.

Credit and debit cards are always accepted except for buses and parkmeters where cash is required. ATMs are easy to reach all over the place.

During summer, poison ivies tend to grow in the wilderness by the sides of the roads. These plants look like glossy hand-sized green leaves, sometimes they can be of a bright scarlet color. They aren't deadly but will cause itching and irritation if they rub against bare skin. They are common in the Cliffs area.

Getting to Newport

The best way from New York to Newport is to travel by bus. There's a local bus departing from the New York Port Authority going directly to Newport. This ride takes approximately 7 hours 30 minutes depending on traffic. The price for the ticket is $65 per passenger, one way.

There is also the possibility to use the Northeast Regional Amtrak from the Penn Station in New York to Kingston Amtrak station in Rhode Island for $50 per passenger, one way. The trip lasts 3h 10 minutes.

However, there is an additional drive (25 min) between Kingston to Newport for $25 approximately.

There is a bus option from Kingston station to Newport. This is the Ripta 64 Bus, which drives down the RT 1A route, offering a great view of the cliffs and bay. The bus fare is $3 per passenger and takes about 45 minutes.

The Frugal Option

The best fare to travel from New York to Newport is by bus. There's a local bus departing from the New York Port Authority going directly to Newport. This ride takes approximately 7 hours 30 minutes depending on traffic. The price for the ticket is $65 per passenger, one way.

There is also the possibility to use the Northeast Regional Amtrak from the Penn Station in New York to Kingston Amtrak station in Rhode Island for $50 per passenger, one way. The trip lasts 3h 10 minutes.

However, there is an additional drive (25 min) between Kingston to Newport for $25 approximately.

There is a bus option from Kingston station to Newport. This is the Ripta 64 Bus, which drives down the RT 1A route, offering a great view of the cliffs and bay. The bus fare is $3 per passenger and takes about 45 minutes.

If you are travelling with a group of 3 people or more, renting a car is a nice option. Renting an average car costs around $23 per day. The drive across New England is an experience itself. The roads surrounded by the deep green forests in Summer or golden in Autumn and lakes, the sights and the landscape make up for the long drive. At times the route 95N can be extremely busy around bigger cities like Hartford or New Haven. The drive takes about 4 hours depending on traffic.

The people of New England are extremely respectful of the traffic laws and have a very amiable driving style, making this route quite a relaxing trip once you leave New York.

Private Transfer Options

It is possible to book private vehicles from New York to Newport through Mozio. This price is a one way trip. A private sedan car starts at $750 for a 3 hour ride. This is meant for 2 to 3 passengers.

Local partner My Transfers offers a Luxury Private SUVs start at $600 and can take up to 5 passengers. This price is a one way trip.

If you are travelling with a large number of passengers. A large private bus may be booked just for your party. The bus can take up to 36 passengers and has a cost of $1558, making it very convenient as each passenger is paying less than $44 one way.

The Mozio Recommendation

The Amtrak and a local driver at Kingston are the most convenient and comfortable option unless you enjoy driving across the beautiful New England countryside.

Moving AROUND Newport

There are three main ways to move around this travel destination. If you rented a car, parking lots are available around the village. The second option is the local bus. The third option is a private driver.

The Frugal Option

The cheapest way to move around Newport is the local bus service offered by Rhode Island's Public Transit Authority otherwise known as RIPTA.

• The fare for each bus ticket is $2 per passenger.
• The daily pass is $6.
• A 7 day pass is $25.
• A 10 individual ride pass is $20.

Please note buses are paid in cash. No debit/credit cards are accepted.

Local taxis charge between $10 to $15 to move around the village or getting to the beaches from the Newport city center.

Are Rideshare & TaxiApps Readily Available In Newport?

Car Rental Options

It is possible to rent a car in Kingston station as soon as you leave the Amtrak. The prices per day for these are are about $30. If you prefer to take a taxi to Newport, prices there are lower, $25 per day.

During summer, beaches may be too crowded so arriving early is recommended to guarantee your spot. If not, private parking lots are also available. Up to $3 per hour.

Metered parking has a cost of $1.50 and can be used max 3 hours downtown. Metered parking has a cost of $2 and can be used max 3 hours in the beaches.

The parking for handicapped travellers is free.

Day Trips Around Newport

Martha's Vineyard

If you are in the area, a visit to Martha's Vineyard should be a must in your travel plan. The island is located in the Vineyard Sound and can be only reached by Ferry. The whole daytrip takes around 11 hours and it departs from Newport. The roundtrip ferry is $100 for two passengers. The SeaStreak ferry leaves from New Bedford, Martha's Vineyard. New Bedford is 45 minutes away from Newport. The price for an economy Lyft is $43 to $52, Uber XL is $87 to $106.

Salem

The famous and historic city of Salem is just 25 minutes from Boston, being a total of 1 hour 54 mins from Newport. Given the route, the prices for Uber and Lyft economy cars round $127 to $156 and $273 to $334 for a larger 5 passenger vehicle per way.