Misquamicut State Beach
- Freeride, Shortboard
- Best for
- Intermediate
- Skill Level
- Ocean, Swell
- Spot Type
- Quiet
- Crowd Level
This spot information is AI-assisted and has not been human verified. It may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect. Verify safety, access, local rules, and current conditions with official or local sources before riding.
About
Conditions are strongly shaped by sandbar position after storms, with peak form changing frequently. Wind is often best when it blows offshore from north/northwest directions, supporting cleaner wave faces. For safer water access, lifeguards are seasonal and day-use is enforced, with restrictions and swim/board-sport area rules during lifeguard hours. Rip currents are a recurring concern—particularly when swells are larger—and should be treated as the primary risk even when conditions look calm near the shoreline.
- Best month cited as September
- Offshore north/northwest winds can improve grooming for surf
- Shifting sandbars/peaks—check conditions after storms
- Seasonal lifeguard coverage
- Year-round surf activity with shifting beachbreak peaks
- Expansive sandy beach for launching and landing
- Offshore-northwest wind directions can clean up wave faces
- Rip currents can be significant, especially after storms or with large swells
- Shore break and sandbar changes can make conditions technical
- Cold water in winter requires a substantial wetsuit
Wind, water and seasons
Wind
- Direction
- N, NW
- Offshore directions
- NNW, NW, N
- Wind Range
- 10–25 kts
- Wind Type
- Sea breeze — Southwest sea-breeze pattern is common in afternoons (regional late-spring/summer behavior); variable winds overall.
- Reliability
- moderate
- Gust Factor
- Light gusts
- Best Months
- September, October, November
- Shadow Zones
- Some minor turbulence near beach pavilions
Water & beach
- Water Type
- Ocean, Swell
- Beach
- Sand — Sand shoreline.
- Beach Size
- Big
- Waves
- Small — Surf wave size is described as small to medium depending on the day/definition used by sources.
- Launch
- Big — Expansive sandy beach with room for launching/landing.
- Launch Difficulty
- Easy — Expansive sandy launch area.
Through the year
Never crowded Monday–Friday; weekends can be crowded, with especially heavy swimmer/tourist presence from June to August.
Late summer and autumn (Atlantic hurricane season) brings the most significant swells; winter brings occasional Nor'easters.
By sport
What to expect for each.
Expansive sand provides room for launching and landing; described as a popular off-season kitesurfing option when the beach is less crowded.
- Kite Sizes
- 9–14 m²
Works with cross-shore winds for bump and jump conditions and some wave riding opportunities; also described as offering some wave/sandbar related wave riding potential.
- Sail Sizes
- 5–7.5 m²
Sandy bottom and limited reef hazard make it generally foil-friendly; shore break can be challenging during high swell periods.
- Foil Friendly
- Yes
- Min Depth
- 1.5 meters
- Wing Sizes
- 4–6 m²
A-frame beach break with sand-and-mixed bottom; shifting peaks and punchy conditions. Works year-round with the best month cited as September.
- Wave Direction
- Both
- Optimal Swell
- SE, S
- Swell Height
- 0.5–2 m
- Optimal Tide
- Low, Mid — Tide preference is cited differently across sources (one prefers low; another describes mid-tide as best).
- Shelter
- Exposed — Open beach setting with minimal shelter.
- Wind Effect
- North and Northwest winds are offshore and provide cleaner, groomed faces.
- Bigger Swell
- Can become heavy and close-out on very large swells, but holds up better to moderate hurricane swells.
- Wave Quality
- Good — Often working and can be consistent, but quality is described as sometimes inconsistent depending on conditions/sandbar position.
- Wave Power
- Moderate
- Wave Shape
- Mixed — A-frame over mixed, punchy, shifting beachbreak peaks; can also be described as peeling on good days.
- Peel Speed
- Medium
- Ride Length
- Medium — One source cites typical rides of about 50–100 meters; another lists a typical ride length around 75 meters on good days.
- Typical Ride Length
- 50–100 m
- Ride Length Details
- Waves typically provide rides between 50 and 100 meters on good days.
Check the forecast before you go
See wind, waves, weather and session windows for Misquamicut State Beach in the full forecast view.
Misquamicut State Beach wind and wave forecast summary
- Wind
- 2–10 ktsGusts 18 kts
- Direction
- W277°
- Strongest day
- Tue, Oct 2710 kts
- Windy days
- 0/712 kts or more
- Waves
- 0.3–0.7 m6s period
- Temperature
- 2–18 °C
Over the next 7 days, Misquamicut State Beach is forecast for daytime winds of 2–10 kts, peaking around 10 kts on Tuesday, October 27 with gusts to 18 kts. The prevailing direction is W. Waves run 0.3–0.7 m with a period of about 6s. Based on the Wavind model, in the spot’s local time.
Other spots in the area
What to know before you launch
Safety, access, restrictions, rescue, and local rules can change. Treat these details as informational and confirm them locally before launching.
Hazards
- rip currents (moderate after storms; strong rip currents possible, especially with large swells)
- shore break
- jellyfish (Aug–Sep: low–moderate abundance; avoid tentacles)
- submerged sandbars/seasonal swimmers
- parking lot crowding on weekends
Rescue & support
- Lifeguard
- Seasonal — On duty 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM; weekends/holidays 8:30 AM to 6:00 PM (seasonal).
- Rescue & Self-Rescue
- Limited
- Emergency Info
- In an emergency, call 911; Westerly Hospital is noted as the nearest medical facility.
Rules of the spot
Day-use only; gates close at sunset. Swim near lifeguard stands during their hours (lifeguards are seasonal). Surfing and other board sports restricted to designated areas away from swimming zones during lifeguard hours in summer.
- No alcohol
- No glass
- No dogs/pets (during summer months, per source)
- No smoking
- No RV/tent camping
- Day-use only
- Arrive before 9:30 AM or after 3 PM on weekends to avoid parking lot fill.
- Swim near lifeguard stands.
- If caught in a rip current, swim parallel to shore.
- Check sandbars after major storms as the peaks often shift.
- Avoid jellyfish tentacles in Aug–Sep; vinegar is recommended for stings.
Getting there & access
- Nearest City
- Westerly, Rhode Island
- Nearest Town
- Westerly
- Parking
- Daily parking is paid (non-residents higher on weekends/holidays). Lot fills high on weekends—arrive early or late.
- Access
- Easy access via Atlantic Avenue with multiple entry points to the state beach; gates open 9:00 AM–6:00 PM (Mon–Fri) and 8:30 AM–6:00 PM (weekends/holidays).
- Cost Level
- Moderate
- Local Language
- English
What's on the beach
- Accommodation
- Nearby town — Numerous hotels, beach rentals, and cottages are available in the immediate vicinity of Misquamicut.
- Food & Drink
- A seasonal concession is noted during beach season; restaurants are also available along Atlantic Avenue.
- Equipment Rental:
- Surfboard and wetsuit rentals are available locally; kite and wing foil rentals are described as more limited and may require travel to nearby areas.
- Gear Storage
- Limited public gear storage.
- Gear Repair
- Local surf shops provide basic board repairs.
No schools or services are listed for this spot yet.
Off the water
Historic beachfront amusement park featuring a vintage carousel and arcade.
A historic 19th-century lighthouse offering scenic views of the Atlantic and Fishers Island Sound.
A long sandy spit popular for hiking, birdwatching, and exploring coastal wildlife.
Classic beachfront restaurant and bar known for ocean views and live music.
The oldest continuously operating carousel in the United States.
From riders who've been here
Latest reported conditions
Spot questions
Frequently asked questions
When is the best season at Misquamicut State Beach?
The best overall months at Misquamicut State Beach are September, October, November, December. The best wind months are September, October, November.
Which wind directions work at Misquamicut State Beach?
Misquamicut State Beach works with N, NW winds. Offshore directions are NNW, NW, N.
What equipment sizes are recommended at Misquamicut State Beach?
Recommended equipment sizes at Misquamicut State Beach: Kitesurfing: 9–14 m² · Windsurfing: 5–7.5 m² · Wingfoiling: 4–6 m². The typical wind range is 10–25 kts.
What skill level is Misquamicut State Beach suitable for?
Misquamicut State Beach suits these riding levels: Kitesurfing: Intermediate · Windsurfing: Intermediate · Wingfoiling: Intermediate · Surfing: Beginner to Intermediate.