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Frequently Asked Questions

It’s easy! Just go to www.riparks.com at any time and follow the instructions.

When you purchase your pass online, you will receive an automated email response from the system with a confirmation of your request. Once approved you will receive an email to complete your registration. Upon completion, your license plate will be your credential!

Yes, there are several options for buying a season beach parking pass in person. You can go to the RI Parks headquarters at 1100 Tower Hill Road in North Kingstown on weekdays from 9 AM – 4 PM and Saturdays from 7:30 AM – 1 PM. You can also go to the Scarborough State Beach overflow lot located across the street from Scarborough State Beach (870 Ocean Road, Narragansett) from 9 AM to 4 PM daily, now until August 28. Passes are also sold at all beach locations on weekdays from 9 AM – 4 PM.

No, season passes are not sold at beach entrances. We are working hard to reduce traffic and wait times. During the beach season, passes are available to purchase in-person at the Scarborough State Beach overflow lot located across the street from Scarborough State Beach (on Burnside Avenue, Narragansett) on weekdays beginning the Tuesday after Memorial Day from 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM through August 19th, 2022. In-Person pass sales will then move to the designated entrance booth at the Scarborough North parking lot until Labor Day. Or you can purchase your pass online.

Moving the sale of beach passes online is an effort to make the process of obtaining a parking pass as convenient and efficient as possible. DEM is also responding to requests from local town authorities to help reduce traffic build ups at state beach entrances for safety purposes. Passes are still available to purchase in-person, but the hours are now more limited than previous years.

There are still several options for buying a beach parking pass in person. You can go to the RI Parks headquarters at 1100 Tower Hill Road in North Kingstown on weekdays from 9 AM – 4 PM and Saturdays from 7:30 AM – 1 PM. You can also go to the Scarborough State Beach overflow lot located across the street from Scarborough State Beach (870 Ocean Road, Narragansett) from 9 AM to 4 PM daily, between now and June 30. Passes are also sold at all beach locations on weekdays from 9 AM – 4 PM.

As part of DEM’s Beach More, Wait Less initiative, we are working hard to reduce traffic and wait times. It takes several minutes to purchase a season pass, which adds up to significant delays with thousands of cars on busy summer weekends. By having pre-purchased season passes on the cars when they approach the entrance, traffic will lessen, and you’ll get to the beach faster! This new policy is set and structured to keep beach entrances free from traffic and reduce any confusion or frustration among our patrons and our workers.

You can purchase a pass at the RI Parks headquarters at 1100 Tower Hill Road in North Kingstown on weekdays from 9 AM – 4 PM and Saturdays from 7:30 AM – 1 PM or at the Scarborough State Beach overflow lot located across the street from Scarborough State Beach (870 Ocean Road, Narragansett) from 9 AM to 4 PM daily, now to August 28. Passes are also sold there and at beach locations during the weekdays from 9 AM – 4 PM.

When you purchase your pass online, you will receive an automated email response from the system with a confirmation of your request to be approved. A phone number will be provided on the email to request approval immediately. This approval will then allow you to complete the registration process and proceed to the gate.

Its easy! All you have to do is follow the signage to the express lane and the cameras will read your license plate to provide access to the beach!

The season beach passes available online at www.riparks.com are for state beaches only. These beaches include Charlestown Breachway, East Beach, Roger Wheeler, Scarborough North and South, East Matunuck, Misquamicut, and Salty Brine.

If you have questions or need assistance, please call RI Parks at (401) 864-1346 (M-F 8:30 AM – 4 PM; Sat. 7:30 AM – 1 PM) or email us at ribeaches@lazparking.com.

No, the prices for purchasing passes online and in-person are the same. A 6% convenience fee is charged on online purchases to offset the cost of the system.

The fee structure for the 2020 season will remain the same as last year. The daily beach parking fee for 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. All Rhode Island-registered vehicles will be subject to resident parking rates; non-Rhode Island plates will be subject to non-resident rates. Fees are based solely on the vehicle registration (i.e. license plate) of each vehicle entering beach facilities. (By law, a “vehicle” is defined as any street-legal equipment, motorized or non-motorized, properly registered for over-the-road travel.)

By Rhode Island State Law 32-1-17, no fee shall be charged to any person with a disability regardless of age, or to automobiles transporting a non-driver with a disability at any recreational facility owned by the state, provided, however, proper identification is presented as prescribed by the Department of Environmental Management. For the purpose of this section “person with a disability shall mean an individual who has a physical or mental impairment and is receiving: [A] Social Security disability (SSDI), [B] Supplemental Security Income benefits (SSI) or Veterans benefits and who shall be determined under applicable federal law by the Federal Department of Veteran’s Affairs to be 100% disabled through a service connected injury. You can obtain a no-cost beach parking pass at RI State Parks headquarters at 1100 Tower Hill Road in North Kingstown on weekdays from 9 AM – 4 PM.

Unfortunately, each season pass is required to be registered to only one vehicle. The season passes may not be switched between different vehicles. If you’d like more than one season pass, you will have to purchase each additional pass individually.

The vehicle must be registered in Rhode Island. For the purpose of administrating these fees, resident and non-resident vehicle fees shall be based solely upon the state of registration. vehicle shall mean any street legal equipment, motorized or non-motorized, properly registered for over the road travel.

No, the vehicle must be present so the Beach Attendant can verify the registration prior to installation. The pass is non-transferable. .

No, the vehicle must be registered in Rhode Island.

Both for residents and non-residents, you must be 65 years of age or older.

Yes, military personnel whose permanent duty station is located in Rhode Island can be issued resident season passes or pay the resident day rate. You must provide a copy of your orders and drive and own the vehicle.

State Law 32-1-18: No entrance fee shall be charged to any person who is sixty-five years of age or older and who is eligible to participate in the RI Pharmaceutical Assistance to the elderly program. You must be driving and be eligible for the 60% income level indicated on the card. RIPAE Card must be marked 8018 not 8019 or 8020. Daily confirmation only, season passes are not issued for this program.

Yes, specific documentation is required to obtain a disability picture ID card from the Division’s Headquarters, which is required for fee exemption at our State beaches. To obtain your picture ID you must provide current year social security disability certification listing you as disabled and collecting disability benefits with the Social Security Administration or a current year 100% Disabled Veteran’s Administration certificate. ID’s are available only from the North Kingstown location located at 1100 Tower Hill Road, North Kingstown, RI. We suggest you call 401-667-6200 in advance to verify your paperwork prior to making a trip to our office.

Barrier Beach Passes can be purchased at:

Coastal Resources Management Council
Stedman Government Center Suite 116
4808 Tower Hill Road, Wakefield RI
Monday through Friday: 9:30 AM to 12:00 PM and 1:00 PM to 3:30 PM
Tel: 401.783.3370

Burlingame Campground Check Station
Route 1, Charlestown, RI
June 1 to the Sunday before Columbus Day
Please call Burlingame State Campground for office hours and availability.
401.322.8910

For information on pricing, equipment requirements and other regulations regarding barrier beach permits, click Barrier Beach Permits.

No, not at this time. There is no public property that is available for ATV use in the State of Rhode Island.

As of 2013, The Department of Environmental Management and the Department of Health (HEALTH) announced the start of a mandatory no smoking initiative at all Rhode Island state beaches. In doing so, Rhode Island joins the growing movement to keep beaches clean and to protect people and wildlife from the risks and ramifications of smoking at the beach, and may be the first state to initiate a statewide smoke-free beach campaign.