Newport Trip Overview
Explore Newport, RI with a scenic self-guided driving tour! See everything this seaside town has to offer at your own pace. As you drive down Bellevue Avenue, the “most beautiful avenue in the world”, see and learn about the gorgeous Gilded Age Mansions along the way – including The Breakers, Marble House, The Elms, Rosecliff, Château-sur-mer & more. Continue along Ocean Drive, featuring breathtaking vistas. This self-guided tour allows you to explore with maximum flexibility and value.
Recommended: Purchase one tour per car, not per person. Everyone listens together!
Within 30 min, we’ll send you two things: a password & an app. Download the app, enter password, & download tour. When you arrive, go to the Discover Newport Visitor Center to start the tour. Stick to the tour route & speed limit for the best experience.
THIS IS NOT AN ENTRANCE TICKET. CHECK COVID RULES & OPENING HOURS BEFORE YOUR VISIT.
NO EXPIRATION — THE TOUR IS AVAILABLE FROM THE MINUTE YOU BOOK UNTIL FOREVER!
Additional Info
Duration: 1 to 2 hours
Starts: Newport, United States
Trip Category: Cultural & Theme Tours >> Historical & Heritage Tours
Explore Newport Promoted Experiences
What to Expect When Visiting Newport, Rhode Island, United States
Explore Newport, RI with a scenic self-guided driving tour! See everything this seaside town has to offer at your own pace. As you drive down Bellevue Avenue, the “most beautiful avenue in the world”, see and learn about the gorgeous Gilded Age Mansions along the way – including The Breakers, Marble House, The Elms, Rosecliff, Château-sur-mer & more. Continue along Ocean Drive, featuring breathtaking vistas. This self-guided tour allows you to explore with maximum flexibility and value.
Recommended: Purchase one tour per car, not per person. Everyone listens together!
Within 30 min, we’ll send you two things: a password & an app. Download the app, enter password, & download tour. When you arrive, go to the Discover Newport Visitor Center to start the tour. Stick to the tour route & speed limit for the best experience.
THIS IS NOT AN ENTRANCE TICKET. CHECK COVID RULES & OPENING HOURS BEFORE YOUR VISIT.
NO EXPIRATION — THE TOUR IS AVAILABLE FROM THE MINUTE YOU BOOK UNTIL FOREVER!
Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product
Stop At: Newport Visitors Information Center, 21 Long Wharf Mall, Newport, RI 02840-2906
Our journey begins in downtown Newport, just by the Newport Visitor Center. As we set off into the heart of Newport, we’ll dive into the past to learn about Newport’s hey-day: the Gilded Age. This era of nouveau-riche American elites like the Vanderbilts and Astors has been marked by gorgeous mansions. We’ll explore the architecture and architects behind these designs as drive.
Duration: 5 minutes
Pass By: International Tennis Hall of Fame, 194 Bellevue Ave, Newport, RI 02840-3515
At the International Tennis Hall of Fame intersection, we’ll turn onto the famed Bellevue Avenue — the most expensive avenue in America. We’re about to see the most magnificent homes ever built in this country… facetiously known as “summer cottages”. You can choose to pause here to check ou the Hall of Fame, which features tennis greats.
Pass By: Audrain Auto Museum, 222 Bellevue Ave, Newport, RI 02840, USA
As we head down Bellevue, we’ll soon pass the Audrain Auto Museum and won’t be able to help by admire it! It boasts both beautiful architecture and a frequent rotation of stunning cars.
Pass By: Edward King House, 35 King St, Newport, RI 02840, USA
We’ll take a quick detour off of Bellevue to get a closer look at the Edward King House, just one block away. This is our introduction to the mansions of Newport.
Pass By: Kingscote, 253 Bellevue Ave, Newport, RI 02840, USA
As we head back to Bellevue, we’ll see our very first Newport Mansion: Kingscote. We’ll learn all about this summer home and it’s inhabitants over the years. You can even take a tour of the inside.
Stop At: The Bellevue House, 14 Catherine St, Newport, RI 02840, USA
Bellevue House is next on our journey. This gorgeous mansion has a rich facade – and a long history to match! Since it’s not open for tours, we won’t try to pause here.
Duration: 5 minutes
Pass By: Isaac Bell House, 70 Perry St, Newport, RI 02840, USA
As we continue down Bellevue Avenue, we’ll pass more eye-catching homes: Issac Bell House and Snug Harbor. We’ll learn about the unique owners of both homes, and can choose to stop at Issac Bell House for an interior tour.
Pass By: The Elms, 367 Bellevue Ave, Newport, RI 02840-6915
Finally, we’ll see the Elms. This masterpiece was designed for the coal baron Edward Julius Berwind, and inspired by France’s Château d’Asnières. Here we’ll want to slow down as much as possible to hear about the Berwinds — and maybe pull inside for a tour!
Pass By: Bellevue Avenue, Bellevue Ave., Newport, RI
When we spot Mr. Belmont’s statue, we’ll turn off Bellevue. We’re now heading towards some of the largest and finest mansions in Newport — and they’re technically not even on this famously expensive avenue! As we drive, we’ll learn a bit about Belmont — whose fascinating story we’ll pick back up when we see another grand house later on the tour.
Pass By: Chepstow, 120 Narragansett Ave, Newport, RI 02840, USA
As we journey along, we’ll pass Chepstow, a gorgeous Italianate house museum built in 1860. It’s original inhabitant isn’t usually discussed in Newport histories… but has a long connection to both early American settlers and to the nouveau-riche of the Gilded Age. We can stop here for a tour as well.
Stop At: Ochre Court, Newport, RI
Ochre Court will immediately arrest our eyes! This châteauesque mansion cost of $4.5 million… in 1892. And it certainly shows! Now the centerpiece of the Salve Regina University, this mansion isn’t open for tours… but that won’t stop us from learning all about it’s rich and fascinating history!
Duration: 5 minutes
Stop At: McAuley Hall, 100 Ochre Point Ave, Newport, RI 02840, USA
Vikings-inspired Vinland is now Salve Regina’s McAuley Hall. As we pass this beautiful red-stone mansion, we’ll learn all about its inspiration and its unique owner.
Duration: 5 minutes
Pass By: The Breakers, 44 Ochre Point Ave, Newport, RI 02840, USA
Finally, we reach Newport’s highlight: The Breakers. This Vanderbilt mansion is the biggest and the best of all of Newport’s summer cottages — and you can tell. We’ll look past the towering wrought-iron gates, along the winding gravel drive, and up to the magestic and marvelous mansion’s facade. We’ll dive into the Vanderbilt backstory, the mansion’s architectural wonders, and much more while here. This is another great opportunity to hop out for a tour.
Pass By: Chateau-sur-Mer, 474 Bellevue Ave, Newport, RI 02840-4114
As we head back towards Bellevue Avenue, we’ll pause to check out the delicate beautfy of Chateau-sur-Mer. Not only is the first Gilded Age mansion in Newport, it also boasts one of the most beautiful, green, sprawling gardens. Both the house and the gardens are open for an optional tour.
Pass By: National Museum of American Illustration, 492 Bellevue Ave, Newport, RI 02840-4127
Right on the corner of Bellevue, we’ll pause once again for a glimpse of Vernon Court. This mansion holds a different type of treasure inside: the National Museum of American Illustrations. Norman Rockwell fans simply can’t skip this hidden gem.
Stop At: Frederick Law Olmsted Park, Newport, RI 02840, USA
We continue our journey along Newport’s Bellevue avenue, passing the historic Frederick Law Olmstead Park and learning about this historic landscape architect — and his Gilded Age gardens.
Duration: 5 minutes
Pass By: Rosecliff, 548 Bellevue Ave, Newport, RI 02840, USA
Rosecliff is next on our path. This is arguably the most beautiful of the Newport Mansions, and it contains a rotating exhibition gallery on it’s top floor. If you pause here for a tour, you’ll also be treated to phenomenal ocean views.
Stop At: Gustave White Sotheby’s International Realty, 37 Bellevue Ave, Newport, RI 02840, USA
As we continue, we’ll pass the Astors’ summer cottage: Beechwood. Mrs. Astor famously had a “300 List” – the definitive list of the 300 people she considered high society. Where did that number come from? Well, this ballroom actually! It fit 300 guests. We’ll learn more about this list, the Astors, and the Gilded Age as we continue to drive down Newport’s Bellevue Avenue.
Duration: 5 minutes
Pass By: Marble House, 596 Bellevue Ave, Newport, RI 02840, USA
Our journey now takes us past Marble House, one of the most opulent and magnificent of Newport’s Mansions. This Gilded Age marvel is another Vanderbilt home, and actually has one of the most interesting histories of all the mansions here. We’ll learn all about Marble House and it’s owners as we continue onwards — or you can pause here for a tour.
Stop At: Belcourt of Newport, 657 Bellevue Ave, Newport, RI 02840, USA
We’ll then pass three amazing homes in a row: Beaulieu House, Miramar, and Belcourt Castle. All three of these beautiful mansions were built in the 1800s and belonged to Gilded Age elites. Like the other Newport mansions, they were only ever intended to be used as summer homes, and left vacant for the rest of the year.
Duration: 5 minutes
Stop At: Rough Point, 680 Bellevue Ave, Newport, RI 02840, USA
We’re now at the end of Bellevue Avenue and can catch a glimpse of an English Manorial style home through the trees: that’s Rough Point. Now a museum open for tours, we’ll learn all about it’s eccentric (and possibly dangerous) owner.
Duration: 5 minutes
Stop At: Bailey’s Beach, Cliff Walk, Newport, RI 02840, USA
We’ll exit beautiful Bellevue Avenue for another beautiful road: Ocean Drive. This part of the scenic drive is full of natural wonders…. and has a few more architectural ones thrown in too!
Duration: 5 minutes
Stop At: Gooseberry Beach, 130 Ocean Ave, Newport, RI 02840, USA
As we meander along this scenic path, we’ll enjoy the fresh ocean air and relative calm. As we drive, we’ll dive into the history of seafaring, trading, and yachting in Newport — much of which finds its roots in the Gilded Age. As we continue, we can choose to pause at some of the public beaches to stretch our legs.
Duration: 5 minutes
Pass By: Brenton Point State Park, Ocean Drive, Newport, RI 02840, USA
Our journey continues past Brenton Point State Park, which boasts magnificent ocean views and sprawling green lawns. We’ll try to spot the lighthouse as we continue forward.
Stop At: Castle Hill Inn, 590 Ocean Ave, Newport, RI 02840, USA
We’ll continue past Castle Hill Inn and it’s lighthouse, learning a bit more about Newport’s history after the Gilded Age.
Duration: 5 minutes
Stop At: OceanCliff Hotel, 65 Ridge Rd, Newport, RI 02840, USA
Next up, we’ll pass OceanCliff and the Newport Country Club. We’re now at the farthest point along the Ocean Drive.
Duration: 5 minutes
Stop At: Hammersmith Farm, 225 Harrison Ave, Newport, RI 02840-3784
Our journey brings us to Hammersmith Farm, the childhood home of Jackie Kennedy. Jackie and JFK would later return to summer here, enjoying the same scenery, views, and breeze that you feel today!
Duration: 5 minutes
Stop At: 80 Fort Adams Drive Fort Adams State Park Visitor Center, Newport, RI 02840-4388
We’ll continue both our history lesson and journey into Fort Adams, as we explore this historic site and it’s significance to Newport’s independence.
Duration: 5 minutes
Stop At: Beacon Rock, 147 Harrison Ave, Newport, RI 02840, USA
As we turn the corner on Ocean Drive, we’ll gatch a glimpse of Beacon Rock through the trees. We’ll learn a little about this mansion’s history as we admire it’s facade.
Duration: 5 minutes
Stop At: Bonniecrest, 111 Harrison Ave, Newport, RI 02840, USA
Our journey then brings us to BonnieCrest, home of the Worceshtershire Sauce family! We’ll then push forward to Harbor Court, and finally get some more scenic ocean views.
Duration: 5 minutes
Stop At: Ida Lewis Rock, Newport, RI 02840, USA
Off the in the distance, we’ll see Ida Lewis Rock. As we pass by, we’ll learn all about Ida Lewis’ heroic activities here.
Duration: 5 minutes
Stop At: Rochambeau Statue and Monument, Newport, RI 02840, USA
We’ll continue past the historic Rochambeau Monument, celebrating the French commander’s assistance in the fight against the British for American independence.
Duration: 5 minutes
Stop At: Spencer Park, 26 W Narragansett Ave, Newport, RI 02840, USA
Our journey then brings us to Newport’s Irish District or 5th Ward. Here we’ll explore the lives behind the scenes — those of the workers that made the Gilded Age possible.
Duration: 5 minutes
Pass By: Newport Public Library, 300 Spring St, Newport, RI 02840, USA
Our tour through Newport finally ends at historic St. Mary’s Church, almost a full circle to where we started out at the Newport Visitor Center!
