Tri-Pond Park
Nature preserve
128 acres2.6 mi of trail
Tri-Pond Park Trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
Photo: SusImposter49 · CC BY-SA 4.0A+Outdoors
Outdoors in South Kingstown
32% of South Kingstown’s land is conserved: 11,615 acres
2,429 acres are parks and preserves, 76 per 1,000 residents. 50 miles of mapped trail cross South Kingstown, 0.9 per square mile of land. 92% of residents live within a half mile of a park.
Ahead of 96% of U.S. towns · #4 of 38 in Rhode Island. What drives it
Conserved land
32%
11,615 acres · of 56.4 sq mi of land
Trails
50 mi
0.9 per sq mi of land
Park land
2,429 ac
76 acres per 1,000 residents
Near a park
92%
of residents within ½ mile
Bike routes
11 mi
0.5 mi lanes · 9.3 mi paths
Highest peak
318 ft
Mount Pleasant
Lakes & rivers
30
5 beaches · 8 boat launches
What kind of outdoors town is South Kingstown?
Read from the map. The page puts what stands out first.
Land that stays wild32% of the land is conserved; a typical Rhode Island town, 19%.A trail town0.9 miles of mapped trail per square mile of land, more than 78% of U.S. towns.Parks close to home92% of residents live within a half mile of a park.History along the way25 places on the National Register.
Outdoors grade
How much outdoors does South Kingstown have?
On conserved land, trails, park land and how close residents live to a park, South Kingstown is ahead of 96% of U.S. towns, #4 of 38 in Rhode Island. All four inputs are above most U.S. towns; conserved land ranks highest, the share of residents near a park lowest.
A+
OutdoorsA character grade: shown, never part of South Kingstown’s overall grade.
Conserved land32% of the land · typical RI town 19% · U.S. 4%A+Trails0.9 miles of mapped trail per square mile of land (50 mi) · RI 1.1 · U.S. 0.4A−Park land76 acres of park per 1,000 residents (2,429 acres) · RI 21 · U.S. 13A−Parks close to home92% of residents within a half mile of a park · RI 72% · U.S. 72%A−
All U.S. towns we grade (21,298)Ahead of 96%
LessMore
Rhode Island towns of 2,500+ (38)Ahead of 92%
Rhode Island towns conserve more land than most (a typical one, 19%; the U.S., 4%), so South Kingstown’s 32% is ahead of 84% of Rhode Island towns, while its trails per square mile lead 38% of them.
Water is 29% of South Kingstown’s area (23 of 80 square miles), so every share here is of land; over land and water together, the conserved share would read 23%.
How sure. Graded on any three of the four inputs instead, the letter would range from A to A+. Trails and many small parks come from OpenStreetMap, mapped by volunteers, so coverage varies from town to town; the half mile is a straight line from each census block, so a river or highway in the way isn’t counted against it.
PAD-US, OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors), Census 2025 Gazetteer and 2020 blocks; details in Sources below. How TownRatings grades the outdoors →
The map
Conserved land, trails & bike routes
Tap a number to zoom to a park. Tap a layer to hide it.
Easements protect land from building but are usually private.© OpenStreetMap contributors · USGS PAD-US
Places to walk
Pick a walk
The longest trail network is Tri-Pond Park, with 2.6 miles. Directions go to the nearest trailhead or public parking.
Trustom Pond National Wildlife Refuge
Nature preserve
443 acres2.1 mi of trail
Osprey Point TrailRed Maple Swamp TrailFarm Field Loop TrailOtter Point Trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
Potter Wood
Park
61 acres1.7 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
No trailhead mapped yet
South Kingstown Town Beach
Managed by Town of South Kingstown
10 acres0.5 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
Crawley Preserve
Nature preserve
16 acres0.3 mi of trail
Red Fox Trail (Red)Crawley Trail (Blue)Brook Trail (Yellow)
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
All 17 parks & preserves
Tri-Pond Park128 acres · 2.6 mi of trail
DirectionsTrustom Pond National Wildlife Refuge443 acres · 2.1 mi of trail
DirectionsPotter Wood61 acres · 1.7 mi of trail
South Kingstown Town Beach10 acres · 0.5 mi of trail · Town of South Kingstown
DirectionsMarina Park5 acres · 0.4 mi of trail
DirectionsCrawley Preserve16 acres · 0.3 mi of trail
DirectionsSaugatucket Park3 acres · 0.2 mi of trail
DirectionsMarion Eppley Wildlife Sanctuary294 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
Tuckertown Park25 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
DirectionsPeace Dale Village Green3 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
DirectionsFagan Park2 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
DirectionsSuccotash Marsh State Management Area134 acres
South Shore Management Area24 acres
West Kingston Park10 acres
DirectionsGreen Hill Park6 acres
Hazard Memorial Garden3 acres
DirectionsTreaty Rock Park1 acres
Who protects it
11,615 conserved acres
32% of South Kingstown’s land. Water is left out: South Kingstown has 56.4 square miles of land and 23.3 of water, so the share counts land only. Who manages South Kingstown’s conserved land, from the USGS Protected Areas Database. Approximate, because parcels can overlap.
Land trusts & nonprofits5,130 ac
State conservation4,070 ac
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service1,991 ac
State natural resources1,121 ac
Town or city985 ac
Other state land885 ac
USDA easements (NRCS)592 ac
Conservation Easement · 7,158 acState Resource Management Area · 3,547 acPrivate Conservation · 2,446 acLocal Conservation Area · 2,298 acNational Wildlife Refuge · 1,713 ac
Good to know
Conserved doesn’t always mean open to visitors. 2,057 acres are conservation easements, usually private land. Public access isn’t recorded for 266 of 422 parcels. The walks above are places people visit.
The biggest protected parcels
| Parcel (PAD-US) | Managed by | Acres | Public access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Great Swamp Management Area State Resource Management Area | Not recorded | 3,016 | Unknown |
| Unknown Park State Conservation Area | Other state land | 2,178 | Open |
| Trustom Pond National Wildlife Refuge Private Conservation | Not recorded | 1,337 | Unknown |
| Great Swamp State Resource Management Area | Not recorded | 519 | Unknown |
| John H. Chafee National Wildlife Refuge National Wildlife Refuge | U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service | 404 | Restricted |
| Great Swamp Fee Private Conservation | Land trusts & nonprofits | 348 | Unknown |
| Open Space Local Recreation Area | Not recorded | 298 | Open |
| Marion Eppley Wildlife Sanctuary Private Conservation | Not recorded | 294 | Unknown |
| Matunuck Hills Macrosite Fee Private Conservation | Land trusts & nonprofits | 248 | Unknown |
| Noyes Farm Local Other or Unknown | Town or city | 247 | Open |
5 smaller protected places aren’t shown.
Things to do
76 places to go in South Kingstown
Beaches, playgrounds, peaks, falls and more. Pick a kind.
Beaches in South Kingstown
Camp Fuller Waterfront
DirectionsLarkin's Pond Beach ClubFee
DirectionsPlus 3 beaches without a name on the map. Tap “Show all on map” to see them.
Swimming spots in South Kingstown
1 swimming spot without a name on the map. Tap “Show all on map” to see it.
Playgrounds in South Kingstown
28 playgrounds without a name on the map.
Dog parks in South Kingstown
South Kingstown Dog Park Association
DirectionsBoat launches in South Kingstown
Plus 5 boat launches without a name on the map.
Waterfalls in South Kingstown
1 waterfall without a name on the map.
Scenic views in South Kingstown
Hannah Robinson Obeservation Tower
DirectionsPlus 8 scenic views without a name on the map.
Peaks in South Kingstown
Mount Pleasant318 ft elevation
DirectionsTefft Hill256 ft elevation
DirectionsKingston Hill243 ft elevation
DirectionsMcSparran Hill230 ft elevation
DirectionsRose Hill207 ft elevation
DirectionsBroad Hill190 ft elevation
DirectionsMeetinghouse Hill187 ft elevation
DirectionsTower Hill161 ft elevation
Directions7 more peaks
Great Neck128 ft elevation
DirectionsSugarloaf Hill128 ft elevation
DirectionsLittle Sugarloaf Hill121 ft elevation
DirectionsGreen Hill69 ft elevation
DirectionsBlackberry Hill66 ft elevation
DirectionsJumping Hill52 ft elevation
DirectionsTobey Neck
DirectionsCampgrounds in South Kingstown
Camp Fuller - By The SeaYMCA
DirectionsCamp HoffmanGirl Scouts of Rhode Island
DirectionsJungle Campsite
DirectionsJunior Campsite
DirectionsSenior Hill
DirectionsSherman Campsite
DirectionsYMCA Camp Fuller
DirectionsCommunity gardens in South Kingstown
1 community garden without a name on the map.
Trails & water
20 named trails and 30 lakes & rivers
Named trails
Open to bikes · 2.1 miHorses · 1.0 miUnpaved · 25.1 mi
Browning Woods (Blue)2.2 mi
Blue2.1 mi
Yawgoo Pond Loop Trail1.1 mi
Driftway I0.9 mi
Thewlis-DAR Trail0.8 mi
Red0.7 mi
Driftway II0.7 mi
Osprey Point Trail0.7 mi
Green0.6 mi
Farm Field Loop Trail0.6 mi
10 more trails
Yellow
0.6 miRed Maple Swamp Trail
0.6 miYawgoo Pond Founders Trail
0.5 miTri-Pond Park Trail
0.4 miOtter Point Trail
0.3 miRed Fox Trail (Red)
0.1 miCrawley Trail (Blue)
0.1 miBrook Trail (Yellow)
0.1 miKensington Court North
0.1 miArchery/Paraglide Trail
0.1 miLakes & rivers tap for directions
Asa PondBarbers PondBillington CoveCards PondpondFarm PondFlat Meadow CoveGlen Rock ReservoirreservoirGreat Swamp Goose MarshreservoirGreen Hill PondHundred Acre PondpondIndian LakelakeIndian Run ReservoirreservoirLarkin PondpondMill PondPeace Dale ReservoirreservoirPerch CovePoint Judith PondPotter PondRocky Brook ReservoirreservoirSilver LakelakeSmelt Brook CoveThirty Acre PondpondTrustom PondWorden PondlakeYawgoo PondpondChipuxet RiverPawcatuck RiverSaugatucketSaugatucket RiverUsquepaug River
Biking & sports
11 miles of bike routes
Bike lanes are often missing from the map in smaller towns, so that number is likely low.
0.5 mi
painted or protected bike lanes
9.3 mi
off-road bike paths
1.2 mi
shoulders & shared lanes
Courts & fields
60Tennis
33Pickleball
30Basketball
16Baseball
9Tracks
8Soccer
5Beach volleyball
4Softball
Includes school and college facilities, which aren’t always open to the public.
History along the way
History →25 places on the National Register
The country’s official list of places worth saving (National Park Service). The map also marks 8 historic points from OpenStreetMap: plaques, memorials and old buildings.
Kingston Village Historic DistrictDistrict · listed 1974
About itKingston Railroad StationBuilding · listed 1978
About itHenry Marchant FarmBuilding · listed 1979
About itTheatre-By-the-SeaBuilding · listed 1980
About itCommodore Oliver Perry FarmBuilding · listed 1982
About itWilliam Davis Miller HouseBuilding · listed 1985
About itShadow FarmBuilding · listed 1986
About itPeace Dale Historic DistrictDistrict · listed 1987
About itUsquepaug Road Historic DistrictDistrict · listed 1987
About itPerry-Carpenter Grist MillBuilding · listed 1990
About itGen. Isaac Peace Rodman HouseBuilding · listed 1990
About itHenry Eldred FarmBuilding · listed 1991
About it13 more on the History page.
When to get out
The best walking months in South Kingstown: May to September
NOAA’s 1991–2020 normals for the town and the daylight at its latitude. Outlined months have long days, highs of 59 to 86 °F and little rain for the place.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daylight (h) | 9.5 | 10.6 | 11.8 | 13.3 | 14.5 | 15.2 | 14.9 | 13.8 | 12.4 | 11.0 | 9.8 | 9.2 |
| High (°F) | 39 | 40 | 47 | 56 | 66 | 74 | 80 | 80 | 74 | 63 | 53 | 44 |
| Rain (in) | 3.7 | 3.3 | 4.8 | 4.3 | 3.5 | 3.7 | 3.1 | 3.7 | 3.9 | 4.5 | 3.9 | 4.6 |
July is the driest month (3.1 in) and the warmest (highs of 80 °F). 4.8 inches fall in March, the wettest month. The climate in South Kingstown →
Next door
South Kingstown and its neighbors
Tap a town to see its outdoors.
Exeter112 miNorth Kingstown61 miCharlestown60 miRichmond59 miSouth Kingstown50 miNarragansett13 miWakefield-Peace Dale8.2 miNarragansett Pier3.4 mi
| Town | Conserved of land | Trail mi per sq mi | Park acres per 1,000 | Near a park ½ mile | Outdoors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Kingstown | 32% | 0.9 | 76 | 92% | A+ |
| Richmond | 34% | 1.5 | 22 | 21% | A− |
| Charlestown | 35% | 1.6 | 341 | 40% | A |
| Narragansett | 19% | 1.0 | 40 | 91% | A |
| Narragansett Pier | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
| Wakefield-Peace Dale | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
| Exeter | 35% | 1.9 | 26 | 19% | A− |
| North Kingstown | 24% | 1.4 | 44 | 68% | A |
The four inputs of the Outdoors grade, from the engine; shares are of land, not water.
Questions about parks and trails in South Kingstown
Where can I hike in South Kingstown?
The longest trail networks: Tri-Pond Park, 2.6 miles; Trustom Pond National Wildlife Refuge, 2.1 miles; Potter Wood, 1.7 miles; South Kingstown Town Beach, 0.5 miles. Each one is on the map above, with directions to the nearest trailhead or parking.
How much of South Kingstown is conserved land?
32% of its land, against a typical 19% for a Rhode Island town and 4% nationally (PAD-US). Conserved doesn’t always mean open to visitors: easements are usually private land.
Are dogs allowed on South Kingstown’s trails?
Tri-Pond Park and Trustom Pond National Wildlife Refuge don’t have dog rules recorded on the map; check the signs at the trailhead.
Where can I bike in South Kingstown?
11 miles of bike routes are on the map: 0.5 of painted or protected lanes, 9.3 of off-road paths and 1.2 of shoulders and shared lanes.
Is there public land near South Kingstown?
13,822 acres of parks and open public land lie inside South Kingstown or within 10 miles of it (PAD-US), 2,429 of them inside the town line.
How much outdoors does South Kingstown have?
Ahead of 96% of U.S. towns on the Outdoors grade, #4 of 38 in Rhode Island. The grade combines the share of land that is conserved, miles of mapped trail per square mile of land, park acres per 1,000 residents and the share of residents within a half mile of a park. It’s a character grade, so it isn’t part of the overall grade. How it works.
Trail talk
Conditions, parking and favorite walks from South Kingstown neighbors.
Share a tip
Sources
Where this page comes from
Conserved and public land: USGS Protected Areas Database of the United States (PAD-US), service updated July 2026. Parks, trails, playgrounds, beaches and other places: OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), map data as of 2026-10-28. Land and water area: Census 2025 Gazetteer. Residents near a park: 2020 Census blocks. National Register: National Park Service. How TownRatings grades the outdoors →