73°
Smoke
84%
28
Washington County, RI · Atlantic Ocean
Roger W. Wheeler State Beach
100 Sand Hill Cove Road, Narragansett, RI 02882
Tucked behind the Galilee breakwater, "Sand Hill Cove" has the calmest, shallowest water of any RI state beach — the local family pick when kids are small. A playground, picnic shelter, and big bathhouse round it out.
Today's Conditions
Skip the beach today.
84% rain · NWS alert active · 73°F air
Full NWS forecast for This Afternoon
Smoke and showers and thunderstorms. Cloudy, with a high near 73. South wind around 18 mph, with gusts as high as 29 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Tonight
Smoke and showers and thunderstorms before 7pm, then smoke and showers and thunderstorms likely between 7pm and 8pm, then areas of smoke and showers and thunderstorms likely between 8pm and 1am, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 1am and 4am. Some of the storms could produce heavy rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 67. Southwest wind 13 to 21 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.
Weather
- 73°F air — ideal beach weather
- 84% rain — wet day — beach day is off
- 18 mph wind — breezy — anchor everything
Water
- 68°F water — swimmable, refreshing
Safety
- NWS alert active — small craft advisory issued july 18 at 12:41pm edt until july 19 at 12:00pm edt by nws boston/norton ma
13 /100
skip
5 Swim
10 Sunbathe
25 Walk
56 Photo
Best for photography today
Water level 0.6 ft above predicted
Observed water level is running higher than the astronomical tide prediction. Expect a narrower beach, faster-rising water, and stronger near-shore currents than the tide chart suggests.
Small Craft Small Craft Advisory
Small Craft Advisory issued July 18 at 12:41PM EDT until July 19 at 12:00PM EDT by NWS Boston/Norton MA
Full NWS statement
* WHAT...Southwest winds 15 to 25 kt with gusts up to 30 kt and seas 3 to 5 feet. * WHERE...Portions of Massachusetts coastal waters and Rhode Island coastal waters. * WHEN...Until noon EDT Sunday. * IMPACTS...Conditions will be hazardous to small craft.
Atmosphere
Air Temp
73°F
Light Rain and Fog/Mist
Wind
18 mph
S
Rain
84%
This Afternoon
UV Peak
4 Moderate
Peaks 11 AM · burn in ~50m
Burn-free before 09 AM & after 02 PM
Tomorrow
76°F
Mostly Sunny
Water
Water Temp
68°F
Refreshing
Wave Height
2.6 ft
4s · SW swell
Water Quality
Clean
10 cfu/100mL · Enterococcus
USGS · sampled 10mo ago
Rip Current Risk · Regional Reference
No zone-specific NWS forecast for this beach (ANZ237)
The BOX office's Surf Zone Forecast doesn't cover this beach's forecast zone directly. Nearby coastal zones it does cover are listed below — regional reference only, not a substitute for the conditions at this specific beach.
- MAZ022 Barnstable MA — Chatham, Eastham, and Provincetown n/a
- MAZ024 Nantucket MA — Nantucket n/a
- MAZ023 Dukes MA — Edgartown and Aquinnah n/a
- MAZ020 Southern Bristol MA — Westport, Dartmouth, and New Bedford n/a
- RIZ007 Newport RI — Newport, Middletown, and Little Compton n/a
- RIZ006 Washington RI — Narragansett, Charlestown, and Westerly n/a
- RIZ008 Block Island RI — Block Island n/a
- MAZ019 Eastern Plymouth MA — Cohasset, Duxbury, Hingham, Kingston, n/a
- MAZ015 Suffolk MA-Eastern Norfolk MA — Boston, Chelsea, Revere, Winthrop, n/a
- MAZ007 Eastern Essex MA — Beverly, Gloucester, and Newburyport n/a
Sun & Moon
Sunrise
5:27 AM
Sunset
8:16 PM
Moon · 18%
Waxing Crescent
Neap tides — smaller range
Tides
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 5:04 AM | Low | 0.0 ft |
| 11:45 AM | High | 4.2 ft |
| 5:16 PM | Low | 0.3 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 12:05 AM | High | 3.9 ft |
| 5:38 AM | Low | 0.2 ft |
| 12:38 PM | High | 4.1 ft |
| 6:09 PM | Low | 0.6 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 12:55 AM | High | 3.5 ft |
| 6:15 AM | Low | 0.4 ft |
| 1:30 PM | High | 3.9 ft |
| 7:15 PM | Low | 0.8 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 1:45 AM | High | 3.2 ft |
| 6:58 AM | Low | 0.6 ft |
| 2:21 PM | High | 3.7 ft |
| 8:40 PM | Low | 1.0 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 2:36 AM | High | 2.9 ft |
| 7:49 AM | Low | 0.7 ft |
| 3:13 PM | High | 3.5 ft |
| 9:51 PM | Low | 1.0 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 3:30 AM | High | 2.7 ft |
| 8:47 AM | Low | 0.8 ft |
| 4:10 PM | High | 3.4 ft |
| 10:44 PM | Low | 0.9 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 4:31 AM | High | 2.7 ft |
| 9:46 AM | Low | 0.8 ft |
| 5:11 PM | High | 3.4 ft |
| 11:27 PM | Low | 0.9 ft |
High/low predictions from NOAA station 8452660, refreshed on every build. Times shown local.
7-Day Beach Day Forecast
76°
Mostly Sunny
6%
79
73°
Sunny
0%
80
73°
Mostly Cloudy then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
42%
25
71°
Showers And Thunderstorms
90%
1
70°
Chance Rain Showers
40%
54
71°
Slight Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Sunny
20%
71
What to Bring Today
- recommended Wetsuit or expect a chill Water is 68°F
- recommended Rain cover + dry bag 84% chance of rain
Always remember water bottle, trash bag (leave no trace).
Beach Info
Parking
Weekday $6 RI / $12 non-resident; weekend $7 RI / $14 non-resident.
Dogs
Pets prohibited on RI state beaches April 1 – September 30.
Entry Fee
$12 non-resident weekday / $14 weekend parking
Address
100 Sand Hill Cove Road, Narragansett, RI 02882
Amenities
Frequently Asked
Is it safe to swim at Roger W. Wheeler State Beach today?
Roger W. Wheeler State Beach shows a live water-quality reading (bacteria levels) and today's swim-safety score at the top of this page, refreshed on every update. Seasonal lifeguards patrol the swim area in summer — follow their flags. Always review the current advisories, surf, and rip-current notes before getting in the water.
Is Roger W. Wheeler State Beach dog-friendly?
Pets prohibited on RI state beaches April 1 – September 30.
Is there an entry fee at Roger W. Wheeler State Beach?
$12 non-resident weekday / $14 weekend parking
Are there lifeguards at Roger W. Wheeler State Beach?
Yes. Seasonal lifeguards patrol Roger W. Wheeler State Beach during the summer swim season (typically Memorial Day through Labor Day). Outside that window, swim at your own risk.
What amenities are at Roger W. Wheeler State Beach?
Amenities at Roger W. Wheeler State Beach include lifeguards, restrooms, showers, snack bar, playground, picnic area.
When is the water warmest at Roger W. Wheeler State Beach?
Atlantic water temperatures peak in August. Northern beaches (ME, NH, MA) run cool — typically 60-68°F at the summer peak. Mid-Atlantic (NJ, DE, MD, VA) hits 74-76°F. The Carolinas and Florida Atlantic warm into the 80s and stay swimmable from May through October.
Where is Roger W. Wheeler State Beach located?
Roger W. Wheeler State Beach is in Washington County, RI, at 100 Sand Hill Cove Road, Narragansett, RI 02882.
Nearby Beaches
Updated · Data from NOAA, NWS