Skip to content
KITAUTHORITY
Colt State Park

State Park · Rhode Island

Colt State Park

A 464-acre former Colt family estate on Bristol's western shore, with four miles of paved waterfront paths, panoramic Narragansett Bay views, fruit orchards, and some of the best cycling and picnicking in Rhode Island.

Colt State Park

Field briefing

Colt State Park changes fast with season and elevation.

Before you go

Colt State Park is the best cycling and picnicking park on Narragansett Bay, and admission is free.

The four miles of paved waterfront path are flat enough for casual riders and kids on bikes, the picnic areas overlook open water, and the historic orchards add a layer of beauty most coastal parks lack. There is no camping, and the park fills on summer weekends, so an early arrival is the main planning move. It is open year-round sunrise to sunset.

Best window
May through October for cycling, picnicking, and bay views
Signature routes
Narragansett Bay Waterfront Loop, Historic Colt Orchards
Pack focus
Water, layers
Location
Rhode Island
Best time
May through October for cycling, picnicking, and bay views
Entrance
No day-use admission fee. Pavilion and picnic shelter reservations required for group areas (fee applies); open lawn areas are free.

When to go

Weather, crowds, and what the season changes about the trip.

Spring

55-65F

Moderate crowds

Mild and green, with apple and cherry trees blooming in the orchard. Highs 55 to 65 F by May.

Pack Light layers and a bike lock for the paved paths.

Summer

80-85F

Peak crowds

Warm with sea breezes off the bay, highs 80 to 85 F. Afternoon crowds on weekends.

Pack Sun protection, plenty of water, and a picnic cooler. Arrive early to claim a table.

Fall

55-65F

High crowds

Crisp and colorful, with the orchard and surrounding trees turning in October. Highs 55 to 65 F.

Pack A layer for the breeze off the bay and a camera for the orchard color.

Winter

30-40F

Low crowds

Cold and quiet, with winds off the bay and highs 30 to 40 F. The paths are open year-round.

Pack Wind layer and warm base. Watch for ice on shaded paved sections.

Top things to do

  • Narragansett Bay Waterfront Loop

    Four miles of paved, flat paths hug the western Bristol shoreline with unobstructed water views toward Prudence Island. The most popular cycling and walking route in the park, suitable for all ages and road bikes.

  • Historic Colt Orchards

    The apple, pear, and cherry orchards planted by the Colt family survive at the north end of the park, blooming spectacularly in May and offering a bucolic counterpoint to the bay views.

  • Mill Gut Brook Fishing

    A small freshwater stream at the park's interior is stocked with trout. Saltwater anglers also work the rocky bay shoreline for stripers and bluefish in season.

How long to spend

Anchor the day around Narragansett Bay Waterfront Loop

Put the access rule first: shuttle, parking, timed-entry, or reservation windows should decide the order of the day. For one day in Colt State Park, make Narragansett Bay Waterfront Loop the non-negotiable, add Historic Colt Orchards only if the first stop runs clean, and keep Mill Gut Brook Fishing as the flexible finish.

  1. 1Start with Narragansett Bay Waterfront Loop: Four miles of paved, flat paths hug the western Bristol shoreline with unobstructed water views toward Prudence Island. The most popular cycling and walking route in.
  2. 2Add Historic Colt Orchards: The apple, pear, and cherry orchards planted by the Colt family survive at the north end of the park, blooming spectacularly in May and offering a bucolic.
  3. 3Use Mill Gut Brook Fishing as the optional finish, not as a reason to rush the whole day.

Plan your trip

Turn Colt's conditions into water, pack, and sleep-system decisions.

Colt State Park

Build around conditions

Let season, elevation, and weather set the plan.

Plan your trip

2 quick tools, already seeded for Colt State Park. Tune the numbers around temperature swings, footing, layers, and how much margin the route needs.

  1. 01Size your water for a warm day on the trail
  2. 02Find the right daypack size for a day out

What to pack

Start with the gear decisions this park changes: footing, weather, camping, and water.

Pack planning

Decide what Colt State Park asks of your kit before you start checking boxes.

Use this as a constraint check while you are still shaping the trip. The active checklist becomes useful once your route, dates, and sleep plan are set.

  • First constraintHydration and exposureWater, hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, Navigationmap, downloaded GPS, or a GPS watch, 3 more
  • Route realityFooting and tractionHiking boots, Hiking socks, Trekking poles
  • Load choicePack and carry systemDaypack
  • Season checkLayers for conditionsMoisture-wicking base layers, Insulated jacket, Traction devices for ice

Checklist mode

14 items, grouped for the trip you are actually taking.

  1. Dates and season are set.
  2. Primary route, campground, or lodge is chosen.
  3. Water, footwear, and overnight needs are sized.

Gear for Colt

The buying guides that match what Colt asks of your kit, with our current top picks across budget and use case.

Where to stay

Colt State Park has no camping. The nearest state campground is Fishermen's Memorial in Narragansett, about 15 miles south. Bristol itself has a handful of inns and vacation rentals, and Providence is about 20 miles north with a full range of hotels.

Camping reservations

Camping reservations

Day-use only. No camping at Colt State Park.

Colt State Park is a day-use park with no overnight facilities. For Rhode Island state park camping near Bristol, book Fishermen's Memorial in Narragansett or Burlingame in Charlestown through the RI DEM reservation system.

Reviewed June 11, 2026

Booking window

Rhode Island state park campgrounds are reservable through the RI DEM system. Summer weekends fill early. Check riparks.ri.gov for the current booking window.

  • No camping is available at Colt State Park itself.
  • Pavilion and picnic shelter reservations at Colt are required from the second Saturday in April through October 31 and carry a rental fee. Open lawn areas remain free.
  • Fishermen's Memorial State Park in Narragansett and Burlingame State Park in Charlestown are the closest RI state camping options, each about 15 to 25 miles away.
  • Private campgrounds in the East Bay area exist but are limited; verify availability before planning a multi-night stay near Bristol.

Where to book or verify

Rhode Island State Parks reservations

Official RI DEM portal for nearby state campgrounds.

Colt State Park official page

Day-use information, pavilion reservations, and park contact.

Search Recreation.gov

Check for federal campground, backcountry, tour, and permit inventory tied to this park.

Campgrounds to know

Fishermen's Memorial State Park Campground

Details
Booking
Reservable well in advance through RI DEM; summer sites fill fast.
Season
Spring through fall.
Sites
Electric-only and full-hookup RV sites; tent sites.
About 15 miles south of Colt in Narragansett. Closest RI state campground.

Getting there and practical info

Colt State Park

Plan the handoff from arrival to shuttle.

Parking, pedestrian entrances, and shuttle timing decide how calmly the first morning starts.

Getting there

Get to Colt State Park, then remove the first-morning friction.

Access rhythm
Plan the last mile
Region
Rhode Island
  1. Arrival note

    Colt State Park is located at the western edge of Bristol, Rhode Island, off Hope Street (Route 114).

  2. Car strategy

    From Providence, take Route 114 south about 20 miles through Warren and into Bristol, then follow the signs to the park entrance.

  3. Local movement

    From Newport, cross the Pell Bridge and take Route 138 to Route 114 north, about 15 miles total.

Pair this with lodging: sleep where the park transfer is simple, especially if your route needs an early start.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a fee to enter Colt State Park?

No day-use admission fee. Parking is free. Pavilion and picnic shelter reservations require a rental fee from mid-April through October; open lawns are free to use without a reservation.

Can I bring my bike to Colt State Park?

Yes, bicycling is one of the park's main activities. Four miles of flat paved paths run along the Narragansett Bay shoreline and are well-suited to road bikes, cruisers, and kids' bikes.

Is swimming allowed at Colt State Park?

There is no guarded beach or designated swimming area at Colt. The shoreline is partially rocky. Most visitors use the park for cycling, picnicking, and fishing rather than swimming.

Are dogs allowed at Colt State Park?

Yes, leashed dogs are welcome on the paths and open areas. Clean up after your pet and keep dogs leashed at all times per RI state park rules.

Keep planning