Amazing Things to Do on Block Island: Guaranteed Magic

Having to wake up early on a Monday morning isn’t so terrible when a new adventure is about to begin. It is day fourteen of our northeast road trip and we are heading to a new destination. It’s time to research all the fun things to do on Block Island!

We quickly get ready before hitting the road to say goodbye to Mystic, Connecticut, and hello to the second New England state on the itinerary.

With a declaration from the Nature Conservancy that Block Island is one of its “Last Great Places” in the western hemisphere, it was a given that we were going to zip our way over once we crossed into Rhode Island.

As if dramatic rugged bluffs weren’t enough to put us over the edge, the promise of freshwater ponds and rolling green hills had us hooked.

If you’re planning an adventure in the northeast, here are some other articles to help with your trip:

An Incredible New England Itinerary 

Connecticut Bucket List Destinations

How to Find the Best Newport Mansion Tour in Rhode Island

How to Get to Block Island

The Block Island Ferry runs from Point Judith and Newport in Rhode Island, and Fall River, Massachusetts. The Point Judith location is the only one that runs year-round and offers the cheapest option. The plan is to hop on the first ferry in the morning to take advantage of an entire day on the island. 

Arriving an hour ahead of time like we read to do, there are plenty of parking spaces left in the lot across from the boarding area.

Surprisingly there are many more people waiting than we expected for a weekday, but we have no problem walking on. 

Only 12 miles from the mainland, the ride is under an hour long but time goes by fast. About 35 minutes in, the gorgeous coastline dotted with a few random homes makes an appearance. Before we know it, we are disembarking and heading to our hotel.

HOT TIP: Highly recommend making reservations during the busy season and/or weekends. Click here to reserve Block Island Ferry Tickets.

Block Island Places to Stay

The National Hotel, where we are staying, is on Water Street, the heart of Block Island and luckily where the ferry drops off.

A prominent big white Victorian building, it was one of the first structures we noticed as we were pulling in on the ferry.

Full Disclosure: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. We receive a commission at no extra charge to you if you purchase through them so a big thank you for that!

As we walk up the stairs of the hotel with our overnight backpacks, we see couples and families chatting away on the large porch enjoying breakfast with a view. That will be us tomorrow, I think to myself.

Check-in goes smoothly and as we head to our room on the top floor we quickly realize that packing light is the way to go. No elevators in a cool historic hotel like this.

Our corner room is cozy and colorful, overlooking the wild ocean. And I have to say the bathroom view isn’t too shabby either.

The only negative at the National Hotel is the lack of air conditioning. It did not affect our stay since temperatures cooled at night quite a bit, but I thought I would mention it in case you are planning an overnight.

Overall, we had an excellent visit and would stay again at the National Hotel.

Other Highly-Rated Block Island Hotels

• The Old Town Inn
• The Sullivan House

How to Spend a Day on Block Island

Is Block Island worth a visit? Absolutely, it is! It was one of our favorite stops on our New England road trip. Home to spectacular views, charming restaurants and shops, and all the outdoor activities you could ask for, Block Island is a fantastic destination. 

Rent a Scooter

There are things to do on Block Island without a car, but to make the most of your visit we suggest renting a scooter. We love to ride bikes and had our bikes with us on this particular road trip, but we did not bring them to the island and I’ll tell you why.

Block Island isn’t that small and/or flat so with the notion that we wanted to explore the ENTIRE island, we came up with the idea of renting a scooter. Island Moped and Bike Rental had the cheapest all-day rate and offered a military discount. And it is located within walking distance of the ferry drop-off location.

Plus, it’s just plain old good fun whizzing around on a scooter!

HOT TIP: If you are in a group call to negotiate a better price than what’s online.

Block Island Tours

If you don’t feel comfortable renting a scooter, you can join one of the Block Island tours. There are no public bus tours or trolleys on the island but you have the option of a taxi tour, helicopter tour, or kayak tour. 

You can arrange for a taxi to pick you up at your hotel or find one at the Taxi Stand located in Old Harbor. The tours are typically around an hour long and narrated by the driver. 

If you choose to get out on the water, you can whip around the island on the Sea Dog, a 35-foot cruiser, or by kayak, if you like a slower pace. 

A helicopter tour is the most unique way to see the island, as it provides a bird’s eye perspective of all the beautiful landscapes. 

Search for Glass Orbs

Let me tell you about one of the coolest projects we have come across while traveling: The Glass Float Project.

A local artist, Eben Horton, created 550 glass globes that are hidden all around the island for anyone to find.

The floats each have a number and a special stamp of an outline of Block Island on the bottom. You can check the website for a list of which ones have been found for the year and where they were picked up.

I had high hopes of discovering an orb to take home as a souvenir and just as Dave was reminding me the chances weren’t good, a woman walked by with one in her hand. After a few squeals between the two of us, she explained that she had been looking for six years in a row and came up empty every year except now.

“How awesome,” I thought with the realization it probably wasn’t going to happen for us. But at least I was able to see one and meet an ecstatic hiker. It was just as good, right?

Nope! It must have been a good-Karma-kind-of-thought because shortly after our encounter, we made our very own discovery.

Mohegan Bluffs

On the southern shore of the island, visitors will be rewarded with breathtaking views of 150-foot clay cliffs.

Walk down the 100 or so stairs to Corn Cove for a better vantage point of the towering bluffs. And so you can experience the tumultuous waves crashing onto the rocks and sandy beach.

The Mohegan Bluffs is one of the most spectacular sites on the island.

Southeast Lighthouse

To the east from the Mohegan Bluffs, you can also spot the Block Island Southeast Light from afar.

What food is Block Island known for? Being a coastal destination, seafood is the most popular type of food you’ll find on the island. 

Can you walk everywhere on Block Island? The main tourist area is highly walkable, but there are parts of the island you cannot get to unless you rent a bike or moped.

When is the best time of year to visit Block Island? The peak season for Block Island runs from mid-June to the end of August, but the best time to go is right after that in the shoulder season of September. The air and water temperatures and still warm, the restaurants and shops are all still open and the summer crowds thin out leaving September the best month to visit.