Block Island is small, about ten square miles, shaped a little like a pork chop, sitting roughly 13 miles off the Rhode Island coast. Small enough that you can bike the whole thing in an afternoon, but laid out in a way that confuses first timers more than it should. Two harbors with similar names. Beaches scattered along 17 miles of coastline. Trails that don’t show up on a road map at all.
This guide is the orientation you actually need: how the island is arranged, where the important things are, and how to move between them. Print it, screenshot it, or just read it on the ferry over.
The Big Picture: How Block Island Is Laid Out
Think of the island in a few simple zones.
- Old Harbor (east side). This is “town.” It’s where the Point Judith ferry lands, where the Victorian hotels line the bluff, and where most of the shops and restaurants are clustered. If someone says they’re “going into town,” they mean here.
- New Harbor (middle/west side). A short ride inland and west, this is the Great Salt Pond: marinas, moorings, waterfront bars, and the calm water hub for kayaking and paddleboarding. Some ferries and most private boats use New Harbor.
- The South End. High clay cliffs and the island’s most famous view, Mohegan Bluffs, plus the Southeast Lighthouse.
- The North End. A long, narrow spit that ends at Sandy Point, the North Lighthouse, and a wildlife refuge. Quiet, wild, and worth the trip.
- The interior. Rolling conservation land threaded with the Greenway trail network. Roughly 40% of the island is permanently protected open space.
Once those five zones click into place, everything else on the map makes sense.
The Beaches (East and South Shores)
Most of Block Island’s swimmable beaches run up the east side, north from Old Harbor:
- Fred Benson Town Beach (Crescent Beach). The main, easiest access beach. Lifeguards, a pavilion, rentals, parking. Best for families and first timers.
- Scotch Beach. Just north of Town Beach, a younger, livelier crowd.
- Mansion Beach. Wide, beautiful, named for the ruins of a long gone mansion. One of the prettiest stretches on the island. See our Mansion Beach guide.
- Quieter and harder to reach beaches sit farther up the coast and along the south and west shores. For the spots most visitors never find, read the best beaches: a local’s secret guide and our roundup of secret beaches.
A simple rule: the closer a beach is to Old Harbor, the busier and more serviced it is. Walk or ride farther and the crowds thin fast.
The Trails (The Interior)
The road map won’t show you the best of Block Island. The Greenway, a 25 plus mile network of walking trails maintained by the Block Island Land Trust and conservation partners, crosses the island’s protected interior, linking glacial ponds, moraines, and cliff edges. Highlights include the Clay Head Trail and the famous “Maze” on the north end, and trails connecting toward the bluffs in the south.
You won’t navigate these by car. Grab a trail map at the Nature Conservancy office or the ferry dock, and see what to expect in our overview of getting around on foot and by bike in the biking Block Island guide.
The Landmarks
- Mohegan Bluffs and Southeast Lighthouse (south). The signature view and the island’s most photographed building, reached from Mohegan Trail. A long staircase drops to the beach below the cliffs.
- North Lighthouse at Sandy Point (north tip). A granite lighthouse at the end of a long sand spit, inside a national wildlife refuge.
- Old Harbor’s Victorian hotels (east). The postcard skyline as you arrive by ferry.
For the full story on the island’s beacons, see why Block Island’s lighthouses are the ultimate beacons of cool.
How to Get Between It All
Here’s the part the map can’t show: distances are short, but hills and wind are real.
- By bike or moped. The classic way to see the island. From Old Harbor you can reach Mohegan Bluffs, the lighthouses, and most beaches in 15 to 30 minutes of pedaling. Rentals are right by the ferry dock.
- On foot. Old Harbor itself is fully walkable. Beaches north of town are an easy stroll.
- By taxi or shuttle. Available for longer hops, especially out to Sandy Point or for groups with luggage.
- By car. Possible, but most visitors skip it. See how to get around Block Island and our full guide to visiting without a car.
A Suggested First Day Loop
If it’s your first time and you want to see the map come alive in one outing: rent a bike in Old Harbor, ride south to Mohegan Bluffs and the Southeast Lighthouse, loop back through New Harbor for a waterfront lunch on the Great Salt Pond, then finish with a swim at Mansion Beach north of town. That single loop touches four of the island’s five zones. And if you time it right, a mudslide at Ballard’s beach makes a pretty good finish line.
For a fuller plan, see our perfect Block Island weekend itinerary and the complete list of things to do.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there an official Block Island map?
Yes. Free printed trail and street maps are available at the ferry dock, the Block Island Tourism Council office in Old Harbor, and the Nature Conservancy office. They’re worth grabbing for the Greenway trails, which don’t appear on standard road maps.
How big is Block Island?
About ten square miles, with roughly 17 miles of coastline. It’s small enough to bike across in well under an hour.
What’s the difference between Old Harbor and New Harbor?
Old Harbor (east) is the main town and Point Judith ferry landing, with most shops and hotels. New Harbor (west/center) sits on the Great Salt Pond and is the boating and marina hub.
Do I need a car to get around Block Island?
No. Most visitors get around by bike, moped, taxi, or on foot. The island is compact and largely flat enough that a car is more hassle than help.
Where are the best beaches on the map?
The main swimming beaches run north from Old Harbor along the east shore: Town Beach, Scotch Beach, and Mansion Beach. Quieter beaches sit farther along the south and west coasts.
