Ocean Drive, Newport, RI, historically referred to as Ten Mile Drive, is a ten mile route on various roads taking in much of the historic and scenic sights of this city found between the Rhode Island Sound and the open Atlantic sea.
The route begins on Bellevue Avenue just south of Memorial Boulevard at the Elms, one of the many Gilded Age mansions that are seen along the route. Its construction was completed in 1902. To start out on the drive one heads south to the intersection at Narragansett Avenue, turning east until arriving at Ochre Point Avenue.
After turning right on Ochre Point, various mansions will come into sight, most of which are currently owned and utilized by Salve Regina University. This road ends at Ruggles Avenue, where a right turn will lead past another half dozen former estates that are also property of this university today.
From there, Ocean Drive, Newport, RI, continues by turning left once again, entering onto Bellevue. Here, many of the mansions are located that are maintained and preserved by the Preservation Society of Newport County as museums open to the public.
At the southern end of Bellevue, as this Avenue veers right toward the end of the Cliff Walk pathway, one must turn right onto Coggeshall Avenue until reaching the first left hand turn which brings one onto Ocean Ave. Various beaches and the Brenton State Park line this section of drive.
After a right onto Castle Avenue and the first left, the US Coast Guard Station appears. The route continues on this road (Ridge Road) until turning left onto Harrison Avenue which passes the old summer home of Jacqueline Kennedy followed by Ft. Adams. A visit to the waterfront fort along this road affords a luxurious view of Newport Harbor.
However continuing on Ocean Drive , Newport, RI, which at this point is nearing its end, requires a left turn onto Halidon Avenue, where the New York Yacht Club is found. Later one turns right onto Wellington Avenue, passing the Ida Lewis Yacht Club and King Park. The park is at the southernmost end of Newport Harbor as well as the Harbor Walk.
This is the end of the ten mile route which can be driven quickly although it can also be drawn out over a number of days if one stops to visit the many attractions along the route. The route ends in the downtown area close to where it initiates.
A stone's throw away is the Castle Hill Inn, on its own 40 acre peninsula just off the Ocean Drive. Its convenient for visitors that would like to stay the night along the Drive itself in the midst of this historic district in southern New England.
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