Newport, Rhode Island, is a top coastal destination, and military travelers can stay just a couple miles from Newport’s historic center for a fraction of typical hotel prices.
My mom and I recently spent a few days there and stayed at Naval Station Newport, where lodging rates were far below what many visitors pay at local hotels during the busiest months. We also took advantage of base facilities and amenities that gave us options most civilian travelers don’t have.
Here’s how you can use your military benefits to plan your own trip to Newport.
About Naval Station Newport
This small training base is home to numerous schools, including the esteemed U.S. Naval War College, Surface Warfare Officers School, and Naval Justice School.
Situated on Rhode Island’s beautiful Narragansett Bay, it’s only 2 miles from the heart of downtown Newport.
Who Can Stay at Naval Station Newport?
Eligible guests include active duty, reserve, and retired members of the uniformed services and their family members. Surviving spouses, and disabled veterans are also eligible to stay. View a full list of eligible patrons on the Department of Defense Lodging website.
As the spouse of a military retiree, I was able to sponsor my mom, even though she has no military affiliation.
Lodging at Naval Station Newport
The base has two lodging facilities: Navy Inn (formerly Navy Gateway Inns & Suites) and Navy Lodge. Both accept leisure reservations up to 30 days in advance.
Navy Inn is only a 3-minute walk from Gate 1. All guests check in at the main building, but rooms are spread across five different buildings. The main building is the newest, but guest rooms in all five have been renovated.
We stayed in the main building, which has a modern lobby with comfortable seating and a fireplace. From 16:00 – 19:00, you’ll find chocolate chip cookies and fruit-infused water near the reception, and Keurig coffee is available any time.
All rooms at Navy Inn have one bed. Our Standard room was $135 per night with no tax. It had a queen bed, plus a kitchenette area with a sink, mini fridge/freezer, microwave, and Keurig coffee maker.
Navy Inn also has Suites and Deluxe Queen rooms, which are larger than the Standard rooms and cost $140 per night. Most Deluxe Queens have a small kitchen. Five suites in the main building have balconies with water views.
Room types aren’t guaranteed, but you can request one when you make your reservation.
The Navy Lodge is about a mile past the Navy Inn, and it’s a good choice if you need more space or want to do some of your own cooking during your stay. It’s also near the Exchange and commissary.
Standard rooms at Navy Lodge have two beds, while Business Class rooms have one bed plus a separate living area. Both room types have full kitchens, and all rooms cost $140 per night. Navy Lodge also has a free continental breakfast.
Navy Inn was perfect for me and my mom because we loved staying in the modern main building close to the front gate. Navy Lodge is a better choice for families, travelers who want two beds, or anyone who prefers a full kitchen.
What’s on the Base?
Anyone with base access can eat at the Officer’s Club. During the summer months, lunch and dinner are served on their outdoor deck, which has sweeping views of Newport Bridge and Narragansett Bay. The Topside restaurant inside the Officer’s Club is open the rest of the year. If you’re there on a Thursday, don’t miss Lobster Night, but get there early before they sell out!
Across from the Officer’s Club is Coasters Harbor Island Marina, an MWR facility. Open year round, the marina rents sailboats, powerboats, kayaks, paddle boards, and fishing poles. Boat rentals require proof of qualification, and the marina also offers sail and powerboat training courses.
Also nearby is the small Naval War College Museum. Admission is free and the exhibits focus on U.S. naval history in Newport.
Other eateries open to anyone with base access include the Enlisted Club and the Subway attached to the Exchange. Ney Hall Galley is not open to retirees or civilians except on special lunch days once per month.
Other facilities you may want to use include the tennis courts, Exchange, and commissary.
What We Did in Newport
Newport has no shortage of things to do. Here are some of the highlights from our visit.
Newport “Trolley” Tour: This 90-minute tour was the perfect way to get the lay of the land, learn some Newport history, and figure out which places we wanted to explore further on our own.
Boat Tour: This was a relaxing 70-minute boat cruise that included entertaining narration about Newport history. We especially enjoyed seeing the mansions and other waterfront buildings from a perspective you don’t get on land.
Mansion Tours: Many of Newport’s mansions offer self-guided tours. The Breakers, built by the Vanderbilt family, is the largest and best known. Mom and I chose Rosecliff, which has appeared in more than a dozen movies, including The Great Gatsby. The second floor of this “cottage,” as these giant mansions are called, has a rotating exhibit, and we saw one about Newport during the Revolutionary War.
Ten-Mile Ocean Drive: We first experienced this scenic drive during the trolley tour, then went back later in our rental car. There are numerous places to pull over for photos, and we also enjoyed driving through some of the inland neighborhoods.
Newport Colony House: This 18th-century brick building served as Rhode Island’s statehouse until 1901 and still has its original floors. You can take a self-guided tour, and the building is also the starting point for numerous guided Newport history walking tours. We didn’t have time to do one, but I recommend browsing the list, because several sound interesting.
International Tennis Hall of Fame: Located at the historic Newport Casino, which opened in 1880 as a high-end social club, the grass courts hosted the U.S. Open tennis tournament from 1881 to 1914. You can explore the outdoor grounds and see the courts, which are still in use, for free. The museum, which requires paid admission, has many interactive exhibits.
The Mooring Seafood Kitchen & Bar: Mom and I had lunch here with friends who live on Cape Cod, and fortunately, they knew to make reservations in advance. This popular restaurant is right on the wharf. The clam chowder was delicious, but the waterfront views were the biggest selling point.
Other Things to Do
We couldn’t fit in everything, but here are a few more recommendations I received from readers and others who know Newport well.
Sailboat cruise. This is another way to experience Newport on the water. Two companies that offer interactive sailing experiences are 12-Meter Yacht Charters and America’s Cup Charters.
Cliff Walk: This 3.5-mile walk runs along the Newport coastline, with ocean views on one side and the backyards of famous mansions on the other. It’s free, and you can walk any portion of it. The trick is finding a place to park!
Historic Fort Adams: This large 19th-century coastal fort overlooks Newport Harbor and Narragansett Bay. You can explore it on a self-guided tour or take a guided tour that includes the fort’s underground tunnels and other areas not open on the self-guided route.
Newport Vineyards: This vineyard is in Middletown, about 4 miles from the base. It offers wine, craft beer, and farm-to-table dining.
Sweet Berry Farm: Also in Middletown, this farm is open year round and offers pick-your-own fruit, flowers, and pumpkins, depending on the season. They also have a farm market and café.
Food and Drinks
- Dine at the White Horse Tavern, the oldest tavern in the U.S.
- Have lunch on the beach at Flo’s Clam Shack.
- Enjoy drinks on the lawn at The Inn at Castle Hill. You can watch all the boats from the hill, and as my reader described it, “You feel like you’re living in a painting.”
- Go to Happy Hour at the Vanderbilt Hotel, where you can indulge in discounted drinks and dollar oysters at one of the most opulent places in town.
Where to Eat
Newport has no shortage of well-known restaurants. Here are a few more local spots that were either recommended to us or that we discovered on our own:
Coddington Brewing Company: We ate here our first night, and it was a good choice for weary travelers who wanted a place close to the base with good food and easy parking. It’s a microbrewery with a varied menu, including several seafood options.
Brick Alley Pub: A Poppin’ Smoke reader who lives in Newport met us at this local favorite, and it did not disappoint! The lively décor and extensive menu make it a fun spot near the heart of Newport.
Corner Café: We were in search of a good breakfast spot and found this one on Broadway. Everything on the menu looked tempting, but Mom and I both ordered omelets, which were excellent and came with flavorful potatoes.
Amy’s: Just down the block from Corner Café, this was a good find when Mom wanted a hamburger, and I was still in the mood for breakfast. Amy’s is best known for its breakfast sandwiches, most of which are served on a “bolo,” similar to an English muffin. It’s inexpensive, and you order at the counter, so it works well when you want something quick and casual.
Getting Around
Newport has good public transportation, but I still recommend having a car so you have more flexibility to explore.
We flew into Rhode Island T. F. Green International Airport (PVD), less than a 40-minute drive from Newport, and rented a car at the airport. One lesson learned: if you have an E-ZPass from your home state, bring it. You can use it to pay the toll on Newport Bridge.
Our first morning, we walked from the Navy Inn to downtown Newport, which took about 35 minutes. We explored on foot all day and were pretty tired by the time we made it back to our room.
We planned to drive into town the next day, and fortunately, we learned a few valuable tips when we stopped at the Newport Visitor Information Center.
- Bus #67, also known as the Bellevue trolley, originates at the Newport Transportation Center and stops at many of Newport’s most popular sites. It runs every 30 minutes, and you can hop on and off along the route. This bus is free from late May through October.
- You can park all day for $5 behind the Newport Transportation Center if you take Bus #67 for at least one stop. Ask the driver for a parking validation, then turn it in with your parking ticket when you leave the lot. Otherwise, parking costs $2.50 per hour.
Like many U.S. military installations, only certain taxi companies have base access. The front desk staff at the lodging facilities can provide a current list, but they told us that many of the listed services prefer longer fares, such as airport trips, and may charge a higher rate for short rides.
Rideshares may cost less for short trips, but drivers can only access the base if they have their own eligibility.
Start Planning Your Trip to Newport
Newport was perfect for a mother-daughter trip, but it would also work well for families, couples, or anyone looking for a different way to use their military travel benefits.
And if you want another idea for a fun “military style” getaway, Mom’s favorite is staying on the campus of the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD!
