Oakland Beach Boat Ramp
41° 41.1' N 71° 23.593' W See this location in: Google Maps Map Server Acme Maps
This is a site for launching boats from trailers. Boat ramps can normally be used to launch canoes and kayaks but please do your best to keep the boat ramp clear for boat trailers.
Description & Overview:
There are two boat ramps at this site, with a dock between, plus a sandy beach beside the ramps suitable for launching hand-carried boats. Going north from the launch site will take you into Warwick Cove, where there are many marinas. Heading west from the launch site will take you in front of Oakland Beach and from there you can continue west or turn up into Brushneck Cove. Heading south from the launch site will take you towards Warwick Point and Warwick Neck Lighthouse. From there experienced paddlers can continue on across the mile of open water to Patience and Prudence Islands. On most days the southwest wind fills in strongly in this area in the morning and blows throughout the afternoon, producing significant waves, so be prepared for this when planning your trip.
This site provides access to the following water bodies: Greenwich Bay, Warwick Cove.
Location:
Town: Warwick
Nearest Town Center: Oakland Beach
Driving Landmarks: From Route 117 (West Shore Road) take Oakland Beach Avenue south for 1 mile. When you come to the divided parkway do not go straight ahead into the park; instead turn left onto Suburban Parkway. Go 0.2 miles on Suburban Parkway and turn right onto Bay Avenue. The boat ramp is just ahead at the end of Bay Avenue.
Access & Waters:
Water 'Features' At Site: estuary, ocean/bay
Note: Because one boat launch can access, say, both a lake and a river or both the upstream and downstream portions of a river, not all paddling trips at a given site will necessarily encounter all of the features listed.
Type of Access: Boat ramp
Shoreline: Two hard surface boat ramps with adjacent sandy shoreline
Float/Dock: low float or dock
Parking:
Parking: yes: 50 spaces
ADA Accessible Parking Spaces? no
Nearby Amenities:
Public Restrooms: There is normally a portable outhouse at the boat ramp in the summer months.
Sources for More Information:
Other Guidebooks: Site 10 in Ed Mullen's book "Kayaking Narragansett Bay"
Website: Mike Krabach's kayak access website
Ecological, Cultural & Recreational Attractions:
Oakland Beach, just west of the boat ramp, is a popular town beach.
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The data on this website come from many sources, including volunteers and organizations across the state of Rhode Island and nearby parts of Massachusetts. We have done our best to make sure the data are accurate and up to date, but any information critical to the success of your trip should be confirmed before you start. The maps and information on this website should not be substituted for nautical charts, topographic maps, or other more detailed maps and guides. We welcome corrections and additions. To send a correction or provide other feedback, please use our feedback form (see link above).
This site report was last updated on June 5, 2011
Comments:
Be prepared to pay a parking ticket
Submitted by: Ward; May 30, 2024; 8:18 pm
I have launched my kayak from this area perhaps 5 times last year and twice this year. I carry my kayak on top of my vehicle and find that it is easy to launch from here onto Narragansett Bay. It is the closest launch point to Patience Island. I fish from my kayak and have found that the striper fishing is very good in this area. The last time that I fished here, which was May 29, 2024, I found a $30 parking ticket on my windshield upon my return. It seems that if you are not pulling boat trailer, you are subject to a parking violation. This doesn't make sense to me that the method of transporting your craft allows you to use the facility without being fined. I only have parked there on weekdays and out of the 50 parking spaces, only 6 or 8 have ever been occupied by vehicles with boat trailers.
I just want to warn people about the possibility of being ticketed at this site.
Photographs:
Very sandy but easy to launch boats
Submitted by: Anonymous; July 12, 2022; 12:04 pm
This has two boat ramps covered in sand and at low tide it’s very tough to get your vehicle (I have a all wheel drive Tacoma off-road) it’s doable but just be cautious!
Rating:
Boat ramp
Submitted by: Mike Jones; June 10, 2021; 11:44 am
It seems the boat ramp has been taken over by non-boaters they are using it for beach access they were 5 or 6JetSki‘s blocking the left boat ramp while the riders were sitting on the wooden fence under the tree smoking weed where are the authorities when all this is going on and you can’t even pull into the staging lane to get your boat ready because it’s full of cars parked there illegally this is an embarrassment to the city Warwick
Unlawful parking
Submitted by: Jim white; June 8, 2021; 7:44 pm
I agree it’s an embarrassment to the police the city of Warwick DEM the out-of-towners are treating the boat ramp as a beach access parking area you can’t even the launch your boat people are parked right under the signs that say no parking staging area it’s totally ridiculous someone should be down there ticketing people I was there on Sunday afternoon it was total Mayham!!!!
Awful maintenance of said ramp
Submitted by: Paul C.; May 28, 2019; 10:48 pm
Legitimately 6-8" of sand covers 50% of the cement ramp chunks... basically useless unless you have a 300hp 4wd vehicle. Give me a break, my tax dollars have to help this mess.
Rating:
Are campers allowed to use parking lot for long term. Stays.
Submitted by: Anonymous; May 16, 2019; 11:12 am
Is this ramp legal for campers long stay?
Boat Ramp
Submitted by: Anonymous; July 31, 2018; 8:13 pm
Thank You to City of Warwick for the quick response to cleaning the sand off the ramps. They look great.
Ramp Conditions
Submitted by: Anonymous; July 30, 2018; 1:41 pm
The boat ramps at Oakland Beach Bay Bay Ave Warwick need to be maintained better by the city. The ramps are covered with 4†to 5†of sand and are causing many people to get stuck when trying to launch and pull water craft out. The sand needs to be removed off the ramps.