Visiting Prudence Island in Rhode Island

Looking for something unique to do in Rhode Island? Take the Prudence Island Ferry out to Prudence Island in Narragansett Bay. This undeveloped, residential island is known for its lighthouse and beautiful landscapes.

Taking Ferry to Prudence Island

The best way to get out the Prudence Island is by taking the ferry out of Bristol, Rhode Island. The Prudence Island Ferry is run by Prudence & Bay Island Transports. You can reserve your spot as just a passenger or with a vehicle.

While the island is small, I highly recommend bringing your vehicle out with you on the island. If you don’t bring your vehicle, you’ll be pretty limited as to what you can do on the island. There’s not really a ton to do that’s within walking distance of where the ferry drops you off. It’s not walkable like Block Island.

The ferry ride takes about 25 minutes. When we went, we sat on the top deck. There were some great views, so sit back and enjoy the ride! My favorite view was getting to see the Mount Hope Bridge and Hog Shoal Light from the water.

What To Do On Prudence Island

While Prudence is a small residential island, there’s plenty to do if you’d like to spend the day there. From historic sites to beautiful landscapes, there’s something for everyone.

Prudence Island Lighthouse

This 30 foot lighthouse was originally built on Goat Island in 1823 and discontinued in 1842. It was dismantled and then rebuilt on Prudence Island. The granite blocks were numbered when it was dismantled so it could be built how it was when it was on Goat Island. It’s been on Prudence Island since 1852. There are also some great views of the Mount Hope Bridge in the distance from this spot.

Play Disc Golf

There are two disc golf courses to check out on Prudence Island. The one we went to was Baker Farm, which you did not have to pay to play. This course is located within a public park that is the site of the historic Baker Farm property. There are cool ruins on the property. It’s one of the most unique courses that I’ve played!

The second course on the island is Farnham Farm, which is a pay to play spot. We didn’t make it to this disc golf course during our visit, but based on what people have said on UDisc, it’s totally worth checking out. If we were to go back out to the island, I’d definitely play a round of disc golf here.

Check Out Prudence Island School

The Prudence Island School opened in the fall of 1896. When I visited in 2024, it was still in use, being the only operational one-room schoolhouse in Rhode Island. It was one of only a handful left in New England. However, in 2025, no students were enrolled. The historic building is being refurbished and serving as a community space. It’s a cool spot to see if you’re interested in historic buildings.

Check Out Prudence Variety

Right next to the ferry landing on Prudence Island is a store. Prudence Variety offers a variety of things from food, household items, and souvenirs. It’s a bit of a catch all. Get yourself a souvenir and a treat to enjoy at one of the picnic tables overlooking the water!

Hiking Trails

There are a couple trails to check out while you’re on Prudence Island. You can go for a walk at Baker Farm, which I mentioned earlier has a disc golf course. Some other trails you can check out are the Ballard, Sunset, and Deer Chase Run Loop and the Pine Hill Trail Loop.

Other Things to do in the Area

We didn’t spend a lot of time out on Prudence Island. We didn’t take the ferry out until 3pm and then we took the ferry back a couple hours after. Before we headed to Bristol to catch the ferry to Prudence Island, we stopped in Newport and did some sightseeing. If you have time, Newport is fairly close and worth a visit.

When we got back to Bristol, Rhode Island from Prudence Island, we decided to grab a bite to eat in the historic, coastal town. We decided on Judge Roy Bean Saloon. It was in a gorgeous historic building. If you’ve been following me on any of my socials, you’ll know how much I love any historic building LOL.

I got a pasta dish and it was really good. We enjoyed our meals and it was fun to dine in a historic building! I’d love to go back to Bristol and explore the area more in the future. There are historic sites and some beautiful parks in the area (like Colt State Park and Blithewold Estate). And, the downtown area is gorgeous!

Final Thoughts

I think Prudence Island is definitely worth a visit. It’s a great way to enjoy some time off-the-beaten path. Since the island is residential and pretty underdeveloped, it’s a quiet spot to visit. We didn’t give ourselves a ton of time on the island when we went. If I were to do it again, I’d take a morning ferry out so we could explore some of the hiking trails or check out the other disc golf course.

While you don’t have to bring a car with you on the ferry, it makes getting around the island a lot easier. However, I have known people who have taken the ferry without a car and walked to Prudence Island Lighthouse. But, it is a mile from the ferry landing. To walk to the disc golf course from the ferry, that’s also about a mile, but then you also have to consider the amount of walking you’ll do while playing disc golf. Walking is doable, but it’s not ideal.

If you’re looking to spend more than a day out there, there are rentals available on the island. I’d imagine it would be a peaceful spot to retreat to for a couple of days. Since it is so close for me, I likely wouldn’t stay out here, but it does seem enticing!

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