Fort Getty Park

This is a very nice town park (between town beach and Beavertail State Park). It is wondering winter (Oct. 1 to May 15) when off leash dogs are allowed. It is mostly wide open spaces with the occasional short walking path (one an Eagle Scout project). Lots of views of Dutch Island and the West Passage between Jamestown and North Kingston. There are Osprey nesting sites for views of both adult and adolescent Osprey. Summers you can go but most of the open area is set up for RV and Campers (have power and potable water hookup)

Beware the lower tent site area- It's just a lawn next to a parking lot where you can pitch your tent. Very little privacy, which isn't a big deal, but when I was there last weekend there were folks with flashing lights and blasting music until midnight, despite the 10pm-7am "quiet hours". Upper tent sites seemed more serene. Otherwise the park is beautiful and the beach is nice.

Visited here in the winter. The porta potty was very clean and well maintained. Plenty of parking at this time of year by the picnic tables. There is a nice hill with benches that then leads to the shore. It was very peaceful to walk alongside the water around the tip. Many stones and driftwood but actually clean. I came looking for sea glass but there wasn't much. Many wishing stones to be found on this coast! Dogs are also allowed but during busy/warmer seasons must be on leashes according to the signs.

Fort Getty is a great place to fish and camp. There’s an area for RVs and Tents. There is also a Pavilion for private events. Reservations required for all. The bathrooms are very very clean. Gorgeous open areas with benches. I like to go hear regularly. You can fish off the rocks. Sturdy shoes are a must.

I will start off as I have been trying for the last two summers to get a tent site here and my lack of planning last year mid winter is the cause for me not getting a site. This place is beautiful and a fishermans heaven if you like fishing and camping but I recommend booking mid winter as it reservations fill by spring for the summer. The lower tent sites I prefer as some of the reviews mention the seasonal RV campers complaining about their fires and late night conversation/partying at the upper tent sites which you don't have to deal with at the lower sites. The upper tent sites you have no tree cover and are in direct sunlight and exposed to the wind which could be nice in the hot summer nights but not in the day. The parking at the upper sites is a little more distant from the tent area as you cannot park near your tent but in designated areas on the upper and lower sites. The lower sites you can park right in front of the camping area which allows for closer access to your vehicle so you are not lugging gear like a mule and also plenty of tree cover to protect from sun and rain and more privacy, also porta pottys right out front and close to the main gate and dumpsters although a little walk to the pavillion and showers. Overall a beautiful place to camp and the fishing pier is great to catch Striped Bass, Flounder, Scup and Occasional Tautog during the right seasons/times. I had a blast here and will definately be back again!

My sister had her wedding here! Beautiful place for the ceremony up on a hill. The Pavillion had electricity also right next to the restrooms. Very short walk to a beach for beautiful pictures at sunset!!!

People are very friendly and there is tons to do including fishing, kayaking, camping and a short walk to the beach.

What an wonderful park full of amazing views, imposing stone walls, old artillery, wildlife and an all around beautiful place to go for a walk and explore.

Enjoyed a wedding over the water with reception held under the pavilion. It was a nice night, although very very hot out in the field over looking the water, it was a nice ceremony. From the reception spot there was a path to walk down and watch the sunset with a perfect view. Just your typical RI waterfront wedding

Here for folk festival weekend. The tent sites were normally expensive, and this weekend were $$$. Sites themselves were just an open field with some small rings scattered around for fires and no privacy at all. We were visited by a few skunks looking for food and a party at the pavilion had music blasting long into the night.

Very good campground I love the cliff side and views. We also made a very good friend Rocky the Racoon that was hungry and a very gentlemen

A fort that has been here forever Fort Getty is located on the east side of Jamestown and has a long history as a real fort. In world war I and II in was used as an observational station to watch for German subs and it served as a reeducational center for German prisoners of war. Remains of the old bunkers and odd bumps and depressions in the ground can still be seen. Now it is used primarily as a camp ground and it has facilities for over 100 campers with showers and a boat ramp. There is also a pavilion with a large amount of picnics tables and a small beach for swimming. The actually area is not large and the primary attraction is the location. Since it is up on a hill the views are spectacular . Dutch Island can be seen to the east and views of the Jamestown bridge to the north. It's an easy bike ride to Beavertail State Park or to the center of town or a quick car trip over to Newport. It's a great place to launch a kayak with many great places to explore within a relatively short paddle. The only negative is that it fills up quickly so reservations must be made well in advance. A great location for a camping trip.

Campground is definitely more catered to RV's, but it would have been a decent place to camp (good bathrooms, close proximity to Jamestown/Newport, beautiful area) had it not been for the following issue. We checked in and proceeded to our site, only to find that it appeared there was another group on our site. It was a group of four and they were spread out over two sites with two picnic tables and two fire rings. Seeing as the actual camp site boundaries are so unclear, we did not want to approach the group and ask them to move in case we were mistaken. Therefore, on the way out of the site for dinner that evening, we explained the situation to the camp manager and told him we set up in the site that appeared to be next to the one we actually booked. We explained that it appeared another group had taken their site, and ours. We were worried we set up in a spot that was booked by someone else, but had to do so because we could not set up our gear in the proper site. He assured us he would go up and take care of it. He did not. When we returned from dinner, the group from earlier was still sprawled over into our site. And a new group of two set up in the site we did earlier--which was the site they had booked. Turns out the camp manager never told the group that took over our site to move. He instead told this new group they could kick us out of their site when we got back. The new group was nice and didn't mind that we set up our tent there, so we left our tent setup where it was and walked two sites over to an empty site and used that fire pit for the evening. The camp manager should have kicked out the group that sprawled over into out site so we could then move our tent over to the correct area, or given the new group that arrived the nearby vacant site at check in since he was aware we were forced to set up in their site. The lack of attention to this matter will unfortunately make me steer clear of this place for any future camping.

CAMPING---Figuring the location with the spectacular views of the water and serenity of this place along with the beauty of the Jamestown area this place was awesome. With everything there's a catch though, definitely not a place for camping with a tent, when we were here in May, there was a constant strong wind off the water which dropped the temp 10 degrees, overnight there was a storm which collapsed the tents I'd seen set up across from my site. Yet for RV's it's awesome...being so close to Newport gives you early access which allows you street metered parking to beat the long traffic jams and busy ped traffic. Jamestown is mostly flat with quiet roads which make it great for cycling, incredible views of the seashore with rolling hills makes this a place we're coming back again to. The dump site is at the entrance of the park which does make it a challenge if your pulling or towing a portable black tank. Given the plus' though it's not a big deal.

This place shouldn't even get a star first of all!! First time there and it was the worst experience ever!!! Never want to ever go there again!!!

We're a bit conflicted on how to review this place. There are definitely several PROS and CONS here. PROS: ~ the cheapest half-decent way to stay near Newport, RI (without knowing somebody who has a house) ~ very quite ~ grassy fields for tent camping means good night sleep ~ only 10-15 minutes to downtown Newport ~ only $25/night for 2 people in 2013 ~ you can bring your boat CONS: ~ the bathrooms probably needed renovations about 20 years ago; they are way overdue ~ zero privacy for tent-campers (everybody camps next to each other in open fields) ~ $8 in tolls each time you go to Newport and back ($4 toll each way) ~ beaches/shoreline here aren't really attractive OVERALL - we wouldn't stay here again, despite the fact that it's cheap and relatively close to Newport. It's too ugly for our taste and we prefer more privacy when we tent-camp.

Went there to do some fishing as i was heading in there was 3 cars ahead of me one of the car ahead of me was my friend, the girl working the booth let the car ahead of me go through with out stopping as I a poach she stop me and ask for the park fee of 20 dollar so I ask her how come she let those 3 car go through without pay she say that they have a season pass. I know my friend doesn't have one, I have just been profile. So I turn around and left so Fort Getty if this how you train your employees than forget you I'll find some other place that treat people as people not base on the race

Fort Getty is my favorite campground off all, friendly staff, friendly neighbors. There isnt a lot of mosquitoes though a skunk or 2 might stop by your site during the night they have a good dock to go catch some fish and a boat launch to go out on the water, and conveniently within 5 minutes from 2 beaches, one within Fort Getty grounds, and the other just outside the campgrounds, 5 star rating, will continue going back there camping with the camper

Great location, but unhappy with the way it is run. We were charged for two campsites for our two two-person tents while the single campsite next door had three giant tents. Not to mention that morning quiet hours were completely ignored by adults and children alike.

I'm updating this review due to not enjoying a few things during our 2 trips to Fort Getty this year. First off, the skunks. Severe skunk problem here, and it's gotten much worse then last year. Last year when we camped here we saw a skunk here or there maybe every few nights and one tipped our trash one night while our site was not occupied. This year they walk right through the camp sites, right up on to your site. I was sitting quietly at dusk, sun was still setting, and a skunk meandered by sniffing for trash directly through the middle of our campsite not a care in the world. There are many more and they more often do not care about the people there. Which brings me to my second issue - new thing we noticed many times throughout our longer week stay was groups of people coming and not tenting at a site but having a gathering/cookout type thing and just kind of hanging out for the day before picking up and leaving VERY late at night I might add. I thought this was a camping site area? Not a family cookout pavilion? And also we noticed an excessive amount of people from these groups throwing food waste on the ground or leaving loose food out on the ground. I watched a woman eat half a dozen chicken wings and throw every single bone over her shoulder and into the bushes behind her. Maybe these guests do not care because they are not camping there but I certainly do! The staff that should be overseeing this area should keep a better watch on these things for the comfort of all campers and to keep away skunks as much as possible. Not sure we will be returning next year...

we camped at fort getty for twelve years prior to moving to florida. we return to rhode island each year and visit with friends who are still camping there. the town has done a disservice to both visitors and campers. when we were there, there was no charge for campers' visitors. now they charge!! even for family. they never cut the grass and they still don't. the bath rooms were a mess then, and they still are. the price has nearly doubled in the past 15 years and other than the beautiful view of the west passage, isn't worth it. they removed sixteen sites and lost important revenue to the town. the yuppies think they own everything!!

This review is just about a trip here and not camping to take that into effect. It's a nice little fort with some history to it. Interesting to see old parts of it and bunkers still intact. Can clearly pic how it would-be if back in time. Great views of the many different boats and watching people wind surfing. Nice place for a picnic to or just to catch some sun.