Located 23 miles south of Providence, North Kingstown was founded in 1674 by the colonial government under the name Kings Towne. At the time, Kings Towne included the land that would become the modern-day towns of South Kingstown, Exeter, and Narragansett. In the 1700s, Kings Towne was divided into North and South Kingstown, with Exeter being carved from North Kingstown in 1742.
If you have a dollar bill nearby, you'll see the work of North Kingstown's most famous artist. Gilbert Stuart, born in 1755 in the North Kingstown village of Saunderstown, painted a portrait of George Washington called The Athenaeum, which he never actually finished. Stuart did complete Washington's face, however, and that likeness now appears on the dollar bill. The Gilbert Stuart Birthplace and Museum, established in 1930, is open to the public.
When should you plan your trip to North Kingstown, RI?
With its climate of short, warm summers and cold, sometimes snowy winters, it's no surprise that North Kingstown's peak tourism season is in the summer, and hotel prices rise with the temperatures in those months. North Kingstown's location on Narragansett Bay lends itself to plenty of maritime activities, including harbor tours, fishing, boating, and water sports. The town's Allen Harbor Marina offers a public boat ramp, picnic areas, and horseshoe pits.
Visitors can take advantage of lower hotel prices during colder months and still find plenty of activities available, including dining, shopping, and events. Each December, the Festival of Lights offers live music, horse-drawn hayrides, parades, dance performances, and hot cider. Santa even arrives by boat at the Town Dock. The festival is held at Historic Wickford Village, a large seaside array of well-preserved homes dating to the 1700s.
Below is a chart of the current pricing seasonality of hotels and motels in North Kingstown, RI:
Averate Rates by Star Rating
Below are 3 charts displaying average nightly cost trends by star rating class in North Kingstown, RI. Analyze these charts to evaluate the best months to stay in North Kingstown for your upcoming travels.
Are there luxury hotels near North Kingstown, RI?
4 Star Average Prices: $168.90
Travelers who want the best should consider Castle Hill Inn & Resort, located 8 miles from North Kingstown in nearby Newport. The luxury beach resort's amenities include concierge service, beautiful views, two restaurants, two bar/lounges, free valet service, a business center, and use of a nearby fitness center. The hotel offers its own private beach, along with towels, umbrellas, and sun loungers for its guests. Pamper yourself at the on-site spa, which also offers in-room treatments including facials and massages. Wedding services are available.
Wyndham Bay Voyage Inn, located 6 miles southeast of North Kingstown in nearby Jamestown, occupies a former private home built in the mid-1800s. Amenities abound at the Victorian-style resort, including an outdoor pool, a sauna, a fitness center, meeting spaces, wedding services, and restaurants offering both fine-dining and tavern menus. Some condos feature decks or ocean views. The hotel has a recreation director who can advise guests on nearby horse trails, tennis facilities, and opportunities for parasailing, jet-skiing, boating, and diving.
Spicer Mansion, located in Providence, is just 16 miles from North Kingstown's Smith's Castle plantation and offers incredible luxury. Each of the eight rooms in the boutique hotel has a private bathroom, some with claw-foot soaking tubs, and all rooms offer top-of-the-line Duxiana mattresses and 600 thread-count Matouk linens. The hotel, which has an on-site restaurant and bar, features concierge service, a manicured garden, and three grand salons where guests can lounge and take in gorgeous views of the river, harbor, and surrounding hills.
What budget hotels can you find in North Kingstown?
3 Star Average Prices: $177.92
Wickford Motor Inn, located just a half-mile from Smith's Castle plantation, features 18 rooms with free wireless internet and cable TV. Hotel amenities include complimentary coffee and tea in the lobby, vending machines, free self-parking, and a 24-hour front desk.
Budget Inn North Kingstown, which also has a 24-hour front desk and express check-in, has a restaurant and a bar/lounge. The hotel, which is a five-minute drive from Historic Wickford Village, offers free Wi-Fi, luggage storage, and self-parking. Rooms feature desks, microwaves, refrigerators, hair dryers, and coffee/tea makers.
Located just north of downtown North Kingstown, America's Best Value Inn is a smoke-free hotel with amenities including mini-fridges, microwaves, a complimentary continental breakfast, free wireless internet, and cable TV with HBO. All rooms feature environmentally friendly biodegradable bath products.
2 Star Average Prices: $143.43
What are the best hotels for discounts in North Kingstown?
AAA members can score discounts at Mainstay Hotel & Conference Center in nearby Newport, just 8 miles from North Kingstown. Amenities include a restaurant and bar/lounge, an outdoor pool, fitness and business centers, a gift shop/newsstand, complimentary Wi-Fi and newspapers, and laundry services. The hotel also offers a meeting space, banquet hall, and wedding services.
Crowne Plaza Providence Warwick Airport, located 11 miles from North Kingstown, offers military and government discounts. The pet-friendly hotel, which offers an indoor pool, fitness center, and restaurant and bar/lounge, is just 5 miles from Roger Williams Park Zoo. Rooms feature pillow-top mattresses and premium bedding, luxury bath products, and free Wi-Fi. Meeting rooms and wedding services are available at the hotel, which also has free airport shuttles and free parking for buses, trucks, and RVs.
Where are the best value hotels in the North Kingstown area?
TownePlace Suites by Marriott North Kingstown offers indoor and outdoor pools, a sauna, a complimentary continental breakfast and newspapers, concierge service, a game room, fitness and business centers, free Wi-Fi, and baggage storage facilities. Rooms in the hotel, located a mile from Biomes Marine Biology Center, feature a full fridge, two-burner stove, microwave, and dishwasher. The LEED-certified hotel is also pet-friendly, and TownePlace offers free local shuttle service within a 5-mile radius.
Holiday Inn South Kingstown / Newport in nearby South Kingstown sits just 5 miles from beautiful beaches and offers an outdoor pool, a restaurant and lounge, free Wi-Fi, a laundry valet service that includes dry-cleaning, fitness and business centers, a conference facility, and bus parking. Rooms in the Green-certified building feature free cable with HBO and coffee/tea makers. Dunkin Donuts and Subway restaurants are within walking distance.
Less than 4 miles from the University of Rhode Island, Hampton Inn South Kingstown / Newport offers an indoor pool, free Wi-Fi and newspapers, a restaurant and bar/lounge, fitness and business centers, two meeting spaces, a complimentary hot breakfast that includes fresh-baked waffles, and free "On the Run" breakfast bags during weekdays. Families traveling with children can request complimentary cribs, and some rooms include sofa beds. Free self-parking is available.
Other mid-range hotel options include Extended Stay America in West Warwick, just 8 miles from North Kingstown. Each of the hotel's studio-style rooms offers a kitchen with a full fridge, a two-burner stove, a microwave, and dishes. Amenities include free Wi-Fi, complimentary breakfast and newspapers, a jogging path, vending machines, fitness center, and on-site laundry facilities. The lobby is open 24 hours at the hotel, which emphasizes environmentally friendly water and lighting practices.
Quality Inn & Suites Middletown / Newport is located 9 miles east of North Kingstown in nearby Middletown. The hotel, which has business and fitness centers, offers free Wi-Fi, a hot breakfast, parking, and coffee. Laundry facilities are available, along with an indoor pool. Rooms feature a microwave, coffee maker, ironing board and iron, hair dryer, and refrigerator.
How can you take in the history of North Kingstown, RI?
Travelers who are interested in history should head to Smith's Castle and take a tour led by docents in period costumes. The original home on the colonial plantation was built around 1637 by Richard Smith, a settler of Taunton in Plymouth Colony, and is believed to have been fortified, hence its designation as Smith's "Castle." That home was destroyed by Narragansett warriors in 1676 during King Philip's War, which pitted colonial settlers against the Native Americans.
In 1678, Smith's son, Richard Smith Jr., built the home that stands today, which was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1993. The private residence and its gardens are open to the public from June through August and during its "Christmas at the Castle" program in December.
North Kingstown is also home to Old Narragansett Church, thought to be the oldest Episcopal church in the northeastern United States. The church was built in 1707 as St. Paul's Church, and its original congregation comprised 17 land-owning families in the area. The church was closed in 1774 during the Revolutionary War because of in-fighting among the congregation over loyalties to the American cause and didn't reopen until 1878.
The church's organ, built in 1680 by Bernard Smith, is among the oldest still in use during church services in the United States. Now owned by the Episcopal Diocese of Rhode Island, the church is still used by its congregation during summer months, while winter services are held in nearby St. Paul's Church, built in 1847.
Whether visiting in peak summer tourism season to spend time on the water or taking advantage of lower lodging prices in winter and exploring historical sites, North Kingstown, Rhode Island, has plenty of hotel options to fit any budget.
FAQs about hotels in North Kingstown
How much does a cheap hotel in North Kingstown cost per night?
In the last year, a 2 star hotel in North Kingstown can be as cheap as $143.43 per night. (based on HotelPlanner prices)
How much does a 3 star hotel in North Kingstown cost per night?
In the last year, the average 3 star hotel in North Kingstown has been $177.92 per night. (based on HotelPlanner prices)
How much does a higher-end hotel in North Kingstown cost?
In the last year, the average 4 star hotel in North Kingstown has been $168.90 per night. (based on HotelPlanner prices)