Hours & Fees

Colt State Park is open from sunrise to sunset, every day of the year, and there is no fee to get in. RI DEM's map says it plainly: "Open Year Round Sunrise to Sunset" and "No Fee for Entry." The only charges are for reserved picnic tables, shelters, fields and the Chapel by the Sea, and those apply from the second Saturday in April through October 31.

Daily Hours

The park opens at sunrise and closes at sunset. That is not just a posted guideline: Rhode Island's state park regulation says no person or vehicle may be inside a state park between sunset and sunrise without official written permission. In practice the day is long in June and short in December, so check the sunset time for the day you visit and be back at your car before it.

Open Year Round

Colt does not close for the winter. DEM describes it as open year round and points out that winter snow brings a rare chance to cross-country ski and snowshoe beside the sea. The paved paths are not plowed for you, though: DEM's page for the East Bay Bike Path, which runs through the park, says the path gets no snow removal. See walking, biking and trails for the winter routes.

Is There an Entrance Fee?

No. DEM lists no fee for entry and there is no parking charge at the state park lots. That makes Colt different from Rhode Island's state beaches, which charge for parking in summer. The parking guide explains where to leave the car.

What Costs Money: Picnic Permits and Rentals

Rhode Island's regulation for state parks names Colt as one of four parks where nobody may use a picnic table without first getting a permit. From the second Saturday in April through October 31, reservations and rental fees are required for pavilions, shelters, gazebos, designated fields and picnic tables. Outside those dates, DEM says every area is first come, first served with no rental fee. The current fees, from the state's published fee table:

• Picnic table: $5 per day
• L1 shelter (six picnic tables): $75 per day
• L2 shelter (six tables and a play field): $100 per day
• L3 shelter (fifteen tables): $150 per day
• Open field: $20 per day
• Banquet table: $10 per table
• Chapel at Colt State Park: $50 for three hours, $100 for six hours

To reserve, call the Colt State Park office at (401) 253-7482 or go in person. The picnic areas guide covers how booking and payment work, and the Chapel by the Sea page covers ceremonies.

Fee Waivers

Rhode Island's state park regulation waives parking and admission fees at state recreation facilities for people with disabilities, with proper identification. The same section spells out that picnic table fees and specialized facility fees are not covered by that waiver, so a picnic permit at Colt is still charged.

Park Office

The Colt State Park office is inside the park, at the south end of Area 2 near Coggeshall Farm Museum, according to DEM's map. Its phone number is (401) 253-7482, and it handles picnic and chapel reservations for the park. It is also the contact DEM lists for the East Bay Bike Path. DEM does not publish set office hours online, so call before you drive over to book in person.

Construction, 2026 to 2027

DEM is building a new 11,600-square-foot visitor center and operations building at Colt, funded by the 2024 Green Bond. Work runs from spring 2026 to late 2027. DEM says the park and the bike path stay open throughout, with traffic and safety measures in place, so expect fencing and work vehicles near the building site rather than closures.

Hours of Places Next Door

Several neighbours keep their own, shorter hours. As posted for 2026:

• Coggeshall Farm Museum opens on set days, mostly weekends, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. See Coggeshall Farm.
• Blithewold's gardens open Tuesday to Sunday from May to October, closed most Mondays. See Blithewold.
• Bristol Town Beach charges for parking from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend and locks its gates at sunset. See Bristol Town Beach.