Plan Your Visit

A day at Lincoln Woods State Park costs nothing: entry and parking are free, and the park is open sunrise to sunset every day of the year. RI DEM opens the restrooms from May 1 to October 31, posts lifeguards at the beach from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. in season, and runs an accessible shoreline fishing area from April to Columbus Day. It is a day-use park with no camping, a short ride from Providence, Pawtucket and Cumberland.

Getting There

The main entrance is at 2 Manchester Print Works Road off Route 123 (Great Road); the second is off Twin River Road by Route 146. A RIPTA stop on Louisquisset Pike links to the park by a footpath under the highway. The parking guide covers both gates and every lot.

Restrooms and Facilities

DEM lists restrooms as open May 1 to October 31. Its map marks restrooms, a bathhouse, a food stand and a first aid station together at the beach end of Olney Pond. Outside that season there are no public restrooms listed, so plan ahead.

Accessibility

• Fishing: DEM runs an accessible shoreline fishing area on the east shore, marked with the universal-access symbol on its map, from the second Saturday in April to Columbus Day. DEM also lists Olney Pond as a wheelchair-accessible trout water.
• The loop road: the Les Pawson Loop round the pond is paved, the easiest route for strollers and wheelchairs. Share it with one-way car traffic.
• Trails: the woodland trails are rocky and hilly; DEM describes the upland as strewn with giant boulders.
• Fees: under Rhode Island law, people with disabilities pay no state park parking or admission fees. At Lincoln Woods, entry is free for everyone anyway.

What to Do

• Swim at Frank Moody State Beach, lifeguarded in season.
• Fish for stocked trout in Olney Pond; see fishing.
• Paddle from the east-shore ramp; see kayaking.
• Hike or mountain bike in Zone B; see hiking.
• Ride with Sunset Stables; see horseback riding.
• Boulder on the park's granite; see bouldering.
• Picnic at 92 sites and 4 shelters; see picnic areas.
• Walk or run the loop road.

Seasons

• Spring: trout season opens on the second Saturday in April, and DEM stocks Olney Pond. Picnic permits start the same Saturday.
• Summer: the state bathing season runs from the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend to 6 p.m. on Labor Day. No motorboats on summer weekends and holidays.
• Fall: DEM stocked Olney Pond again on October 2, 2026. Picnic permits end October 31; restrooms close the same day.
• Winter: the park stays open. DEM names Lincoln Woods for sledding, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing in open areas, allows snowmobiles on the park roads, and tests the ice on Olney Pond. Never go on the ice unless DEM has posted it safe.

Programmes

RI State Parks runs a Naturalist Program with environmental education for all ages, from geology to wildlife. DEM promotes it on the Lincoln Woods page; check DEM's calendar for sessions here.

What to Bring

• Water and food; the food stand at the beach is seasonal.
• A trash bag. Rhode Island state parks are carry in, carry out.
• A leash of six feet or less for your dog, and a plan for where the dog waits while you swim.
• A copy of DEM's map if you are heading into the trails; see trail map.
• Your picnic permit if you reserved a table.

No Camping

Lincoln Woods is a day-use park. State rules do not allow anyone in a state park between sunset and sunrise without written permission, and DEM's park page lists no camping.

Nearby

The Blackstone River Bikeway, Hearthside House, Chase Farm and Slater Park in Pawtucket are all close by.