Don't want to drive to the Newport Folk and Jazz Festivals. Here's how you can get there.
If you’re one of the lucky few to have snagged tickets to this year’s Newport Folk and Jazz Festivals, chances are you’ll need to know the best way to get there in time to see your favorite acts.
Luckily, there are several ways to get to Fort Adams State Park without dealing with the headache of festival day traffic.
By Boat
Two companies shuttle attendees on the water to and from Fort Adams: Oldport Marina, also known as the Newport Harbor Shuttle, and the Jamestown-Newport Ferry.
During the Newport Folk and Jazz Festivals Oldport Marina's Newport Harbor Shuttle will operate express service only from Perrotti Park to Fort Adams, no other stops, beginning at 9:30 a.m. Tickets are $20 per person round trip, $10 one way, cash only, no credit cards. Tickets are valid only on the day they are sold, there are no advance ticket sales. ?No bikes, large strollers or large coolers. (Additional fees may apply for oversized items.) ?Children 10 and under are $10 round trip, $5 one-way. Friday Green Tickets, Saturday Blue Tickets, Sunday Purple Tickets.
The Jamestown-Newport Ferry on the other hand goes between Jamestown and Fort Adams and costs $41 for a round trip ticket. The trip takes about 40 minutes. Unlike with Oldport Marina, festival-goers can purchase tickets to the Jamestown-Newport Ferry ahead of time.
Those coming from Providence can also take the Seastreak Providence-Newport ferry, which makes a stop in Bristol. It’s $24 roundtrip and arrives in downtown Newport at 39 America's Cup Avenue, which is a 17-minute bike ride or 13-minute Uber ride from Fort Adams.
By Car
Fort Adams State Park’s address is 90 Fort Adams Drive. It takes about an hour to get there from Providence, via either Interstate 95 or Interstate 195, depending on traffic.
More: More people are riding bikes to the Newport Folk Festival. How to make this year's trip safe
Be sure to bring cash if you’re planning to pay to park at Fort Adams during the event. However, since there’s limited parking at the venue, the organizers suggest purchasing a parking pass ahead of time instead. Passes range from $25.75 for a one-day pass to $69.01 for a three-day pass. Two-day passes are also available.
Ridesharing
If you use a ridesharing service such as UBER or LYFT, please follow the signs for designated dropoff and pickup locations. Look for “Ridesharing” signs posted at the entrance to Fort Adams State Park on Harrison Avenue.
Beware of construction
For those interested in traveling around Aquidneck Island before, during or after the music festivals, bare in mind that while much of the project is complete there is currently ongoing construction work happening around the Pell Bridge as the RI Department of Transportation works to realign the ramps to the bridge as well as on Aquidneck Avenue in Middletown. One of the most notable differences is the ramp to downtown Newport at the end of the Pell Newport Bridge is gone and has been replaced by a loop.
This article originally appeared on Newport Daily News: How to get to the Newport Folk, Jazz Festivals by car, boat, rideshare
