Newport Mansions Tour: 90-Minute Scenic Van from Downtown

See Newport's mansion row and waterfront without driving yourself

A 90-minute guided van tour of Newport departing from the Transit Center, covering the Colonial downtown area, Ocean Drive, Bellevue Avenue mansion row and the Cliff Walk. The guide narrates the Gilded Age history of the estates and the millionaire barons who built them, then winds down in the waterfront shopping and dining district. All fees and taxes are included.

The experience

The tour starts at Newport Transit Center Platform C and moves through the Colonial downtown area, where the guide covers local history and the eighteen television and movie sets filmed in the city over the years. From there the van heads to Ocean Drive, where the Gilded Age mansions begin to appear along the coast, then continues to Bellevue Avenue mansion row and the Cliff Walk area. The guide points out the "summer cottages" built by millionaire barons and explains the wealth and history behind them.

The route ends in the waterfront downtown shopping and dining district, where the guide covers what's available to do in Newport today. If you want to step inside one of the estates, the Breakers Mansion is available for an optional fee, and the tour operator will pick you up afterward. The van is a luxury Sprinter, and the pace is set by the narration and the stops. You're not walking the neighborhoods yourself, just viewing them from the vehicle.

What’s included

• Ninety-minute guided narration covering Colonial downtown history, Ocean Drive, Bellevue Avenue mansion row and the Cliff Walk.
• all fees and taxes.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 10:00, 11:30, 13:00 and 14:30

Book up to2d before

GroupPrivate

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 6 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by NEWPORT Travel Trolley Tours

Is this one for you?At 90 minutes, the tour fits into a morning or afternoon without consuming a full day, leaving time to explore the waterfront district on foot or visit one of the mansions separately if you choose the Breakers add-on.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What's the Colonial history the guide covers in downtown Newport?

The guide starts by narrating Newport's Colonial downtown area and its rich history, including eighteen television and movie sets that have been filmed in the city over the years.

Can I get out and walk the Cliff Walk during this tour?

The tour passes through the Cliff Walk area and the guide shows you the mansions from the van, but the 90-minute format is a narrated scenic drive, not a walking tour. The Cliff Walk itself is not part of the itinerary.

Is entry to the Breakers Mansion included?

Entry to the Breakers Mansion is not included in the tour price, but it's available as an optional add-on. The operator will pick you up after you've finished inside.

Where does the tour pick up and drop off?

The tour departs from Newport Transit Center at Platform C, 23 America's Cup Avenue, Newport, Rhode Island. It ends in the waterfront downtown shopping and dining district.