Newport Gilded Age Mansions Trolley Tour with Breakers Ticket

See the mansions from the trolley, then walk through the largest one.

A 3-hour trolley tour of Newport's Gilded Age mansions on Ocean Drive and Bellevue Avenue, plus a 90-minute guided visit inside the Breakers mansion. The tour departs from the Newport Transit Center and includes a narrated overview of over 150 points of interest, from Colonial downtown to the Cliff Walk. Ages 8 and up only.

Step-by-step itinerary

Newport Gilded Age Mansions Trolley Tour

• Board trolley at Newport Transit Center
• Listen to Colonial-era downtown history
• View Fort Adams and Eisenhower House
• Pass Brenton Point State Park
• Travel through Ocean Drive Historic District
• Explore Newport Cliff Walk area
• Stop at Marble House mansion
• Stop at Rosecliff Mansion
• Tour inside The Breakers mansion
• Pass The Elms mansion
• Pass International Tennis Hall of Fame
• Explore Downtown Newport waterfront district

The Experience

The trolley boards at Bus Platform #2 of the Newport Transit Center and starts with Colonial-era downtown before heading to Ocean Drive, where the mansions begin to line the Atlantic. Your driver narrates the Gilded Age history and points out filming locations from HBO's The Gilded Age, including Indian Spring Castle and The Ledges. The route passes Fort Adams State Park, a historic 1799 landmark that hosts the Newport Jazz and Folk Festivals, and Brenton Point State Park, where the Bennington Overlook offers views over Narragansett Bay.

Along Bellevue Avenue, the trolley stops at three major mansions. Marble House, built in 1892, was where Alva Vanderbilt hosted fundraisers for the women's suffrage movement; the Chinese Tea House on the Cliff Walk was a filming location for the movie 27 Dresses. Rosecliff, a 1902 summer cottage, is where The Great Gatsby was filmed. Your guide explains how to access the Newport Cliff Walk, a 3.5-mile path along the ocean side of the mansions, and points out free parking areas nearby.

At the Breakers, the largest mansion in the region and Rhode Island's most visited attraction, you disembark for a 90-minute interior tour. The 1895 Vanderbilt mansion sits on the Cliff Walk facing the Atlantic. After your time inside, the trolley continues past The Elms and the International Tennis Hall of Fame (the 1881 Newport Casino, once a Gilded Age shopping district) before finishing in downtown Newport's waterfront at Bowen's Wharf, where your guide covers dining, shopping and boating options. Total time is 160 to 180 minutes depending on traffic.

What’s included

• Trolley ride in a late-model, enclosed trolley with leather captain's chairs.
• narrated overview of over 150 points of interest across Newport.
• 90-minute guided tour inside the Breakers mansion and its grounds.
• stops at Fort Adams State Park, Brenton Point State Park, Ocean Drive, Marble House, Rosecliff, The Elms, and the International Tennis Hall of Fame.
• guide explanations of the Newport Cliff Walk and free parking areas.
• coverage of downtown waterfront dining, shopping and boating options.

Good to know

Moderate physical levelPets welcome

Operated by NEWPORT Travel Trolley Tours

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want to see the major Gilded Age mansions without arranging separate tickets and transport — the trolley covers the route and the Breakers ticket is included, so you move through the highlights in one morning or afternoon. Ages 8 and up only.

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Top questions

What's the difference between just riding the trolley and the option that includes the Breakers?

This tour combines both: you ride the trolley for the full narrated overview of Newport's mansions and landmarks, then get out at the Breakers for a 90-minute walk through the interior and grounds of the largest mansion in the region. Without the Breakers ticket, you'd see the exterior from the trolley only.

Can I get off the trolley and explore a mansion on my own, or do I have to stay on the whole ride?

The trolley stops at the Breakers for your included 90-minute interior tour. The itinerary does not support getting off at other mansions; you see Marble House, Rosecliff and The Elms from the trolley as your guide explains them. Free parking is available at Marble House if you want to return on your own time after the tour ends.

How much walking is involved in this tour?

The trolley does most of the travel, but you'll walk through the Breakers mansion and its grounds for 90 minutes. The tour requires at least a moderate level of physical fitness. The trolley itself is not wheelchair accessible, and folding walkers and wheelchairs are limited to 30 pounds; battery-powered scooters and chairs cannot be accommodated.

What is the Newport Cliff Walk, and will I get to walk it?

The Newport Cliff Walk is a 3.5-mile oceanside path along the mansion row between Reject's Beach and Newport Beach. Your guide explains how to access it and points out the best free parking areas, but the walk itself is not part of the tour itinerary. You can explore it on your own after the tour if you choose.

Does the tour operate in bad weather?

The enclosed trolley runs rain or shine, except during and after winter weather events involving snow or ice. All tours depart at their scheduled times, and cancelled tickets are not accepted for admission, so check conditions before your departure date.