Burrillville Spring Lake Beach
Glendale, Rhode Island · on Spring Lake · Spring Lake Beach
Verified · 5 independent sources · top-verified
- WATER
- lake
- ACCESS
- Designated swim area
- FEE
- $5.00/person
- SEASON
- June
About Burrillville Spring Lake Beach
Spring Lake Beach is a town-operated public swimming hole and beach in the Glendale village of Burrillville, Rhode Island, on Spring Lake at 50 Old Hillside Drive. One of the better places to swim in this corner of the state, it is a fee-based, lifeguarded facility with a sand beach, swim dock, water slides, and an on-site vintage penny arcade, open seasonally from early June through Labor Day.
The beach sits on the shore of Spring Lake in the Glendale section of Burrillville in northwestern Rhode Island, adjacent to the historic Spring Lake Arcade (operating on the same grounds since 1930 and reputed to be the oldest penny arcade business in America). The developed shoreline includes a sand beach, shaded patio area, and the seasonal arcade building alongside the swimming facility.
Swimming at Burrillville Spring Lake Beach
Swimming is confined to a designated, lifeguarded roped-off area of the lake accessed from a sand beach and a swim dock. The site is set up as a family town beach rather than a backcountry hole: water slides for children, a diving platform, and swim lessons are offered, and the water is described by a visitor as forming 'large swimming areas' suited to casual family swimming rather than deep-water or long-distance swimming.
How to get to this swimming hole
Parking: On-site parking lot at the facility (50 Old Hillside Drive, Glendale, RI); one aggregator source describes a brief walk of a couple minutes from the lot to the beach, but this detail is not confirmed by the official town page.
The walk in
No real hike here. The water is a short walk from where you park. This is a developed town beach with parking immediately adjacent to the swim area; no hiking or trail is involved.
Plan your visit
Bringing kids
Good for kids
Full-time lifeguard staff on duty during operating hours, a designated/roped-off swim area, children's water slides at the water's edge, a diving platform, and on-site swim lessons make this a family town-beach setup. One caveat: a 2013 Shigella outbreak (134 illnesses) was traced to swimmer-introduced fecal contamination here, so normal beach-water hygiene precautions (don't swim if sick, rinse off after) are worth passing on, though no recurring issue has been reported since.
Parking
Lot
On-site town parking lot at 50 Old Hillside Drive, Glendale. There is no separately stated parking fee; visitors instead pay per-person daily admission ($5 resident/$8 non-resident) to enter the beach, which appears to cover lot access. One lower-confidence aggregator (newenglandswimmingholes.com) describes the walk from the lot to the beach as about 0.1 mile / roughly 2 minutes on a sand path, but this exact distance is not confirmed on the official town page.
Restrooms
Yes
Restrooms with outdoor showers at the beach facility, confirmed on the official Burrillville Parks & Recreation page.
Water clarity
Varies with season and flow
Visitors describe Spring Lake as running clearer in settled summer weather, with beach traffic and wind clouding the swim area at times. No additional first-hand clarity reports were available.
Hours
Seasonal town beach, June through Labor Day only (weather permitting). Per the official schedule for the 2026 season: Opening Weekend (May 23-25) 10am-6pm; Memorial Day Weekend (May 30-31) 10am-7pm; Summer season (June 6-Aug 23) 10am-7pm; Labor Day period (Aug 24-Sept 7) 10am-6pm. Closed/unstaffed outside this season.
On the water
Restrictions: Swimming itself is confined to a designated/lifeguarded roped area; the beach's own paddle boat rentals are the confirmed on-water activity here (per the official town page, no pricing published). A separate, non-adjacent RI DEM public boat ramp on Blackhut Road reportedly serves the broader Spring Lake for non-motorized and electric-motor boats per one aggregator source, but this could not be corroborated on an official RI DEM page this session (dem.ri.gov page attempted returned 404) and is not confirmed to be usable from the beach facility itself.
No evidence found of personal kayak/canoe/paddleboard launching being permitted directly from the swim beach; the only confirmed watercraft activity at the beach itself is the town-run paddle boat rental.
Rentals nearby
Paddle boat rentals on-site at the beach
At the beach, 50 Old Hillside Drive, Glendale, RI · Same as beach operating hours (seasonal, June-Labor Day; see hours field)
What regulars say
Visitors describe this as one of the nicer town beaches in the area, popular with families for its water slide, diving platform, sand beach, and shaded patio, but note it gets significantly crowded on holiday weekends.
Backstory
The adjoining Spring Lake Arcade was founded in 1930 by Edmund Reed and is believed to be the oldest continuously operating penny arcade business in the United States; about half its machines are original 1920s-era pieces. The arcade building was demolished and rebuilt in 1998 under owner John Bateman (who acquired it in 1988) but remains on the same site beside the beach. Separately, the beach was the site of a notable 2013 Shigella sonnei outbreak affecting over 130 swimmers.
Burrillville Spring Lake Beach: FAQ
Does Burrillville Spring Lake Beach charge a fee?
Daily admission: $5.00/person for Burrillville residents, $8.00/person for non-residents; group rate of $4.00 (resident)/$7.00 (non-resident) per person for parties of 15+ with advance reservation; admission is free for up to 3 children age 3 and under per family with adult supervision.
Is Burrillville Spring Lake Beach kid friendly?
Full-time lifeguard staff on duty during operating hours, a designated/roped-off swim area, children's water slides at the water's edge, a diving platform, and on-site swim lessons make this a family town-beach setup. One caveat: a 2013 Shigella outbreak (134 illnesses) was traced to swimmer-introduced fecal contamination here, so normal beach-water hygiene precautions (don't swim if sick, rinse off after) are worth passing on, though no recurring issue has been reported since.
Do I need to hike to reach Burrillville Spring Lake Beach?
No significant hike is required. The swimming area is close to parking and access.
Where do I park for Burrillville Spring Lake Beach?
On-site town parking lot at 50 Old Hillside Drive, Glendale. There is no separately stated parking fee; visitors instead pay per-person daily admission ($5 resident/$8 non-resident) to enter the beach, which appears to cover lot access. One lower-confidence aggregator (newenglandswimmingholes.com) describes the walk from the lot to the beach as about 0.1 mile / roughly 2 minutes on a sand path, but this exact distance is not confirmed on the official town page.
Can I bring a kayak or paddleboard to Burrillville Spring Lake Beach?
No evidence found of personal kayak/canoe/paddleboard launching being permitted directly from the swim beach; the only confirmed watercraft activity at the beach itself is the town-run paddle boat rental.
When is the best time to visit Burrillville Spring Lake Beach?
Officially open Saturday, June 6 through Labor Day (September 7, 2026), weather permitting; lifeguards are present only during this season.
What are the rules at Burrillville Spring Lake Beach?
No pets and no grills permitted. Swimming restricted to designated/lifeguarded areas only. Full-time lifeguard staff on duty during posted hours of operation (season only).
What water body is Burrillville Spring Lake Beach on?
Burrillville Spring Lake Beach is on Spring Lake, a natural lake verified in USGS hydrography data.
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