Lincoln Woods Beach - Parking

Lincoln, Rhode Island

Verified · 3 independent sources

WATER: pond
ACCESS: Designated swim area
FEE: No fee found
SEASON: May

About Lincoln Woods Beach - Parking

Lincoln Woods Beach is the designated freshwater swimming area (Frank Moody State Beach, est. 1977) on Olney Pond inside Lincoln Woods State Park in Lincoln, Rhode Island. This point corresponds to the beach's parking area. It is an official, staffed swim beach with seasonal lifeguards, a managed swimming hole rather than an informal or hidden one, and one of the established public places to swim in this part of Rhode Island.

The 627-acre state park surrounds Olney Pond and is known for large glacial boulders and stony, wooded terrain typical of the Blackstone Valley region just northwest of Pawtucket. The park includes multiple trail zones used for hiking, mountain biking, and equestrian use around the pond.

Swimming at Lincoln Woods Beach - Parking

Swimming takes place at a sandy freshwater beach on Olney Pond, a designated and lifeguarded swim area suited to families and casual swimmers rather than a remote or rugged wild swimming spot. The beach has supporting amenities (pavilion, snack bar, changing rooms) typical of a managed state park beach.

How to get to this swimming hole

Located at 2 Manchester Print Works Road, Lincoln, RI 02865, a few miles northwest of Pawtucket; the parking area covered by this point serves the Frank Moody State Beach on Olney Pond.

Parking: A dedicated parking lot serves the beach (this location), per the park's official address and site layout; specific lot capacity or fees were not stated on the official page.

The hike in

This point IS the beach's parking area, so no hike is required to reach the swimming spot - it's a short walk directly from the lot. The park separately has hiking/bridle/mountain-biking trails looping around Olney Pond's ~627 wooded acres for those who want to explore further, but none are required to access the beach.

Exact lot-to-sand walk time wasn't stated on official sources, but the parking area is adjacent to the beach per the park's site layout.

Plan your visit

Bringing kids

Good for kids

This is the official, designated freshwater swim beach (Frank Moody State Beach) on Olney Pond inside Lincoln Woods State Park, with seasonal lifeguards on duty 10:00 AM-6:00 PM (staffing permitting) per the official RI DEM park page. It's a managed sandy beach on a calm inland pond rather than a river/current spot, which generally favors families, though exact water depth/slope at the entry point was not independently confirmed this session.

Parking

Free

This point is the dedicated parking lot for the Olney Pond beach (named 'Lincoln Woods Beach - Parking'). RI DEM's official parking-fee page for state beaches lists only 8 ocean/coastal beaches that charge parking fees (Charlestown Breachway, East Beach, East Matunuck, Misquamicut, Roger Wheeler, Scarborough North/South, Salty Brine) and does not include Lincoln Woods, suggesting parking here is free, though no page explicitly states a $0 fee for this specific lot.

Restrooms

Yes

Restroom facilities operate seasonally, May 1 through October 31, per the official park page; the beach also has a pavilion with changing rooms and a snack bar.

Hours

Lifeguards are on duty seasonally 10:00 AM-6:00 PM (staffing permitting) per the official park page; restrooms operate May 1-Oct 31. General park gate/access hours were not confirmed this session.

On the water

CanoesKayaksMotorboats

Restrictions: Per the official park page: motorized boats are banned on Olney Pond on weekends and holidays from Memorial Day through Labor Day, and boat motors must be under 10 horsepower at all times.

Wikipedia's Lincoln Woods State Park article states 'Canoe rentals, kayak rentals and kayaking lessons are offered by a concessionaire,' but this could not be corroborated on the current official RI DEM park page (which lists only 'Sunset Stables' as a concessionaire, for horseback riding). Given the discrepancy, no specific rental business, pricing, or hours could be verified as currently operating, so none are listed below.

Backstory

The park was established February 12, 1909 (Abraham Lincoln's 100th birthday), on land formerly called Quinsnicket; the swim beach itself was dedicated as Frank Moody State Beach in 1977. Author H.P. Lovecraft was a frequent visitor to the park, and scenes from the 2011 film Moonrise Kingdom were filmed there.

Lincoln Woods Beach - Parking: FAQ

Is Lincoln Woods Beach - Parking kid friendly?

Do I need to hike to reach Lincoln Woods Beach - Parking?

No significant hike is required. The swimming area is close to parking and access.

Where do I park for Lincoln Woods Beach - Parking?

Can I bring a kayak or paddleboard to Lincoln Woods Beach - Parking?

When is the best time to visit Lincoln Woods Beach - Parking?

Facilities (restrooms) operate May 1 through October 31, and lifeguards are on duty seasonally, indicating the swim season runs roughly Memorial Day through Labor Day.

What are the rules at Lincoln Woods Beach - Parking?

Motorized boats are banned on Olney Pond on weekends and holidays from Memorial Day through Labor Day; boat motors must be under 10 horsepower; dogs must be leashed; the park is carry-in/carry-out (no trash service).