South Kingstown is South County, Rhode Island’s largest town, as it has about 32,000 residents and includes the bustling Wakefield-Peacedale area.
The southernmost portion of South Kingstown, overlooking Block Island Sound, is home to Matunuck, a small oceanfront village that’s a secluded and scenic spot to spend your vacation.
Booking a vacation rental in this area puts you far enough from the crowds that tend to gather in Narragansett and central parts of South Kingstown without taking you too far from their amenities.
The village also has beaches and other activities of its own, so you don’t have to travel anywhere once you’re set up.
Here’s a look at what it’s like to vacation in South Kingstown’s Matunuck Village.
The Beaches
You’ll have a few options when hitting the sand in Matunuck, depending on what you wish to experience.
The community’s most prominent oceanfront spot is South Kingstown Town Beach, a venue with 1,300 feet of sand, two picnic areas, a boardwalk, and a playground. There’s also on-site parking and a pavilion with showers, washrooms, and vending machines.
The parking area at this beach isn’t overly large, and you’ll have to pay the daily fee upon arrival. If you’re spending a few weeks in South County, you can also grab a non-resident seasonal pass for $120. There’s also overflow parking at a private lot on Matunuck Beach Road.
Some vacation rentals are within walking distance of this beach, which is highly convenient because you won’t have to find parking on busy weekends in the summer.
The other official beach in Matunuck is East Matunuck State Beach. This facility is quite a bit larger than South Kingstown Town Beach and has more parking. However, it’s separated from the rest of the community, as it’s only accessible via Route 1 and Succotash Road.
The beach’s location makes it less convenient when staying in Matunuck, but it’s a scenic spot that’s worth checking out nonetheless.
Heading west from Matunuck on Cards Pond Road takes you to Moonstone Beach. You have to be careful where you walk here because it’s a piping plover habitat and part of it is closed in the summer. Still, it’s a quiet and secluded beach that provides an ideal alternative to the busier nearby locations.
Oceanfront Dining
While Matunuck’s dining scene doesn’t have a lot of options, there are four restaurants on Matunuck Beach Road that will give you a bit of choice.
The most popular of the bunch is Ocean Mist, a lively hang-out with a diverse menu, a full bar, and live music. It also has a patio overlooking the water and opens early for breakfast on the weekends.
The Pub at Matunuck offers a similar experience with two oceanfront patios, including a rooftop deck, live music, and a festive atmosphere. It has a pub-style menu with breakfast available on Saturdays and Sundays.
Across from the water is the Matunuck Pizza Pie Company, which serves various pizza favorites plus salads, sandwiches, and appetizers. It shares a building with Surfside Coffee, the perfect place to grab a quick breakfast or lunch before carrying on with your day.
Matunuck’s convenient location means you’re never far from other dining options, but these four locations are within easy walking distance of many of the community’s vacation rentals.
Theatre By The Sea
It might come as a surprise, but there’s a world-class theatre on Cards Pond Road between Matunuck and Moonstone Beach. Theatre By The Sea has performances throughout the spring and summer and even hosts a summer concert series.
Theatre By The Sea first opened in 1933 after Alice Tyler, a young widow, turned the barn on her property into a theatre. The venue has undergone numerous renovations and repairs over the years, including a thorough rebuild after the Hurricane of 1938. It has been owned and operated by Bill Hanney since 2007.
The facility has hosted headliners like Marlon Brando, Mae West, Groucho Marx, and Tallulah Bankhead over the years and remains part of South Kingstown’s fabric to this day.
You can buy single-show tickets online starting in the spring, but you’ll want to purchase early to avoid disappointment.
Getting Around
Matunuck’s central location makes it easy to explore the rest of South County when staying there. The community is only a few blocks from the Commodore Perry Highway, which takes you to Charlestown in nine minutes, Wakefield in 13 minutes, and Narraganset in 15 minutes, ensuring you can see all of South County if you wish.
However, the relaxation Matunuck provides could easily consume your entire vacation because once you book a vacation rental in South County, how you spend your time is up to you.