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Roger Williams Park
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Roger Williams Park

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See all things to do
Roger Williams Park
4.5
283 reviews
#8 of 181 things to do in Providence
Parks • Gardens
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10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
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Top ways to experience Roger Williams Park and nearby attractions

The area
Address
Best nearby
Restaurants
756 within 3 miles
Apsara Asian Restaurant
110
0.2 mi$ • Chinese • Asian • Thai
Subway
4
0.2 mi
Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen
11
0.4 mi$ • American • Cajun & Creole • Fast Food
Mackie's Restaurant & Country Store
34
0.5 mi$ • American
Carolina Family Restaurant
5
0.5 mi$$ - $$$ • Spanish
La Gran Parada Restaurant
12
0.6 mi$
CFC Crown Fried Chicken
1
0.6 miFast Food
Elmwood Diner
14
0.6 mi$ • American • Diner
Long Live Beerworks
14
0.7 mi$$ - $$$ • Bar • Pub
Knead Doughnuts
2
0.7 miAmerican
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Attractions
262 within 6 miles
Roger Williams Park Zoo
1,192
0.9 miZoos • Parks
Providence Performing Arts Center
613
1.7 miArchitectural Buildings • Theaters
Rhode Island School of Design Museum of Art
975
2.1 miArt Museums
Brown University
450
2.2 miUniversities & Schools
Historic Federal Hill
678
1.8 miNeighborhoods • Historic Walking Areas
Rhode Island State House
420
2.3 miArchitectural Buildings • Government Buildings
Benefit Street
223
2.1 miNeighborhoods • Points of Interest & Landmarks
Providence Children's Museum
200
1.5 miChildren's Museums
The Stephen Hopkins House
116
2 miHistoric Sites
Roger Williams Park Botanical Center
71
1.1 miParks • Gardens
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
283 reviews
Excellent
153
Very good
98
Average
24
Poor
6
Terrible
2
NYTravelerBD
Westchester County, NY1,249 contributions
Beautiful Urban Park
Aug 2020
Roger Williams Park is a tranquil, pretty, and inviting park that makes for a lovely way to spend the day. While on vacation in Rhode Island, we took our 7 year old daughter to the zoo, then for a stroll in the nearby Japanese Garden, and rented an electric boat from the "swan boat" stand and had a relaxing ride on the pond.

My daughter enjoyed seeing swans and Canadian geese throughout the park, and we even spotted a muskrat while on our boat ride.

Although the Japanese Garden can use some better upkeep on the grass especially, we found the park overall to be quite pristine. This is a great way to spend a quiet day in Providence.
Written August 4, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Barry N
Coventry, RI3,471 contributions
a nice place when the weather is good to spend time
Jul 2020
This place has everything you would want in order to relax by yourself or with your family. a zoo,a batanical center,a lake to feed the ducks a center for children, a museum,a pond with paddle boats. areas to just relax and have a picnic. alway clean,well managed,lots of parking. walking trails ,,bike paths.
a fantastic place in the middle of Rhode Island. Go Here.
Written March 30, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Ann L
6 contributions
A spacious zoo with an assortment of animals, best for families with little kids
Jul 2022
Our visit was nice, the park is pretty and peaceful. There weren't a ton of animals, but we did see a zebra, vultures, an elephant, a monkey, even a few animals I had never heard of before. Well run, plenty of restrooms, some food/snack stands and gift shop. Good for little kids, there are play areas for them too. As an adult, I found it a tad boring, but it was a nice place to spend an afternoon.
Written July 9, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
DMSMD64
Chester Springs, PA507 contributions
Provides a break from the city
Sep 2020
We had intended to go to the zoo, but discovered that, I’m sure it’s due to COVID, you have to purchase tickets ahead of time so we wandered through the park. The park is fairly busy, It's an old park with historical buildings, e.g. the casino. Walking around it’s easy to forget you are on the middle of a city. The park is old therefore all the landscaping would be considered “mature “. The park, as well as the trails, are fairly well marked. There are numerous places to have a picnic or just sit and relax. On the downside, one thing I noticed was that there are not enough trash cans. I suspect his may be one of the reasons there is abundant trash on the ground. The water ways also appear a bit dirty and somewhat neglected. To enter the park is free, but there are charges for some of the amenities, e.g. carousel, swan boats, zoo. The is plenty of free parking and a snack bar in the park and zoo.
Written October 12, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
sedum37
Boston, MA1,257 contributions
Lots to do (for kids and adults) at Roger Williams Park!
We visited the Roger Williams Park (on June 14th) and weren't disappointed! As I am a garden fanatic we mostly concentrated on the gardens and botanical center at the park. The Botanical center opened recently (2007). Although the Botanical Center is a work in progress (exterior landscaping is still being installed), the two greenhouses are filled with many interesting and fascinating tropical plants too many to name.

Next we visited the Victorian Rose Garden and Japanese Garden found elsewhere in Roger Williams Park. The VIctorian Rose garden (located near the park entrance) was fabulous and peak bloom on Jun 14th! The Japanese Garden can be found behind the Carousel. Although the Japanese garden was recently renovated in 2006 we were a little disappointed in it as the garden upkeep hasn't been done.

There is a nominal fee to enter the botanical center ($3) while the Victorian Rose and Japanese gardens are free to enjoy.

In addition to the gardens mentioned above there are plenty of things for kids to enjoy: paddleboats on the pond can be rented, there are several playgrounds to enjoy, a neat carousel to ride, a natural history museum to explore and one of the best zoos in the country to enjoy.

Overall well worth visiting for both adults and kids!
Written June 17, 2008
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
redeco
Warren, MA9,449 contributions
Palm House and Botanic Garden
The Roger Williams Park Botanic Garden was established as recently as 2007, but the place is already beautifully developed with an expansive Palm House and several attached greenhouses encompassing 12,000 square feet. The water features and live fish along with attractive seating make this garden very appealing. The garden has lots of free parking and is located just beyond the large pond with swan boats and carousel.

Outside, there are several walkways lined with trees and plants and a small rose garden. Entrance price is $3. I recommend this attraction.
Written September 2, 2010
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Karen H
Woonsocket, RI42 contributions
Get Outdoors & Go To The Park!
Oct 2016 • Family
Huge Park on both ends. Scenic, has water all around, Statues throughout, Summer has Swan Paddle Boats, & there's Food Truck Fridays-from 4pm-till 9pm .behind the Carousel. There is usually a Jazz Fest Day on a Sunday during Summer -June, July, Aug. or Sept.-have to check scedual of events for Roger Williams Park for date.There is a Japanese Garden, A Tennis / Ball Court, Plenty of Spots to Play Ball, or to Picnic-no Cookouts. Pathways to Walk, Run or Jog, Roads to Drive, & there is also a Museum, The Botanical Center, A Horse Ranch -to go riding & the Zoo. All Bldgs. have their own price & have reduced fees for Members Only. A Good day out for Anyone ; esp. in Fall, Spring & Summer.
Written April 5, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Rebecca D
5 contributions
poor little goose
Aug 2016 • Couples
I would have given the park a "very good" because it appeared to be well-maintained and the dock I sat on at Polo Lake was very charming, but I was very disturbed upon finding out that there was not a single person in the park that was able to assist a goose that had a fishing hook stuck in its face.

When I called park staff they said that they did not have anyone on staff that could handle the animals in the park (outside the Zoo I guess?) and proceeded to direct me around to other organizations in the surrounding area (not even to someone in the park). I spoke to at least three different organizations that said they were not able to help, or did not have proper staffing to do so (one organization said they would come pick it up if I trapped it for them....). I asked the last person why he thought that Roger Williams Park did not have someone on their staff that could help an animal on their property (outside the zoo) and he said that it was probably indifference...

Like I said, nice park, but the lack of adequate staffing for a park where lots of animals, other than the ones in the zoo, use on a daily basis, made me rate this place as terrible.
Written August 9, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
CoquiD
Mayaguez, Puerto Rico61 contributions
Spectacular
Apr 2011
The gardens are breathtakingly beautiful, peaceful and romantic. The botanical gardens had a number of exotic plants, flowers and beautiful fish ponds. This is a perfect place for picnicking, picture taking, or just walking and enjoying the view. Just a lot of natural beauty everywhere you look. You must try the carousel, whether you're with kids or not. Overall it is a gorgeous place with many varied attractions, good for families or couples. Being there you completely forget you're in the middle of a big busy city. I hope to visit again!
Written April 27, 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Karen B
Cranston, RI35 contributions
Needles in the park
May 2016 • Couples
My husband and I took our Chihuahuas for a walk down one of the trails, there were needles all over the ground, clothes, alcohol bottles broken. We actually had to carry the Chihuahuas out of the trail, I don't understand how Roger Williams professes to be a family park, how sad. I understand this is an epidemic with heroin users, but there needs to be more security in the Park so this activity doesn't take place.
Written June 16, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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Roger Williams Park (Providence) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go

Frequently Asked Questions about Roger Williams Park
Roger Williams Park is open:
  • Sun - Sat 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Buy tickets in advance on Tripadvisor. If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel at least 24 hours before the start date of your tour for a full refund.
We recommend booking Roger Williams Park tours ahead of time to secure your spot. If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel up to 24 hours before your tour starts for a full refund. See all 2 Roger Williams Park tours on Tripadvisor