Right Beaches › Rhode Island › New Bedford
South End Beach Compass
4.6★ · 230 Google ratings · New Bedford, Rhode Island
✓ Parking✓ Short walk✓ Good for kids✓ Restrooms
At a glance
Parking
On-site lot · 140 ft away · paid
Walk
130 ft · under a minute
Restrooms
Yes
Cost
Paid parking
Water
72°F · modelled, no buoy nearby
Tide
4 ft range today
Children
Reported good for young kids
Sand
125 yd from the water to the back
Water quality
Good · all 15 samples clean · 2025
Crowds
Quietest Tue 10am
Map of South End Beach Compass
1
1Parking140 ft from the listing
Guide
Good to know
Go at sunset or sunrise
The lit boardwalk and ocean views are described as especially beautiful and peaceful during these times of day.
Plan a family day with activities
The area offers rock hunting, fishing, kite flying, a fort museum, food trucks, showers, and restrooms.
Reported good with little kids
Visitors often mention shallow or calm water. This is what reviewers report, not a safety assessment.Mentioned by 4 visitors · 2017–2026
Litter reported
Visitors mention rubbish on the sand.Mentioned by 4 visitors · 2017–2026
Visit for walking, not swimming
The 4-5 mile waterfront path and boardwalk are the main attractions, while multiple reviewers warn against swimming due.
Bring cash for parking
Parking now requires payment on West Rodney French Boulevard, though several reviewers noted this is a recent change.
Conditions
How it is right now
Air
68°F · overcast
Water
72°F · modelled, no buoy nearby
Waves
1.2 ft · 5 s apart
Wind
1 mph from the WSW
Shelter
Onshore · wind blowing straight in off the water
UV index
7 peak today
| Time | Tide | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 01:52 | High tide | ↑ |
| 07:02 | Low tide | ↓ |
| 14:29 | High tide | ↑ |
| 20:11 | Low tide | ↓ |
Last updated Sep 4, 12:57 PM.
Crowds
When it gets busy
| 8a | 9a | 10a | 11a | 12p | 1p | 2p | 3p | 4p | 5p | 6p | 7p | |
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QuietBusy
Practical
Plan your visit
📍 519 W Rodney French Blvd, New Bedford, MA 02744
🅿 Parking 140 ft from the listing
🌊 Water 130 ft away, under a minute walk
Nearby
Other beaches close by
0.6 miles away
2.2 miles away
2.4 miles away
4.7 miles away
6.7 miles away
8.8 miles away
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Questions
Common questions
Where do you park at South End Beach Compass?
The nearest mapped parking area is 140 ft from the listed location. Positions come from OpenStreetMap, not from review text.
How far is the walk to the water at South End Beach Compass?
130 ft in a straight line from the listing to the mapped shoreline, under a minute. Soft sand and dune make the real walk longer than the straight line.
Does South End Beach Compass have restrooms?
No restrooms are mapped within 600 m on OpenStreetMap. That means nobody has mapped any, which is not the same as there being none.
When is South End Beach Compass least busy?
Google visit patterns put the quietest hour at Tue 10am and the busiest at Tue 6pm.
Measured from OpenStreetMap, public aerial imagery and live conditions data, and counted from visitor reviews. Every source, in full.
