Discover Newport’s Gilded Age on an open-air trolley tour. Explore historic mansions, scenic views, and famous film locations. Uncover hidden gems and local tips.
- Newport Travel Trolley Tours - (For ages 5 & up only). Park in the public lot at 23 America’s Cup Ave (Newport Transit Center) and locate the white open air trolley at Platform #7-9 outside. Show your cell phone or printed ticket to driver.
- Fort Adams State Park - The trolley tour will enter Fort Adams, a historic 1799 landmark and home of today’s annual Newport Jazz Festival and Newport Folk Festival. The fort is also home to President Eisenhower’s summer home called the Eisenhower House.
The Welcome Center features a snack bar, clean restrooms, and ticket sales counter to take a tour inside of the fort.
There are also 2 water taxi stops and free public parking at Fort Adams State Park. The Bennington Overlook section of Fort Adams offers breathtaking sunsets over Narragansett Bay with free parking as well.
- Brenton Point State Park - The trolley tour passes by Brenton Point State Park, former estate of RI’s 2nd governor William Brenton (elected 1665). This is a free public park offering pristine views of the Atlantic Ocean on 2 sides of the park plus free sunsets over the water 12 months per year. Seasonal restrooms are available in the stone building.
- Ocean Drive - The trolley tour travels through the Ocean Drive Historic District. Visitors will begin to see Newport’s Gilded Age Mansions lining the Atlantic Ocean with breathtaking scenery.
Mansions on Ocean Drive include Mavis and Jay Leno’s Seafair, and several filming locations of HBO’s TV series “The Gilded Age” including Indian Spring Castle, The Ledges and Crossways mansions.
- Cliff Walk - Once the trolley tour enters the Newport Cliff Walk area of the Bellevue Ave Historic District, riders will begin to learn about the Gilded Age mansions along the Cliff Walk, which are on the ocean side of the mansions for 3.5 miles between Reject’s Beach and Newport Beach.
Your guide will explain how to best access the Cliff Walk and areas where parking is free to enjoy the Cliff Walk and the best areas for viewing.
- Marble House - The trolley tour stops in front of the 2nd of the 3 Newport Vanderbilt mansions “The Marble House”.
This small palace built in 1892 was instrumental in the passage of the women’s suffrage movement, as Alva Vanderbilt hosted fundraisers in her pagoda (Chinese Tea House on the Cliff Walk) whereby she raised a great deal of money to pass the 19th amendment.
Both the Marble House and Chinese Tea House were the Asian wedding set in the Katherine Heigel classic movie “27 Dresses”
Free parking for Marble House tour visitors is available across the street at 585 Bellevue Ave.
- Rosecliff - The trolley tour stops in front of the Rosecliff Mansion, a 1902 ‘summer cottage” of Tessie Fair-Oelrichs. The most famous movie filmed here was The Great Gatsby (Robert Redford, Mia Farrow, Sam Waterston).
Tours are available at the Rosecliff mansion on a seasonal basis.
- The Breakers - The trolley tour stops at The Breakers Newport, the 3rd Vanderbilt Mansion in Newport and discharges passengers who purchased this interior tour option.
This 1895 ‘summer cottage’ is the largest mansion in the region and is RIs most visited tourist attraction. It sits on the Newport Cliff Walk facing SE towards the Atlantic Ocean.
- The Elms - The trolley tour continues along Bellevue Ave and passes by The Elms Newport, a Gilded Age mansion of Edward and Sarah Berwind. The guide explains the 2 tours that are available inside the Elms Mansion
- International Tennis Hall of Fame - The trolley tour passes by the front door of the International Tennis Hall of Fame, the 1881 site of the old Newport Casino (shopping district of the Gilded Age millionaires). The guide explains the free and for-fee tours available inside the ITHOF.
- Bowen’s Wharf - The trolley tour continues into Downtown Newport’s bustling waterfront district anchored by Bowen’s Wharf. The guide explains the shopping, dining, boating excursions, and other waterfront attractions along America’s Cup Ave.
- Narrated tour
- Gratuity
Enjoy Newport’s exclusive outdoor trolley trip with stunning panoramas of Ocean Drive and the opulent residences of the Gilded Age lining Bellevue Ave and the Cliff Walk.
This guided trip encompasses 150 fascinating spots encompassing Newport’s Gilded Age, the Colonial period, and Naval History.
Features of contemporary Newport including shopping, eateries, boat tours, lighthouses, beautiful sunsets, and major entertainment activities are also detailed.
Get a glimpse of real-life film and TV set locations like Hocus Pocus 2, HBO’s The Gilded Age, and timeless classics such as Amistad, True Lies, The Great Gatsby, along with a dozen more.
Additionally, your guide will help you understand how to explore the city independently and reveal the top spots with free parking.
- MINIMUM AGE TO EXPERIENCE THIS TOUR IS 5 YEARS OLD
- Departure point is the Newport Transportation Center, 23 America’s Cup Ave, Newport RI, platform #2. Parking available on site for a fee
- This is an open air trolley. Please dress accordingly. Tour may be canceled if rain is in the forecast.
- This tour departs promptly at the scheduled time. The tour duration is 70-90 minutes, depending on traffic conditions
- The trolley is not handicapped accessible.. Driver may assign seating based on customer needs.
- Drivers have updated manifests on their devices. Cancelled tickets are not accepted for admission
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
