No trip to Newport would be complete without a stroll or drive down Bellevue Avenue, and a visit to at least one or two of the impressive Newport Mansions. Just about every tour around town will include a stop along this notable street, including trolley tours, self-guided audio tours, and private sightseeing excursions. You can also combine your visit to Bellevue Avenue with tour of the restored homes on Newport’s scenic Ten Mile Ocean Drive.
Five of the historic homes along Bellevue Avenue are open to visitors: Marble House, The Elms, Rosecliff, Kingscote, and Chateau-sur-Mer.
Marble House, The Elms, and Rosecliff are all partially accessible to wheelchairs.
Don’t forget to bring your camera; even the wrought iron gates of the Bellevue Avenue mansions are impressive.
Bellevue Avenue begins where Touro and Kay streets merge, and runs directly south, terminating near Ocean Avenue. The northern end has a cluster of shops and restaurants, turning exclusively residential the farther south you drive.
The best time to explore Bellevue Avenue and its famous mansions is during the spring or autumn shoulder season, when the summer crowds have dispersed and weather remains mild and largely dry.
While this Newport street is most famous for its palatial historic homes, it also boasts a few other notable attractions. Sports fans won’t want to miss the International Tennis Hall of Fame on the grounds of the historic Newport Casino, while those with an interest in art should stop by the National Museum of American Illustration or the Newport Art Museum. Nearby, the Audrain Auto Museum showcases a collection of vintage cars.
