Visitors will find an array of Rhode Island lodging and vacation rentals conveniently situated to enjoy this compact state. With only 1,054 square miles to cover, nothing in Rhode Island is more than an hour away by car.

Outdoor activities for Rhode Island vacationers include fishing, hiking, canoeing, kayaking, golfing, bicycling, and all types of water sports. Rhode Island's 400 miles of coastline feature more than 100 beaches, perfect for fun in the sun.

The largest beach in Rhode Island is the seven-mile-long Misquamicut State Beach in Westerly. Here guests of Rhode Island vacation rentals will find modest surf and good sand, with a gradual drop off. Amenities include a pavilion, picnic facilities, lifeguards, restrooms, a huge paved parking lot and an amusement park.

Blue Shutters Town Beach in Charleston is popular with families, while East Beach in Charlestown, makes a great escape for those who prefer to avoid the crowds. Narragansett, on the southern shore, is a popular spot for Rhode Island beach vacations.

One of the top tourist destinations in Rhode Island is Newport, with its gilded mansions and yachting traditions, but lesser known Middletown and Portsmouth also offer plenty of charm for guests of Rhode Island vacation rentals.

Block Island, about 12 miles offshore and accessed by ferry, is a welcome retreat for vacationers. Visitors to Block Island can cycle past sand dunes, visit wildlife refuges, explore the 1867 Northlight lighthouse, and relax on the pristine Crescent Beach. Nearby Conanicut Island offers 20 miles of cycling routes for visitors to Rhode Island vacation rentals.

Providence, the capital of Rhode Island, has been undergoing a renaissance in recent years, sprucing up neighborhoods and building parks and shopping venues. Artists and filmmakers have discovered Providence, and the city claims to have more restaurants per capital than any other major city in America. Visit the John Brown house, an elegant mansions turned museum to learn more about the history of Providence, or stroll down Benefit Street to see the restored homes of sea captains and merchants.

Whatever your interests, you're sure to find the perfect Rhode Island vacation rental.

Find more vacation homes for rent in other states:

• Florida vacation rentals
• California beach rentals
• New York vacation rentals
• North Carolina vacation rentals
• South Carolina rentals