Congratulations! You are surfing at the most expensive town in Rhode Island. Do not let the overpriced post cards at the Breakers' gift shop fool you, there are some pretty nice waves here if you time it perfectly. All tides at this beach are optimal for surfing. Second Beach favors wind coming from the north. In the video posted below, the wind was blowing from the west, causing the surf conditions to be choppy and unpredictable. Catching the waves were not a problem. The only problem was trying to figure out where most of the waves were breaking. That is the tricky part. There are some closeout waves here, but not as many as Narragansett. Try to bring a short board and a long board to compensate for the waves here. A shorter board is more ideal for the closeout waves. Second Beach favors 3-8 foot waves, if you want to catch the maximum amount of waves during your session. This break has the crowds, lack of rocks, wave breaks, and overpriced parking like Narragansett Town Beach, but the south-facing component of Matunuck.
Since Second Beach has little to no rocks on the beach itself, surfers can easily keep their bags and water bottles on the beach instead of leaving them in the car. This is convenient because you do not have to walk that far to your items after a long surf session. Surf boots are not really needed here because there are not many rocks. It is a very safe spot to learn how to surf. Always make sure to throw any trash away, do not leave it on the beach. A backpack, water bottle, and plenty of snacks are always recommended to bring with you to a surf session.
This spot has a couple of notable hazards and concerns to look out for. Swimmers on the beach are the most threatening hazard of all. Even though there are designated surfing areas at this beach, some swimmers may wander over into this area. If you are surfing and see a swimmer right in front of you, get out of the wave as soon as possible. This is very frustrating, but injuring yourself and the swimmer is not worth it. At the very end of the beach, you will find a section of the beach known as "Surfer's Edge." At this spot, there are some submerged rocks that every surfer must watch out for. Rocks do not move for anybody. Besides these concerns, this beach is very safe, and a great place for beginner and expert surfers alike.
Second Beach has many amenities and features unlike most surf breaks. Since it is a public beach, restroom facilities are available on site, along with ample parking options. Parking here is limited in the summer, especially during beach hours of operation. Parking here costs $25 on the weekends, and $15 on weekdays. Always bring extra money in case of any unexpected extra fees. After 6:00 pm, they stop charging for parking and beach entrance. The off season is the best time to find the most available parking and the least amount of crowds. As with most public beaches, the pay-to-park rule usually ends at around Labor Day.