Newport’s Ocean Drive: History, Mansions, and Coastal Splendor
Few places in New England capture the marriage of natural beauty, history, and opulence quite like Newport’s Ocean Drive. Known locally as “Ten Mile Drive,” this scenic coastal road sweeps along the southern tip of Aquidneck Island, offering some of the most breathtaking views of the Atlantic Ocean and some of the grandest estates in the country.
A Road Steeped in History
Ocean Drive dates back to the late 19th century, when Newport became the summer playground of America’s wealthiest families. The Vanderbilts, Astors, and Morgans built their “summer cottages” along nearby Bellevue Avenue, while Ocean Drive offered a more rugged, windswept backdrop where the sea and rocky shore dictated the architecture. Unlike the formal Gilded Age palaces on Bellevue, the homes here often embraced a shingle-style or stone design, blending luxury with a rugged coastal charm.
Even today, driving Ocean Drive feels like stepping back into the era when Newport was the epicenter of American high society. Presidents, industrialists, and even royalty have visited and vacationed here, drawn to both the natural setting and the company.
Why It’s Famous
Ocean Drive is not just a pretty road—it’s a cultural icon. For decades, it has been a backdrop for regattas, car rallies, film shoots, and high-profile gatherings. The road itself is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, recognized for its role in shaping Newport’s identity.
For visitors, it’s the kind of drive where every turn reveals something new: crashing waves against granite cliffs, sailboats dotting Narragansett Bay, and sprawling mansions perched above manicured lawns. For locals, it’s a reminder of Newport’s layered history, from colonial fishing villages to the Gilded Age and beyond.
The Significance of Real Estate
Real estate along Ocean Drive is among the most coveted in New England. These aren’t just houses—they’re estates with names, history, and architectural pedigree. Properties here often remain in families for generations, and when they do come on the market, they attract international attention.
Ocean Drive’s exclusivity lies in its combination of privacy and views. Unlike Bellevue Avenue, which is heavily touristed for its mansion tours, Ocean Drive estates are tucked behind hedges, gates, and long driveways. From the air—as captured in the drone images I recently took—you can truly appreciate how these properties are situated, with sweeping lawns, stone walls, infinity pools, and gardens that spill out toward the ocean.
Who Lives There Today
While many Gilded Age families have passed their homes into trusts or museums, Ocean Drive still attracts the elite. CEOs, financiers, and philanthropists quietly own residences here, often splitting time between Newport, New York, and Palm Beach. Some properties serve as summer escapes, while others are lived in year-round, anchoring Newport’s identity as more than just a seasonal resort town.
Notably, several historic estates along Ocean Drive have been carefully restored, while others have been rebuilt with modern luxury in mind, blending 21st-century amenities with Old World grandeur. The result is a community that feels timeless yet very much alive.
A Living Landmark
To truly understand Newport, you need to experience Ocean Drive. Whether by car, bike, or drone from above, the stretch embodies everything that makes the city unique: its seafaring roots, its role as a social hub for America’s elite, and its enduring natural beauty.
The houses I photographed on my recent visit show just how extraordinary this area remains. From turreted stone mansions perched on rocky cliffs to shingle-style homes with sprawling gardens and pools, Ocean Drive continues to be where history, architecture, and the Atlantic converge.
📸 All images in this article were captured by me on a recent drone flight over Newport’s Ocean Drive. They highlight the estates and landscapes that make this stretch so remarkable.
