The good and the bad of Newport County's 8 best beaches according to Yelp

The weather is starting to get warmer, and that means beach season is drawing near. Locally, there are a number of sandy spots, both large and small, to enjoy a day under the sun. Some are family friendly with things to do and good eats, while others are tucked away.

Yelp, a user-operated review website, has compiled a list of its top beaches in Newport County. Here are the ones that made the cut and what people are saying:

1. Sachuest Beach, Middletown

The good: Great waves and clean.

The bad: Too crowded.

Beach passes: Beach season is near. Here's how much seasonal passes will cost you in Newport, Middletown

“I spent 24 hours in Rhode Island while on a road trip so of course I had to stop at the beach,” wrote Nahida R. of Philadelphia. “We decided to check our second beach and we were not disappointed. There is (no) boardwalk but the beach and water was so clean unlike Atlantic City!”

“Traffic was a zoo, parking was $25 and sparse,” wrote Ray S. from Westborough, Massachusetts. “They directed us to a lot across the street. With a wagon in tow (and no crosswalks), I couldn't walk too far through the sand. So we plopped our stuff down at the first lifeguard chair.”

2. Gooseberry Beach, Newport

The good: Serene and good snack bar.

The bad: No walk-ons allowed.

“Great beach for family,” wrote Erin I. from Southington, Connecticut. “Clean and just enough room, not insanely crowded like the other popular tourist beaches. They have a great little good shack that has fresh ingredients and plenty of healthy options. Love this beach.”

“We have been coming to Gooseberry Beach for over 20 years,” wrote Brenda C. from Trumbull, Connecticut. “We love to ride our bikes to the beach. We were told today no walk-ons or bikers allowed unless we were members or had season passes.”

3. Easton’s Beach, Newport

The good: Easy parking, lobster rolls

The bad: Red seaweed

Easton's Beach repairs: Easton's Beach building plan takes shape as City Council considers contract

“This is a beautiful beach in Newport. Relaxing and calming,” wrote Genie M. from Brooklyn, New York. “Mansions and beautiful homes overlook the beach. You can walk on the Cliff Walk which takes you on a great path that is well manicured, and great views of the ocean and mansions. … The beach has great lifeguards, friendly parking attendants, clean bathrooms and showers. They rent chairs and umbrellas. Parking is unbelievably close to the beach. Wonderful time here. I will return.”

“Red seaweed everywhere, everyday,” wrote Michael D. from Washington, D.C. “It stinks and you can't go in the water without being completely covered in it. Gross! This beach should be amazing. It's long with great view of Newport cliff walk and Middletown shoreline. It's not.”

4. Third Beach, Middletown

The good: Relaxed atmosphere, not too windy

The bad: No restrooms or concessions

“Best kept secret on Aquidneck Island!,” wrote Erik D. from Rhode Island. “You'll find there are no waves since it's on the cove side, but the view is stunning, water is warm, and there's always a Del's truck … Noticeably much less congested.”

“My issues with the beach are most importantly the port-a-potty situation,” wrote Lyndsay V. from Glendale, Arizona. “There's no real bathrooms on the beach. The lack of concessions or soda machines. The insane amount of seashells on the shoreline making walking close to the water near impossible.”

5. Sandy Point Beach, Portsmouth

The good: Never really crowded

The bad: Too many rocks.

“Doesn't matter if you arrive in the morning or late afternoon, it's always a fun place to go to,” wrote Angy M. of Providence. “There's a laid back feel to it since it's a bit hidden and out of sight — unlike Easton beach for instance.”

“Great beach if you're just looking to catch some rays!,” wrote Darlene L. of Middletown. “Not as crowded as Middletown beaches ... But not as nice either. Kinda rocky, but bring your chair & enjoy the ‘quietness’ of Sandy Point!”

6. Mackerel Cove Beach, Jamestown

The good: Close to everything, pet friendly

The bad: Not enough parking

“It's really nice watching the boats go by, and everything is fairly close i.e Beavertail, and Fort Getty,” wrote Bianca B. from Providence. “The town is also only 5 minutes away which is great, a handful of cute shops and places to eat. Mackerel Cove is the best, all day.”

Beach bus: Proposed RIPTA bus route in Newport to provide 'equal access to beaches' and beyond

“If you come from out of state, you will be required to purchase a parking pass for $15 but you can only park in the small parking lot (which fills up very early) and not along the side of the road as the Rhode Island residents can do or you will be ticketed $25,” wrote MD from Meridan, Connecticut. “I wish they told me this when I purchased my parking pass, I would have avoided getting a ticket.”

7. Fogland Beach, Tiverton

The good: Family friendly, nice scenery

The bad: Unmaintained restrooms, too many rocks

“I am personally not a fan of the 'whose music is the loudest' game and 'how many bodies can fit in a 10x10 square' at RI hot spots like Scarborough or ABC,” wrote Kay R. from Providence. “Fogland is where you go for a peaceful retreat.”

Cliff Walk: Ocean views, mansions and more: Five things to know about Newport's famed Cliff Walk

“Bring your water shoes! Ouch! And no booze is allowed,” wrote Betty B. from Wheat Ridge, Colorado. “I also ended up with a rash on my legs right when I got out almost and it still hurts three days later! Hard to sunbath on all the rocks and shells everywhere.”

8. Grinnell’s Beach, Tiverton

The good: Nice place to walk

The bad: Not quite beachy enough

“It has a nice playground, warm water, and friendly people,” wrote Margaret P. from Nahant, Massachusetts. “It's a working woman's beach — not fancy. The only negative thing I would say is that it is very rocky. So, wear water shoes.”

“This beach is not recommended for using it as an actual beach. It's rocky and overcrowded,” wrote Alissa D. from Westport, Massachusetts. “I'm shocked that they charge money to get to Grinnell's and even more shocked that people pay to beach here when there are better options nearby.”

This article originally appeared on Newport Daily News: Best beaches in Newport, Middletown, Portsmouth, Tiverton