Ruggles is New England's legendary wave—a heavy right-hand reef break in Newport that only comes alive when solid swells push into Rhode Island's south-facing coast. When it turns on, Ruggles produces world-class barrels over shallow reef with Gilded Age mansions as a backdrop. The localism is fierce, the conditions fickle, and the danger real—shallow reef and rocks on the inside make every wipeout consequential. But for New England surfers who have earned their place in the lineup, Ruggles represents the pinnacle of Northeast surfing.
Water temp
16°C
Wetsuit
4/3mm fullsuit
Difficulty
7/10
Crowd level
6/10
Access: Cliff walk access. Limited parking.
Forecasts are validated against real-time buoy data.
Peak: Sep-Nov
Secondary: Aug, Dec
Hurricane season best. Needs solid swell to break.
Verified by Surfline spot guide
How well swell angle matches the spot
Wave height in the ideal range
Each spot has different period requirements. Points and reefs can handle longer periods than beaches.
Offshore/glassy conditions