Annually in late June, Narrow River Preservation Association hosts a one mile open water swim in one of Rhode Island’s most scenic waterways.
Swimmers not wishing to take the shuttle may be dropped off at the course, but there is NO PARKING at or near the course.
2026 Details:
When: Saturday, June 20, 2026, 9:00am (rain or shine)
Where: Swim Start: URI Boathouse – Flagg Rowing Center, 166 Walmsley Lane, North Kingstown, R.I.
Parking for Shuttle: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1240 Boston Neck Rd., Narragansett RI 02882. **For the safety of ALL participants, parking will be provided at the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1240 Boston Neck Rd., Narragansett RI 02882. Parking is free. Two school buses will be making continuous trips to the Boating Center starting at 7:15 am. They will also return swimmers to their cars after the swim. NO PARKING will be allowed near the swim start – no parking on Walmsley Lane nor River Road nor at the Boat House.
Swimmers not wishing to take the shuttle may be dropped off at the course, but there is NO PARKING at or near the course.
Registration: Online only. Online registration closes at 11PM FRIDAY JUNE 19th. No day of registrations allowed.
Boathouse
Start, Course, and Finish (black dashed lines): In water start at beach adjacent to the URI Boathouse dock. Swim with orange buoys on your left, round the farthest buoy counterclockwise, swim back with buoys on your left. Finish by crossing the timing mat on shore.
Entry Fee: $45 if registered before June 1, $55 after June 1. Includes 2026 Turnaround Swim T-shirt. Entry fees are non-refundable.
Swim Sponsor: Swim Sponsor: Includes swim registration ($45) one year NRPA membership ($25) and name listed on the 2026 Turnaround Swim publicity ($30). Minimum $95. Any amount above this is welcome. Go to the DONATE section of the website after you register for the race if you wish to ADD your sponsorship.
Distance: One Mile (1/2 mile out and 1/2 mile back). Common start for wetsuit and non-wetsuit divisions.
Limit: 150 participants.
Timing: Ankle chip timing by New England Timing.
Check In: 7:30 a.m. to 8:40 a.m. No one will be admitted to the Turnaround Swim unless they checked in, signed their waiver, and received a numbered swim cap no later than 8:40 a.m.
Maximum Time: Swimmers are given one hour to complete the swim.
Mandatory Safety Briefing: 8:55 a.m.
Safety: Because of the uncertainty of weather conditions such as fog or lightning, the lifeguards and event committee reserve the right to cancel the event to ensure the safety of the participants.
A WORD OF CAUTION! The Narrow River is home to Rhode island’s only substantial population of native oysters, but the edges of these wonderful oysters can be SHARP! We recommend protective footwear for the Turnaround Swim. Participation is at your own risk.
Curious about swimming in Narrow River? Check out this essay by swimmer and Narrow River enthusiast Veronica Berounsky!
