Origin
Charlestown, RI
Night in Charlestown on Saturday
Local time
9:29 PM
EDT
Current temp
--
Unavailable
Trip from Charlestown, RI to Smithfield, RI
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 2m
Distance
47.5 mi
76 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 58m
★
6 AM
1h 3m
8 AM
1h 13m
10 AM
1h 6m
12 PM
1h 5m
3 PM
1h 7m
5 PM
1h 13m
8 PM
1h 0m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Charlestown, RI
Wikimedia Commons
Smithfield, RI
Connor Scott McManus
Trip Overview
If you are looking to traverse Rhode Island from south to north, this 49.5-mile journey from Charlestown to Smithfield is a straightforward trek. Expect the drive to take roughly 55 minutes, making it an easy day trip that requires no overnight stops. You will primarily navigate via Post Road, Commodore Perry Highway, and the Post Road Freeway to reach your destination. With a modest fuel budget of approximately $8, this trip is highly economical for travelers moving within the Northeast region. Because the route is relatively short, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure around your own schedule.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 295 | 10.9 mi | 13m |
| Col Rodman Highway | 10.1 mi | 13m |
| Commodore Perry Highway | 7.7 mi | 8m |
| Tower Hill Road | 7.5 mi | 11m |
| I 95 | 2.6 mi | 3m |
| Pleasant View Avenue | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| Post Road | 1.6 mi | 1m |
| Farnum Pike | 1.5 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
I 295
— 10.9 mi, about 13m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Charlestown, RI and Smithfield, RI.
1
Start on RI 1A
208 ft
·
4 sec
·
Old Post Road
2
Turn right
410 ft
·
6 sec
3
Take the ramp
444 ft
·
12 sec
4
Merge onto US 1
1.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Post Road
5
Continue on US 1
7.7 mi
·
8 min
·
Commodore Perry Highway
6
Continue on US 1
0.7 mi
·
44 sec
·
Post Road Freeway
7
Continue on US 1
6.7 mi
·
10 min
·
Tower Hill Road
8
Keep slight left at fork onto US 1
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Tower Hill Road
9
Turn straight onto RI 4
10 mi
·
13 min
·
Col Rodman Highway
Use the straight lane.
10
Merge onto I 95
2.6 mi
·
3 min
·
I 95
Toward I 95 North: Providence
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 295
11 mi
·
12 min
·
I 295
Exit 28A
Toward I 295 North: Woonsocket
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
12
Take the exit onto I 295
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
·
I 295
Exit 10
Toward RI 5: Johnston, Smithfield
Use the slight right lane.
13
Turn left onto RI 5
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Greenville Avenue
14
Turn straight onto RI 5
0.6 mi
·
53 sec
·
Sanderson Road
Use the straight lane.
15
Continue on RI 5
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Cedar Swamp Road
Use the straight lane.
16
Continue on RI 5; RI 116
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Pleasant View Avenue
17
At end of road, turn left onto RI 5; RI 104; RI 116
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Farnum Pike
18
Turn right onto Brayton Road
22 ft
·
0 sec
·
Brayton Road
19
Arrive at destination
Brayton Road
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
24 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 23.8 miles from Charlestown, RI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 125 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 41 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
4
16.8 mi into trip
|
~21m in
|
US 1 / Tower Hill Road
Keep slight left at fork onto US 1 / Tower Hill Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
6
27.8 mi into trip
|
~36m in
|
I 95
Merge onto I 95 toward I 95 North: Providence
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 95 North: Providence
8
30.4 mi into trip
|
~39m in
|
I 295
Keep slight left at fork onto I 295 toward I 295 North: Woonsocket
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Exit 28A
Toward I 295 North: Woonsocket
8
41 mi into trip
|
~52m in
|
I 295
Take the exit onto I 295 toward RI 5: Johnston, Smithfield
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 10
Toward RI 5: Johnston, Smithfield
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.65 one way
$15.29 round trip
$4.09/gal
25.4 MPG avg
17 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.50 | $8.41 | $16.83 |
| premium | $4.86 | $9.10 | $18.19 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.49 | $20.97 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 16.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14.3 | 0 | $4.99 | $2.28 |
| Efficient EV | 11.9 | 0 | $4.16 | $1.90 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 19 | 0 | $6.65 | $3.04 |
Gas CO2
17 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (65% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Smithfield, RI
Night in Smithfield on Saturday
Local time
9:29 PM
EDT
Current temp
39°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Road read
1h 2m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
Prepare for a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention behind the wheel. Unlike a monotonous interstate haul, this route features zero highway share, meaning you will spend the entire 49.5 miles navigating local roads rather than high-speed lanes. The character of the road is consistent, favoring technical turns over long, uninterrupted stretches. You should anticipate a dynamic driving experience where the road surface and traffic patterns shift frequently as you transition between towns. This is not a route for cruise control; instead, it is a hands-on drive that keeps you engaged throughout the duration of your trip.
30% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 10.9 mi on I 295.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive.
Driving Effort
9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 47.5 miles you will encounter 12 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start: Navigation decision point; at 16.8 miles (US 1 / Tower Hill Road): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 27.8 miles (I 95): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
287 ft
13 ft
Total Climb
427 ft
Total Descent
184 ft
Highest Point
287 ft
~37.3 mi in
Elevation Range
274 ft
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 2m. Total distance: 47.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 2m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (30%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 10.9 miles on I 295. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 2 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Smithfield, RI before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: near the start: Navigation decision point; at 16.8 miles (US 1 / Tower Hill Road): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 27.8 miles (I 95): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Roger Williams National Memorial and Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Smithfield, RI before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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