Origin
North Smithfield, RI
Night in North Smithfield on Saturday
Local time
9:30 PM
EDT
Current temp
40°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from North Smithfield, RI to Newport, 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
44.3 mi
71 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 57m
★
6 AM
1h 2m
8 AM
1h 12m
10 AM
1h 6m
12 PM
1h 5m
3 PM
1h 6m
5 PM
1h 12m
8 PM
0h 59m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
North Smithfield, RI
Brent Singleton
Newport, RI
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are looking to head from the northern part of Rhode Island down to the coast, this 43.8-mile journey connects North Smithfield to Newport. Expect to spend about 52 minutes behind the wheel, making this a perfect candidate for a single-day trip. With a fuel budget of roughly $7, it is an economical way to traverse the state. You will navigate entirely via local roads, as this route has no highway segments. It is a straightforward drive that gets you from the interior of the Northeast to the coast without the need for an overnight stay, allowing you to maximize your time at your destination.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 295 | 14.7 mi | 16m |
| RI 4 | 9.9 mi | 12m |
| RI 138 | 8.8 mi | 12m |
| I 95 | 3 mi | 4m |
| Douglas Pike | 2 mi | 3m |
| Providence Pike | 1.9 mi | 3m |
| Tower Hill Road | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Branch Pike | 0.5 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 295
— 14.7 mi, about 16m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between North Smithfield, RI and Newport, RI.
1
Start on this road
114 ft
·
14 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left onto Woonsocket Hill Road
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
·
Woonsocket Hill Road
3
Continue on George Lee Road
451 ft
·
18 sec
·
George Lee Road
4
Turn left onto RI 5
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Providence Pike
5
Continue on Branch Pike;Providence Pike
0.5 mi
·
58 sec
·
Branch Pike;Providence Pike
6
At end of road, turn left onto RI 7
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Douglas Pike
7
Take the ramp
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 295 South: Warwick, New York
8
Merge onto I 295
15 mi
·
16 min
·
I 295
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Merge onto I 95
3.0 mi
·
4 min
·
I 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto RI 4
9.9 mi
·
12 min
·
RI 4
Exit 24B
Toward RI 4 South: North Kingstown
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
11
Continue on US 1
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Tower Hill Road
12
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
59 sec
Toward RI 138 East: Jamestown, Newport
Use the slight right lane.
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
26 sec
14
Merge onto RI 138
8.8 mi
·
12 min
·
RI 138
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Turn left onto JT Connell Connector
0.1 mi
·
32 sec
·
JT Connell Connector
Use the left lane.
16
Turn left onto RI 138A
0.3 mi
·
56 sec
·
JT Connell Highway
Use the left lane.
17
Continue on RI 138A
0.3 mi
·
52 sec
·
Farewell Street
18
Continue on Farewell Street
526 ft
·
10 sec
·
Farewell Street
19
Continue on Thames Street
0.3 mi
·
29 sec
·
Thames Street
20
Turn left onto Touro Street
0.1 mi
·
26 sec
·
Touro Street
21
Turn left onto Court House Street
146 ft
·
6 sec
·
Court House Street
22
Arrive at destination
Court House Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
22 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 22.1 miles from North Smithfield, 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 145 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 43.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Woonsocket Hill Road
Turn left onto Woonsocket Hill Road
Navigation decision point
8
22.9 mi into trip
|
~31m in
|
RI 4
Keep slight left at fork onto RI 4 toward RI 4 South: North Kingstown
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Exit 24B
Toward RI 4 South: North Kingstown
7
33.5 mi into trip
|
~45m in
Take the exit toward RI 138 East: Jamestown, Newport
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward RI 138 East: Jamestown, Newport
6
43 mi into trip
|
~58m in
|
JT Connell Connector
Turn left onto JT Connell Connector
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
43.2 mi into trip
|
~59m in
|
RI 138A / JT Connell Highway
Turn left onto RI 138A / JT Connell Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.13 one way
$14.26 round trip
$4.09/gal
25.4 MPG avg
16 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.50 | $7.85 | $15.69 |
| premium | $4.86 | $8.48 | $16.97 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.78 | $19.56 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 15.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13.3 | 0 | $4.65 | $2.13 |
| Efficient EV | 11.1 | 0 | $3.88 | $1.77 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 17.7 | 0 | $6.20 | $2.84 |
Gas CO2
15 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (67% 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
Newport, RI
Night in Newport on Saturday
Local time
9:30 PM
EDT
Current temp
--
Unavailable
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?
Forget about monotonous interstate cruising; this route is defined by its turn-heavy, local character. You will spend your time navigating roads like Woonsocket Hill Road, George Lee Road, and Providence Pike, which provide a more intimate look at the regional landscape. Because the highway share is zero percent, you should prepare for a consistent, winding pace rather than high-speed travel. There are no long, uninterrupted stretches of road here, as the longest segment occurs on Woonsocket Hill Road. The constant transitions between local roads mean you will need to stay alert and engaged with the steering wheel for the duration of the trip.
82% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 14.7 mi on I 295.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 295 and RI 4. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Woonsocket Hill Road.
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 44.3 miles you will encounter 14 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 (Woonsocket Hill Road): Navigation decision point; at 22.9 miles (RI 4): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 33.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from North Smithfield, RI to Newport, RI, road signs begin pointing toward New York along the way.
New York
4.7 mi in
|
~9m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 2m. Total distance: 44.3 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 (82%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 14.7 miles on I 295. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Newport, 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 (Woonsocket Hill Road): Navigation decision point; at 22.9 miles (RI 4): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 33.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 Newport, 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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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