Origin
Portsmouth, RI
Night in Portsmouth on Saturday
Local time
9:31 PM
EDT
Current temp
--
Unavailable
Trip from Portsmouth, 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
52m
Distance
34.2 mi
55 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 48m
★
6 AM
0h 53m
8 AM
1h 2m
10 AM
0h 56m
12 PM
0h 55m
3 PM
0h 56m
5 PM
1h 1m
8 PM
0h 50m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Portsmouth, RI
Wikimedia Commons
Smithfield, RI
Connor Scott McManus
Trip Overview
If you are planning a quick excursion across Rhode Island, the 34.2-mile journey from Portsmouth to Smithfield is a straightforward trek. Expect the drive to take approximately 52 minutes under normal traffic conditions. You will navigate a mix of thoroughfares, primarily utilizing I-195, Metacom Avenue, and Douglas Pike. Budgeting about $5 for fuel should cover your needs for this one-day trip. Since the entire route stays within the Northeast region, you won't need to worry about major geographic transitions. It is an efficient, manageable drive that easily fits into a single day without the need for an overnight stay.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 195 | 8.2 mi | 10m |
| Metacom Avenue | 5.7 mi | 8m |
| Douglas Pike | 4.2 mi | 6m |
| Market Street | 2.6 mi | 4m |
| Douglas Avenue | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| East Main Road | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| Farnum Pike | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| George Washington Highway | 1.2 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 195
— 8.2 mi, about 10m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Portsmouth, RI and Smithfield, RI.
1
Start on this road
84 ft
·
11 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left onto Freeborn Street
430 ft
·
21 sec
·
Freeborn Street
3
Turn left onto RI 138
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
East Main Road
4
Turn slight left onto Boyds Lane
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Boyds Lane
5
Continue on RI 114
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Mount Hope Bridge
6
Continue on RI 114
0.2 mi
·
15 sec
·
Ferry Road
7
Keep slight right at fork onto RI 136
5.7 mi
·
8 min
·
Metacom Avenue
8
Continue on RI 136
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
·
Kickemuit Road
9
Continue on RI 136
2.6 mi
·
4 min
·
Market Street
10
Continue on MA 136
0.5 mi
·
45 sec
·
James Reynolds Road
11
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
46 sec
Toward I 195 West: Providence Rhode Island
12
Merge onto I 195
8.2 mi
·
10 min
·
I 195
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight right at fork onto US 6
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
·
US 6
Toward I 95 North, US 6 West: Boston Massachusetts
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight left at fork onto US 6
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
US 6
Toward I 95 North, US 6 West: Boston Massachusetts
15
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95
0.1 mi
·
12 sec
·
I 95
16
Keep slight right at fork
0.7 mi
·
45 sec
Exit 38A-B
Toward RI 146 North: State Offices
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Continue on RI 146
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Old Louisquisset Pike
Exit 38A
Toward RI 146 North: Woonsocket
18
Continue on RI 146
0.2 mi
·
10 sec
·
OldLouisquisset Pike
19
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
23 sec
Exit 1
Toward Branch Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
20
Turn left onto Branch Avenue
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Branch Avenue
21
Turn slight right onto RI 7
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Douglas Avenue
22
Continue on RI 7
4.2 mi
·
6 min
·
Douglas Pike
Use the left lane.
23
Turn left onto RI 116
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
George Washington Highway
Use the left lane.
24
At end of road, turn right onto RI 5; RI 104
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Farnum Pike
25
Turn right onto Brayton Road
22 ft
·
0 sec
·
Brayton Road
26
Arrive at destination
Brayton Road
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
17 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 34 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 17.1 miles from Portsmouth, 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 135 decision points cluster between mile 21.5 and 31.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
21.5 mi into trip
|
~33m in
|
US 6
Keep slight right at fork onto US 6 toward I 95 North, US 6 West: Boston Massachusetts
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 95 North, US 6 West: Boston Massachuse...
6
21.6 mi into trip
|
~33m in
|
US 6
Keep slight left at fork onto US 6 toward I 95 North, US 6 West: Boston Massachusetts
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 95 North, US 6 West: Boston Massachuse...
8
22.7 mi into trip
|
~35m in
Keep slight right at fork toward RI 146 North: State Offices
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 38A-B
Toward RI 146 North: State Offices
8
24.8 mi into trip
|
~37m in
Take the exit toward Branch Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 1
Toward Branch Avenue
6
31.7 mi into trip
|
~48m in
|
RI 116 / George Washington Highway
Turn left onto RI 116 / George Washington Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.51 one way
$11.01 round trip
$4.09/gal
25.4 MPG avg
12 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.50 | $6.06 | $12.12 |
| premium | $4.86 | $6.55 | $13.10 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.55 | $15.10 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 12 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10.3 | 0 | $3.59 | $1.64 |
| Efficient EV | 8.6 | 0 | $2.99 | $1.37 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 13.7 | 0 | $4.79 | $2.19 |
Gas CO2
12 kg
EV CO2
4 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
Smithfield, RI
Night in Smithfield on Saturday
Local time
9:31 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
52m 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?
This trip is characterized as a turn-heavy local drive rather than a mindless highway cruise. With only 27% of the route consisting of highway driving, you will spend the bulk of your time navigating local roads. Your longest uninterrupted stretch is a brief 8.2-mile segment on I-195, which serves as the primary fast-paced portion of the trip. As you transition from the interstate onto smaller roads like Douglas Pike, the pace shifts significantly, requiring more attention to local navigation. Prepare for a dynamic experience that keeps you engaged behind the wheel rather than settling into a monotonous interstate grind.
Only 27% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 8.2 mi on I 195.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 21.5 miles in near US 6.
Driving Effort
9/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 13 decision points packed into just 34.2 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 52m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 21.5 miles (US 6): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 21.6 miles (US 6): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 22.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
340 ft
9 ft
Total Climb
421 ft
Total Descent
304 ft
Highest Point
340 ft
~31.7 mi in
Elevation Range
332 ft
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 52m. Total distance: 34.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
52m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 8.2 miles on I 195. 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 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: at 21.5 miles (US 6): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 21.6 miles (US 6): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 22.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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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