Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Oct 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 2m
Distance
44 mi
71 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Smithfield, RI
Connor Scott McManus
Middletown, RI
Wikimedia Commons
Smithfield, RI to Middletown, RI is 44 miles and takes about 1 hour 2 minutes via I-295 and RI-4, with a fuel budget near $7 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Rhode Island, making it a straightforward trip between two points in the Northeast region. With a high percentage of highway driving, expect a fairly direct transit. This route is ideal if you're looking for a quick connection without a lot of complex navigation.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 295 | 10.8 mi | 12m |
| RI 4 | 9.9 mi | 12m |
| RI 138 | 9.1 mi | 12m |
| I 95 | 3 mi | 4m |
| West Main Road | 2 mi | 5m |
| Pleasant View Avenue | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| Farnum Pike | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| Greenville Avenue | 1.3 mi | 2m |
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 120 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~6,171 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~270 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
22.9×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
Averaged across 53 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Step-by-step road directions between Smithfield, RI and Middletown, RI.
Start on Brayton Road
Turn left onto RI 5; RI 104
Turn right onto RI 5; RI 116
Keep slight left at fork onto RI 5
Continue on RI 5
Continue on RI 5
Take the ramp onto I 295
Merge onto I 295
Merge onto I 95
Keep slight left at fork onto RI 4
Continue on US 1
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto RI 138
Turn right onto Admiral Kalbfus Road
Turn left onto Girard Avenue
At end of road, turn right onto RI 138
Turn left onto RI 114
Turn right
Arrive at destination
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.
A short stop after about 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 22 miles from 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.
5 decision points cluster between mile 3.2 and 30.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Keep slight left at fork onto RI 5 / Cedar Swamp Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Merge onto I 295
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Merge onto I 95
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork onto RI 4 toward RI 4 South: North Kingstown
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
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
Regular Gas
$7.34 one way
$14.68 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.96 | $8.60 | $17.20 |
| premium | $5.37 | $9.31 | $18.61 |
| diesel | $6.33 | $10.97 | $21.94 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 15.4 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13.2 | 0 | $4.62 | $2.11 |
| Efficient EV | 11 | 0 | $3.85 | $1.76 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 17.6 | 0 | $6.16 | $2.82 |
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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Evening in Smithfield on Sunday
Local time
7:32 PM
EDT
Current temp
29°F
Widespread Frost
Destination
Evening in Middletown on Sunday
Local time
7:32 PM
EDT
Current temp
34°F
Areas Of Frost
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
About 75% of this 44-mile drive is on highways like I-295 and RI-4. You'll experience the longest stretch on I-295, covering 10.8 miles before transitioning to surface roads. Expect frequent exits and merging traffic as you approach the final leg of your trip. The latter portion of the drive will involve more local road navigation.
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 around 3.2 miles in near RI 5 / Cedar Swamp Road.
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 44 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: at 3.2 miles (RI 5 / Cedar Swamp Road): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 6.4 miles (I 295): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 16.9 miles (I 95): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
314 ft
Total Descent
422 ft
Highest Point
320 ft
~9.4 mi in
Elevation Range
320 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Smithfield, RI to Middletown, RI, road signs begin pointing toward Newport along the way.
Newport
Smithfield is a small town in Northern Rhode Island that was founded in the 1600s. The town still has the charm of an old farming village with orchards and farms scattered throughout, but it has been modernized to a mid-size suburban town. The town is a great place to visit especially in the autumn months for its farms and orchards (known for their apple orchards especially). It is also has many unique places and family-owned businesses that make visitors feel like they are home no matter how far they’ve traveled from.
Founded 1743
Middletown lies south of Portsmouth and north of Newport, Rhode Island. This geographical location is what gave this town its name. Middletown was founded in 1743 when unjust taxation and a growing population caused freeholders in Newport to petition for independence. In 1731, the land that Middletown occupies was set apart and the town began. Today, Middletown is a small yet bustling community. There are many places to eat and sleep as Middletown provides a port to many tourists to Newport. Middletown has very interesting history including Nicolas Cage's purchase of the "Grey Craig" (a very large home) in August 2007.
Top landmarks
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 2m. Total distance: 44 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 (75%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, USGS 3DEP for elevation, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore more options from Smithfield, RI or browse trips ending in Middletown, RI.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse RI road trips.
