Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jun 3, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 5m
Distance
50.1 mi
81 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
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.
Westerly, RI
Wikimedia Commons
Smithfield, RI
Connor Scott McManus
Westerly to Smithfield is 50.1 miles and takes about 1h 5m via I 95, I 295, and Main Street, with a fuel budget near $8 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Rhode Island, connecting two points in the Northeast region. It's a straightforward drive, mostly on major highways, making it a practical option for getting between these locations. You'll likely find it an easy and efficient transit for a day trip or as part of a larger New England adventure.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 95 | 26.7 mi | 31m |
| I 295 | 10.9 mi | 13m |
| Main Street | 3.4 mi | 5m |
| Pleasant View Avenue | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| Ashaway Road | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| Farnum Pike | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| Greenville Avenue | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| Cedar Swamp Road | 1 mi | 1m |
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 92 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~2,861 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~186 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
15.4×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
Averaged across 48 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Step-by-step road directions between Westerly, RI and Smithfield, RI.
Start on RI 3
Continue on RI 3
Continue on RI 3
Continue on RI 3
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 95
Keep slight left at fork onto I 295
Take the exit onto I 295
Turn left onto RI 5
Turn straight onto RI 5
Continue on RI 5
Continue on RI 5; RI 116
At end of road, turn left onto RI 5; RI 104; RI 116
Turn right onto Brayton Road
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
25 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 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 25.1 miles from Westerly, 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 6 and 48.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Take the ramp toward I 95 North: Providence
Navigation decision point
Merge onto I 95
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork onto I 295 toward I 295 North: Woonsocket
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
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
At end of road, turn left onto RI 5; RI 104; RI 116 / Farnum Pike
Navigation decision point
Regular Gas
$8.86 one way
$17.71 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.92 | $9.70 | $19.40 |
| premium | $5.29 | $10.43 | $20.86 |
| diesel | $5.35 | $10.55 | $21.11 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 17.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 15 | 0 | $5.26 | $2.40 |
| Efficient EV | 12.5 | 0 | $4.38 | $2.00 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 20 | 0 | $7.01 | $3.21 |
Gas CO2
18 kg
EV CO2
6 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
Afternoon in Westerly on Wednesday
Local time
3:11 PM
EDT
Current temp
65°F
Mostly Sunny
Destination
Afternoon in Smithfield on Wednesday
Local time
3:11 PM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Rain Showers Likely then Partly Sunny
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.
This route is mostly highway, with 75% of the drive on major interstates. You'll experience a long stretch of 26.7 miles on I 95, so expect consistent cruising speeds for a significant portion. The shift to surface roads occurs around mile 37.6, where you'll transition onto Main Street. Keep an eye out for the dense exit activity typical of interstate travel as you approach your destination.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 95 and I 295. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 6 miles in.
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 50.1 miles you will encounter 8 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 6 miles: Navigation decision point; at 6.4 miles (I 95): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 33.1 miles (I 295): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
766 ft
Total Descent
546 ft
Highest Point
480 ft
~17.9 mi in
Elevation Range
443 ft
Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.
Cafe
Near the start, right off the route
Cafe
Near the start, right off the route
Cuisine: coffee_shop
Cafe
Near the start, right off the route
Cuisine: coffee_shop
Cafe
Near the end, short detour
Smithfield, RI
Cuisine: coffee_shop
Visit websiteCafe
Later in the drive, short detour
Cuisine: coffee_shop
Fast_food
Near the start, right off the route
Pawcatuck, CT
Cuisine: ice_cream;burger;chicken
Visit websiteRestaurant
Near the start, right off the route
Restaurant
Near the start, right off the route
Westerly, RI
Cuisine: asian
Restaurant
Near the start, right off the route
Westerly, RI
Cuisine: italian
Restaurant
Near the start, right off the route
Cuisine: pizza
Restaurant
Near the start, right off the route
Park
Near the end, right off the route
Smithfield, RI
Viewpoint
Near the end, right off the route
Viewpoint
Near the end, right off the route
Picnic_site
Around the midpoint, short detour
Picnic_site
Around the midpoint, short detour
Camp_site
Near the start, short detour
CT
Heritage
Near the start, right off the route
RI
Visit websiteMuseum
Later in the drive, short detour
RI
District
Later in the drive, short detour
Memorial
Later in the drive, short detour
Museum
Early in the drive, short detour
RI
Visit websiteDistrict
Early in the drive, short detour
Camp_site
Near the start, short detour
CT
Points of interest from OpenStreetMap contributors. Listings may not reflect current hours or availability.
Westerly is a town on the southwestern shoreline of Washington County, Rhode Island. First settled by Elder John Crandall in 1661 it is believed that John Crandall named the town after his birthplace in Westerleigh, England. Today Westerly has many references to his name. In 2010, this community had a population of 23,000, which covers 30.1 square miles (78 km²) of land and 44.7 square miles (116 km²) of water. Westerly has a friendly atmosphere. Visitors from all over enjoy the calm beaches and the unique shops that the downtown area has to offer.
Top landmarks
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.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 5m. Total distance: 50.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 5m 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, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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