Providence, Rhode Island · Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0

Road Trip Guide:
Rhode Island

Explore Rhode Island

Rhode Island is 48 miles long and 37 miles wide, yet it has roughly 400 miles of shoreline. A drive across the state is short; a drive along its edge is not.

Around 25 breweries sit near the stops we cover in Rhode Island. 6 of them are brewpubs with a kitchen, which off the motorway is often the useful part. The kitchen figure is a floor: the source lists some full restaurants as production sites.

Brewpub locations from Open Brewery DB (MIT)

Around 1 public campgrounds sit near the stops we cover in Rhode Island. All of them take reservations. Public campgrounds run by federal agencies. State-park and private campgrounds are not included.

Outdoors

Public land, water and snow — the places that are the reason for the drive.

National parks and federal sites in Rhode Island

4 National Park Service sites in Rhode Island. We have written guides to only a few of these — the rest are here so you can see what is in the state.

*Check before you go. Entrance fees, seasonal road closures, timed-entry reservations and whether a site suits your family are set by each park and change through the year. Follow the link and check with the park itself.

Park register from the National Park Service (public domain)

State parks in Rhode Island

17 state parks we know of in Rhode Island. We have not visited these and have no guide to them — this is a list of what exists, so you can look one up.

See all 17

Beavertail State Park
Brenton Point State Park
Burlingame State Park
Charlestown Breachway State Beach
Colt State Park
Fishermen's Memorial State Park
Fort Adams State Park
Fort Wetherill State Park
Goddard Memorial State Park
Haines Memorial State Park
Lincoln Woods State Park
Misquamicut State Beach
Pulaski State Park
Rocky Point State Park
Salty Brine State Beach
Snake Den State Park
World War II Veterans Memorial State Park

*Check before you go. Opening hours, entry fees, campsite availability and whether a park suits your family are not in this data and change with the season. Several of these are day-use only. Please confirm with the park before setting out.

State park locations from Wikidata (CC0)

Skiing and Snowboarding

1 in this state.

Yawgoo ValleyExeter
Rhode Island's only ski area; small family hill

This is a list of what is there, not a recommendation of any of it. We do not list rentals: our source marked every ski area in the country “likely” to have them and confirmed none, so there was nothing to publish. Most hills do rent gear — ring ahead rather than take that from us. Opening dates, lift schedules and trail conditions move every year and we hold none of them, so check before you build a day around it. Every name above links to the operator’s own site.

Long Bike Trails

1 in this state.

East Bay Bike Path
Length
14.5 miles
Surface
Paved
End to end
Providence RI – Bristol RI
Narragansett Bay shoreline to historic Bristol

This is a list of what is there, not a recommendation of any of it. Opening dates, lift schedules and trail conditions move every year and we hold none of them, so check before you build a day around it. Every name above links to the operator’s own site.

Days out with the family

Gated attractions with a front door, a ticket and a car park.

Zoos and Aquariums

3 across Rhode Island, by town.

Save The Bay Hamilton Family Aquarium (Exploration Center & Aquarium) — some details below are unconfirmedNewport
Hours
10am-4pm daily
23 America's Cup Ave
* We could not confirm: admission not captured. Check their site before you go.
Biomes Marine Biology CenterNorth Kingstown
Hours
Open daily 12-5; closed Thanksgiving and Christmas Day
Admission
Adult $15 · Child $12
Reservations
Not required
Hands-on marine centre; mornings and evenings are reserved for private programs, so the public window is 12-5.
Roger Williams Park ZooAZA-accreditedProvidence
Hours
10am-4pm Thu-Mon; closed Tue-Wed (as posted fall 2026)
Season
year-round (implied)
Admission
Adult $25 · Child $19 (2-12); 1 and under free
Reservations
Not required
Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular ticketed separately (Oct 1-Nov 1, 2026)

This is a list of what is near you, not a recommendation of any of it. 1 of these carries an accreditation we confirmed against the accrediting body’s own register. Where there is no badge we did not confirm one — that is not a judgement on the place, and a good many municipal, state and university sites belong to no register we check. One entry is marked with an asterisk: we could not confirm part of what is listed, and the note under it says which part. Opening times, prices and seasons change without notice, so check the operator’s own site — every name above links to it.

Amusement Parks

1 across Rhode Island, by town.

Atlantic Beach ParkSeasonalamusement parkWesterly
Misquamicut beach amusement park; site blocks automated fetch, URL not load-verified.

This is a list of what is near you, not a recommendation of any of it. Every one of these runs a season rather than opening year round. Opening and closing dates move every year and we hold none of them, so check the park’s own calendar before you build a day around it. Prices, hours and ride closures change without notice — every name above links to the park’s own site.

Wineries in Rhode Island

2 producers in Rhode Island that we have checked. These are the ones from our research we could check against their own site — not every producer there is. We have not been to these; this is what their own sites say, so you can look one up.

Newport Vineyards
winery · Middletown, RI · Aquidneck Island
Aquidneck Island winery with Farm & Barrel Bistro, opened May 2026.
- Toursyes - vineyard tours (booked via Visit page)
- Foodyes
- Phone401-848-5161
909 East Main Rd. (Rte 138), Middletown, RI 02842
Greenvale Vineyards
winery · Portsmouth, RI · Aquidneck Island
Vineyard on a farm established in 1863 in Portsmouth.
- HoursOpen year-round 7 days (spring: Mon-Sat 11am-5pm, Sun 12-5pm)
- Toursyes - vineyard tours page linked
582 Wapping Road, Portsmouth, RI 02871

*Check before you go. Every producer here links to its own site, which is where we read these details on the date we checked. Opening hours, tour times, tasting fees and who may come in change without notice and belong to the producer. A blank is something we did not confirm, not something they lack. None of these say anything about children, so do not plan around it without asking them.

Roadside oddities in Rhode Island

Newport Tower (Old Stone Mill)Offbeat landmarkNewport
Cost to see it
Free
When you can see it
Any time — outdoors, visible from the road
Nearest road
RI-138
Mysterious stone tower with debated origins
Read on the page we checked
Green Animals Topiary GardenFolk art / sculpture gardenPortsmouth
Cost to see it
Costs something — we did not find the price published
When you can see it
Seasonal — not open all year
Nearest road
RI-114
Around 80 animal-shaped topiaries
- Open seasonally, not all year
Read on the page we checked

These are things you can go and look at, not a recommendation of any of them. Oddities move, get sold and quietly disappear more than anything else we list, so check anything you are driving a long way for. Where this list says we did not find a price or opening times published, that is exactly what we mean. A blank is not “free” and not “always open”. Some sit on private land and can only be seen from the road — please do not go onto anyone’s property. Every entry links the page we read it off.

Venues and Annual Events

6 across Rhode Island, by town.

Where to see something

Ninigret Parkfestival groundsCharlestown
Hours
Event days only
Home of the Rhythm & Roots Festival.
Providence Performing Arts CentertheaterProvidence
Hours
Box office Mon–Fri 10am–5pm, Sat 10am–2pm; opens 2 hours before curtain
Address
220 Weybosset St, Providence, RI 02903
Phone
(401) 421-2787
Capacity
3,100
Opened as Loew's State Theatre in 1928.

What is on, and when

Rhythm & Roots Festival — some details below are unconfirmedmusic festivalCharlestown
Usually
August–September (Labor Day weekend), over several days
Held at
Ninigret Park
* We could not confirm: 2026 edition ticketed for Sept 4–6; first-held year not verified. Check their site before you go.
Foster Old Home Days — some details below are unconfirmedfairFoster
Usually
Late July
Held at
Foster town grounds
* We could not confirm: anything beyond the month it usually runs. Check their site before you go.
Newport Jazz Festivalmusic festivalNewport
Usually
August, over several days
Held at
Fort Adams State Park
Since
1954
Washington County FairfairRichmond
Usually
Mid August, over several days
Held at
Washington County Fairgrounds

This is a list of what is near you, not a recommendation of any of it. Events are listed by the month they usually fall in, because that is what we hold — we do not publish dates, and a month is not a promise. Check the organiser before you plan around one. 2 entries are marked with an asterisk: we could not confirm part of what is listed, and the note under it says which part. Opening times, line-ups and ticketing change without notice, so check the venue’s or organiser’s own site — every name above links to it.

On the road

Before you set off.

Scenic roads through Rhode Island

Federally designated scenic byways and All-American Roads, with the places we publish along each one in the order you meet them.

Revolutionary Heritage BywayRhode Island · 5 places we publish

What to wear in Rhode Island

Illustrated outfit board for Rhode Island: four seasonal panels of clothing with average temperatures.

Spring 57°/38°F (14°/3°C)

Spring is cool and changeable, especially at breezy coastal stops.

Wear: Start with a long-sleeve tee, stretch pants, and a fleece or sweater. Add a rain shell when the wind or showers pick up.
Shoes: Water-resistant walking shoes with grip; boots for muddy stops.
Pack: fleece or sweater
rain shell
light beanie
spare dry socks

Summer 80°/60°F (26°/16°C)

Summer is warm, with cooler ocean breezes.

Wear: Choose a loose, breathable tee or shirt with quick-drying shorts, lightweight pants, or an airy dress. Carry a thin layer for chilly indoor stops.
Shoes: Breathable walking sneakers; secure sandals for casual paved stops.
Pack: sun hat
sunglasses
light indoor layer
light rain shell
spare tee

Fall 63°/44°F (17°/7°C)

Fall brings cooling days and chilly waterfront evenings.

Wear: Build around a long-sleeve tee, comfortable pants, and a sweater or fleece. Add a wind-resistant jacket for breezy overlooks.
Shoes: Walking shoes with grip; water-resistant boots for wet or muddy routes.
Pack: sweater or fleece
wind and rain shell
beanie
light gloves
spare socks

Winter 40°/23°F (4°/-5°C)

Winter is cold, with coastal wind, rain, and snow possible.

Wear: Layer a moisture-wicking long-sleeve top under a sweater or fleece and an insulated coat. Wear long pants; add thermal bottoms when the forecast calls for them.
Shoes: Waterproof insulated boots for snowy stops, with warm wool or synthetic socks.
Pack: thermal base layers
insulated coat
beanie
gloves or mittens
warm spare socks

Adjust for your route. Carry a wind-resistant shell for Narragansett Bay and island stops. Inland western areas can need more snow-ready packing.

Climate background: NOAA State Climate Summary

See what to wear in every state →

Keep exploring

See It in the Book

Explore Rhode Island

Locations in Rhode Island

Bristol

Newport

Providence

National parks and federal sites in Rhode Island

State parks in Rhode Island

Skiing and Snowboarding

Yawgoo ValleyExeter

Long Bike Trails

East Bay Bike Path

Zoos and Aquariums

Save The Bay Hamilton Family Aquarium (Exploration Center & Aquarium)* — some details below are unconfirmedNewport

Biomes Marine Biology CenterNorth Kingstown

Roger Williams Park ZooAZA-accreditedProvidence

Amusement Parks

Atlantic Beach ParkSeasonalamusement parkWesterly

Wineries in Rhode Island

Newport Vineyards

Greenvale Vineyards

Roadside oddities in Rhode Island

Newport Tower (Old Stone Mill)Offbeat landmarkNewport

Green Animals Topiary GardenFolk art / sculpture gardenPortsmouth

Venues and Annual Events

Where to see something

Ninigret Parkfestival groundsCharlestown

Providence Performing Arts CentertheaterProvidence

What is on, and when

Rhythm & Roots Festival* — some details below are unconfirmedmusic festivalCharlestown

Foster Old Home Days* — some details below are unconfirmedfairFoster

Newport Jazz Festivalmusic festivalNewport

Washington County FairfairRichmond