Getting around Rhode Island
Rhode Island is the smallest state, so a car covers it easily and is the simplest way to reach the beaches and bay towns. RIPTA buses link Providence, Newport, and the airport, Providence and Newport are walkable, and Block Island is best on foot or by bike.
By car
A car is the most flexible choice: nowhere in the state is much more than an hour from anywhere else, and the South County beaches, Newport, and the East Bay towns are far easier to reach by road than by transit.
The exceptions are summer weekends, when beach-bound traffic on Route 1 and the Newport bridges backs up, and Newport itself, where parking is tight and expensive in season — arrive early or use the periphery lots.
Buses and trains
RIPTA, the statewide bus system, hubs at Kennedy Plaza in downtown Providence and runs useful routes to Newport, the airport, and the University of Rhode Island, including seasonal beach service.
Within Providence the walkable downtown, College Hill, and the river make a car optional for a city-only stay; the MBTA commuter rail and Amtrak also connect Providence to Boston.
Newport and Block Island on foot
Newport's waterfront, Thames Street, and the start of the Cliff Walk are walkable from a central base, and a seasonal trolley and rideshare fill the gaps to the mansions.
On Block Island, most visitors skip the car entirely — the island is small, and bikes, mopeds, and walking reach the beaches, bluffs, and town easily.
Reviewed source trail
- RIPTA — Rhode Island Public Transit Authority — checked 2026-06-18
- Visit Rhode Island — getting around — checked 2026-06-18
- MBTA — Providence/Stoughton Line — checked 2026-06-18