Rhode Island

Understand

The state's historic full name, as established by the Royal Charter granted by King Charles II in 1663, was "The State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations." However, due to the connotation of plantation with slavery, the official name of the state has been shortened to "Rhode Island" in 2020 after a referendum. Despite east coast urban sprawl, there is still both gently-developed oceanside territory and farmland here. The origin of the name (pronounced "road island") is debatable. It is either derived from the name Roode Eylandt given to it by Dutch explorer Adriaen Block, because of its red clay, or because Block Island reminded the Italian navigator Giovanni Verrazano of the Greek Island of Rhodes, and subsequent explorers became confused and renamed Aquidneck Island 'Rhode Island.' The state's population is just over a million, so even though it is the smallest state in the U.S., it is ranked 43rd in population and second in population density after New Jersey.

Rhode Island is nicknamed "the Ocean State," and though many other states have more coastline, few are shaped more by the sea. Every Rhode Islander lives within a 30-minute drive of either the Atlantic Ocean or Narragansett Bay, New England's largest estuary, and the state's most densely populated areas are closer to the water. Fresh seafood can be found on restaurant menus throughout the state—calamari is the official state appetizer—and nearly all Rhode Islanders have a favorite beach; if you're around in the summer, ask a local for recommendations.

You should pack clothes for all weather since the weather changes very drastically day to day. You should bring warm clothes for cold days, lighter clothes for hot days, and a rain jacket and boots, which can happen at any time. In such a small state, there naturally isn't much temperature variation, but typically the coastal areas are a bit more moderate—cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter—than inland. Though Rhode Island can get very cold, the state, particularly along the coast, is one of the warmest spots in New England during the winter.

Tourist information

• Visit Rhode Island website

Cities

There are 39 cities and towns in Rhode Island. Some of the major ones are:

• Providence – The state capital, largest city and main commercial center. Home to Brown University.
• Central Falls – Spanning merely one square mile, it is one of the most densely populated cities in the United States.
• East Greenwich – Founded in 1677, its historic district along Main Street features charming shops, excellent restaurants, and a community theater.
• Narragansett – Best beaches in New England.
• Newport – on Aquidneck Island. Once the darling city of the American elite, it is famous for yachting, mansions, and jazz.
• Pawtucket – Birthplace of the American Industrial Revolution
• South Kingstown, including the villages of Kingston, West Kingston, Matunuck, Peacedale and Wakefield.
• Warwick – home of TF Green Airport, a shopping mall, and "Gaspee Days," it is an easy (and less expensive) place to land from your flight, and rent a hotel room and car.
• Woonsocket – Once known as "Little Quebec", it has the largest French-speaking population in Rhode Island. Today, French is rarely heard: it has been replaced by English, Spanish, and Portuguese.

Other destinations

• Arcadia Wildlife Management Park —
• Block Island – Island off southern coast of RI. This island packs great scenery and great beaches into a small, walkable and bikable area.
• Quonset Point —
• Roger Williams National Memorial — Commemorates one of the founders of the Colony of Rhode Island, an advocate for religious freedom.
• Touro Synagogue National Historic Site — The oldest surviving Jewish synagogue building in North America, dating to the colonial era.

Get in

By plane

• Theodore Francis Green State Airport (PVD), Warwick (central Rhode Island). T.F. Green is serviced by many major US airlines, either non-stop or from a spoke. From Canada, Green offers service to Toronto Airport. It is a smaller, easy airport with many airline carrier options. It is the most convenient airport when spending time in Rhode Island. In Terminals C & E, all rental car companies have direct line telephone boards connecting to the local facility and their worldwide reservation centers. Each rental car company has complimentary shuttle buses that transport passengers to/from the terminal and the rental car facility.
• Boston's Logan International Airport (BOS) is much larger and is generally used for international flights.

By train

• Amtrak (From the south), +1-800-USA-RAIL, has three Rhode Island train stations - Providence (PVD) (downtown), Kingston (KIN) (located in the town of South Kingstown, close to the University of Rhode Island and the beaches of Narragansett), and Westerly (WLY), (the westernmost town in Rhode Island, along the Connecticut border). Providence is also on Amtrak's Acela Express and Northeast Regional routes connecting Boston through the south and west to Washington and Virginia. The Acela train takes just under 3 hours to arrive at New York's Penn Station on the way to points further south. From Boston, it is more economical to take the MBTA commuter rail.
• MBTA (From Boston), +1 617-222-5000, travels from Boston’s South Station via the T's Attleboro/Stoughton commuter rail line to the Providence AMTRAK station (100 Gaspee St.). Trains run 7 days/week. The Warwick Intermodal Station provides commuter rail/train service from T.F. Green Airport through Providence and up to Boston.

By bus

• Peter Pan Bus.
• Greyhound Bus.
• Megabus.

By ferry

• Vineyard Fast Ferry, +1 401-295-4040. Between North Kingstown (Quonset Point), and Oak Bluffs on Martha's Vineyard island.

Get around

By car

Although you can travel from the top to the bottom of the state in about an hour, car is probably the simplest mode of transportation since there is no elaborate public transportation system in the state other than bus lines. Rental cars are available Downcity in Providence, at T.F. Green Airport in Warwick, and other places around the state.

Local custom often overrules traditional driving right-of-way laws at intersections. Drive defensively, and be aware of the locals' casual disregard for turn signals, stop signs and red lights.

Many state highways, especially in urban areas, are marked extremely poorly, and some are not marked at all. Because you're in New England, there's no real street grid to speak of. It is best to have a map or a GPS handy.

By bus

• Rhode Island Public Transportation Authority (RIPTA), +1 401-781-9400. Services 38 of RI's 39 cities and towns with a central hub in Providence at Kennedy Plaza. RIPTA operates public transit 7 days a week with a program called RIde specifically for senior citizens and the disabled. They provide 27 sites for Park n’ Ride service throughout the state and special seasonal routes to the southern beaches for $2. On an average day $2.00 will get you from one end of the state to the other, and if you need a transfer, it's $.50.

By ferry

• RIPTA also runs a seasonal ferry from Providence to Newport (mid-May to mid-October), while a separate company, Block Island Ferry, runs ferries to Block Island.

By train

• Amtrak runs trains through the state, stopping in Providence, West Kingston (a village of South Kingstown a few miles from the University of Rhode Island), and Westerly.
• The Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority (MBTA) has regular train service between Wickford and Boston with stops at T.F. Green Airport, Providence, and Pawtucket.

By foot

If you're in Providence, you may want to forgo a car and walk. There is no on-street overnight parking in the city (although this is changing for some neighborhoods under a pilot program). Federal Hill, Downcity, and most of the East Side are quite walkable, and a number of bus routes serve the area. Use common sense when walking alone or at night, as you should in any city.

By bicycle

Rhode Island is home to many miles of bike paths. Maps are available through local bike shops and the RI Department of Transportation.

Stay safe

RI is generally safe in most neighborhoods you would intentionally go to. The most dangerous part is probably driving, as the locals are prone to run red lights, shift lanes with no warning and turn out of parking lots with little regard to oncoming traffic. Locals are also known to run through stop signs. Many accidents are the results of not signaling properly when changing lanes and running through red lights and stop signs.

Providence is relatively safe, but be careful while walking around the capital city at night. Areas in which to exercise caution, unless you know where you are going, are Camp Street on the East Side, South Providence, and the Olneyville section of Providence. Broad Street and Elmwood Avenue on the South Side of Providence are also areas in which to exercise caution.

While swimming in the ocean, be careful of the undertow. Make sure you feel confident before you venture out.

Respect

Rhode Island is one of the most gay-friendly states in the U.S., with scores of bars and entertainment venues in Providence, and a visible "out" community in smaller towns and villages.

Every year around June, Providence holds their Gay Pride Festival downtown. Many people throughout the city attend the festival. Things rarely happen that negatively impact the festival (other than the weather) because Providence is, for the most part, a pretty open minded place. The festival holds many attractions for many people. There are tons of different stalls to see and to buy from on the day of the festival.

Go next

• Massachusetts - The birthplace of America's revolution, the state's northern neighbor is home to historical towns, the vacation hotspot of Cape Cod, and the always-interesting city of Boston.
• Connecticut - Rhode Island's western neighbor is home to Yale University, Mystic Seaport, the restaurant and nightlife scene in downtown New Haven, the Maritime Aquarium, and two major Native American casinos.

Counties

There are five counties in Rhode Island: