6 Most Scenic Drives in Rhode Island

Rhode Island is a hidden treasure for motorists, with roads that can take you from the Gilded Age mansions of Newport to the quieter coastal scenery around Charlestown. Having been inhabited since before the country was founded, each paved path carries plenty of history and deserves a story of its own. Whether it’s coastal scenery in Ocean Drive or quieter natural spaces around Exeter and Lincoln, there’s no shortage of attractions to float your boat.

Ocean Drive

We start with the aptly named Ocean Drive, a roughly 10-mile thoroughfare that hugs much of Newport, an affluent town at the bottom of the state that has been home to the super-rich for well over a century. As a result, grand mansions built during the Gilded Age are scattered throughout, especially along Ocean Drive. Two of the most well-known, The Breakers and The Elms, are a testament to the vast wealth of the era’s industrialists, showcasing opulent decor and magnificent views of the Atlantic. Explore the grounds at your own pace, but guided tours are available.

Tired of lavish architecture? Spend a day at the nearby Audrain Automobile Museum to learn all there is about cars that aren’t your own. Hosting a collection of over 160 automobiles, gearheads will be in heaven. Continuing on Ocean Drive brings you to Brenton Point State Park at the southwestern tip of Aquidneck Island, ideal for stopping to enjoy a walk, picnic, or try your hand at fishing. Finally, if visiting in the summertime, end your day with a relaxing dip at Easton’s Beach, Newport's largest public beach, or at Gooseberry Beach, a private beach with limited public access.

Route 1

Up next is US Route 1, a mammoth stretch of a north-south highway running from Fort Kent, Maine, to Key West, Florida. Consequently, over 57 miles of the route fall within Rhode Island, with the most picturesque sections in South Kingstown, Charlestown, and Westerly. Though more residential in the northern portion, head southward and you’ll be rewarded with tranquil, forested terrain, pockets of marinas, and wide, open land.

Due to the region's rich colonial history, the road offers numerous stops along the way for historians to discover, including the 1667 General Stanton Inn and the Joseph Stanton House, also known as Wilcox Tavern. Those wanting a more rustic rest can make their temporary home at Burlingame Park, boasting the title of the state’s largest campground. But if you’d like to enjoy natural scenery from the seat of your car, Silver Spring Cove, Point Judith Pond, Perch Cove, Mill Pond, and Indian Lake can all be seen as you drive along.

Route 77

While Rhode Island may be the smallest state, that doesn’t mean it doesn’t offer miles of unspoiled land. Route 77 personifies this, a 14-mile roadway near the eastern border with Massachusetts. Officially located between Tiverton and Little Compton, you’ll be able to breathe in the fresh air of woodlands, pastoral farms, and the sea from the shoreline while cruising.

Along the way, be sure to make a pit stop to stretch your legs at the Emilie Ruecker Wildlife Refuge to catch views of the many birds that make the refuge their resting ground next to the Sakonnet River. Not too far away, Pardon Gray Preserve and Weetamo Woods offer linked hiking terrain and various wildlife within about 780 acres. If you find yourself in Little Compton, toward the southern section of Route 77, then grab a bottle at Sakonnet Vineyard, on top of its tours and tastings. Lastly, the adjacent Wilbor House Museum interprets local history through its restored house, barns, schoolhouse and carriage collection.

Shannock Road

Though a comparatively small sliver of pavement from Charlestown to Richmond, measuring only 1.7 miles, Shannock Road makes up for its quick drive with a healthy portion of charm. Those passing through will bear witness to rolling landscapes with a mix of woods, marshland, and stone-fenced farms.

In the middle of the route is the historic Shannock Village, a cute little hamlet listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It's a preserved textile mill that highlights the industrial prowess of yesteryear. Nearby is also Shannock Falls, a small waterfall perfect for anyone wanting a serene, meditative feel.

Great Road

History buffs will be in heaven navigating the quote-unquote Great Road, a thoroughfare that has been in existence since 1683. Now officially Route 123, the road runs primarily through Lincoln and into Cumberland. Along the route, there's a smorgasbord of markers signaling events that predate the country and those that occurred after the United States was founded.

Chronologically speaking, a visit to the Arnold House is first in order. Constructed by Eleazer Arnold in 1693, the home is a well-preserved example of stone-end architecture from the period. Further down the road, and skipping over a century historically, is the Hearthside House, a Federal-style mansion from 1810, where costumed tour guides will regale you with information on everything from the interior decor to the families who lived there over the years. Getting tired of all the history lessons? Right next door is the Chase Farm Conservation Area, an excellent spot to breathe in the outdoors or walk your pup if you have one. There’s also the Lincoln Woods State Park, where you won’t be bored hiking, biking, horse riding, or fishing, kayaking, and swimming at Olney Pond.

Route 102

Our list ends with Route 102, a 44-mile-long road that traverses western Rhode Island. Drivers will be meandering through valleys and hills, the highest in Rhode Island, and through woodlands where stone walls from centuries-old farms can still be seen. The hills themselves are perfect lookout points for the surrounding terrain, full of red maple trees, pine trees, and wetlands. The highway dates back to the 1700s, when it was originally named Ten Rod Road.

You’ll also pass through the town of Exeter, an old New England settlement with a macabre history. In 1892, Rhode Island briefly became “the vampire capital of America” due to the Mercy Brown vampire incident, a case of mass hysteria in which said woman’s body was exhumed from her grave to ensure she wasn’t part of the undead. Her grave can still be seen in the town’s cemetery to this day.

Ocean Vibes

How can such a small expanse of land carry so many things to see? Rhode Island proves the argument for quality over quantity, with its multitude of beautiful places to experience. Scenery to die for? Check. Mounds of history and culture that are older than the Declaration of Independence? Check. Road trips you’ll never forget? Double check.