Rhode Island road guide
The best motorcycle roads in Rhode Island, from Newport to the western woods
The best motorcycle roads in Rhode Island hug the water: Ocean Drive in Newport, RI 138 over the bay bridges, Beavertail in Jamestown, RI 77 down to Little Compton and the run out to Watch Hill. Inland, RI 102 and the Arcadia woods are the quiet escape when the coast is jammed. Here are 10 genuine rides, with where each runs, why it's worth it, what to watch for and the best season.
- Roads listed
- 10
- Regions
- 5
- Toll to know
- Newport Pell Bridge
- Best months
- September and October
Before you pick
How to ride the best motorcycle roads in Rhode Island
Rhode Island riding is short roads strung together. No single road here takes much more than an hour, so the trick is linking them: a bridge, a lighthouse road, a farm road, a seawall. The 10 roads below are grouped by region so you can build a day out of two or three. Most of them touch salt water. The ones that don't are the quiet woods roads you ride when the coast is gridlocked.
Two things shape every ride here. The first is traffic: the coast belongs to beachgoers on summer weekends, so the best hours are early morning and the weeks after Labor Day. The second is the surface: sand, salt film and winter patching linger on shore roads well into spring. For timing, see the best time to ride a motorcycle in Rhode Island. For regions, laws and events in one place, start at the Rhode Island motorcycle rides hub.
Newport and the bay
Newport, Jamestown and the bay bridges
- 1. Ocean Drive and Ten Mile Drive, NewportWhy: The loop around the south end of Newport: Bellevue Avenue past the Gilded Age mansions, then Ocean Avenue along the rocks at Brenton Point and Castle Hill. Open Atlantic on one side for most of the way. Watch for: Slow sightseers, cars swinging into the Brenton Point lots, cyclists, people walking to the water, and sand or salt spray on the pavement after a blow. Parts of the drive are narrow with no shoulder. Best season: May to October. On summer weekends, ride it early or on a weekday evening.
- 2. RI 138 and the bay bridgesWhy: RI 138 hops Narragansett Bay in two big spans: the Jamestown Verrazzano Bridge onto Conanicut Island, then the Newport Pell Bridge, the tall suspension bridge into Newport. From the top of the Pell you see the harbor, the islands and most of the bay. Watch for: Strong crosswinds on the high spans, expansion joints, and traffic merging fast at both ends. The Pell is tolled, so carry E-ZPass or check the bridge authority's payment options first. Best season: April to November, on a calm day.
- 3. Beavertail Road, JamestownWhy: From Jamestown village south across the narrow neck to Beavertail State Park, where the road loops past the lighthouse at the tip of the island. Short and slow, with one of the best views in the state, and Fort Wetherill is a quick detour on the way. Watch for: Parked cars along the park loop, people crossing to the rocks, fog that rolls in fast, and a dead end that sends everyone back the same way. Best season: May to October. Sunset brings a crowd.
East Bay and Sakonnet
The East Bay and the Sakonnet side
- 4. RI 114, Barrington to Bristol and the Mount Hope BridgeWhy: RI 114 runs down the East Bay through Barrington, Warren's Main Street and Bristol's Hope Street, then climbs onto the Mount Hope Bridge, a 1929 suspension bridge, to Aquidneck Island. Old harbor towns and bay views, with Newport at the far end. Watch for: Stop-and-go traffic through Warren and Bristol, parallel parkers, pedestrians and wind on the bridge. Bristol's Fourth of July parade closes the route for the day. Best season: April to November.
- 5. RI 77, Tiverton to Little ComptonWhy: From Tiverton south through Tiverton Four Corners into Little Compton and down to Sakonnet Point. Stone walls, open farmland, a vineyard and river views at a relaxed pace. It's the calmest coast road in Rhode Island. Watch for: Cars slowing for farm stands, tractors, narrow shoulders, and wind off the water at the point, where the road ends. Best season: May to October, with September and October for farm stand season.
South County
South County: the bay shore and the beaches
- 6. Boston Neck Road (RI 1A) and Ocean Road to Point JudithWhy: RI 1A runs south from the Wickford area along the west side of the bay through Saunderstown to Narragansett Pier. From there, Ocean Road follows the seawall past the beaches toward Point Judith Light, where Galilee's fishing fleet and the Block Island ferries tie up. Watch for: Joggers and cyclists along the seawall, beach traffic and crosswalks in summer, sand on the road, and ferry lines around Galilee. Best season: May, June, September and October.
- 7. Watch Hill and the Westerly shoreWhy: US 1 covers the miles across Charlestown, but the reward is the shore: Shore Road toward Misquamicut, then Watch Hill Road out to Watch Hill at the state's southwest corner, with its lighthouse, the old Flying Horse Carousel and a harbor full of boats. Watch for: Summer weekend beach traffic, very tight parking in Watch Hill, pedestrians everywhere and slow going through the village. US 1 is a fast divided highway in places, so mind the merges. Best season: May, June, September and October.
Western Rhode Island
Western Rhode Island: woods, villages and no beach traffic
- 8. RI 102 across western Rhode IslandWhy: RI 102 crosses the rural west side of the state from North Kingstown through Exeter and on up toward Chepachet, through woods, farms and small villages. It's the escape route when the coast is gridlocked, and it ties into most of the other west side roads. Watch for: Deer, village crossroads with short sight lines, frost-heaved pavement and tar snakes. Best season: April to November, especially mid to late October for color.
- 9. RI 165 through Arcadia to Beach PondWhy: RI 165 heads west from Exeter through the Arcadia Management Area, one of the biggest stretches of public woods in Rhode Island, to Beach Pond on the Connecticut line. Shaded and quiet, and an easy pairing with RI 102. Watch for: Park traffic and trailhead parking on summer weekends, wet leaves in the shade, and deer. Best season: Summer for the shade, October for color.
- 10. The Scituate Reservoir back roadsWhy: West of Providence, the state's largest reservoir sits inside a wide belt of protected woods, and the back roads that circle and cross it are some of the most relaxed riding near the city. Water views, very little development and an easy run from Providence. Watch for: Deer, narrow shoulders and blind driveways. The reservoir is a drinking water supply, so the shore is largely off limits; enjoy it from the road. Best season: Late spring to fall.
Link them
Rhode Island rides that string the best roads together
- The bay loopFrom Providence or Warwick, ride RI 114 down the East Bay through Warren and Bristol, cross the Mount Hope Bridge and work down to Newport for Ocean Drive. Leave over the Pell on RI 138, take the Beavertail detour in Jamestown, cross the Jamestown Verrazzano and come home north on Boston Neck Road. A full day with stops, and it closes on itself.
- The western woods dayPair RI 102 with RI 165 through Arcadia, then add the Scituate Reservoir roads to the north. Plan the connectors on the map first, since plenty of small west side roads turn to gravel or dead-end. RI 77 to Little Compton ends at Sakonnet Point, so ride it as an out-and-back from Tiverton.
Summary
Rhode Island motorcycle roads at a glance
| Road | Region | Best season |
|---|---|---|
| Ocean Drive and Ten Mile Drive | Newport | May to Oct, early |
| RI 138 and the bay bridges | Jamestown and Newport | Apr to Nov, calm days |
| Beavertail Road | Jamestown | May to Oct |
| RI 114 and Mount Hope Bridge | East Bay | Apr to Nov |
| RI 77 to Little Compton | Sakonnet | May to Oct |
| Boston Neck Road and Ocean Road | South County | May to Jun, Sep to Oct |
| Watch Hill and the Westerly shore | South County | May to Jun, Sep to Oct |
| RI 102 | Western RI | Apr to Nov |
| RI 165 through Arcadia | Western RI | Summer and fall |
| Scituate Reservoir roads | West of Providence | Late spring to fall |
In the app
Rhode Island roads riders have added in Rippin'
Below are the Rhode Island roads riders have added to Rippin' so far, pulled live from the app. Rippin' started in Southern California, so many states have only a few roads in the app, and most of the roads on this page are still waiting for someone to add them.
To add one, ride it with Rippin' recording, open Segments and tap Create a Segment: drop a start gate and a finish gate and trace the line. A person on the Rippin' team checks it before it goes live, and your name stays on it. Every rider who rides through it after that lands on its board, and the crown goes to the rider who owns the road. Rippin' never rewards speed on public roads, so the board is about who rides the road, not a race. More on segments and leaderboards and how roads get added.
Loops count too. A ride that closes on itself, like the bay loop above, claims the land inside as your turf on the live map. Empty land is free to claim.
Live from the app
Rhode Island on Rippin' right now.
1 upcoming event and 0 rider-added roads in Rhode Island on the map today. This list updates whenever the site is rebuilt; the app always has the latest.
No Rhode Island roads are in the app yet. Add the one you love from Segments and a person on our team checks it before it goes live. How roads get added.
FAQ
Questions riders ask.
What is the best motorcycle road in Rhode Island?
Ocean Drive in Newport is the one everyone rides first. For a full day, link it with RI 138 over the bay bridges, Beavertail in Jamestown and RI 114 down the East Bay.
Are there twisty motorcycle roads in Rhode Island?
Not mountain twisties. Rhode Island's best riding is coast and bay roads with big views, plus wooded back roads in the west like RI 102 and RI 165. Riders after tight curves head to the hills of Connecticut, Massachusetts or New Hampshire.
Is the Newport Pell Bridge a toll road?
Yes, the Pell Bridge on RI 138 is tolled. E-ZPass is the easy option; check the Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority for current payment options.
Can you ride Ocean Drive in Newport on a motorcycle?
Yes. It's a public road, but it's narrow and busy with sightseers in summer, so ride early, keep it slow and watch for cars pulling in and out at Brenton Point.
What's a good motorcycle ride near Providence?
Head down RI 114 through Warren and Bristol to the Mount Hope Bridge, or go west to the Scituate Reservoir roads and RI 102 when you want quiet woods instead of beach traffic.
Can I add a Rhode Island road to Rippin'?
Yes. Ride it with Rippin' recording, then use Create a Segment. A person on the Rippin' team checks it before it goes live, and your name stays on it.
Put a Rhode Island road on the map.
Download Rippin' free, ride one of these roads with it recording and add it. Your name stays on it.
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