Traveling from Exeter to Smithfield covers 28.4 miles through the heart of Rhode Island, making it a quick and efficient trip that takes approximately 39 minutes. Since this is a short journey, it is perfectly suited for a single-day outing, requiring no overnight stays. You will primarily navigate via I-295, RI-4, and I-95 to complete the transit. Budgeting about $5 for fuel should comfortably cover your gas needs for this direct route. Because both origin and destination are located within the Northeast region, the transit remains straightforward and familiar for local travelers. It is an ideal option if you need to move between these two points quickly without the hassle of a complex itinerary.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
14.2 miles from Exeter, RI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 19m into the drive
.
Loading map...
Drive Character
This 28.4-mile trip is distinctly highway-focused, with 70% of your time spent on major thoroughfares. You should expect a practical, efficient driving experience rather than a winding scenic tour. The longest uninterrupted stretch occurs on I-295, where you will cover 10.9 miles of consistent highway driving. As you transition between RI-4, I-95, and I-295, the character of the road remains fast-paced and geared toward commuters. Behind the wheel, you will feel the steady rhythm of interstate travel, which keeps the duration short at just under 40 minutes.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 15 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 295 is the longest continuous segment at about 10.9 miles.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
285 ft38 ft
Total Climb
418 ft
Total Descent
434 ft
Highest Point
285 ft
~18.2 mi in
Elevation Range
246 ft
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 295 and RI 4. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near RI 102 / Ten Rod Road.
Route Complexity8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 10 significant decision points across 28.4 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (RI 102 / Ten Rod Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.4 miles (RI 4): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 8.7 miles (I 95): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|RI 102 / Ten Rod Road
Turn left onto RI 102 / Ten Rod Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
5
2.4 mi into trip|~4m in|RI 4
Merge onto RI 4
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
6
8.7 mi into trip|~12m in|I 95
Merge onto I 95 toward I 95 North: Providence
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 95 North: Providence
8
11.3 mi into trip|~16m in|I 295
Keep slight left at fork onto I 295 toward I 295 North: Woonsocket
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Exit 28A
Toward I 295 North: Woonsocket
8
21.9 mi into trip|~28m in|I 295
Take the exit onto I 295 toward RI 5: Johnston, Smithfield
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 10
Toward RI 5: Johnston, Smithfield
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 295
10.9 mi
13m
RI 4
6.3 mi
8m
I 95
2.6 mi
3m
Ten Rod Road
2.1 mi
3m
Pleasant View Avenue
1.8 mi
2m
Farnum Pike
1.5 mi
2m
Greenville Avenue
1.4 mi
2m
Cedar Swamp Road
1 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 295
— 10.9 mi, about 13m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Exeter, RI and Smithfield, RI.
1
Start on New Road
79 ft·6 sec·New Road
2
Turn left onto Ten Rod Road
2.0 mi·3 min·Ten Rod Road
3
Continue on Ten Rod Road
190 ft·14 sec·Ten Rod Road
4
Take the ramp straight toward RI 4 North: Providence
0.3 mi·44 sec·RI 4 North: Providence
5
Merge slight left
6.3 mi·8 min
6
Merge slight right onto I 95 North: Providence
2.6 mi·3 min·I 95 North: Providence
7
Keep slight left to continue on I 295 North: Woonsocket
11 mi·12 min·I 295 North: Woonsocket
8
Take the exit slight right toward RI 5: Johnston, Smithfield
0.3 mi·40 sec·RI 5: Johnston, Smithfield
9
Turn left onto Greenville Avenue
1.4 mi·2 min·Greenville Avenue
10
Turn straight onto Sanderson Road
0.6 mi·54 sec·Sanderson Road
11
Continue on Cedar Swamp Road
1.0 mi·1 min·Cedar Swamp Road
12
Continue on Pleasant View Avenue
1.8 mi·2 min·Pleasant View Avenue
13
At the end of the road, turn left onto Farnum Pike
1.5 mi·2 min·Farnum Pike
14
Turn right onto Brayton Road
23 ft·1 sec·Brayton Road
15
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Given the short 39-minute duration, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time, though avoiding peak traffic hours on these major interstates is always a wise move. Since there are no mandatory stops required for a trip of this length, you can easily complete the drive in one go without needing to plan for rest breaks. Keep your $5 fuel budget in mind before you head out to ensure a stress-free arrival in Smithfield. A helpful tip for this specific route is to stay alert during the 10.9-mile stretch on I-295, as this is your longest continuous segment where you will spend the bulk of your travel time.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 14.2 miles from Exeter, RI, or about 19m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 10.9 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 28.4 miles or 39m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 14.2 miles or 19m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 32m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Smithfield, RI than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Exeter, RI so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Exeter, RI
This is one driving day of about 28.4 miles and 39m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Exeter, RI.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on I 295 for about 10.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 14.2 mi from Exeter, RI
· 19m into the drive
The midpoint is around 14.2 miles from Exeter, RI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Smithfield, RI
The final approach into Smithfield, RI usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Smithfield, RI.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Roger Williams National Memorial
National Memorial
"I acknowledge that to molest any person, Jew or Gentile, for either professing doctrine, or practicing worship meerly religious or spiritual, is to persecute him, and such a person (whether his doctr...
5 mi from route
~13 min detour
Free
near mile 19.6
The Blackstone River powered America's entry into the Age of Industry. The success of Samuel Slater's cotton spinning mill in Pawtucket, RI touched off a chain reaction that changed how people worked...
7 mi from route
~18 min detour
Free
near mile 22.5
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.55 one way
$9.09 round trip
$4.07/gal25.4 MPG avg10 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.46
$4.98
$9.97
premium
$4.83
$5.40
$10.80
diesel
$5.64
$6.31
$12.62
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$5
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$30–$55
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 9.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging
· 0 stops
· 70% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
8.5
0
$2.98
$1.36
Efficient EV
7.1
0
$2.49
$1.14
EV Truck/SUV
11.4
0
$3.98
$1.82
Gas CO2
10 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (70% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast data refreshed 5 days ago
Origin
Exeter, RI
Night
in Exeter on Tuesday
Local time
9:52 PM
EDT
Current temp
--
Unavailable
Destination
Smithfield, RI
Night
in Smithfield on Tuesday
Local time
9:52 PM
EDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
49°F
Brookhaven, NY
14 mi in
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Road read
39m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Exeter, RI to Smithfield, RI covers 28.4 miles and takes about 39m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 295, RI 4, I 95. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 14.2 miles from Exeter, RI. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $4.55 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This is a demanding drive. With 10 significant decision points across 28.4 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (RI 102 / Ten Rod Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.4 miles (RI 4): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 8.7 miles (I 95): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Exeter, RI to Smithfield, RI does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
