Rhode Island

USA

Lonely Planet's Best in Travel 2026

Shop

Get even more with a Lonely Planet guide.

Shop Book

Alex Tao Wang / Shutterstock

cliff walk in Newport Rhode Island, License Type: media, Download Time: 2025-01-23T21:24:07.000Z, User: adouglaslott59, Editorial: false, purchase_order: 65050 - Digital Destinations and Articles, job: future digital articles, client: future digital articles, other: Ann Douglas Lott

Why visit Rhode Island

Rhode Island, the smallest of the US states, isn't actually an island. Although it only takes about an hour to traverse, this little wonder packs in more than 400 miles of coastline with wonderful, white-sand swimming beaches and some of the country's finest historic architecture, galleries and museums. What's more, Rhode Islanders are about as friendly as folks come.

Lonely planet’s trusted travel insurance provider

Dreaming of Rhode Island? Protect your trip

Travel with confidence. Protect your trip and your wallet.

LEARN MORE

We don’t represent World Nomads, we receive a fee from quotes using this link. This is not a recommendation to buy travel insurance.

Take your United States (USA) trip with Lonely Planet Journeys

Pick one of our ready-to-book trips or fully customize your own with help from our local experts.

bookable trip

New York, New York: 7 Days in the Big Apple

7 days / 6 nights

highlights

  1. 1 Kayaking down the Hudson River for unprecedented views of New York City
  2. 2 Tasting your way through Queens' Jackson Heights on a sightseeing food crawl
  3. 3 Riding the ferry to Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty for an afternoon of history
from $3,240

per person

book this trip see trip details

Explore more trips

  • Road Trippin' Across the American West
    The USA

    11 days / 10 nights

    Road Trippin' Across the American West

    FROM $5,780

    per person

    See Trip Details
  • From Bayside to Coastside: California's San Francisco Peninsula in 10 Days
    The USA

    10 days / 9 nights

    From Bayside to Coastside: California's San Francisco Peninsula in 10 Days

    FROM $4,940

    per person

    See Trip Details
  • Great Granite State Road Trip: New Hampshire in 7 Days
    The USA

    7 days / 6 nights

    Great Granite State Road Trip: New Hampshire in 7 Days

    FROM $2,880

    per person

    See Trip Details
  • Alaska Unplugged: 10 Family-Friendly Days in The Last Frontier
    The USA

    10 days / 9 nights

    Alaska Unplugged: 10 Family-Friendly Days in The Last Frontier

    FROM $5,760

    per person

    See Trip Details
  • Hawaii's Big Island and Oahu's Big City in 8 Days
    The USA

    8 days / 7 nights

    Hawaii's Big Island and Oahu's Big City in 8 Days

    FROM $5,493

    per person

    See Trip Details
  • Alaska: Glimmering Glaciers, Brown Bears, and Fantastic Fjords
    The USA

    10 days / 9 nights

    Alaska: Glimmering Glaciers, Brown Bears, and Fantastic Fjords

    FROM $7,900

    per person

    See Trip Details
  • Lei'd Back Hawaii: Maui and Kauai
    The USA

    8 days / 7 nights

    Lei'd Back Hawaii: Maui and Kauai

    FROM $5,090

    per person

    See Trip Details
  • Easing up East: New York, Cape Cod, and Boston in 11 Days
    The USA

    11 days / 10 nights

    Easing up East: New York, Cape Cod, and Boston in 11 Days

    FROM $5,395

    per person

    See Trip Details
  • Maine's Marvelous Coastline: 10 Days in Acadia, Bath, Bethel, and Camden
    The USA

    10 days / 9 nights

    Maine's Marvelous Coastline: 10 Days in Acadia, Bath, Bethel, and Camden

    FROM $3,795

    per person

    See Trip Details
Want our experts to design a custom trip for you?
start planning

Top places to visit in Rhode Island

Discover the best attractions in Rhode Island from must-see sights to unexpected hidden gems.

Explore all

Travel Guides

Rhode Island travel tips from Lonely Planet experts

Find practical guidance from our team of contributors around the world who bring their decades of first-hand travel experience to your next trip.

Best Things to Do

The Ocean State promises coastal adventures and a captivating blend of history and innovation at a point where land and sea are intertwined.

Read full article

in partnership with getyourguide

Book popular activities in Rhode Island

Rhode Island and beyond

View all