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RIRhode Island Map
Rhode Island on the US map
Rhode Island sits in the Northeast region of the United States — specifically the new england subregion as defined by the US Census Bureau. With an area ranking of #50 of 50, Rhode Island is one of the smallest US states by total area. The map above highlights Rhode Island in gold and color-codes the 49 other states by region.
Whether you're a student studying US geography, a traveler planning a road trip, a teacher building a lesson plan, or simply curious, the goal of this page is to give you a complete picture of where Rhode Island is and what surrounds it. Click any other state on the map above to navigate to its dedicated page.
Capital and largest city
The capital of Rhode Island is Providence — which is also the largest city in the state. About 17 of the 50 US state capitals also hold the title of largest city; Rhode Island is one of them.
The historical reason for these mismatches dates to the late 18th and 19th centuries. When state founders chose capitals, they often deliberately picked smaller, more centrally located towns to avoid concentrating political and commercial power in the same place. They worried that a capital in a major port or commercial city would be too vulnerable to mob influence (a real concern at the time) and would skew political decisions toward commercial interests.
Borders and neighbors
Rhode Island shares land borders with 2 other US states: Connecticut, Massachusetts. Each link goes to that state's dedicated page where you can see its own map, history, and facts.
Geographic features at a glance
- Total area rank: #50 of 50
- Population: 1 to 5 million
- Coastline: atlantic
- Mountain ranges: no major mountain ranges
- Time zone: Eastern
- Region: Northeast — new england subregion
Major highways and transportation
Rhode Island is connected to the rest of the country by the federal Interstate Highway System (planned by President Eisenhower in the 1950s). Major airports serve Providence, with regional connections to the rest of the state. Amtrak rail service connects parts of Rhode Island to the national passenger rail network, though geographic isolation and population density vary.
Rhode Island notable firsts
- Smallest US state by area (1,545 sq mi)
- One of the 13 original colonies
🌟 Rhode Island trivia
- The smallest US state — you can drive across it in under 45 minutes.
- The state's official name is actually "State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations" — until 2020 when voters dropped "Providence Plantations".
- Rhode Island has the longest official name of any state and the longest coastline relative to its size.
- The country's first synagogue still in use (Touro Synagogue, 1763) is in Newport, RI.
Rhode Island vs similar states
How does Rhode Island compare with 3 other states in the same region and size category?
| State | Capital | Pop | Area rank | Admitted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rhode Island | Providence | 1 to 5 million | #50 | 1790 |
| Connecticut | Hartford | 1 to 5 million | #48 | 1788 |
| Delaware | Dover | 1 to 5 million | #49 | 1787 |
| Maine | Augusta | 1 to 5 million | #39 | 1820 |
Bordering states (2)
Rhode Island shares borders with 2 other US states, listed alphabetically below. Each link goes to the dedicated state page.
Practice US geography daily — free
Statedoku is a 3×3 daily geography puzzle. Rhode Island appears as an answer or constraint clue on most days that match its region, borders, time zone, or quirks. Five minutes a day.
Play today's puzzle →Similar states to Rhode Island
If this page interested you, you may also want to explore states with similar geography, history, or culture. These states share Rhode Island's region (Northeast) and similar size category: