US 1 to Newport?
 

Does US 1 from Mystic to Newport RI qualify as a scenic route? Looks like it takes just a bit longer than I-95.

I am looking for a scenic route to Newport and not sure how to proceed.

Thanks!

Taking route 1 from Mystic CT all the way to rt 138 (the point at which you'd take 2 bridges to get to Newport) will take a lot longer. Parts of the road are scenic,parts decidedly not.

How much time do you want to spend on the scenic route, and what types of places would you be interested in seeing? Beaches? Shopping and restaurants?

The "fast way" is to take 95 to exit that connects with Rt 138E. Rt 138 is scenic part of the way. Then you take rt 1 a short way to reconnect with 138W which passes through Jamestown (over a bridge) and then onto Newport (another bridge)

Potentially scenic diversions if you take Rt 1(and the offshoot 1A) the whole way:

Westerly (small town, shopping and restaurants, nice park)
(on the way out of town there are
alot of strip malls)

A little out of the way: Watch Hill--the ritzier small beachtown part of Westerly. Drive by some amazing mansions.

Charlestown: Nice beaches and Ninigret Pond--nature and birding areas (you have to go off rt 1 a short way for these)

Pt Judith/Galilee (out of the way a bit) to see the shore, lighthouse, ferries to Block Island

Aso out of the way,in the other direction, but maybe worth a stop: Narragansett (beaches, shopping restaurants,--bigger than the other towns)

Jamestown--get off after the first bridge and drive around the island to see a nice park, shoreline, lighthouse.

If you actually stay on rt 1 the whole way, you will mostly see motels, some chain stores, and not much else.

Hope this helps with your decision

Exit 3A on 95 N is Rte. 138 will take you right into Newport. And it is somewhat scenic. Heckuva lot ;more than Rte. 1

I think Westerly and Watch Hill are must-sees.

If I were starting in Mystic, I would take 1 and 1A to visit Stonington, continuing on to Westerly, maybe having lunch and seeing the carousel, the oldest in the US. Then visit Watch Hill and see how the Old Yankees entertained themselves for the summer. The
Episcopal church is definitely worth a visit.

1 will get you across the state quickly, then follow signs for Narragansett and take 1A to the bridge.

The best places in RI, of course, are across the Sakonnet River from Newport -- the towns of Tiverton, Little Compton, and Sakonnet. Vineyards and farms in a lovely landscape.

I have to disagree about Route 138. I take 95 to exit 92 to Route 2 to Hwy 78 to US 1. Then to Jamestown and Newport bridges.

It takes exactly the same time as the 138 route, except that 138 is always crowded and only 2 lanes. And I always get stuck behind someone going slow. Route 1 is never crowded and has four lanes (watch out for cops though). Neither route is what I would call "scenic".

And just to avoid confusion.... Exit 92 on I95 is Northbound in Connecticut. The exit 3A that Sobster talks about is further north in RI, so the exit numbers have changed.

The consistently quickest way is actually to take Exit 5A in RI and take 102 to Rt 4 South to Rt. 138 and the bridges over to Newport.

Unfortunately, that used to be a little bit of a secret, but now, even Google maps has changed their routing....Rt. 102 has a lot less traffic than 138 and thus, less of a chance getting stuck behind that "slow guy"

But again, not too scenic until you get to the Jamestown Bridge....unless you considere backwoods scenic.

Took Rt.1 from Newport to Mystic in early Aug. hoping for scenery. Actually just a long drive with not a whole lot to look at. Better than the interstate, but not a lot. There were some interesting houses and inns, but no stunning vistas as I recall. If I had it to do over again I'd have taken the interstate.

Wow, great replies.

I will take everyone's comments into consideration.

Appreciate it!