Newport is 30 miles south of Providence on Aquidneck Island, connected to the mainland by two bridges. There is no rail service to Newport. From Providence, the most practical public transport option is the RIPTA bus (Route 60), which takes about an hour; useful but not frequent. Most visitors drive.
By car from Boston, take I-93 South to Route 24 South to the Sakonnet River Bridge, then south on Route 138 over the Claiborne Pell Bridge onto Aquidneck Island — about 75 minutes in light traffic, considerably longer on summer Friday afternoons heading south and Sunday evenings heading north. The Providence/Newport Ferry operates seasonally (May to October) from India Point Park in Providence — a pleasant 75-minute crossing that lands at Perrotti Park in Newport and avoids the bridge traffic.
T.F. Green Airport in Warwick, Rhode Island (PVD), is the closest airport, about 45 minutes from Newport. Logan Airport in Boston (BOS) is 90 minutes in normal traffic. Parking in Newport is expensive and limited in summer; the satellite parking lots with shuttle service are the practical option on busy summer weekends.