Rhode Island Avenue is a diagonal avenue in the Northwest and Northeast quadrants of Washington, D.C., and the capital's inner suburbs in Prince George's County, Maryland. Paralleling New York Avenue, Rhode Island Avenue was one of the original streets in Pierre L'Enfant's plan for the capital. It became a major commuter route, carrying U.S. Route 1 traffic into the city from Prince George's County.
The western terminus of Rhode Island Avenue is in downtown Washington, at an intersection with Connecticut Avenue NW and M Street NW. The Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle is on Rhode Island Avenue NW, just east of that intersection. Just east of the cathedral, at Scott Circle, Rhode Island Avenue NW intersects Massachusetts Avenue NW and 16th Street NW. N Street NW stops short of meeting the circle from either direction, but is instead connected to Rhode Island and Massachusetts avenues NW through two short streets, Corregidor Street NW and Bataan Street NW. From Scott Circle, Rhode Island Avenue NW continues eastward to the Logan Circle neighborhood. At the traffic circle of the same name, Rhode Island Avenue NW intersects Vermont Avenue, 13th Street, and P Street NW.