Aquidneck Island, also called Rhode Island, is the largest island in Narragansett Bay. It must be distinguished from the State of Rhode Island, of which it is part.

The origin of the name "Rhode Island" is unclear. It may have been given its name because of its similarity in shape to the island of Rhodes in the Mediterranean. Alternatively, it may been bestowed by Dutch navigator Adriaen Block who visited the island in 1614, who may have named it Roode after the Dutch word for "red".

The largest cityon the island is Newport, which is the second largest city in the state of Rhode Island.

It is connected by a toll bridge to nearby Conanicut Island in Narragansett Bay,and subsequently to the mainland on the western side of the bay. It is connected by two other bridges to the eastern side of the bay.