Rhode Island is the smallest state in the United States, covering a total area of about 1,034 to 1,545 square miles depending on the source, with approximately 776 to 1,033.9 square miles of land and the rest being water. The state is roughly 48 miles long and 37 miles wide, featuring more than 400 miles of coastline including bays and islands. Rhode Island is known as the "Ocean State" due to its extensive shoreline and maritime connections.