Origin
Bristol, RI
Morning in Bristol on Tuesday
Local time
8:22 AM
EDT
Current temp
--
Unavailable
Trip from Bristol, RI to Providence, RI
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
27m
Distance
16.8 mi
27 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 25m
★
6 AM
0h 28m
8 AM
0h 32m
10 AM
0h 29m
12 PM
0h 29m
3 PM
0h 29m
5 PM
0h 32m
8 PM
0h 26m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Bristol, RI
Wikimedia Commons
Providence, RI
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are looking to travel between Bristol and Providence, Rhode Island, you can expect a quick, straightforward journey spanning 17.8 miles. This drive typically takes about 28 minutes, making it a perfect candidate for a single-day trip that requires no overnight stops. Budgeting approximately $3 for fuel covers the entire 17.8-mile distance comfortably. Because both towns are located within the Northeast region, you will remain in a familiar coastal environment for the duration of the trip. The route is highly practical for those who prefer avoiding major interstates, as it relies entirely on local roads to get you to your destination efficiently.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 195 | 7.7 mi | 10m |
| Metacom Avenue | 3.8 mi | 6m |
| Market Street | 2.6 mi | 4m |
| US 1A | 1 mi | 2m |
| James Reynolds Road | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Franklin Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Kickemuit Road | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Westminster Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 195
— 7.7 mi, about 10m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bristol, RI and Providence, RI.
1
Start on this road
301 ft
·
24 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right
115 ft
·
14 sec
3
Turn left onto Franklin Street
0.3 mi
·
49 sec
·
Franklin Street
4
Turn left onto RI 136
3.8 mi
·
6 min
·
Metacom Avenue
5
Continue on RI 136
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
·
Kickemuit Road
6
Continue on RI 136
2.6 mi
·
4 min
·
Market Street
7
Continue on MA 136
0.5 mi
·
45 sec
·
James Reynolds Road
8
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
46 sec
Toward I 195 West: Providence Rhode Island
9
Merge onto I 195
7.7 mi
·
10 min
·
I 195
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit onto US 1A; US 44
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
US 1A; US 44
Exit 1C
Toward US 44 West: South Main Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Turn left onto College Street
299 ft
·
11 sec
·
College Street
12
Continue on Westminster Street
0.2 mi
·
38 sec
·
Westminster Street
13
Turn right onto Dorrance Street
260 ft
·
16 sec
·
Dorrance Street
14
Turn left onto Fulton Street
139 ft
·
4 sec
·
Fulton Street
15
Arrive at destination
Fulton Street
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 95 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 16.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Franklin Street
Turn left onto Franklin Street
Navigation decision point
5
7.8 mi into trip
|
~13m in
|
I 195
Merge onto I 195
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
15.5 mi into trip
|
~24m in
|
US 1A; US 44
Take the exit onto US 1A; US 44 toward US 44 West: South Main Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 1C
Toward US 44 West: South Main Street
5
16.7 mi into trip
|
~27m in
|
Dorrance Street
Turn right onto Dorrance Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$2.70 one way
$5.41 round trip
$4.09/gal
25.4 MPG avg
6 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.50 | $2.98 | $5.95 |
| premium | $4.86 | $3.22 | $6.43 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $3.71 | $7.42 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 5.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 5 | 0 | $1.76 | $0.81 |
| Efficient EV | 4.2 | 0 | $1.47 | $0.67 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 6.7 | 0 | $2.35 | $1.08 |
Gas CO2
6 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (67% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Providence, RI
Morning in Providence on Tuesday
Local time
8:22 AM
EDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Road read
27m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that keeps you engaged behind the wheel rather than a monotonous highway experience. You will navigate primarily via Franklin Street, Metacom Avenue, and Kickemuit Road throughout the 28-minute duration. With a highway share of 0%, you won't encounter any high-speed stretches, as the road configuration focuses on local connectivity. Interestingly, there is no significant highway cruising involved, with the longest stretch being 0 miles on Franklin Street. You should prepare for a constant series of turns that define the character of this Rhode Island transit.
51% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 7.7 mi on I 195.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 27m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (Franklin Street): Navigation decision point; at 7.8 miles (I 195): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
129 ft
9 ft
Total Climb
171 ft
Total Descent
247 ft
Highest Point
129 ft
~2.4 mi in
Elevation Range
121 ft
About the Cities
Starting in Bristol, RI
Full guide →Bristol is a quintessential New England waterfront town. Part of the East Bay communities along with Warren and Barrington, it is on a peninsula in Rhode Island surrounded by Narragensett and Mount Hope Bays. This coastal community has a rich 325-year history and hosts the oldest continuous Fourth of July celebration in the United States. The town has plentiful year-round recreational activities, and a spectacular waterfront that provides beautiful views and many water sports. The town has not lost its historic "Main Street America" feel with many stately homes, tree-lined streets and old-town store fronts.
Arriving in Providence, RI
Full guide →Providence is the state capital and largest city in Rhode Island, as well as the third largest city in New England. It used to be a heavily industrialized bastion of organized crime, but Providence's recent renaissance has created new parks and attractions and brought emphasis back to its historic roots as an intellectual center. Downcity events, historic vistas, eclectic districts such as College Hill and Federal Hill, and a great nightlife make Providence a worthwhile tourist destination. Today, it is perhaps best known as the home of Brown University.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 27m. Total distance: 16.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
27m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (51%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 7.7 miles on I 195. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 4 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (Franklin Street): Navigation decision point; at 7.8 miles (I 195): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Roger Williams National Memorial and Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Providence, RI before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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