Origin
Charlestown, RI
Night in Charlestown on Saturday
Local time
9:31 PM
EDT
Current temp
--
Unavailable
Trip from Charlestown, RI to Cranston, RI
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
51m
Distance
36.7 mi
59 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 48m
★
6 AM
0h 52m
8 AM
1h 0m
10 AM
0h 55m
12 PM
0h 54m
3 PM
0h 55m
5 PM
1h 0m
8 PM
0h 49m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Charlestown, RI
Wikimedia Commons
Cranston, RI
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning a quick excursion from Charlestown to Cranston, you are looking at a manageable 36.7-mile journey that typically takes about 51 minutes. This route is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, allowing you to get between these two Rhode Island locations with ease. You can expect to spend approximately $6 on fuel, making it a budget-friendly option for your travel plans. Because both towns are located within the Northeast region, you will remain in familiar surroundings throughout the entire drive. Whether you are heading north for business or a change of scenery, this straightforward connection offers a practical way to navigate the state.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Col Rodman Highway | 10.1 mi | 13m |
| Commodore Perry Highway | 7.7 mi | 8m |
| Tower Hill Road | 7.5 mi | 11m |
| Bald Hill Road | 3.1 mi | 5m |
| I 95 | 2.6 mi | 3m |
| Post Road | 1.6 mi | 1m |
| Reservoir Avenue | 1.5 mi | 3m |
| I 295 | 1.1 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Col Rodman Highway
— 10.1 mi, about 13m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Charlestown, RI and Cranston, RI.
1
Start on RI 1A
208 ft
·
4 sec
·
Old Post Road
2
Turn right
410 ft
·
6 sec
3
Take the ramp
444 ft
·
12 sec
4
Merge onto US 1
1.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Post Road
5
Continue on US 1
7.7 mi
·
8 min
·
Commodore Perry Highway
6
Continue on US 1
0.7 mi
·
44 sec
·
Post Road Freeway
7
Continue on US 1
6.7 mi
·
10 min
·
Tower Hill Road
8
Keep slight left at fork onto US 1
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Tower Hill Road
9
Turn straight onto RI 4
10 mi
·
13 min
·
Col Rodman Highway
Use the straight lane.
10
Merge onto I 95
2.6 mi
·
3 min
·
I 95
Toward I 95 North: Providence
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 295
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
I 295
Exit 28A
Toward I 295 North: Woonsocket
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
59 sec
Exit 1B
Toward RI 2 North: Cranston
Use the slight right lane.
13
Keep slight left at fork
418 ft
·
14 sec
Toward RI 2 North
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
14
Turn straight onto RI 2
3.1 mi
·
5 min
·
Bald Hill Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
15
Continue on RI 2
1.5 mi
·
3 min
·
Reservoir Avenue
16
Turn right onto RI 12
0.1 mi
·
25 sec
·
Park Avenue
17
Turn left
391 ft
·
28 sec
18
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
18 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 36.7 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 18.3 miles from Charlestown, RI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 125 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 31.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
6
27.8 mi into trip
|
~36m in
|
I 95
Merge onto I 95 toward I 95 North: Providence
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 95 North: Providence
8
30.4 mi into trip
|
~39m in
|
I 295
Keep slight left at fork onto I 295 toward I 295 North: Woonsocket
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Exit 28A
Toward I 295 North: Woonsocket
7
31.5 mi into trip
|
~41m in
Take the exit toward RI 2 North: Cranston
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 1B
Toward RI 2 North: Cranston
7
31.9 mi into trip
|
~41m in
Keep slight left at fork toward RI 2 North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward RI 2 North
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.91 one way
$11.82 round trip
$4.09/gal
25.4 MPG avg
13 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.50 | $6.50 | $13.00 |
| premium | $4.86 | $7.03 | $14.06 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.10 | $16.21 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 12.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11 | 0 | $3.85 | $1.76 |
| Efficient EV | 9.2 | 0 | $3.21 | $1.47 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 14.7 | 0 | $5.14 | $2.35 |
Gas CO2
13 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (69% 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
Cranston, RI
Night in Cranston on Saturday
Local time
9:31 PM
EDT
Current temp
39°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
51m 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 rather than a high-speed interstate cruise, as only about 12% of this route consists of highway travel. Your journey relies on a mix of local roads, including the Col Rodman Highway, Commodore Perry Highway, and Tower Hill Road. You will find that the longest uninterrupted stretch spans just 10.1 miles along the Col Rodman Highway, meaning you will need to stay alert for frequent turns. The road’s personality is defined by its local character, so don't anticipate a monotonous, long-distance highway grind. It is a hands-on driving experience that keeps you engaged with the local road network from start to finish.
Only 12% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 10.1 mi on Col Rodman Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive.
Driving Effort
10/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 12 decision points packed into just 36.7 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 51m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start: Navigation decision point; at 27.8 miles (I 95): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 30.4 miles (I 295): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
197 ft
13 ft
Total Climb
448 ft
Total Descent
398 ft
Highest Point
197 ft
~26.2 mi in
Elevation Range
184 ft
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 51m. Total distance: 36.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
51m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 10.1 miles on Col Rodman Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Cranston, RI before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
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: near the start: Navigation decision point; at 27.8 miles (I 95): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 30.4 miles (I 295): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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 Cranston, 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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