Origin
Exeter, RI
Night in Exeter on Saturday
Local time
9:25 PM
EDT
Current temp
--
Unavailable
Trip from Exeter, RI to Bristol, RI
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
52m
Distance
35.5 mi
57 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great 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 1m
10 AM
0h 55m
12 PM
0h 55m
3 PM
0h 56m
5 PM
1h 1m
8 PM
0h 50m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Exeter, RI
Wikimedia Commons
Bristol, RI
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning a quick excursion across Rhode Island, the 30-mile trek from Exeter to Bristol is a straightforward journey that takes roughly 48 minutes. This route is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, as it covers a relatively short distance that doesn't require any overnight stops. You can expect to spend about $5 on fuel, making it a budget-friendly option for your weekend plans. By utilizing Ten Rod Road, RI 4 North, and I-95 North, you will navigate through the heart of the Northeast. Since the drive is short, you have plenty of flexibility to decide when to head out without worrying about a grueling schedule.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 95 | 10.9 mi | 15m |
| East Providence Expressway | 6.9 mi | 8m |
| RI 4 | 6.3 mi | 8m |
| Metacom Avenue | 3.4 mi | 5m |
| Market Street | 2.6 mi | 4m |
| Ten Rod Road | 2.1 mi | 3m |
| Iway | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Arlington Avenue | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 95
— 10.9 mi, about 15m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Exeter, RI and Bristol, RI.
1
Start on New Road
79 ft
·
5 sec
·
New Road
2
Turn left onto RI 102
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Ten Rod Road
3
Continue on RI 2; RI 102
190 ft
·
14 sec
·
Ten Rod Road
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
Toward RI 4 North: Providence
5
Merge onto RI 4
6.3 mi
·
8 min
·
RI 4
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Merge onto I 95
2.6 mi
·
3 min
·
I 95
Toward I 95 North: Providence
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight right at fork onto I 95
8.3 mi
·
11 min
·
I 95
Toward I 95 North: Providence
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
46 sec
Exit 36A
Toward I 195 East, US 6 East: East Providence, Cape Cod
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on I 195; US 6
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Iway
10
Continue on I 195; US 1A; US 6; US 44
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
East Providence Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 195; US 1A; US 6
5.3 mi
·
6 min
·
East Providence Expressway
Toward US 6: Pawtucket Avenue, Seekonk MA
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
50 sec
Exit 5
Toward MA 136: Warren Rhode Island, Newport Rhode Island
13
Turn right onto MA 136
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
James Reynolds Road
14
Continue on MA 136
2.6 mi
·
4 min
·
Market Street
15
Continue on RI 136
195 ft
·
6 sec
·
Market Street
16
Turn straight onto RI 136
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
Kickemuit Road
17
Continue on RI 136
0.4 mi
·
40 sec
·
Arlington Avenue
18
Turn straight onto RI 136
3.4 mi
·
5 min
·
Metacom Avenue
19
Turn right onto Franklin Street
0.3 mi
·
47 sec
·
Franklin Street
20
Turn right
115 ft
·
14 sec
21
Turn left
301 ft
·
22 sec
22
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 35.5 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 17.7 miles from Exeter, 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 115 decision points cluster between mile 8.7 and 27.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
8.7 mi into trip
|
~12m 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
7
11.3 mi into trip
|
~16m in
|
I 95
Keep slight right at fork onto I 95 toward I 95 North: Providence
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Toward I 95 North: Providence
8
19.6 mi into trip
|
~27m in
Take the exit toward I 195 East, US 6 East: East Providence, Cape Cod
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 36A
Toward I 195 East, US 6 East: East Providence,...
8
22.6 mi into trip
|
~32m in
|
I 195; US 1A; US 6 / East Providence Expressway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 195; US 1A; US 6 / East Providence Expressway toward US 6: Pawtucket Avenue, Seekonk MA
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward US 6: Pawtucket Avenue, Seekonk MA
6
27.9 mi into trip
|
~38m in
Take the exit toward MA 136: Warren Rhode Island, Newport Rhode Island
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 5
Toward MA 136: Warren Rhode Island, Newport Rho...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.71 one way
$11.43 round trip
$4.09/gal
25.4 MPG avg
12 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.50 | $6.29 | $12.58 |
| premium | $4.86 | $6.80 | $13.60 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.84 | $15.68 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 12.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10.7 | 0 | $3.73 | $1.70 |
| Efficient EV | 8.9 | 0 | $3.11 | $1.42 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 14.2 | 0 | $4.97 | $2.27 |
Gas CO2
12 kg
EV CO2
4 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
Bristol, RI
Night in Bristol on Saturday
Local time
9:25 PM
EDT
Current temp
--
Unavailable
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
52m 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 monotonous highway slog, as this route features zero highway-share segments. You will spend your time navigating local roads that demand your full attention behind the wheel. The personality of this trip is defined by frequent transitions and technical maneuvers rather than long, uninterrupted stretches of interstate cruising. Because the route relies entirely on local infrastructure, you should be prepared for a more engaged driving experience compared to a standard highway haul. Keep your eyes on the road as you transition between these smaller routes to reach your destination.
68% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 10.9 mi on I 95.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 95 and East Providence Expressway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 8.7 miles in near I 95.
Driving Effort
9/10
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 11 decision points packed into just 35.5 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 52m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 8.7 miles (I 95): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 11.3 miles (I 95): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 19.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Exeter, RI and Bristol, RI, road signs point toward Cape Cod, Seekonk and Newport Rhode Island.
Cape Cod
19.6 mi in
|
~27m
Seekonk
22.6 mi in
|
~32m
|
via I 195; US 1A; US 6
Newport Rhode Island
27.9 mi in
|
~38m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 52m. Total distance: 35.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
52m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (68%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 10.9 miles on I 95. 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 Bristol, 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: at 8.7 miles (I 95): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 11.3 miles (I 95): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 19.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 Bristol, 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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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